Miami vs. North Carolina fearless prediction and game preview.
Miami vs. North Carolina Broadcast
Date: Saturday, September 7
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Network: ACC Network
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Miami (0-1) vs. North Carolina (1-0) Game Preview
Why Miami Will Win
Even this early in the season, getting two weeks off matters.
North Carolina might have looked great in its comeback win over South Carolina, but that was a long, tough, emotional game. The Canes got their work in against Florida, and they should be fresher in what’s expected to be a very warm, very muggy night.
Yes, Sam Howell came up with a strong performance under the Gamecock pressure, but the offensive line struggled to keep him from getting popped. Miami’s defensive front is much, much stronger and better than it showed against Florida – the pass rush didn’t show up. That’s about to change.
UNC won’t have much of anything going in the running game against this D, so it’ll be all about Howell. Once again, he’ll have to hold up.
On the other side, the Canes showed off the pop and explosion South Carolina didn’t – Miami won’t have a problem opening it up a little bit. Jarren Williams might not bomb away, but he proved he can hold up, DeeJay Dallas is a playmaker who needs the ball in his hands.
Why North Carolina Will Win
The Tar Heels have the veterans, and now they know they can win a close game.
Don’t discount the hokey idea of having a stronger attitude. Last year’s Tar Heel team struggled in close loss after close loss – five defeats were by a touchdown or less – and now they opened up with a great win under the pressure.
With just three field goals going into the fourth quarter, the offense wasn’t working, and then Howell went off. The running game might have worked, but it was the passing game with the deep balls that pulled it off.
The defense was able to get to USC’s Jake Bentley and did a great job of coming up with big plays and takeaways at the right time. Jarren Williams might have been poised against Florida, but he’s still a freshman quarterback in his second game – he’s due to make a few mistakes.
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What’s Going To Happen
The Miami defense will take over, and the offense won’t turtle like South Carolina’s did.
It’ll be a great atmosphere for North Carolina at home in Mack Brown’s first game back, but the Canes will feed off the energy early on. The Tar Heels will have a tough time closing out drives with touchdowns for the second straight week, and unlike the win in Charlotte, there won’t be a comeback this time around.
Expect Howell to get sacked at least five times, and expect nothing from the Tar Heel ground game. It won’t be the 47-10 wipeout of last year, but with a sense of urgency with 0-2 starting it in the face, Miami will look and play great.
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Miami vs. North Carolina Prediction, Line
Miami 26, North Carolina 17
Line: Miami -4.5, o/u: 47.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 3
5: Hustlers
1: Where’d You Go Bernadette
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Miami Football Schedule
2019 Record: 0-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 6-2
2018 Record: 7-6
Aug. 24 Florida (in Orlando) L 24-20
Sept. 7 at North Carolina W
Sept. 14 Bethune-Cookman W
Sept. 21 Central Michigan W
Sept. 28 OPEN DATE
Oct. 5 Virginia Tech W
Oct. 11 Virginia W
Oct. 19 Georgia Tech W
Oct. 26 at Pitt W
Nov. 2 at Florida State L
Nov. 9 Louisville W
Nov. 16 OPEN DATE
Nov. 23 at FIU W
Nov. 30 at Duke L
2019 North Carolina Football Schedule
2019 Record: 1-0
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 1-7
2018 Record: 2-9
Aug. 31 South Carolina (in Charlotte) W 24-20
Sept. 7 Miami L
Sept. 12 at Wake Forest L
Sept. 21 Appalachian State W
Sept. 28 Clemson L
Oct. 5 at Georgia Tech L
Oct. 12 OPEN DATE
Oct. 19 at Virginia Tech L
Oct. 26 Duke W
Nov. 2 Virginia L
Nov. 9 OPEN DATE
Nov. 14 at Pitt L
Nov. 23 Mercer W
Nov. 30 at NC State L
