PREMIUM
Rogers' EARLY Friday BLOWOUT!
(NCAAF) Miami-FL vs. Pittsburgh,
Point Spread: -13.00 | -110.00 Miami-FL (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -13.00 | -110.00 Miami-FL (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Miami's Sep. 9th home game with Arkansas St. was canceled due to Hurricane Irma, so the 'Canes enter this final contest of the regular season at 10-0, not 11-0. Miami is off a tougher-than-expected 44-28 home win over Virginia last Saturday but when the latest CFP rankings came out, Miami moved up to No. 2, as the committee cited its No. 1 SOS. Win, lose or draw, Miami and current No. 2 Clemson will meet Dec.2 in the ACC title game but the Hurricanes sure don't want/need a slip-up here. Friday, at 12 noon ET, the 'Canes will be at Heinz Field to take on the 4-7 Pittsburgh Panthers (2-5 ACC). The Panthers almost upset Va. Tech last Saturday (lost 20-14) when they up short on four attempts from the 1-yard line in the final seconds!
Miami: The Hurricanes almost blew it last Saturday, showing signs of a letdown against Virginia after the highs of back-to-back triumphs over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. However, the Hurricanes scored 30 unanswered points in the second half. The team's winning streak to 15 in a row. Manny Diaz's defense didn't show the same urgency last week as it had in the big victories over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame but the unit roared back from an uninspired first half. The Miami D slammed the door on Benkert and company with the "turnover chain" coming out three times for the game, giving Miami 19 takeaways in its last five contests, That D is allowing 17.7 PPG, 15th-best in the nation. QB Malik Rosier has passed for 2,319 yards with 23 TDs and nine INTs, with his most reliable target being Berrios (8 TDs). RB Homer leads the way with 849 YR (6.5 YPC) with 7 TDs for a ground game averaging 178.1 YPG on 5.3 YPC.
Pittsburgh: RB Darrin Hall was completely shut down by Virginia Tech on Saturday,finishing with just four yards on 15 carries. However, he had topped 100 yards in his three previous games. He has 598 YR on the season (5.1 YPC & 9 TDs), leading a running game averaging 148.0 YPG (86th). Starting QB Ben DiNucci (4-for-8, 54 yards, one touchdown, one interception) was pulled last week (he had taken over for Browne) and replaced by freshman Kenny Pickett, who went 15-for-23 for 242 yards with one INT. Pittsburgh's offense (just 23.9 PPG to rank 98th) will surely have its hands full with the Miami D plus the Pitt D is allowing 27.7 PPG (73rd) on 415.1 YPG (85th).
The pick: The now No. 2 Hurricanes head on the road for the first time since Oct. 28 in this game at Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes will also have the additional challenges of cold weather, a short week and some exhaustion due to playing their 10th straight weekend thanks to schedule changes prompted by Hurricane Irma. However, is Pitt (especially if teh freshman plays QB) really ready for Miami's opportunistic defense which also leads the nation in sacks per game (3.8). That hardly bodes well, as Pittsburgh QBs have been sacked 30 times this year. At No. 2, Miami is the highest-ranked team Pitt has hosted at Heinz Field in 16 years (that opponent was also Miami, which was ranked No. 1 when the teams met on Sept. 27, 2001). What's more, Pitt is just 4-12 ATS at home since 2015! Make Miami an 8* play.
Miami: The Hurricanes almost blew it last Saturday, showing signs of a letdown against Virginia after the highs of back-to-back triumphs over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. However, the Hurricanes scored 30 unanswered points in the second half. The team's winning streak to 15 in a row. Manny Diaz's defense didn't show the same urgency last week as it had in the big victories over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame but the unit roared back from an uninspired first half. The Miami D slammed the door on Benkert and company with the "turnover chain" coming out three times for the game, giving Miami 19 takeaways in its last five contests, That D is allowing 17.7 PPG, 15th-best in the nation. QB Malik Rosier has passed for 2,319 yards with 23 TDs and nine INTs, with his most reliable target being Berrios (8 TDs). RB Homer leads the way with 849 YR (6.5 YPC) with 7 TDs for a ground game averaging 178.1 YPG on 5.3 YPC.
Pittsburgh: RB Darrin Hall was completely shut down by Virginia Tech on Saturday,finishing with just four yards on 15 carries. However, he had topped 100 yards in his three previous games. He has 598 YR on the season (5.1 YPC & 9 TDs), leading a running game averaging 148.0 YPG (86th). Starting QB Ben DiNucci (4-for-8, 54 yards, one touchdown, one interception) was pulled last week (he had taken over for Browne) and replaced by freshman Kenny Pickett, who went 15-for-23 for 242 yards with one INT. Pittsburgh's offense (just 23.9 PPG to rank 98th) will surely have its hands full with the Miami D plus the Pitt D is allowing 27.7 PPG (73rd) on 415.1 YPG (85th).
The pick: The now No. 2 Hurricanes head on the road for the first time since Oct. 28 in this game at Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes will also have the additional challenges of cold weather, a short week and some exhaustion due to playing their 10th straight weekend thanks to schedule changes prompted by Hurricane Irma. However, is Pitt (especially if teh freshman plays QB) really ready for Miami's opportunistic defense which also leads the nation in sacks per game (3.8). That hardly bodes well, as Pittsburgh QBs have been sacked 30 times this year. At No. 2, Miami is the highest-ranked team Pitt has hosted at Heinz Field in 16 years (that opponent was also Miami, which was ranked No. 1 when the teams met on Sept. 27, 2001). What's more, Pitt is just 4-12 ATS at home since 2015! Make Miami an 8* play.
