Miami (OH) vs. Miami Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds
The Miami Ohio RedHawks and the Miami Hurricanes will battle it out under the lights this Friday. Matt McCuen shares his Miami (OH) vs. Miami prediction, pick against the spread, and the latest odds.
Matt McCuen - September 1, 2023, 9:40 AM EDT
7 minMiami (OH) vs. Miami Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds
The Miami Ohio RedHawks and the Miami Hurricanes will duel things out from the sunshine state on Friday night as the teams kick off their 2023 campaigns.
Miami (OH) vs. Miami Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: September 1, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ACCN
Miami (OH) vs. Miami Prediction
The Red Hawks, who make way via the MAC Conference, will attempt to build on a 6-7 season in 2022. This was the team's first losing season since 2017. The Red Hawks ended the regular season 6-6 but lost their bowl game as Alabama Brigihimam took them down, winning the game 24-20.
Head Coach Chuck Martin will begin his tenth year at the helm for the Red Hawks. The fifty-five-year-old head coach began his collegiate coaching career in 1998 when he was the linebackers coach at rival Eastern Michigan. Prior to taking the Miami (OH) head coaching job, Martin spent four years at Notre Dame University. Martin is 45-59 as the Red Hawks head coach.
Veteran signal caller Brett Gabbert will be back under center for Miami (OH). Gabbert will be beginning his fifth year at the helm, bringing loads of experience to this offense. Gabbert will be tasked with improving one of the worst offenses in college football in 2022. The RedHawks ranked 122nd out of 132 offenses in passing offense. The offense was anemic at times a season ago, and they will need to be much better in the passing game if they want to make a jump this year.
Miami will be without their star wide receiver from a season ago as second-team ALL MAC wide receiver Mac Hippenhammer graduated from the program. Hippenhamer caught nine of the fifteen touchdown receptions for the RedHawks in 2022.
The strong suit of this Miami (OH) team was its defense. This defense ranked 35th in the nation, and they were the main reason the team was able to win six games and become Bowl Eligible. The Red Hawks will return multiple starters from that same defense.
The Miami Hurricanes enter the 2023 season attempting to bounce back from an underwhelming 5-7 year. The Canes are one of the most steroid programs in college football, but the last five years have been up to par. The Canes have not had a ten-win season since 2017. Since 2004, Miami has only won ten games one time (2017). Prior to 2004, the Canes won ten games or more in four consecutive seasons (2000-2003). Miami has won five National Champions, with their most recent one coming in 2001. Additionally, the Canes have won nine Conference Championships.
Mario Cristobal, who is a native of Miami, is the man tasked with returning this Miami program to Glory. Cristobal, who began his college coaching career with Miami in 1998 as a Graduate Assistant, returned to his alma mater after coaching the Oregon Ducks from 2018-2021. Cristobal posted a record of 35-13 in his five years at Oregon and won a Conference Championship with the Ducks in 2021. Cristobal won the Rose Bowl with Oregon in 2019, leading the team to a 12-2 record.
Tyler Van Dyke will return as the team's starting quarterback. Van Dyke, who missed multiple games with a shoulder injury in 2022, is poised for a bounce-back season, and the team believes that he can lead the Canes to success. Van Dyke will be able to work with new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. Dawson, who has bounced around college as an offensive coordinator, most recently led the Houston Cougars offense.
The offensive line was an issue for Miami in 2022, but there are two encouraging signs for Miami up front. The first is that they added multiple players in the transfer portal and that they begin the season healthy. The Canes dealt with multiple injuries upfront, including offensive tackle Zion Nelson. Nelson is regarded as one of the best tackles in the nation and should be good to go in Week 1.
The skill positions are a concern for the Canes to begin the year. Miami has loads of question marks around who is the guy at the wide receiver position. Multiple players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills on why they should be getting first-team reps, including Junior Colbie Young and senior Tyler Harrell.
Lance Guirdy will take over as the Canes' new defensive coordinator. Guirdy, who was an interim coach for Miami (OH) for one game in 2010, will get an opportunity to make his debut vs. his former team. Guirdy was most recently the defensive coordinator at Marshall University.
There are athletes all over this Canes defense, but none more notable than safety Kamren Kitchens. Kitchens was an All-American a season ago, and he will have an opportunity to lead the defense this season. As mentioned, there is talent on this defense, but there are question marks, particularly at the cornerback position, where Miami will lose both of its starters from a season ago.
Miami (OH) vs. Miami Pick
Talent will take over in Week 1, and from an athletic standpoint, this is no contest.
Miami (OH) was one of the worst offensive teams in college football a year ago, and if anything, they bring back less talent than they possessed in 2022. They will struggle to move the ball with any success.
The Canes' offensive numbers do not do them justice from a season ago. Van Dyke will be healthy and will operate behind one of the best offensive lines in the ACC.
Pick: Miami Hurricanes -16.5 -118 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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