College Football Betting – Is The U Back?

After a red-hot start in 2009, many college football betting experts thought that the University of Miami (aka “The U,”) was officially back. Then a Week 3 blowout at Virginia Tech happened and the Hurricanes finished just 2-2 down the stretch (1-3 ATS) proving this program still has a long way to go to get back to National Championship contender status.

But with 2010, there is new hope in Miami. Let’s take a look at this team, and whether they’ll reach the college football betting experts projected win total of 8 ½ Regular Season wins.

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Miami Hurricanes- Over 8 ½ Regular Season Wins (-105) or Under 8 ½ Wins (-125):

When breaking down The U, everything begins and ends with quarterback Jacory Harris.

Early in the 2009, the lanky signal-caller looked like a true Heisman Trophy candidate, as he led Miami to wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech, throwing for over 600 yards and five touchdowns in those games. However, much like the rest of his team, after that hot start, Harris came back down to earth, finishing the season with a disappointing 17 interceptions. Harris will need to make better decisions if Miami is to go OVER the college football betting experts pick of 8 ½ wins.

Luckily for Harris, he won’t have to do it alone, as he welcomes back a host of talent at wide receiver. Leading the way is the underrated Leonard Hankerson, who averaged 18 yards per catch last season, topping the Hurricanes in receptions at 44. Speedy Travis Benjamin will play in the slot after grabbing 24 balls in 2009.

At running back, Miami was deep a season ago, however 2010, could be pencil thin. That’s because Graig Cooper- who led this team with 695 yards on the ground last year- injured his knee in a Champs Sports Bowl loss, and will be limited (if he see’s the field at all) in 2010. That will only put added pressure on Damien Berry to pick up the slack, behind a young offensive line that returns just two starters.

On defense though is where Miami will be at their best. This unit returns eight starters off a team that held opponents to just 321 yards per game last year (Ranking them 25th in the country), that should be even better this year. Defensive end Allen Bailey has All-American potential. Three starters return in the defensive backfield.

As usual, The U’s schedule is tough, and much like last year is front-loaded with incredible competition. After a Week 1 cake-walk against Florida A&M, the next four games are as follows: at Ohio State, at Pittsburgh (with a bye in-between), at Clemson and Florida State at home. Ouch! A trap game against Duke is next, before fellow ACC heavyweight North Carolina (Who defeated The U last year in Chapel Hill) comes to town. Miami ends the season with a visit to defending ACC Champ Georgia Tech, before getting Virginia Tech and South Florida at home.

Looking at this team objectively, the talent is most certainly there to win more than 8 ½ games. No doubt about that. But with two top-25 teams on the road out of conference (Ohio State and Pitt), and a slew of tough ACC opponents it won’t be easy.

Still, the college football betting experts have spoken, and they’re going to take Miami to go OVER 8 ½ wins.

Remember, they get key games against Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech at home, and always play Georgia Tech tough, even though the game this year is in Atlanta (The U beat the Yellow Jackets last season). Pittsburgh could struggle early in the season with a new quarterback, and Clemson has question marks without their best player, C.J. Spiller.

This team may not yet be a National Championship contender, but against this brutal schedule, they’ll surprise many, and pile up wins in 2010.

The college football betting experts have spoken. Take Miami OVER 8 ½ wins.

The Winning Pick: Miami OVER 8 ½ Wins