Canes to face test by LSU in opener
Potential of having new starting QB could make neutral-site game dicey.
Miami’s full schedule for the 2018 season, its third under coach Mark Richt, was released Wednesday. Here are 10 takeaways on what the Hurricanes face this fall:
■ 1. At this juncture — about two months before spring ball and more than seven months before the first games — it looks like a favorable run. Miami has a fairly balanced
ACC slate, and its nonconference schedule doesn’t look too challenging, beyond a stiff test in the season-opener.
■ 2. The Hurricanes’ only Thursday game is at homeagainst North
Carolina — yes, the trip to Blacksburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech is on a Saturday — and the only other non-Saturday game beyond LSU (which is Sunday, Sept. 2) is a Friday night game at Boston College. ACC play begins at home.
■ 3. Miami gets a midseason bye, coming two weeks after its all-important game against Florida State. That’ll be a critical chance for UM to rest before playing three of its final five on the road. The Canes’ final eight games are against ACC teams.
■ 4. The neutral-site game against LSU might be UM’s most difficult of the year. If UM is breaking in a new quarterback (Richt said 2017 starter Malik Rosier will have to compete this offseason to keep his job) on a big stage against a Tigers team playing in front of a largely friendly crowd, that will be a tall order. After that marquee event, Miami gets a bit of a break. It hosts one of the weakest FCS teams (Savannah State), visits a rebuilding mid-major (Toledo) and hosts a crosstown “rivalry” game against FIU that probably won’t be very close, although it could be quite spicy. Don’t expect a repeat of the on-field brawl in 2006, the last time the Canes and Panthers squared off.
■ 5. Miami opens ACC play on a short week, with a Thursday night game against North Carolina. That’s at home, however, and it gives the Canes two extra days to prep for Florida State the following week.
■ 6. The UM ticket sales department will be pleased to see FSU at home. Unfortunately for it, there aren’t many other big draws coming to town. UNC and Duke may be improved from last year but aren’t exciting anyone. Pittsburgh, which spoiled Miami’s perfect season last year, has to travel south. The Canes probably won’t sleepwalk through that one.
■ 7. The road games are a little tricky, with Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech presenting different kinds of challenges on back-to-back weeks in potentially chilly November weather. Virginia, if it continues on its upward track, will test Miami. And that game is a week after the FSU slugfest, so the Canes are unlikely to be rested.
■ 8. Miami’s crossover opponent is Boston College, which has been plucky but can’t seem to get past seven wins a year. Chestnut Hill isn’t considered one of the league’s tougher road environments, but any Friday game gives coaches pause. This also means Miami avoids Clemson — unless, of course, the two meet in the ACC title game in Charlotte (UM visits Death Valley in 2022, in case you were wondering).
■ 9. Only two of Miami’s opponents were ranked in the final AP poll of the season (No. 18 LSU and No. 24 Virginia Tech). No one else received a vote. LSU was one of the teams hit hardest by the NFL draft, losing six players, including potential first-round running back Derrius Guice and defensive end Arden Key. Three of 11 starters return on offense.
■ 10. With a neutral-site game and the away game against Toledo, Miami gets six home games. It had seven last year but six in the two years before that.