I expected more than a two-win improvement from Miami this season. The Canes finished 7-5 this year after a disastrous 5-7 finish in 2022.My prediction for the season was 8-4.
Miami literally knelt against Georgia Tech doing just that. To me, eight wins would be a better indication of where Miami stands in Mario Cristobal’s second season at the helm.
Miami can still reach eight wins if they can win their bowl game.
The team did not reach bowl eligibility last season.BP, my podcast listener, brought this important statistic to my attention:
Miami in 2022 – 7 defeats by an average of 21 pointsMiami in 2023 – 5 defeats by 8.2 points on averageRadio host Jeremy Marks-Peltz offered a few more clues about Miami’s improvement:
And perhaps the best insight comes from Jason, aka Canes Chief. The biggest positive change for me came from Miami’s offensive line.
This season, the Hurricanes have allowed just 1.2 sacks per game. This places them tied for 14th place in America. Last year, Miami allowed 3.3 sacks per game.
I believe Miami can compete for an ACC championship at least next season if they clean up two zones. 1) The quarterback’s play needs to be more consistent. 2)
The decisions made by Mario Cristobal and his team in the game must be more precise. If Miami had been better in those areas, we’d probably be talking about a nine- or 10-win team right now.
