Saturday, Sept. 21
7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific
ESPN
The Miami Hurricanes could possibly be the favorite to win the ACC. Miami and Clemson are likely the teams most pundits and prognosticators are looking at as ACC Championship Game participants. Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, and other ACC teams have already fallen off the pace and have shown major weaknesses which point to mediocre seasons. Miami, after two miserable campaigns under coach Mario Cristobal, has retooled and has a very manageable schedule. If the Hurricanes are as good as many people think they are, they will take care of business against South Florida in Week 4.
However, before anyone gets too confident about the Canes, let’s remember that South Florida gave Alabama a very tough game for three and a half quarters on the road in Tuscaloosa. The score midway through the fourth quarter in that game was 21-16 Alabama. The Crimson Tide then scored multiple touchdowns in the final six minutes to pull away for a win which looked lopsided on the scoreboard but was genuinely difficult in terms of how the first 54 minutes of that game were played. Will that USF team – the one which challenged Bama and stood up to the Tide in the trenches – show up against Miami? This game could get very interesting if that happens.
Miami Hurricanes-South Florida Bulls Odds
Spread: Miami -16.5 (-110), South Florida +16.5 (-110)
Total: 65.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: South Florida +550
Bulls Chances For The Upset
In the early weeks of the season, we are learning how good teams truly are. We are learning how good teams’ opponents are. One of Miami’s early-season games was a road trip to Florida, where the Gators are crumbling under soon-to-be-fired coach Billy Napier. Just how much significance should anyone assign to that result? That is something bettors have to think about when they process this game and consider their betting play. Bettors also have to think about USF playing Alabama on relatively even terms for more than 50 minutes before fading at the very end. Was Alabama looking ahead to Wisconsin? Was Alabama just not that good overall? Keep in mind that Alabama began the Wisconsin game in shaky form and pulled away only after Wisconsin starting quarterback – and former Miami QB – Tyler Van Dyke got injured. Maybe USF playing Alabama close was more about Alabama’s weaknesses than USF’s strengths. There’s a lot to wonder about in this game.
Hear this game discussed with T.J. and Gary on the latest edition of the “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Ultimately, though, 16.5 is a lot of points for a road favorite. South Florida could lose fairly decisively – 37-21 or 23-7 – and still cover the spread. Just one really good quarter by USF, in which it outscores Miami by three or four points (7-3, 6-3), means Miami would have to outscore the Bulls by 21 or more points in the other three quarters to cover. USF plus the points looks like a solid underdog play in this game.