2010 College Football Predictions: Difficult for 'Canes To Top Nine Wins

They could be better but win fewer games than last year!   It's a phrase that fits the fortunes of the 2010 Miami Hurricanes football team.  It's a phrase used to explain just how difficult this year's Hurricanes schedule really is.

In 2009 the 9-4 Hurricanes surprised a lot of people;  Most analysts had them going 1-3 in their first four games (@FSU, Georgia Tech, @Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma) but they opened the season 3-1, with the one loss at Virginia Tech. 

Miami went on to win six of their last nine and ended up ranked 19th in the final coaches poll. They won two more games than they did in 2008 and clearly showed improvement.

This year's early schedule is just as challenging as last year's;  It's the reason why the Las Vegas odds makers have the 2010 Miami over-under win total at eight.

Eight games sounds low for a team that won nine games last season and is ranked as high as no. 4 by at least one 2010 preseason ranking service.

But four of the first five games are seriously difficult and I think most fans wouldn't be overly disappointed if the Canes opened 2010 with a 3-2 record.

After the opener against FCS Florida A & M, a team the Canes defeated 48-16 in 2009, the Canes play road games against no. 2 Ohio State, no. 19 Pittsburgh, and Clemson which beat Miami last season.   Miami's fifth game is against no. 14 FSU.

If this doesn't make the 2010 schedule tough enough, the Canes also meet no. 8 Virginia Tech, no. 23 North Carolina, no. 18 @Georgian Tech, and USF.

I think it's safe to say that this could be the toughest schedule in the country!

With Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech in the Coastal Division of the ACC along with Miami, making it to the ACC Championship game may be out of the realm of possibility.

Winning nine games may be out of the realm of possiblity, but by no means will it be the measure of how good this team is.  This schedule is just too tough—the 2010 Miami Hurricanes could win fewer games than last year while being a markedly improved team.

Virginia Tech, everyone's favorite to win the ACC, brings back QB Tyrod Taylor and a devastating running game.  They have to fill some vacancies on defense but Virginia Tech isn't likely to have a problem filling holes on defense.

Pittsburgh brings back three first team All-Americans—one of them Dion Lewis, a Heisman front-runner.  If a defense puts eight in the box to stop Lewis they have to put single coverage on All-American wideout Jonathon Baldwin.

With or without Marvin Austin, who the NCAA is investigating for attendance at the infamous South Beach agent party, North Carolina is still going to have defense loaded with stars.

Georgia Tech, with Coach Paul Johnson's triple option offense, will be a difficult game for two reasons:  1) they are a good football team and 2) preparing for the triple option is hard to do in one week.

With a healthy Christian Ponder at QB, Florida State is going to be another game that won't be easy.  Jimbo Fisher has recruited well and if he knows how to employ all the talent, they will be hard to beat.

Ohio State in Columbus!  If Miami can win this one they will jump up to the top two or three spots in the rankings.

Although C. J. Spiller is gone, Clemson can't be overlooked and USF will come to Miami with plenty of motivation to put an explanation point on their season, or ruin Miami's.

The Hurricanes have shown real growth over the last couple of years.  Randy Shannon has recruited well and will be expected to produce in his fourth season.

To think that he hasn't even made it to the ACC Championship game is disturbing to Canes fans.

The brunt of the pressure will be on QB Jacory Harris.  Harris will be expected to make the right decisions and limit reckless interceptions.

If the Canes can start out 3-2, or even 4-1, they are still going to have to maintain their focus for the rest of the season.

Good luck to Randy Shannon and his Hurricanes!  This schedule is not going to be easy.