Miami Football: Why the Hurricanes Could Beat Clemson

The Miami Hurricanes are 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, so a game against Clemson (8-1, 5-1 ACC) should be a blowout victory for the Tigers, right?

Wrong.

Even with the poor record and inconsistency, these Hurricanes would still beat the Tigers on any given day if these two were actually scheduled to play each other this season.

Clemson, coming fresh off a loss, was exposed against Georgia Tech and I truly believe the Tigers do not have the athletes to beat this Miami team.

Here are my reasons why the Hurricanes should beat the Tigers.

No. 7: Clemson's Defense Can't Stop Jacory Harris

Just a few months ago there was mob of angry fans and alumni calling for Jacory Harris to get benched, and I admit I was one of those people.

I'm so glad that I wasn't in charge of that decision because Harris is on a roll.

So far this year Harris is ranked 11th in the country in passer rating at 161.8.  He has 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

In fact, Harris has thrown just one pick in the last five games, and that interception was a dropped ball by the wide receiver that landed in the defender's hands.

Clemson on the other hand does have a pretty good passing defense, giving up just 192 yards passing per game, but they have yet to play against a pure passer like Harris.

Harris would expose the defense and go for over 300 yards and two or three touchdowns.

No. 6: Olivier Vernon Would Make the Difference on Defense

I know the knock of the Hurricanes this year has been the horrible play on defense.

Considering they were without two of their best players, Ray Ray Armstrong and Olivier Vernon, there was inconsistency.

Now they are both back and the most recent one, Vernon, will be the real difference maker on a very sub par defensive line.

Vernon is terrific player and with just a couple of games under his belt this year he has shown signs of his dominate form he had last year when he had six sacks (11th in ACC) and 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.

This year he has put on some weight, toned up, and came into camp in the best shape he has ever been in.  Adewale Ojomo said that Vernon was unstoppable before he got suspended.

He is constantly getting better, and if Miami were to play Clemson right now, Vernon would be a disaster for any offensive lineman on Tigers team.

No. 5: Miami Plays Best in Big Games This Year

The Hurricanes could easily be undefeated this year. They have lost all four games by a combined total of 22 points.

I know all ACC games are big games, but when it comes down to the Hurricanes playing ranked teams at the time, they did very well.

They beat 17th-ranked Ohio State, barely lost to Kansas State and Virginia Tech, and beat 22nd-ranked Georgia Tech.

Out of the four ranked teams, the Hurricanes lost two of them by a combined seven points.

The Hurricanes have proved they play up to their competition. If they were to play Clemson, they would play their best game of the year and win.

No. 3: Tommy Streeter, Allen Hurns and Travis Benjamin

The Hurricanes started the season with a huge question mark at wide receiver, especially after losing their best one, Leonard Hankerson, to the NFL draft.

Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson and LaRon Byrd were the only receivers with any real on-field experience.

Before the the first game of the year though, Benjamin had to serve a one-game suspension and Johnson was suspended indefinitely.

It was no problem, though, because it gave chances to two unproven players, Allen Hurns and Tommy Streeter.

Hurns, just a sophomore, has caught 22 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns.

After missing the first game, Benjamin has been playing very well, catching 30 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns. The most important thing about Benjamin is his ability to break off a long run after the catch at any time.

The biggest difference maker on the team, though, goes to Streeter as he has caught 28 passes for 604 yards and seven touchdowns.

Streeter is the deep threat and would posses the most problems for Clemson as he is 6'5" with 4.5 speed and is currently seventh in the country in yards per catch at 21.6.

With three good receivers, Clemson wouldn't have the personnel to stop the air attack.

No. 2: Lamar Miller Would Run All over Clemson's Defense

Clemson has the 92nd ranked rushing defense in the country, giving up 194 yards per game on the ground.

Lamar Miller on the other hand is ranked 19th in the country in rushing yards per game at 109.  Overall Miller has 869 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

His speed and quickness allow him to have a shot at breaking a long run in every game, and he almost has.  So far, Miller has a 40-yard run or longer in four of his eight games.

As long as the offense opens holes and Harris continues to play well at quarterback, Miller could hit the 200-yard mark against a very poor Clemson rush defense.

No. 1: Miami Destroyed Georgia Tech While Clemson Lost to the Yellow Jackets

The Hurricanes beat Georgia Tech, 24-7, and the Tigers lost to the Yellow Jackets, 31-17.

The difference was clear on the defensive side: the Hurricanes have better athletes to stop a rushing attack like Georgia Tech has.

Clemson had no answer for Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington as he ran for 176 yards. Miami, on the other hand, held the entire Yellow Jacket offense to 211 total yards, or 264 less yards than their average.

The point is simple.

Miami steps up in big games and has the athletes to keep up with anyone in the ACC.

If Miami and Clemson played tomorrow, the Hurricanes win 35-28.