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The Miami Hurricanes are playing one of the worst schedules in college football in 2019, and that couldn’t be much more evident than how things turned out on the opening weekend of the college football season. The ‘Canes had Week 1 off after playing the Florida Gators in Week 0. Only three of Miami’s 2019 opponents walked out of Week 1 with a victory- the Tar Heels, CMU Chips, and Virginia Cavaliers.
The UNC Tar Heels did the most work of the ‘Canes future opponents in upsetting South Carolina 24-20. Freshman quarterback Sam Howell averaged 10.2 yards per attempt with two scores and no interceptions. Running back Javonte Williams averaged 5.7 yards per carry and broke the 100-yard mark while receiver Dazz Newsome averaged 18.5 yards per catch.
Central Michigan beat an FCS school in Albany 38-21. Quarterback Quinten Dormady threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns for the CMU Chippewas. Running back Jonathan Ward ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 7.2 yards per carry.
The Virginia Tech Hokies lost to Boston College 28-35 in defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s last opening game of his career. Hokies quarterback Ryan Willis threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns in a losing effort.
Virginia, my Coastal favorite to knock off Miami, beat Pitt 30-14. Pitt is also a future ‘Canes opponent on the schedule. Bryce Perkins averaged a measly 5.3 yards per attempt with two scores while Kenny Pickett averaged an even worse 4.5 yards per attempt with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Georgia Tech headed to Clemson on Thursday night and got manhandled by the Tigers. The Yellow Jackets allowed Travis Etienne to run for over 200 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-14 beatdown in Death Valley. The positives for the Jackets? Quarterback James Graham averaged 10.3 yards per attempt with a touchdown.
The Florida State Seminoles blew a lead against the Boise State Broncos in a game that was moved from Jacksonville, FL to Doak Campbell Stadium because of the worries about Hurricane Dorrian. BSU won the second half with 17 unanswered points and a 36-31 final score. The Broncos QB threw for over 400 yards on the afternoon. James Blackman and Cam Akers both looked really good. Blackman averaged 9.9 yards per attempt with three touchdowns and Akers ran for 116 yards (7.7 yards per run) and a touchdown.
The FIU Panthers and head coach Butch Davis were trounced by the Tulane Green Wave 42-14. I’m not sure if Miami fans are still clamoring for Davis to be the ‘Canes head coach after seeing his Panthers beatdown by a middle of the road AAC team. The new look Louisville Cardinals will debut on Monday night against Miami rival Notre Dame.
The Duke Blue Devils had the displeasure of opening their season against an angry Alabama Crimson Tide squad in Tuscaloosa. The Tide were looking to get a big time victory after their poor showing against Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Duke only managed three points as the Tide put up 42 in the victory, four touchdowns were scored by ‘Bama QB Tua Tagovailoa.