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The Cane train is rolling on towards the FAU opener, and to help get you more acquainted with the upcoming schedule, SOTU is here to break down each game for you. We will look at previous match-ups, impact players, locale of the game, and finally give our take on whether or not it should be a W for the good guys. Enjoy!
Miami Vs Wake Forest
The 'Canes have won 7 of 10 all time Vs Wake. The teams last met 10/31/09 with 18th ranked Miami edging out a 28-27 victory behind Jacory Harris' 330 yards and 3 TDs. Colin McCarthy led the way with 11 tackles on defense.
Saturday October 26,2013. Sun Life Stadium. TBA
Miami hosts the Deacons in what is likely to be an early afternoon contest. The game has "trap" potential, as it is the meat between an at UNC (Thursday 10/17) and an at FSU (Saturday 11/2) sandwich.
IMPACT PLAYERS
For the 'Canes their high octane offense should excel behind sophomore sensation RB Duke Johnson and senior QB Stephen Morris. Both will benefit from playing behind one of the most experienced and talented offensive lines in the country. Sophomore WR Herb Waters could end up being the best of UM's receivers and should compliment explosive play-maker Phillip Dorsett nicely. Miami's achilles heel last season was clearly the defense. But LB Denzel Perryman and S Deon Bush are more then capable of making plays.
The Deacons have one of the best targets in the ACC in Michael Campanaro. QB Tanner Price is experienced enough to get him the ball early and often. Look for tailback Josh Harris to test the Canes upfront as well. Wake's defense is led by hard nosed interior lineman Nikita Whitlock who plays bigger then his size. LB Justin Jackson makes a lot of plays behind Whitlock. Merrill Noel (though he needs to be more consistent) and Kevin Johnson are potential lock down type corners as well.
PREDICTION
While Wake does have solid players at all three levels of the defense, there should be no way they (or any other team for that matter) can consistently contain Miami's offense. It's very rare that a team returns its' top 7 offensive lineman. It is even rarer that they have the abilities of Miami's hogs. The question is, how improved will the 'Canes D be? The Deacons are good enough offensively to keep it close for a while. But in the end there is no way I see the Hurricanes losing to a team that is just 19-30 over the last 4 seasons at home. Even with this being a potential trap game, Miami rolls 44-21.