Miami is still going to have to travel to Northwest Ohio with the right mindset. Diontae had 74 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2017. Miami held him to eight receptions for 66 yards in 2017, but he also scored two touchdowns.
The Rockets also return a pair of talented running backs. Shakif Seymour and Art Thompkins combined for over 1,300 yards backing up Terry Swanson who graduated. Seymour also scored 12 touchdowns. Those two will receive a lot more opportunities in 2018. Miami is given an 88.1 percent chance at victory in the FPI.
Miami’s second ACC crossover game this season is at Boston College. The Eagles also have one of the country’s most dangerous players on their team.
A.J. Dillon was seventh in the country and second in the ACC in rushing yards in 2017. His 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns were 12 and four behind former Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson last season.
Dillon should be a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2018 with a duplicate season. The Eagles are coming off of their second consecutive winning season and fourth in the last five years. They have also gone to four bowl games in that same span.
The Eagles are beatable at home. They finished just 3-4 in Chesnut Hill last season. This will be the biggest home game on their schedule in 2018. It’s also a Friday night game.
Ask Clemson about playing Friday night games on the road. The Tigers lost at Syracuse on a Friday night in 2017. Miami has a 62.5 percent chance at victory via the FPI at BC.