Miami football 2019 national predictions vary greatly

Sports Illustrated, who is a partner site to CanesWarning, is one of the few national media websites covering college football that have Miami ranked in the top 25. SI has the Hurricanes 22nd nationally. They are one spot behind Iowa State and ahead of Michigan State.

"“22. MIAMI The Hurricanes built up some buzz this spring after the return of Manny Diaz sparked a flurry of transfer portal activity, headlined by the arrival of former Ohio State QB Tate Martell, who won his case to become immediately eligible but will still have to win the quarterback gig over N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams. Martell didn’t look impressive at all during the spring game, but that’s to be expected for a newcomer. Improvement on the offensive line would go a long way for whoever wins the job before the August 24 opener against Florida.”"

Scooby Axson who wrote the SI post is off in his analysis of Martell. The former Buckeye played awful in Miami’s second scrimmage of the spring at Traz Powell Stadium. The Hurricanes actual spring game was a week later in Orlando. Martell was 6-10, 154 yards and two touchdowns in the Hurricanes actual spring game.

Miami skyrocketed from the season-ending 2018 rankings through the spring rankings for the College Football News. Publisher Pete Fiutak has the Hurricanes 13th in his rankings released April 2. Miami was 60th in CFN’s rankings at the end of 2018. The rankings were released before all three of Miami’s spring scrimmages.

"“13. Miami Hurricanes The 2017 team fattened up on a relatively easy schedule, but the 2018 team underachieved. This year’s squad under new head coach Manny Diaz should bounce back fast. Ohio State transfer Tate Martell is a huge upgrade at quarterback and the receiving corps is fantastic, but the line has to be better. The defense – led by one of the nation’s best linebacking corps – is going to be a Turnover Chain-filled killer. 2019 Spring Prediction: 9-3 2018 Final Record: 7-6 2018 CFN Final Season Ranking: 60 – 2019 Schedule Analysis”"

Fiutak and CFN have Miami as the second highest ranked team in the ACC and in Florida. The Hurricanes season-opening opponent Florida Gators are ranked eighth and Clemson is second. Miami is unquestionably much closer to Fiutak’s 13 national rankings than the 54th national ranking that CBS has the Hurricanes at.