Five reasons Miami football should be favored in the ACC Coastal

Miami football has an advantageous 2019 schedule

The 2019 Miami football schedule is advantageous for the Hurricanes to get off to a good start. After the season opener in Orlando against Florida, the Hurricanes play at North Carolina two weeks later followed by a five-game homestand. Two of the games at Hard Rock Stadium are against Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Getting the two teams most project Miami to battle with for the ACC Coastal division title at home is a big advantage in the Hurricanes quest for their second ACC Coastal division title in three seasons. Miami won their first and only, ACC Coastal Division title in 2017. Only three starters return from 2017.

Athlon’s Steven Lassan projects Miami, Virginia and Virginia Tech as the tri-favorites to win the Coastal. “Miami, Virginia and Virginia Tech seem to be a step ahead of the rest of the division.”

Athlon’s Kevin McGuire a former colleague of mine stated in the Athlon article that the schedule is the reason he favors Miami to win the Coastal.

"“I look to Manny Diaz to light the spark necessary to elevate Miami to the top of the Coastal by the slimmest of margins, and possibly with the help of some tiebreakers. Getting Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Georgia Tech all at home over a three-week span will be the key for Miami taking the division.”"

Georgia Tech also comes to Hard Rock Stadium as part of the five-game homestand. The Yellow Jackets are coached by Geoff Collins who Diaz was supposed to replace at Temple. Georgia Tech is switching from the triple-option offense of Paul Johnson to a more modern and conventional offense.

Expect Georgia Tech to go through some growing pains in 2019. The Yellow Jackets are the final game of the homestand on October 19. Virginia and Virginia Tech are the two weeks prior to the Yellow Jackets at Hard Rock Stadium. Also included in that stretch are September games versus Bethune-Cookman and Central Michigan.

After the homestand, Miami concludes the 2019 season with four out of their last five games on the road. That stretch includes a bye week and a game at Marlins Park against FIU.