The Miami Hurricanes defense will be challenged by the offenses of North Carolina and Wake Forest in its next two games.
The Miami Hurricanes will play two of the best offenses in the ACC in its next two games against North Carolina and Wake Forest. The Miami secondary will be particularly challenged by the second and third-best passing offenses in the ACC of the Tar Heels and Demon Deacons. North Carolina defeated Wake Forest 59-53.
North Carolina leads the ACC averaging 563.4 total yards per game. Wake Forest is fifth in the ACC averaging 447.3 yards per game. The Tar Heels are equally dangerous running or passing. North Carolina is second in the ACC in rushing and passing. UNC averages 329.9 passing yards per game and 233.5 rushing yards per game.
Wake Forest is averaging 275.4 passing yards per game and is sixth in the ACC averaging 182 rushing yards per game. North Carolina is second in the ACC in scoring offense averaging 43.1 points per game. Wake Forest third in the ACC in scoring averaging 39.1 PPG. Miami is fifth averaging 33.3 PPG.
Miami is fourth in the ACC allowing 24.4 PPG, fifth in the ACC in total defense allowing 389.9 yards per game, fifth in the ACC allowing 149.5 RuYPG and seventh in the ACC allowing 240.4 passing yards per game. The Hurricanes secondary is going to have to tighten up against Wake Forest and North Carolina.
Football Outsiders: Available Yardage Percentage
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Offense
1. North Carolina
2. Notre Dame
3. Clemson
-
13. Florida State
14. Pitt
15. Syracuse
Defense
1. Clemson
2. Notre Dame
3. Pitt
-
13. Wake Forest
14. Louisville
15. Florida State
The Miami Hurricanes defense has been stout for most of the last four games. Miami has held three of its last four opponents to less than 400 yards and 24 or fewer points. The only exception was 410 yards allowed and 34 points by the defense in a 44-41 victory over North Carolina State.
Miami held a Virginia Tech rushing offense that entered their contest averaging 277.42 yards per game to 160 yards on the ground. The challenge will be similar against North Carolina. The difference against the Tar Heels is that if Miami controls the UNC running game, Sam Howell can beat the Hurricanes through the air.
Wake Forest has been good running but doesn’t pose the same challenge that North Carolina will. If Miami can take away the passing game from Wake Forest and made the Demon Deacons beat them running it will put more pressure on their offense. The Miami defense has two of its three toughest tests in 2020 upcoming.