Miami Hurricanes should be able to produce turnover chain versus Oklahoma State
The Miami Hurricanes will face an Oklahoma State team in the Cheeze-it Bowl that ranks 75th nationally in turnover margin.
Oklahoma State had 16 turnovers in 10 games this season. The Cowboys finished 75th in turnover margin with an average deficit of 0.2 per game. Oklahoma State quarterbacks threw 10 interceptions and the Cowboys lost six fumbles this season. The Miami Hurricanes have only seven interceptions entering the Cheez-it Bowl.
The Hurricanes ranked 76th nationally with their average of 0.7 interceptions per game. Miami forced multiple turnovers in every game this season but the opener against UAB and North Carolina. Miami forced multiple turnovers against Louisville, Florida State and Duke. Those three games accounted for 11 turnovers.
Miami forced 16 turnovers for the entire season. The Hurricanes forced three each against Louisville and Florida State and five against Duke. Oklahoma State committed multiple turnovers in five of their 10 games in 2020. The season highs for the Cowboys were four against Texas and three against Texas Tech.
Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders who missed the first two games of the 2020 season finished with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Miami had three interceptions against Florida State in September. That was the only game the Hurricanes forced more than two interceptions in 2020.
Miami was more adept at forcing fumbles with nine recoveries than the seven interceptions they had this season. Al Blades Jr. led Miami with two as the only Hurricanes player with multiple interceptions. Miami has not been as prolific forcing turnovers since the debut of the turnover chain in 2017.
Oklahoma State is 58th in scoring offense and 40th with 427.7 total yards per game. The Miami defense is not likely to be as challenged against the Cowboys as they were against North Carolina. Forcing turnovers could be key as it has benefitted the Miami offense as it did in their three highest-scoring games of 2020.
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The Hurricanes won 47-34 against Louisville, 52-10 against Florida State and 48-0 versus Duke in the three games Miami forced multiple turnovers. Miami is not likely to defeat Oklahoma State in a blow. One of the Hurricanes best paths to victory against the Cowboys is by forcing multiple turnovers.