The Miami football team enters its season opener against Alabama as a 19.5 point underdog according to WynnBet where you can make your pick now. Miami was an 18.5 point underdog with most opening lines. The betting public favors Alabama significantly less than 48 hours before kickoff at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Barrett Sallee of CBS wrote on Wednesday “Alabama vs. Miami: Why the Hurricanes may catch the heavily favored Crimson Tide by surprise.” Miami returns 19 starters, 10 on offense against an Alabama team that has to replace the majority of their position starters on offense. That could make a difference.
Miami has to get off to a good start. The Hurricanes were significantly outplayed in the first quarter of their three losses last season. Clemson, North Carolina and Oklahoma State outscored Miami 49-3 in the first quarter. If Miami digs themselves into a similar hole against Alabama the game will get out of hand quickly.
Sallee questions if Alabama should be favored by 19.5 points over Miami. The game matches the top-ranked Crimson Tide against 14th ranked Miami. A point spread that high is a testament to the success Alabama has had and the public’s skepticism hearing that Miami should be among the elite teams in 2021. Sallee elaborated:
"“Should Alabama be favored by nearly three touchdowns? Forget covering, does Miami have a chance to win on Saturday? The Canes aren’t some scrub opponent with no talent and horrible coaching. This isn’t Bishop Sycamore High School facing IMG Academy.Miami has plenty of tools to at least make this interesting into the fourth quarter. Super-senior quarterback D’Eriq King is back…which should concern Alabama’s defense in a big way…It’s no secret that Alabama’s defense has struggled against mobile quarterbacks at various times during coach Nick Saban’s tenure.Yes, this Alabama defense is going to be filthy. It has superstar linebackers Will Anderson Jr and Christian Harris along with an ultra-experienced defensive backfield. The Tide literally have more talent than any team in the country, according to 247Sports.But King vs. Bama’s defense is a true strength vs. strength heavyweight fight. Both sides will land their fair share of haymakers. (Miami) offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee is back for his second year and can claim success against a Saban-coached defense from his time in this role at Auburn, particularly from 2013-14.If King and Lashlee can pop a few big plays, especially early, it’ll put a ton of pressure on the young and inexperienced Tide offense to play catch-up.”"
The Lashlee-led Auburn offense combined for 78 points in 2013 and 2014 with mobile quarterback Nick Marshall. King is a far better passer than the Marshall plan. Saban limited Auburn to 25 points combined in 2015 and ’16 in Lashlee’s final two seasons as Auburn’s offensive coordinator.
The key for the Miami offense will be to create big plays. Miami added wide receiver, Charleston Rambo, as a transfer from Oklahoma to improve the deep passing game. That was sorely missing from 2020. Big plays, creating and avoiding turnovers will be keys for the Miami football team to have a chance to pull the big upset.
If the Miami football team can get to the fourth quarter in a close game it might have the advantage. Alabama has far more pressure to win than Miami does. Virtually no one expects Miami to win. With young players at the skill positions on offense, pressure will be heightened for Miami. Hopefully, Miami’s experience will help.