Miami football preparing for inconsistent North Carolina team

The Miami football team will prepare for North Carolina this week who has been just as inconsistent as they have been this season. Miami is coming off their bye week. The Hurricanes have not played since a September 30 loss to Virginia. North Carolina has a win over Duke and loss to Florida State the last two weekends.

North Carolina averages 587.0 total yards per game in wins, 359 in losses. The Tar Heels will be playing their sixth straight game at home. North Carolina began the season at Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels average 481.5 yards per game at home. Virginia Tech held North Carolina to a season-low 354 yards in a 17-10 victory.

The North Carolina defense has been closer to the norm. North Carolina is allowing 384.3 yards in wins and 357.7 per game in losses. In their 35-25 loss to Florida State on Saturday, North Carolina had 432 yards of total offense, but too often hurt themselves. The Tar Heels had 12 penalties for 110 yards.

Florida State took control of the game in the second quarter. The Seminoles’ offense shredded the Tar Heels’ defense for 192 yards, 135 rushing to flip a 10-0 deficit into a 21-10 halftime lead. Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was 5-5 for 57 yards and two TDs and ran five times for 78 yards in the second quarter alone.

Miami needs to get off to a good start and keep up the pressure on North Carolina. North Carolina is 113th in FBS allowing 11.5 points per game in the second quarter. Florida State kept the North Carolina offense off the field by going 4-4 on third down and having a 9:37 to 5:23 time of possession advantage.

North Carolina allowed Florida State to finish the game 7-10 on third down. The Tar Heels offense was 7-13. North Carolina is 73rd nationally allowing opponents to convert 38.75 percent of their third-down attempts. The Miami football team is 61st on offense converting 40.85 percent of their third downs on offense.

Virginia is the only common opponent for Miami and North Carolina this season. North Carolina outgained the Cavaliers 699-574 in a 59-39 victory. Miami was outgained by Virginia 449-372 in a 30-28 loss. The Miami offense was able to wear down Virginia. Miami needs to be consistent through four quarters.

The Miami offense played much better in the second half against Virginia. Tyler Van Dyke will be the Miami QB going forward with the announcement by head coach Manny Diaz on Monday morning that D’Eriq King is out for the season. VanDyke was 11-18 for 140 yards and had a 24- yard TD run in the second half against Virginia.

Miami needs more consistency from Van Dyke. It’s Van Dyke’s offense now. Van Dyke brings a different skill set than King did, he is not nearly the runner King was. Backup Jake Garcia had ankle surgery and is out through at least next month. The Miami football team can right its season beginning Saturday against North Carolina.