Miami football at North Carolina national expert predictions

The Miami football team plays Saturday at North Carolina in a pivotal game for both teams. Miami and North Carolina began the season ranked in the top 15 nationally. The Hurricanes travel to Chapel Hill 2-3 to play the 3-3 Tar Heels. Winning on Saturday can help turn around their season for the victorious team.

The losing team will continue to be ranked among the most disappointing in college football. If Miami loses to North Carolina the cries for head coach Manny Diaz will grow louder. Miami takes a two-game losing streak against North Carolina to Keenan Stadium on Saturday. The Hurricanes are coming off of a bye week.

Miami lost its last game 30-28 to Virginia on September 30. The Hurricanes won their last two regular-season games coming off of a bye in 2020. Miami lost its first three regular-season games after byes under Diaz. The Miami football team lost 28-25 to the Tar Heels in 2019 coming off its first bye week that season.

Miami has often been a polarizing team nationally. Heading to Chapel Hill a Brad Crawford and Chris Hummer of 247 Sports have more confidence in North Carolina than Miami on Saturday. Miami might have to adopt us against the world mentality that brought the program to prominence in the 1980s.

"MIAMI AT NORTH CAROLINA -6(Chris) Hummer: North Carolina -6; Ah, a battle between the two most disappointing teams in the ACC Coastal. North Carolina has the talent to be a championship contender. The Tar Heels are just bafflingly inconsistent. But you know what? They always seem to respond.Mack Brown’s teams have lost five regular season games the last two years. They won all of those follow ups by double digits. I like the Tar Heels at home against a Miami defense that hasn’t had many answers this year. … North Carolina 35, Miami 28.(Brad) Crawford: North Carolina -6; I feel like an idiot continuing to pick the Tar Heels to cover every week. Mack Brown has burned this column too many times — and keeps blaming the media for his team’s misfortunes! The defense must play better if North Carolina plans to continue to fight in the Coastal Division race.A trip to the league title game for either of these teams is over with a loss. … North Carolina 41, Miami 31."

Far too often in the last 15 years, Miami has lost despite having more talent than its opposition. That was true this season in losses to Michigan State and Virginia. North Carolina is one of a few teams on the 2021 Miami football schedule with similar talent. College Football News provided their preview of the Hurricanes and Tar Heels.

"9. Miami at North CarolinaLINE North Carolina -7.5ATS PICK MiamiI vowed last week after the disaster against Florida State that I would never, ever, ever, ever pick North Carolina to do anything right ever again…I’m picking North Carolina. I know, I shouldn’t be emotional about this, and I shouldn’t pick out of revenge, but it just seems like the Miami thing is about to implode.D’Eriq King is out for the year, the D that gets its groove on the Turnover Chain has a pathetic four takeaways on the year, and if it’s possible to see an entire team collectively look like the drive-through forgot the fries, that last second upright-doink loss to Virginia was it…”"

The line seems to be between six and 7.5 points. WynnBet lists the spread as North Carolina minus seven. That line has not changed since it first came out earlier in the week. Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will be making this third straight start, but first road start of his career in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

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