Miami football: Favorable ACC schedule should continue thriving offense

The vastly improved offense for the Miami football team should continue thriving with a favorable ACC schedule beginning October 7 versus Georgia Tech. Miami avoids the top two scoring defenses in the ACC, Duke and Syracuse while the Hurricanes play the three worst defenses, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Virginia.

Georgia Tech is 12th in the ACC allowing 29 points per game. Miami hosts Virginia on October 28 and plays at Boston College to finish the regular season on November 24. Boston College is 13th in the ACC allowing 35.5 points per game and Virginia is last allowing a gaudy 37.8 points per game.

Duke leads the ACC allowing 8.8 PPG and Syracuse is second at 10.8 PPG. The Miami football team is third in the ACC defensively allowing 12.8 PPG. Texas A&M scored 33 of the 50 points Miami allowed this season in a 48-33 Hurricanes win on September 9. Miami is second in the ACC averaging 519.0 total yards per game.

Louisville, who Miami hosts on November 18, is first in the ACC averaging 542.0 total yards per game. Miami plays the bottom six defenses in the ACC this season. Louisville is ninth in the ACC in total defense. The others, ranked ninth through 14 are North Carolina, Florida State, Boston College, Virginia and Georgia Tech.

Louisville allows 359.5 total yards per game, North Carolina 359.5, Florida State 400.8, Boston College 417.0, Virginia 418.5 and Georgia Tech 425.3. Miami also plays Clemson who leads the ACC allowing 262.8 yards per game. Pittsburgh, whom Miami does not play this year is second in the ACC allowing 270.3 YPG.

The other team on the 2023 Miami schedule is North Carolina State. The Wolfpack are sixth in the ACC allowing 326.0 YPG. Miami is third in the ACC allowing 273.0 YPG. Miami avoids the fourth (Syracuse), fifth (Duke), seventh (Wake Forest) and eighth (Virginia Tech) best teams in the ACC in total defense.

Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has adapted well to his opponents this season. The Hurricanes are second in the ACC averaging 222.50 rushing yards per game. Louisville is first averaging 237.25 rushing YPG. Miami is third in the ACC averaging 296.5 passing YPG. Louisville leads the ACC averaging 304.8 passing YPG.

Miami leads the ACC allowing 48.0 rushing YPG. Clemson is second allowing 79.0 rushing YPG. Miami avoids the third (Syracuse), fourth (Wake Forest) and fifth (Pittsburgh) best-run defenses in the ACC. The Hurricanes will play three of the four worst ACC run defenses in Virginia, Boston College and Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech is last in the ACC allowing an astounding 236.50 rushing yards per game. FCS South Carolina State had the lowest total against Georgia Tech this season with 196 rushing yards. Miami should continue to thrive on the ground versus Georgia Tech. Miami has run for at least 240 yards in three of its four 2023 games.

Miami plays the four worst ACC pass defenses and five of the bottom six in the conference. North Carolina is 11th allowing 238.8 passing YPG, Virginia is 12th at 240.5 YPG, Louisville is 13th at 244.8 YPG and Florida State is 14th at 272.0 YPG. Boston College is ninth in the ACC allowing 228.0 passing YPG.

Miami leads the ACC with a 192.92 passer rating and 75.4 completion percentage. The Hurricanes did not have to accumulate elite passing numbers in wins over Miami (Ohio) in the season opener and Temple last week earning victories. Miami showed the ability to rely on the pass beating Texas A&M with a season-high 374 yards.

Dawson has been exceptional this season calling the Miami offense. Miami has improved significantly offensively and should continue to thrive versus defenses that have struggled this season. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is playing at a higher level than 2021 when he was the ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year.