Wake Forest Demon Deacons at #7 Miami Hurricanes
Sun Life Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
Saturday, October, 26, 2013, 12:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Miami -23
Current Line: Miami -23 1/2
Opening Total: 55
Current Total: 54
Opening Money Line: Miami -3000 / Wake Forest +1500
Current Money Line: Miami -3000 / Wake Forest +1500
The 6-0 Miami Hurricanes are #7 in the first BCS standings released last Sunday. The Hurricanes are one of 10 undefeated teams left in FBS football and are 2-0 in the ACC. The Hurricanes are a half game behind 3-0 Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division. Miami looks to remain unbeaten as they host the 4-3 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Saturday. Wake Forest is 2-2 in the ACC Atlantic Division. Miami leads the series 7-3 against Wake Forest and has won six straight games in the series. Miami won the last meeting in 2009 in Winston-Salem.
Wake Forest is coached by Jim Grobe. The Demon Deacons have home wins over Presbyterian 31-7, NC State 28-13 and last week at Maryland 34-10, along with a road win at Army 25-11. Wake has won two straight games. Wake Forest has road losses at Boston College 24-10 and Clemson 56-7, along with a home loss to Louisiana-Monroe 21-19. The Demon Deacons are 3-4 ATS and the total is 1-6 this season. Wake Forest was a 4.5 point home underdog against Maryland and the game stayed under the 52.5 point total.
Wake Forest jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead against Maryland. Maryland pulled to within 24-10 midway through the third but would not score again. The Demon Deacons went on to win 34-10. Wake Forest had 307 total yards including 260 passing yards and just 16 first downs. Maryland had 383 total yards including 344 passing yards. The Terrapins had 3 turnovers and Wake Forest had none.
Wake Forest is outscoring teams 22-20 this season. Wake is #102 nationally in scoring out of 125 teams and #24 in points allowed. The Demon Deacons are averaging 321.4 yards per game on offense including 220.3 passing yards and 101.1 rushing yards. Wake is #114 in total offense and rushing. On defense, the Deacons are allowing 367.7 total yards per game, including 225.9 passing yards per game and 141.9 rushing yards. Wake Forest is +5 in turnovers and forced 16 turnovers this season. The Demon Deacons are averaging 47 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 38. Wake is 40/109 on third and fourth down conversions, and opponents are 50/127. The Deacons have forced 15 sacks and allowed 13. Wake Forest is 16/21 scoring in the red zone with 12 touchdowns, and opponents are 19/25 with 12 touchdowns. Wake has one pick six this season.
Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price has completed 60.2% of his passes for 1,476 yards with 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, along with 75 carries for 163 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Josh Harris has 65 carries, 218 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 10 catches. Receiver Michael Campanero has 54 catches, 705 yards and 5 touchdowns Campanero even threw a touchdown pass to Price. Jonathan Williams has 13 catches for 206 yards. Orville Reynolds has 9 catches, 131 yards and 2 touchdowns. Spencer Bishop and Jared Crump also get significant catches. Linebacker Zachary Allen (disciplinary) is questionable Saturday.
Miami is coached by Al Golden. The Hurricanes have home wins over Florida Atlantic 34-6, Florida 21-16, Savannah State 77-7, and Georgia Tech 45-30. Miami also won at South Florida 49-31 and 27-23 at North Carolina last Thursday night. The Hurricanes are 4-2 ATS and the total is 3-3 this season. Miami was a 9.5 point favorite on the road at North Carolina and the total was 65.5.
Miami got off to a sluggish start against North Carolina, as they were trailing 17-13 at halftime. The Hurricanes could only manage two field goals and a blocked field goal returned 67 yards for a touchdown. North Carolina would expand the lead to 23-13 early in the fourth and it looked like Miami would fall victim to the upset bug that has hit college football the last two weeks. However, Miami would score two fourth quarter touchdowns on 3 yard runs from running back Dallas Crawford including the game winner with 11 seconds left to make the final 27-23. The Hurricanes had 556 total yards including 322 passing and 234 rushing yards. The Tar Heels had 500 total yards including 395 passing yards. Miami had 4 turnovers and North Carolina had 2.
Miami is outscoring teams 42-17 this season. The Hurricanes are #13 nationally in scoring and #11 in points allowed. Miami is averaging 499.8 total yards including 282.7 passing yards and 217.2 rushing yards. The Hurricanes are 28th or better nationally in all three categories. Miami is allowing 343.3 yards per game on defense including the nation’s 14th best pass defense at 184.5 yards per game and 158.8 rushing yards. The Hurricanes are #21 in total defense. Miami is +4 in turnovers with 18 takeaways. The Hurricanes are averaging 55 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 32. Miami is 33/79 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 33/105. Miami has forced 20 sacks and allowed 5 this season. The Hurricanes are 26/34 scoring in the red zone with 222 touchdowns and opponents are 13/8 with 7 touchdowns. Miami has 4 defensive/special teams touchdowns this season and has allowed one pick six this season.
Miami quarterback Stephen Morris has completed 59.7% of his passes for 1,272 yards with 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Back-up Ryan Williams could see a few snaps and has completed 71% of his passes for 369 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception. Running back Duke Johnson has 92 carries, 655 yards with 4 touchdowns, along with 4 catches for 77 yards. He is questionable with a concussion.Dallas Crawford has 58 carries for 256 yards with 9 touchdowns, along with 5 catches with a touchdown grab. Gus Edwards has 29 carries for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Eduardo Clements has 19 carries for 125 yards.
Receiver Allan Hurns has 26 catches, 481 yards and 2 touchdowns along with 13 rushing yards. Stacy Coley has 15 catches, 226 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with a kick return for a touchdown. Phillip Dorsett (son of legendary NFL running back Tony) has 13 catches, 272 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is questionable with a knee injury. Herb Waters has 12 catches, 224 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 2 carries, 58 yards and rushing touchdown. Clive Walford has 13 catches, 211 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rashawn Scott is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Three offensive linemen are out for the season or indefinitely.
Wake Forest is 4-1 ATS in October, 5-2 after allowing 280 passing yards or more, 5-11 on grass, 3-7 overall, 2-6 after a cover, 4-13-1 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 2-8 against teams with winning records, 1-4 in road games and after allowing 20 points or less, 1-6 after a straight up win, and 2-14 against teams with winning home records.
Miami is 7-0 ATS after gaining 450 total yards or more, 5-0 against teams with winning records, 8-1 at home, 6-1 after a straight up win, 5-1 after failing to cover, 14-3 in ACC games and after allowing 450 total yards or more, 4-1 against teams with winning road records, 18-6 on grass, 19-7 overall, and 7-3 after allowing 280 passing yards or more.
Wake Forest has been playing much better on offense the last two weeks in double digit wins over North Carolina State and Wake Forest. Neither one of those teams are close to the caliber of Miami though. The Hurricanes should roll in this game, but be careful as Miami has showdowns with Florida State and Virginia Tech coming up in the next two weeks. The Hurricanes shouldn’t overlook Wake Forest after the Hurricanes barely escaped with a victory last week against a bad North Carolina team.
