Upset Alert College Football Week 5

#14 Miami vs Duke, 7:00pm; Friday

There are a few teams on the upset list for this week. #14 Miami plays the Duke Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina. Miami returns to Durham after playing in a shootout game versus Toledo last week. Fridays meeting in Durham will be the first time Miami has returned to Durham since the 8-lateral game winning kick return in 2015.

That 2015 game was also the first time Miami quarterback, Malik Roiser, started a college football game before this season. Malik had come into the game as the starter due to the injury former Miami Hurricane quarterback, Brad Kaaya, had suffered in the week prior to the game versus Duke.

Miami are on a serious upset alert because of lack of competitive opponents. This will be Miami’s first conference game and third game of the season. Miami had cancelled their second game of the season against Arkansas State due to the massive hurricane Irma that was expected to hut Miami.

Another reason why Miami are on upset alert has everything to do with Miami’s secondary. Miami was expected to have a good secondary with graduate transfer, Dee Delaney, but Delaney has been the total opposite. He has looked like an easy target for quarterbacks to pick on. He has given up yard after yard to receivers, and with Dukes talented quarterback, Daniel Jones, Duke are expected to take full advantage of the Hurricanes weakest link.

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As for Miami, the Canes are solid in almost every other position. The D-line are the bread and butter for the Canes defense, along with the linebackers. Quarterman, Pickney, and McCloud should be able to contain the mobile quarterback if their conditioning is back to normal.

Last week Miami players had a hard time staying on the field do to a lack of conditioning. Obviously, we can’t blame the players or the coaches for not being in tip top shape, so it will be interesting to see if the what the Canes look like after a short week.

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Miami will rely heavily on their run game. Miami running back, Mark Walton, has rushed for 352 yards on just 27 carries; that is 13 yards per carry. Walton will not be the only player running the ball. Back-up running back, Travis Homer, has been a site to see. 140 yards on just 19 carries, and that is 7.4 yards per carry. Malik Rosier has also touched the ball some. He has run for only 52 yards, which is mainly because of the solid offensive line the Canes have displayed so far.

Prediction:

#14 Miami: 46

Duke: 28

 

#2 Clemson vs #12 Virginia Tech, 7:00pm; Saturday

The ACC is not done yet with pressing the upset button. #2 Clemson goes to Blacksburg, Virginia to play against #12 Virginia Tech. Lane Stadium is one of the toughest stadiums to play in for visiting opponents. Lane Stadium has been waiting for a big-time game to host. It seems like it has been ages since Michael Vick held the college football world in the palm of his hand. Now, the big games are back.

Clemson comes into this game as the defending national champions and ACC champions. This game wasn’t played too long ago. Clemson beat Virginia tech last season for the ACC title game. It is no surprise that they would meet again in primetime.

Clemson are on upset alert because Clemson usually slip up in one game each season, so why would it not be the Hokies.  Kelly Bryant has played ok so far, this season. He has thrown for 873 yards, but has only thrown 2 touchdowns. Going into Saturdays match-up, Bryant will have more interceptions (3) than thrown touchdowns. Bryant has also been sacked 10 times already this season.

Bryant makes up his lack of passing touchdowns with his dynamic ability to scramble and make plays with his legs. Bryant has 7 touchdowns so far, this season.

Virginia Tech has their own dynamic quarterback, Josh Jackson. The true freshman from Ann Arbor, Michigan has already thrown for over 1,000 yards and more than 10 touchdowns through the air. But the best stat from all those yards and touchdowns thrown are the lack of interceptions. Jackson has thrown only 1.

Jackson has a 65.2% completion rate, QB rate of 177.4, and has been only sacked 4 times. If Virginia Tech wins, it will be because Jackson put the team on his back and lead them to it.

Clemson will be Virginia Tech’s toughest opponent to date. The last time Tech had a true challenge was against West Virginia, and that was Jackson’s first game of the season. Virginia Tech won that game 31-24, since that game Tech has shut out two over matched opponents, and blew out ECU, 64-17.

Prediction:

#2 Clemson: 49

#12 Virginia Tech: 21

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