CBS Sports bold prediction Miami football wins ACC Coastal

CBS Sports examined “ACC spring football overreactions: Clemson’s offense bounces back, Miami gets off to hot start under Cristobal.” The overreaction according to CBS is predicting the Miami football team to win the ACC Coastal Division. Miami and Pittsburgh should be the early preseason favorites in the ACC Coastal.

Pittsburgh is the defending ACC Champion. The Panthers have to replace ACC Player of the Year quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett was the only QB selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Miami football team returns QB Tyler Van Dyke who will be one of the preseason favorites for ACC Player of the Year.

Miami signed the 16th best freshmen class and eighth-best among transfers. Many of the 11 transfers Miami signed will be expected to start and make an impact. The 2022 schedule with the exception of playing at Texas A&M week three provides Miami with a chance to get off to a good start.

Miami hosts Bethune-Cookman in the season opener, Southern Mississippi week two and Middle Tennessee State after playing at Texas A&M. Mario Crisobal is one of four first-year head coaches in the ACC Coastal. Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and North Carolina are the only Coastal schools with returning coaches.

Miami
The Hurricanes will win the ACC Coastal crown: First-year coach Mario Cristobal did well enough in the transfer portal over the last few months that this team should be able to build off last season’s 5-3 ACC mark.

The Canes, which return budding star Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback, finished second in the Coastal last season behind Pitt. However, the Panthers are replacing star quarterback Kenny Pickett, most of their offensive staff and (potentially) star receiver Jordan Addison.

And there is nothing particularly frightening about the other teams in the division.

Miami has to play Clemson in their other ACC crossover game other than Florida State. The Hurricanes host North Carolina and Pittsburgh in games that could decide the Coastal Division. North Carolina has to replace QB Sam Howell who is the all-time leading passer in program history.

Miami has lost three in a row to North Carolina. Defeating North Carolina and Pittsburgh would significantly increase the chance for Miami to win the Coastal. Virginia returns QB Brennan Armstong, won at Miami last season and hosts the Hurricanes in 2022. Mario Cristobal has generated excitment in Coral Gables.