TV info, odds, keys vs. Clemson
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Latest line: Clemson is favored by 3 points
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 560 WQAM, 1260 AM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Weather: 85 degrees, 3 percent chance of precipitation
Online: sunsentinel.com/um
Quick slant: The Hurricanes will need to dig themselves out of a hole after dropping back-to-back games to start their ACC slate. Clemson, on the other hand, is looking to extend its winning streak to three games after the Tigers had last week off. The Hurricanes have lost four straight games against the Tigers and have not beaten them at home since 1956.
About Miami (4-2, 0-2 ACC): Miami shot itself in the foot several times against North Carolina, which proved costly in the 10-point loss. The Hurricanes are winless in the ACC, and Mario Cristobal has not picked up a home conference win since arriving at UM. Miami will try to break that skid this week.
About Clemson (4-2, 2-2 ACC): The Tigers dropped a pair of games against two of the ACC’s top teams, Florida State and Duke, but have beaten up some other opponents. Prior to their bye week, the Tigers beat Wake Forest 17-12.
Three things to watch
1. The Hurricanes need to stop making costly mistakes. The decision not to take a knee cost them a sure win against Georgia Tech. They did not have errors with that kind of gravity against UNC, but linebacker Keontra Smith and defensive coordinator Lance Guidry each had critical unsportsmanlike conduct penalties called against them that gave the Tar Heels fresh sets of downs after Miami got third-down stops. Guidry’s penalty set up a touchdown.
2. UM’s run defense struggled in its loss to UNC last weekend. North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton gashed Miami’s defense for 197 yards, and he scored one rushing touchdown. The Hurricanes have another tough task this week in stopping Clemson running back Will Shipley. The Tigers junior has 450 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 91 carries. Despite their struggles last week, the Hurricanes are ranked 10th in the nation in rush defense, so it would not be surprising to see them bounce back this week.
3. Miami will not just need to improve its run defense this week. The Hurricanes will also look to improve their running game. UNC held Miami to 91 rushing yards, its second-lowest total of the year. The Hurricanes also managed just 3.37 yards per carry against the Tar Heels, which was also their second-lowest average of the season. Miami’s offense has worked well when the passing and running game have been complementary and worked in sync. Unfortunately for UM, Clemson has the No. 9 run defense in the nation.
