CBS Sports columnist picks Miami football against the win total

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports projects the Miami football team to finish under the 9.5 wins projected for them in 2024. Patterson wrote about the “2024 ACC win totals, odds, picks: Clemson, Florida State have highest number, Virginia Tech plays dark horse.” in a post on Friday.

Miami is the consensus third pick in the ACC behind Clemson and Florida State. The season opener at Florida will tell us a lot about Miami early. Patterson projects Miami to lose the season opener at Florida. There are some surprises in the projections from Patterson. Miami has been unpredictable for the last 20 seasons.

Too often in the last 20 years, Miami has lost games it’s projected to win. It has almost become a yearly occurrence and often more than that for Miami to lose a game it’s favored to win. To become a contender in the ACC in 2024, Miami has to win the games it will be favored in.

If Miami can win the season opener at Florida they have an excellent chance to enter ACC play 4-0. Miami will host Florida A&M and Ball State before finishing non-conference play at South Florida. Miami begins ACC play on Friday, September 27 versus Virginia Tech. Patterson projects a Miami loss to the Hokies.

“Miami
Over/Under 9.5 wins

Wins: Florida A&M, Ball State, at USF, at Cal, Florida State, Duke, at Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, at Syracuse
Losses: at Florida, Virginia Tech, at Louisville

Analysis: Quarterback Cam Ward is far from the only star that Mario Cristobal added during the offseason…Miami has one of the best rosters in the ACC, but failing to deliver results…has been a trend for much the Hurricanes’ ACC tenure since 2004. Projecting a 6-2 record in ACC play is more comfortable than correctly identifying the wins and losses…if you think this goes over, then it starts with winning the opener against the Gators. Under 9.5 wins (-170) “

– Chip Patterson, CBS Sports

The picks from Patterson vary somewhat from most other projections. The consensus for Miami in 2024 seems to be 10-2 with losses at Louisville and versus Florida State. If Miami can gain a split versus Florida State and Louisville and win out they should be in the driver’s seat for an ACC Championship game berth.

With the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, Miami should be a contender to earn a berth in that with their roster. Miami signed the 10th-best 2024 transfer class led by Ward and running back Damien Martinez. The Hurricanes should have one of the most dynamic offenses in the country in 2024.

In addition to Ward and Martinez, wide receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George will be joined by Houston transfer Sam Brown to provide Miami with one of the best pass-catching trios at least in the ACC. On defense, Miami will have an elite front seven led by edge rusher Rueben Bain and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa.

The schedule sets up for Miami to at least get nine wins. Miami will likely be an underdog at Florida and Louisville and versus Florida State. The Hurricanes should be favored in their other nine games. Miami has a better roster than Florida. If Miami can open the season with a win at Florida, 10 wins is very much in reach.