By Mark Pszonak
The Hurricanes are 6-0, ranked in the top 10 and quarterback Cam Ward is one of the Heisman Trophy frontrunners. With all of this information you would think that everything was going amazingly well in Coral Gables. But after the last two wins against Virginia Tech and Cal, it is times to seriously ask if Miami is actually good or just getting lucky.
Looking back at the first four games of the season, against Florida, Florida A&M, Ball State and USF, the Canes won by an average score of 53.3-10.3. Not many expected the next game against Virginia Tech at home on a Friday night to be a battle to the end, but that is what happened during the 38-34 victory. It was a battle that very well could’ve ended with a loss after a last play completed Hail Mary was very oddly overturned after video review.
But close games happen to every team so personally I didn’t think too much of it. I thought that they would rebound nicely at Cal on Saturday night and show everyone that the Virginia Tech game was just a hiccup that can happen during a long, grueling season.
However, they didn’t show me that. The Hurricanes needed a miracle comeback in the 4th quarter to pull off the 39-38 victory against a mediocre Cal team that only managed 9 points in their last game against Florida State. And again, the refs made a curious call/non-call as during Miami’s game winning touchdown throw most of the offensive line was at least five yards passed the line-of-scrimmage – better known as an illegal man downfield penalty.
So, can the Canes still be considered good or are they the luckiest team in the country that will likely run out of that luck sooner than later? From what they’ve shown the last two games, or not shown, I’m more confident in saying that the losses are coming.
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Miami finishes the season with a tricky game at Syracuse at home but next travels to Louisville to face a wounded and desperate Cardinals team. But with how they’ve played during their last two wins, no remaining game should be considered a guaranteed victory.
And yes, I’ve seen the conspiracy theories about ACC refs pandering for Miami in order to place them in prime position for a playoff spot. I’m far from a conspiracy person, but I also don’t blame whoever wants to think that after watching the last two games.
What was shaping up as a huge season in Coral Gables is now teetering on crumbling. And while that may be odd to say about a team that is 6-0, only Canes’ fans might disagree at this point.
