Miami Football: Can Hurricanes get back on track vs. NC State?

Miami football looks to reverse trend and get critical win in Raleigh versus a banged-up NC State team after the Hurricanes’ bye week.

Most fans outside of Miami may not know this, but Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz is 0-4 after a bye week with one of those losses being earlier this season to Clemson. This has puzzled many Miami fans, as the team looks unusually flat coming out of bye weeks and that is a trend that must change, starting this Friday night against an NC State team that is also coming off of a bye.

The last we saw Miami, it was struggling to move the ball on Virginia and though it won, it was much more of a fight than the Hurricanes were anticipating.

The running game has been dismal for the past three games for the Hurricanes and the downfield passing attack is just not consistent enough still. Miami should get a boost in its passing game with star tight end Brevin Jordan returning from a shoulder injury sustained in the loss to Clemson.

NC State is a team that is limping into this game.

Quarterback Devin Leary was having a great season, but suffered a major injury in the Wolfpack’s victory over Duke and it will cause him to miss the rest of the season. That has meant that Florida State transfer Bailey Hockman has been the main starter and he has been less than impressive. Freshman quarterback Ben Finley has also gotten snaps, but head coach Dave Doeren said earlier this week that it will be Hockman getting the start on Friday night.

The Wolfpack were being driven by Leary and the passing offense before his injury, but it has been a struggle for the Wolfpack to find an identity in his absence. The running is only OK, and the defense was last seen giving up over 300 yards rushing and over 40 points to North Carolina. The Wolfpack will need to be clicking in order to upset the Hurricanes on Friday night.

Here is how you can watch Miami vs. NC State on Friday night.

Date: Friday, Nov. 6
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Carter-Finley Stadium
Location: Raleigh, N.C
TV:  ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

For the Miami offense, running the ball is going to be the key. The Hurricanes have struggled to run the ball in their last three games and NC State’s run defense has been terrible this season. Getting Cam’Ron Harris going will be vital for the Hurricanes offense this game and going forward.

On defense, Miami’s run defense needs to play well. The Hurricanes have taken a step back statistically in their run defense from last season and I expect that the Wolfpack will try to establish the run with Hockman being under center. If the Hurricanes can force NC State into a lot of passing downs, it will be a long night for the Wolfpack.

For the NC State offense, not turning the ball over and winning time of possession will be the key. They don’t have the firepower to get in a shootout with Miami without Leary under center so going on long drives and putting Hockman in favorable situations is going to be the game plan for the Wolfpack.

For the NC State defense, they have to win at the line of scrimmage. Like Clemson, Pittsburgh and Virginia, NC State needs to stop the Miami running game and force D’Eriq King into long passing downs. Miami does not have elite options on the outside and when you stop the run game, you can stop the offense.

Betting Odds

Odds are provided courtesy of The Action Network

Spread: Miami -11
Over/Under: 58.5

Prediction

If Leary was under center for the Wolfpack, I might be able to pull the trigger on an NC State upset. However, he is injured and his replacements have not been good so far this season.

Miami’s offense has been stagnant the last couple of games and is looking to get back on track against a defense that has not been good at all this season. Miami has a significant edge in quarterback play and I think that will be the difference as D’Eriq King has his best game of the season and the Hurricanes improve to 6-1 on the season and gets a win after their bye week.

Final Score: Miami 38, NC State 14