Miami (6-4) vs. Louisville (9-1), Saturday, Noon, Hard Rock Stadium, ABC
Latest line: Louisville is favored by 1 point
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist: Louisville 24, Miami 17
Some ACC team was bound to break out of the pack with Florida State and 10th-ranked Louisville has done it. Until Miami fixes its offense, it’s hard to see it scoring enough to win against good teams. Miami’s defense, however, had an inspired effort in last week’s loss at FSU, holding the Seminoles to their second-fewest number of points and second-fewest offensive yards (322) in a game this year. UM also racked up three sacks and nine tackles for loss.
Adam Lichtenstein, Hurricanes Writer: Louisville 27, Miami 24
The Cardinals are 9-1 and the Hurricanes are 6-4. That should mean this will be a lopsided contest in favor of the visitors. But not much truly separates these teams. Louisville has excelled in its first year under Jeff Brohm, but the Cardinals dropped a game to a bad Pittsburgh team and played close games against other middle-of-the-road teams. If Miami can get average quarterback play from Tyler Van Dyke, they will be very much in this game. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, that is not guaranteed.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor: Louisville 27, Miami 23
Louisville is one win away from clinching a spot in the ACC title game, but it is coming off one of its worst defensive performances of the season against Virginia. The Cardinals, who will get an extra couple days to prepare for UM after playing a Thursday night game, rallied for 17 fourth-quarter points to beat Virginia 31-24 on Nov. 9. Miami’s embattled quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who lost his starting job to freshman Emory Williams, will get a chance to redeem himself after throwing 11 interceptions in his last five games. The Hurricanes, who are just 2-4 against ACC opponents, play their final home game. UM, which controlled both lines of scrimmage for most of the game in last week’s loss at FSU, should keep the game close, but Louisville may prove to be too much.
