No. 4 Miami Hurricanes at Clemson: TV info, odds, keys
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When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
TV: ABC
Coaches: Mario Cristobal is 39-19 at UM, 101-79 overall; Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is 190-54
Line: Miami is favored by 16.5 points
Weather: 78 degrees, 49 percent chance of rain
Quick slant: Miami gets a big road test this weekend as it faces Clemson in “Death Valley” in primetime. The Hurricanes have not won at Clemson since 2010 and are 0-1 there under Cristobal.
About No. 4 Miami (4-0, 2-0 ACC): The Hurricanes have started the season hot, and their offense is one of the nation’s best. Miami is third nationally in points per game and first in yards per game. The defense is playing well, too, ranking fourth in points allowed per game, first in rushing defense and second in yards allowed per game.
About Clemson (3-1, 2-0 ACC): Clemson has struggled on offense this season, ranking 120th with just 21 points per game. The defense has been better, ranking 63rd with 22 points allowed per game. Since suffering a season-opening blowout against LSU, the Tigers have won three straight games.
Three things to watch
1. The one aspect of offense where Clemson has not struggled is running the ball. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds can make things happen on the ground, and starting running back Gideon Davidson has 346 yards, averaging 5.86 yards per carry. Fortunately for Miami, the Hurricanes boast the nation’s top rushing defense early in the season. Miami has not allowed more than 78 yards in a game all season.
2. The Hurricanes are expected to get key players back on the field for Saturday’s game. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. and cornerback Damari Brown were all kept out of UM’s win against Central Michigan after suffering minor injuries against Wake Forest. Cristobal said all three are expected to play this week, and neither player was listed on the Hurricanes’ initial conference availability report. Miami should also have defensive lineman Armondo Blount back after he sustained an injury against CMU, and Cristobal also said it was possible injured cornerback Xavier Lucas could return after missing the last three games.
3. Miami still seems to be searching for its best combination of offensive linemen. Last week, the Hurricanes rotated freshman Ben Congdon and Jamal Meriweather in at left and right guard, respectively, with the first-team offense. They also played touted freshman Jackson Cantwell at tackle with the second-team offense late in the game. Miami’s line has been good enough through its first four games, but the Hurricanes are looking to find the ideal starting five.
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