WASHINGTON — There’s nothing worse than a false Hurricane Warning. You brace yourself for destruction and hope for minimal damage…only to realize that the University of Miami is providing fool’s gold once again.
Thursday night’s loss to a .500 Cincinnati team ends another unbeaten dream and sends fans of the U scurrying while wondering if Al Golden is the right guy to bring this program back to prominence. Long gone are the days when Miami reigned over college football (four titles in nine years from 1983 to ‘91) and front and center is the yearly reminder that these not only aren’t your father’s Hurricanes, but not even your big brother’s Canes from 2002.
When they joined the ACC, they were placed in a different division than Florida State so they could potentially square off with the Seminoles in the Championship Game; sadly they’ve yet to make a trip to the title tilt, while Wake Forest, Boston College and Duke each have. In the last three seasons, they’ve appeared to be on the cusp of the Coastal crown before each Hurricane dissipated: 4 losses in 5 games in 2012, 3 straight losses in 2013 and 4 straight losses last year.
Hopes were high as Miami went into Thursday night’s game with Cincinnati of the AAC unranked at 3-0…only to prove why they weren’t in the Top 25, with a double-digit loss to the Bearcats. Hurricane U downgraded again.
Maryland vs. Michigan, 12 p.m. (BTN)
Last year, the Terps went to Ann Arbor and beat the Wolverines for the first time ever. This year, they have a turnover-prone quarterback and a defense with issues (14th in the Big Ten against the run, 12th in passing efficiency and 13th in yards and points allowed), while Big Blue comes to College Park with a rock-solid defense (first against the pass and overall, second against the run and in scoring) and a coach who wears khakis. The game has been moved to noon, meaning my tailgate friends Matt and Stacia have to audible at the line of scrimmage in shifting their emphasis from shrimp dip to breakfast casserole. The secret? Hash browns as the first layer. The secret for Saturday? Turnovers and penalties will tell the tale again.
Presto’s Pick: Terps tumble, 31-16.
Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh, 12 p.m. (ESPN3)
The Hokies — after getting their traditional September throat-clearing, with two losses during Show Me Month for the fourth time in six years — kick off ACC play against a former Big East rival. The Panthers are one of those programs you just feel should be better, but it’s been over 30 years since Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett were wearing the royal blue and gold with the script “Pitt” on their helmets. While there was plenty of concern surrounding how Brenden Motley would fill in for the injured Michael Brewer at quarterback, the redshirt junior has actually played well, providing a run/pass threat not seen since Tyrod Taylor wore a maroon jersey. The issue facing this team is how they’ll mask the loss of standout cornerback Kendall Fuller, out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Presto’s Pick: Hokies come up short, 28-26.
Navy vs. Air Force, 3:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
With “Army West Point,” as it’s now branded, continuing to chase its own tail, this has become the de facto Commander in Chief’s Trophy Championship Game. As an aside, I’m hoping that the other academies resist temptation to eventually be called “Navy Annapolis” or “Air Force Colorado Springs.” Despite one school defending our oceans and the other in charge of the skies, both excel on the ground — the Falcons rank second nationally in rushing offense while the Midshipmen are third (Army West Point is ninth, no doubt slowed down by having three words in its name where one or two would suffice). Will the Keenan Reynolds victory tour continue?
Presto’s Pick: Midshipmen grind it out, 27-21.
Virginia vs. “Open”
Kippy and Buffy get a weekend off, but they’ll be busy shuttering up the Outer Banks cottage as is their bye week custom…with a bottle of bubbly. Only this year there’s more urgency, with Hurricane Joaquin on the horizon. There’s also more unpleasantness, as their Saturday night college football viewing will be #8 Georgia hosting 13th-ranked Alabama. The Bulldogs quarterback? Former Cavalier Greyson Lambert. Did you know the guy who couldn’t start in Charlottesville has thrown more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (2) the last two weeks? Tough to stomach the champagne and caviar under such circumstances…but as always, Kippy and Buffy willl find a way.
Howard falls to Norfolk State, Georgetown loses at Harvard, James Madison gets by Stony Brook, William & Mary defeats Delaware, Richmond over Maine.
Last Week: 3-5. Purely an abberation. An isolated incident. Nothing to see here…
Overall: 28-6. Isolated incident? Leaves aren’t the only thing turning colors and falling…
