secondary which led the nation in passing defense last season will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.

Schedule The schedule sets up either really good or really bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener and then travels to Louisville two weeks later. A loss in either of those two games doesn’t hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both, they can cruise the rest of the way all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and Florida International, all home games, round out the non-conference schedule. The rest

Fall camps are under way and the regular season will be here soon so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#14 – Miami (Florida) Hurricanes 9-3 SU; 4-8 ATS

Fargo’s Take Eight losses over the last three seasons has Miami reeling. For any other program, that would be considered successful but not here. Following the 40-3 blowout loss against LSU in the Peach Bowl, changes were made as six assistant coaches were shown the door. The offense had its worse output in a decade last season but with only four starters returning and a new quarterback, that should have been expected. But apparently it was not a good enough excuse as three new offensive assistants, including offensive coordinator Rich Olsen, were hired to right the ship. Kyle Wright is only a junior and he should only get better with his first full year under his belt. The defense was as good as ever but that loss to the Tigers to close out the year certainly turned some heads. The goal in 2006 is simple. Get to the ACC Championship, something it did not accomplish last season as well as contend for the National Championship.

Returning Starters on Offense – 5 Miami averaged 27.1 ppg on year, something many other programs would take in a heartbeat but it put the Hurricanes 55th in the country in scoring offense, down from 21st in 2004. Changes have been made to the offense, namely the staff, hoping to bring back some of that moxie. There are playmakers all over the field but many of them underachieved last season most notably the receivers. Ryan Moore, Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins are capable of being the best bunch around but all three need to step it up. Wright led the ACC in touchdowns but he also threw 10 interceptions while completing just 58.6 percent of his passes. Tailback Tyrone Moss rushed for 701 yards but was injured eight games into the season. The offensive line allowed 36 sacks and only one member of that line is returning. All of those factors led to an average season but all are relatively easy fixes with the thinking that Miami is going to breakout this season.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 The defense finished 4th in both scoring and overall last season and up until that game against LSU, the unit had allowed more than 17 points only once and that was an overtime game against Clemson. The defense is once again ranked as the best in the ACC thanks to the best group of linemen, linebackers and secondary. The defensive line brings back two starters with Baraka Atkins and Bryan Pata, two of the best ends in the conference while tackle Kareem Brown will be playing on Sundays next year. Jon Beason is the only returning starter at linebacker but three key players are coming back from injuries making the unit extremely solid. The secondary which led the nation in passing defense last season will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.

Schedule The schedule sets up either really good or really bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener and then travels to Louisville two weeks later. A loss in either of those two games doesn’t hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both, they can cruise the rest of the way all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and Florida International, all home games, round out the non-conference schedule. The rest o

urning and a new quarterback, that should have been expected. But apparently it was not a good enough excuse as three new offensive assistants, including offensive coordinator Rich Olsen, were hired to right the ship. Kyle Wright is only a junior and he should only get better with his first full year under his belt. The defense was as good as ever but that loss to the Tigers to close out the year certainly turned some heads. The goal in 2006 is simple. Get to the ACC Championship, something it did not accomplish last season as well as contend for the National Championship.

Returning Starters on Offense – 5 Miami averaged 27.1 ppg on year, something many other programs would take in a heartbeat but it put the Hurricanes 55th in the country in scoring offense, down from 21st in 2004. Changes have been made to the offense, namely the staff, hoping to bring back some of that moxie. There are playmakers all over the field but many of them underachieved last season most notably the receivers. Ryan Moore, Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins are capable of being the best bunch around but all three need to step it up. Wright led the ACC in touchdowns but he also threw 10 interceptions while completing just 58.6 percent of his passes. Tailback Tyrone Moss rushed for 701 yards but was injured eight games into the season. The offensive line allowed 36 sacks and only one member of that line is returning. All of those factors led to an average season but all are relatively easy fixes with the thinking that Miami is going to breakout this season.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 The defense finished 4th in both scoring and overall last season and up until that game against LSU, the unit had allowed more than 17 points only once and that was an overtime game against Clemson. The defense is once again ranked as the best in the ACC thanks to the best group of linemen, linebackers and secondary. The defensive line brings back two starters with Baraka Atkins and Bryan Pata, two of the best ends in the conference while tackle Kareem Brown will be playing on Sundays next year. Jon Beason is the only returning starter at linebacker but three key players are coming back from injuries making the unit extremely solid. The secondary which led the nation in passing defense last season will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.

Schedule The schedule sets up either really good or really bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener and then travels to Louisville two weeks later. A loss in either of those two games doesn’t hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both, they can cruise the rest of the way all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and Florida International, all home games, round out the non-conference schedule. The rest

untry in scoring offense, down from 21st in 2004. Changes have been made to the offense, namely the staff, hoping to bring back some of that moxie. There are playmakers all over the field but many of them underachieved last season most notably the receivers. Ryan Moore, Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins are capable of being the best bunch around but all three need to step it up. Wright led the ACC in touchdowns but he also threw 10 interceptions while completing just 58.6 percent of his passes. Tailback Tyrone Moss rushed for 701 yards but was injured eight games into the season. The offensive line allowed 36 sacks and only one member of that line is returning. All of those factors led to an average season but all are relatively easy fixes with the thinking that Miami is going to breakout this season.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 The defense finished 4th in both scoring and overall last season and up until that game against LSU, the unit had allowed more than 17 points only once and that was an overtime game against Clemson. The defense is once again ranked as the best in the ACC thanks to the best group of linemen, linebackers and secondary. The defensive line brings back two starters with Baraka Atkins and Bryan Pata, two of the best ends in the conference while tackle Kareem Brown will be playing on Sundays next year. Jon Beason is the only returning starter at linebacker but three key players are coming back from injuries making the unit extremely solid. The secondary which led the nation in passing defense last season will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.

Schedule The schedule sets up either really good or really bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener and then travels to Louisville two weeks later. A loss in either of those two games doesn’t hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both, they can cruise the rest of the way all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and Florida International, all home games, round out the non-conference schedule. The rest

with the thinking that Miami is going to breakout this season.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 The defense finished 4th in both scoring and overall last season and up until that game against LSU, the unit had allowed more than 17 points only once and that was an overtime game against Clemson. The defense is once again ranked as the best in the ACC thanks to the best group of linemen, linebackers and secondary. The defensive line brings back two starters with Baraka Atkins and Bryan Pata, two of the best ends in the conference while tackle Kareem Brown will be playing on Sundays next year. Jon Beason is the only returning starter at linebacker but three key players are coming back from injuries making the unit extremely solid. The secondary which led the nation in passing defense last season will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.

Schedule The schedule sets up either really good or really bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener and then travels to Louisville two weeks later. A loss in either of those two games doesn’t hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both, they can cruise the rest of the way all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and Florida International, all home games, round out the non-conference schedule. The rest

secondary which led the nation in passing defense last season will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.

Schedule The schedule sets up either really good or really bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener and then travels to Louisville two weeks later. A loss in either of those two games doesn’t hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both, they can cruise the rest of the way all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and Florida International, all home games, round out the non-conference schedule. The rest of the ACC slate is pretty tame with the toughest game being a home contest against Virginia Tech. The road games consist of Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia. Two of the first three games will dictate the rest of the season.

You can bet on… Miami had won five straight against Florida St. before last season’s three-point loss. The Hurricanes get to host this year’s edition but they will be shorthanded. Moss and Moore have been suspended for this one and that will certainly affect the ‘under the microscope’ offense. Pulling this one out just became more difficult. The Hurricanes aren’t road underdogs very often but when they are, they are solid. Miami is 6-1 ATS as a road dog since 1999 and it could very well be in that spot at Louisville on September 16th. In contrast, the Hurricanes are just 7-17 over the last four years as a home favorite and they will test that out against the Seminoles in the opener as a 3-point chalk.