Miami Will Beat Clemson

Miami will beat Clemson.

I’ve echoed these words in Facebook groups, message boards, and through daily text messages to my friend Stephen, who happens to be a Clemson fan. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I’ve said it already, but I will say it again…if only for SEO purposes.

Miami will beat Clemson.

Miami will beat Clemson.

MIAMI WILL BEAT CLEMSON.

I’ve had this feeling for weeks now, ever since Stephen and I sat in his living room and watched Clemson come very close to pulling a classic Clemson against Notre Dame. After narrowly escaping with a victory in Death Valley: Palmetto State Expansion Edition, Stephen let out an emphatic “Hell yeah!”

I looked over at my friend, in my Yuegling-induced state and said in so many words, “Yeah…but I bet y’all screw around and lose to Miami.”

Stephen, like most Clemson fans, was more concerned with Georgia Tech the following week. But the Tigers maneuvered through their perennial quagmire and are undefeated thus far in the season, as well as ranked sixth in the AP and LastWordOnSports College Football Poll.

Now the moment has arrived. Clemson travels to Sun Life Stadium this weekend in total control of their own destiny, undefeated and sitting high in the polls. Miami comes into the game after ending their two-game losing streak with a big win against Virginia Tech.

Miami will beat Clemson this Saturday. Here’s why.

It’s Freaking Clemson

Urban Dictionary defines “Clemsoning” as the act of delivering an inexplicably disappointing performance, usually within the context of a college football season. In South Carolina, it’s referred to as any Saturday the Tigers play. I mean, c’mon, who REALLY expects Clemson to run the table and not only find themselves in Charlotte for the ACC Championship, but in the College Football Playoff as well?

Every year, Dabo Swinney’s boys find themselves in prime position to resurrect the Clemson teams of the 80s, only to remind us why this program hasn’t done the same since. But at least they have GUTS!

Remember the last time Clemson came to Miami as the favorite? I’m not saying Clemson fans will get a chance to relive the 80s this Saturday (because on that night they almost saw them again), but the Tigers came away empty handed in their last two trips on to the 305; the third time won’t be the charm.

This will be a hard fought game that could go down to the wire, as we have seen in both teams’ signature victories this season. Clemson comes into the game at -7 as of right now, but Miami has the edge in the series with an overall record of 6-3, with the last two meetings decided by an average of six points.

Miami Is Better Than They Look

We need to start talking about Brad Kaaya being one of the best quarterbacks in the nation – not just in the ACC.

Last week during the Virginia Tech game, as the first half was ending, Al Golden was looking to just run the clock out and head into the locker room. Kaaya and the offense had other plans, as Kaaya hit Rashawn Scott for a touchdown in the back of the end zone with only four seconds left, giving the Hurricanes much needed momentum as they headed into the locker room.

Has Golden lost his team? That has yet to be seen, but with Kaaya’s decision to turn what was an obvious lets-just-take-it-into-the-locker-room moment into a scoring play, and Stacy Coley’s nostalgic gesture of The U before the NCAA “Miami Rules”, this team shows that they have the confidence and swagger to not back down from any opponent. I don’t see them doing the same against a highly ranked opponent coming into their house.

Do Miami Fans Even Want a Victory Saturday?

It is more than obvious that Miami fans are ready to show Golden the door, no matter what he does for the rest of the season.

He’s been given more time than most big name program coaches have to turn this team back into a contender, and he has fallen flat with every chance.

But there is a reason why I, along with the rest of the Miami faithful, either stream through ESPN3 or pay to get into Sun Life Stadium and spend the game tweeting and submitting posts in a Facebook group.

It’s because we are not coaches.

But I want to believe…I HAVE to believe that Golden hasn’t given up on the season. Against Virginia Tech he made some questionable play calls, but those familiar with the program know that it’s just Golden being Golden. The players showed that they are not giving up on this season.

And if nothing else, this jerk has given the Hurricanes plenty of bulletin board fodder.

Miami will beat Clemson.

Miami will beat Clemson.

It can be done, it WILL be done.

It will be ugly for Miami, but the only thing that matters is the scoreboard, not how you get there. What comes next for the Hurricanes program is yet to be seen, but a victory against Clemson will go a long way in proving to the nation that The U is on its way back.

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