| Miami vs Florida Preview + Prediction | Is Cam Ward Heisman Bound? | CFB 2024

week one of college football is here something we've all been waiting on for the whole offseason we've got a Full Slate of games for you today I'm na Johnston here with my co-host Brad Hopkins and special guest appearance from a local Real Estate Mogul and current ug student Mr Ross Whitworth Ross good to see you man thank you all for having me absolutely good to be here Brad big game for us week one in the state of Florida ACC versus SEC matchup that is the number 19 Miami Hurricanes go on the road to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville Georgia or Florida I should say sorry messed that one up but hey we'll blame the people behind the camera for that one Gainesville Florida and this atmosphere in the swamp Brad is going to be hostile 330 kickoff on ABC ESPN plus Miami favored in this game by two and a half points Brad give us your take preview on this game and who comes out on top in the State of Florida the first of all the two and a half that shocks me um just considering the state of these programs Miami on the rise Florida someone on the decline that really really surprised me all right so I GNA start with I want start with the Florida Gators Billy Napier you know year three now so up and down um you know has recruited decently they had a good recruiting class but just a lot of turnover um you know there there's some questions about his staff and and how much the the university and athletic department are willing to put into nil so it's a big year um and and I know Ross is going to kind of speak to to Billy Napier on the hot seat so I'm not going to take away that from him because he's got some he's I know Ross got a great take on that but it's a big year you know they bring back bring back excuse me grah Merz who I thought had a really really good year last year he was one of the top quarterbacks in the country for completion percentage and really surprised me but then you look at what they lost they of course um lose running back etn transferring to Georgia uh they they lose Ricky peaw who was a big- time playmaker so fars replacing a lot and I I think they've recruited good defensively but do they have the depth that's the big question um and that leads me into talking about Miami of course Nate we've talked about Miami a lot in our ATC preview and of course the transfer portal because they made such a splash they made a splash when they got Washington State quarterback transfer cam Ward and then staying out west they got Oregon State running back transfer Damen Martinez gives them a lethal one-w punch maybe the maybe the best backfield in the ACC I don't think that's a stretch to say that and then you look who they bring back wide receiver wise Xavier rreo who had almost 1100 yards last year they bring back jacobe uh jacobe George excuse me who 864 yards last year so a lethal one-two punch there they've recruited well um of course Mario chrisal you know he's going to focus on the offensive line he's got offensive line just running through his blood um they've got a a great defensive Rush In And Ruben Bane Jr so to me everything is setting up for for Miami to to really be on the rise and and of course thinking about what we saw this past Saturday Georgia Tech upset in Florida State man Miami's probably to me guys got to be the the favorite to to be one of those top two teams in the ACC and with that being said I'm taking the Hurricanes the swamp's going to be rocking it's going to be probably about 95 degrees and feel like 130 down down there in Gainesville Florida um it's it's going to be hot it's going to be humid it's going to be a good atmosphere and I think Florida's going to come with their hair on fire they know that that this is this is a big part of their season but I'm taking Miami I'm GNA Take Miami by double digits I think they're going to pull away late I think Florida's going to make some plays but I think Miami's Playmakers and cam board just make the difference on the road in Gainesville yeah BR it's a great analysis and a great pick Ross thoughts on this game and who do you have winning this ACC versus SEC inate Florida rivalry well the Florida Gators they just they're starting their season off so far the only good thing we've heard out of their Camp is about DJ lagway who is not even going to be playing in the game unless merch teres ACL in the first quarter oh but the only good thing we've heard about out of their Camp is about somebody that's not gonna even be playing the game and then Florida has a legitimate chance to be the Laughing stop of the State of Florida after the season's over they have they have to play Miami which is very losable they have to play Florida state which nobody in the world has pi Florida to win that game right now and they have to play Central Florida which Central Florida has KJ Jefferson they got RJ Harvey they got a very very good backfield there so I don't think it's a stretch that they lose all three of those games so Billy Napier his season he's already on the hot seat before he can even have the first kickoff of the season and then on the other hand you've got Miami who has nothing but good news ahead of them they got cam Ward coming in he's an absolute stud back there possibly one of the top five quarterbacks in the entire country and they've got a very solid offensive line behind Mali Noah back there they got danan Martinez one of the top running backs in the country I just don't see a way that Florida can pull this game off with how much negativity is around their around their campus they they don't have much gun for them right now so unless they make a complete 180 I just don't see them pulling the this game out and I have to take Miami by at least a touchdown or two great pick great pick and look guys the the spread two and a half towards Miami you gotta think Vegas knows something and you guys touched on it cam Ward Adrien Martinez I mean there's threats all around Miami Hurricanes team we know their off line is getting better we know that their defense is getting better they've added a few key transfers on their roster as well and I think what it really comes down to is time management this is a game between Billy Napier and Mario ball as much as we talk about Billy Napier being on the hot seat you gotta think the same for Mario christall heading into I believe correct me if I'm wrong Ross's third or fourth season with Miami this is the time to shine guys this is an opportunity for Mario CIS after all the mistakes they made last year losing to Georgia Tech in a laughable way he lost like that before at Oregon in the same manner he's gonna go into a very hostile environment in the swamp in Gainesville Florida thanks uh crew um and he's gonna have to prove himself all eyes are on Billy Napier my eyes are on Mario Chris Ball he does bring in transfer quarterback cam to your point from Washington State chose to stay in college over the NFL likely to be a top first to second round draft pick this next year came up big time last year for the Washington State Cougars passing for 3,723 yards um he was prone to his mistakes had 21 turnovers um not not great with handling the ball but maybe that can relate in terms to Daman Martinez um um and wide receiver Restrepo y'all y'all brought it up but yeah um when you look at the other side of the ball seconde transfer from Wisconson Graham Merz didn't expect much out of last year but to our surprise completed 72% of his passes had 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions we saw the mistakes that Graham Merz made in the year previous at with conon he was horrible in that offense as a coming out of high school he was a highly talented to recruit five star I believe then he comes down to Florida gets a fresh start 72% of his passes completed again and only three interceptions but with that being said I just think in the end Miami's got to prove them themselves more Florida's in a in in a LAX daal mindset I'm not saying they're not gonna be ready for this game but I think Miami has a lot more to prove in this game so give me the Miami Hurricanes and a close one for the reason s up Mario Chris Ball's time management and and in the swamp look for Florida to bring it look for GR merch to play one of his best games of the year but in the end I think Miami edges out in this one be sure to subscribe down below comment who you think will win this game uh share with your friends and be sure to check out squad glitz.com for college football fantasy league if you're tired of the NFL fantasy football you're tired getting your players injured look no further than Squad blitz.com if your guy goes down well you got the rest of the quarterback room to deal with or the rest of the wide receiver room to deal with it's a very cool app very new to us we appreciate the sponsorship and partnership with Squad bl.com you can create your own League or join our league we'll open it back up for fulfillment we'll see you next week it's 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