Bethune-Cookman vs. Miami Odds
Saturday, Sept. 3 3:30 p.m. ET ACC Network
| Bethune-Cookman Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
| +48.5 -110 | 62.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
| Miami Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
| -48.5 -110 | 62.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
Odds via'WynnBET.'Get up-to-the-minute'college football odds here.
After three years, Miami let go of Manny Diaz after he went 21-15 in his tenure. Out goes the turnover chain and in comes Mario Cristobal from Oregon, as he will help Miami regain its swagger. Cristobal won two national championships as an offensive lineman at Miami in 1989 and 1991.
Miami had a strong close to its 2021 recruiting class and was very active in the transfer portal after hiring Cristobal. His first opportunity to get a win as Miami’s head coach will come against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
Bethune-Cookman is coming off of a 2-9 season in 2021. Head coach Terry Sims enters his seventh season, as the Wildcats look to rebound.
Bethune-Cookman will enter as a heavy underdog at Miami, but I have my eye on the total in this matchup instead.
Sims did not rest on his laurels following last season’s disappointment, as he brought in Mike Canales to serve as offensive coordinator.
Canales comes in with 35 years of coaching experience at UTEP, Tennessee, Utah State'and North Texas. Most recently, he was at Maryland as an analyst.
Bethune-Cookman also hit the transfer portal hard and brought in several former FBS players.
There are two quarterbacks to keep an eye on for Bethune-Cookman: Jalon Jones and Walter Simmons.
Jones was a four-star recruit out of high school and signed with Florida. He then transferred to Jackson State, where he threw for 1,898 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 643 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons.
Simmons transferred in from East Carolina but did not play a down for the Pirates. Both likely will get time against Miami, but I expect Jones to start.
Bethune-Cookman has a pair of undersized backs leading its backfield in Que'shaun Byrd — who is 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds — and Jimmie Robinson III — who is 5-foot-7 and 175 pounds.
Byrd ran for 618 yards and five touchdowns while catching 20 passes for 114 yards last season. Robinson ran for 229 yards and had six touchdowns.
At wide receiver, Akeem Hayes can work in the slot and outside. He comes in from Arkansas State'and was previously at Kentucky. He has 11 career catches for 114 yards and two TDs.
Darryl Powell is the team’s vertical threat at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds.
However, the team’s best returning pass catchers are both tight ends.