The Miami Hurricanes enjoyed a boost in the rankings after their huge week one victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Miami is now the fifth-ranked team in the nation, and is a huge favorite to improve to 2-0 after taking on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Quarterback Carson Beck played very well in his debut with the Hurricanes. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. This week's game will feature a much different change of pace for Miami, going from taking on a National Championship contender to being a heavy favorite against the HBCU Bethune-Cookman.
How to watch Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman
Time: Saturday, September 6 @ 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Channel: ACCNX, ESPN+
Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman moneyline, odds, spread
Miami leads the all-time series against Bethune-Cookman, going 7-0 in their previous seven matchups. The two teams last played in 2023, which saw the Hurricanes win 48-7.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook:
Moneyline: OFF
Spread: Miami -58.5
O/U: 64.5
Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman prediction
Bethune-Cookman lost 42-9 last week to FIU, which is important to note, because FIU is now a 40-point underdog to Penn State. What does this mean for Miami? They are likely going to beat the brakes off Bethune-Cookman, but this is a tricky game to navigate as far as the betting market goes.
Prediction: Last week, I picked Miami to knock off Notre Dame as the underdog, and this week, the smart play is to take the over 64.5 points. There are multiple ways you can get there, and it takes away the "backdoor cover" from the opponent. You're going to be relying on Miami to carry the weight, but that's the idea, and then when it's 49-0, Bethune-Cookman shows an ounce of pride and gets one touchdown.
This is a weird line, and it's clear Vegas is trying to throw bettors off with the disparity between the total and the spread. Miami is going to win, but save yourself from getting pissed off if they don't cover and think objectively.