ESPN’s College Football Live calls for 10-2

Like the college football rags who throw ‘it’ at the wall to see what sticks, same goes for the ESPN folks at College Football Live.

Yesterday it was Columbus High grad, former Michigan Wolverine, NFL journeyman quarterback and current analyst Brian Griese who was given the honor of breaking down the 2010 Miami Hurricanes.

Griese called for 10-2, but didn’t really have his thumb on the pulse regarding the state of his hometown team. He was on point with some things, but in other cases it was simply a guessing game.

… called Miami’s schedule the toughest in the country.

… penciled in the ‘W’ over FAMU and went right into the Ohio State match up, which he called ‘intriguing’. Feels the Canes’ speed will keep Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the pocket and feels Jacory Harris will be the best gunslinger on the field that day in Columbus. Says Miami will win “in a big way”, though that could simply be a Michigan guy taking a dig at hated Ohio State.

… feels Miami will stop Pitt running back Dion Lewis, stacking the box and allowing Brandon Harris to take care of business in man coverage. Simply thinks the Canes have too much talent for the Panthers.

… predicts Miami to lose at Clemson, but bases it on nothing other than a feeling. Cited last year’s game as one of the season’s most exciting.

… believes Miami rebounds and beats Florida State “convincingly” a week later, stating that the Canes’ defense will match up nicely and negate Noles’ quarterback Christian Ponder.

… summed up a win at Duke in under two seconds.

… thinks Miami wins against North Carolina with good defense, but also said the Heels “manhandled” the Canes last year. (Failed to note that UM had 435 yards against UNC’s highly-touted defense. Four turnovers and two pick-sixes the difference maker.)

… predicted “no trouble” with either Virginia or Maryland.

… called Georgia Tech an “interesting” game and a must-win for Miami to reach the ACC title game. Thinks the Canes can handle the Wishbone offense without Jonathan Dwyer.

… believes that “Beamer Ball” wins out late November, keeping the ball out of Harris’ hands but doesn’t note that the Hokies are rebuilding on defense and many feel it’ll take a tremendous offensive output for VT to roll this season. (Also, by this point Griese has now predicted two conference losses for UM, which would most likely keep them from winning the Coastal, after already stating that a win over GT was needed to reach the conference title game.)

… calls for a win over South Florida and a 10-2 season overall.

… C.F.L. host Eric Kuselias reiterated that two losses should get Miami into a BCS game, but didn’t mention winning the ACC or getting to the conference title game. (Had the Canes posted a similar 10-2 record in 2009, they also wouldn’t have reached the conference title game behind one-loss Georgia Tech, but arguably would’ve cracked the BCS as an at-large.)

In his defense, Kuselias stated earlier in the broadcast that some have Miami picked to win the ACC and others have the Canes fourth in the Coastal, proving that nobody really knows what to expect.

All of this serves as further proof that opinions are nothing more than throwing darts at a board. Neither Griese or Kuselias know more about the Miami Hurricanes than any educated fan – yet their opinion is treated as gold, sending fans into a frenzy moments after a program of this nature airs.

Griese had little logic behind his picks and in some cases was way off – or flat out contradicted himself. Wherever Miami ends up, he won’t be held accountable as this was just another mid-weeks show full of educated ‘guessing’ and come December, no one will remember what he said anyways … except for the fact it’s been noted here.

Put little weight into the talking heads, Miami faithful. One game at a time … and it all starts on September 2nd.

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