No. 7 Miami kicks off their season tonight on a West Coast road trip at Stanford, and the Hurricanes are already pegged as a massive 23.5-point favorite. This opener is just the first step for a team that reached the CFP National Championship game last season, a team many are eyeing for the ultimate prize, despite some big changes.
The Canes’ Path to Glory Is Paved With Soft Bread
Folks are buzzing about Miami potentially going all the way, but are we truly ready for what that means? They’re rolling into 2026 having to replace four starters on the offensive line, plus their pass-rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. That’s a lot of crucial talent to lose! But don’t sleep on what they *do* have coming back: Malachi Toney, one of the best receivers in the country, and Mark Fletcher Jr. leading that downhill running game. Oh, and they pulled a coup in the offseason, bringing in Darian Mensah at quarterback, who absolutely shredded defenses at Duke for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns. He even brought his top target from Durham, Cooper Barkate, with him. The real kicker, though, for Miami’s national title aspirations? Their schedule is softer than warm baked bread! Seriously, they face only one team ranked in the preseason Top 25, Notre Dame, and that’s not until November 7. DraftKings has them at +1000 to win it all, sitting behind powerhouses like Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, Georgia, and Indiana. This opener against Stanford (1-0) is just the beginning of what could be a wild ride.
Oklahoma’s Defense Is a Brick Wall, UTEP’s Offense Is Missing Pieces
While the Hurricanes and Cardinal battle it out, another must-watch game tonight sees UTEP head to Norman to face No. 10 Oklahoma at 8 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Sooners coach Brent Venables built his reputation on defensive brilliance, and his squad proved it last season, ranking sixth in the country in yards per game (272.5) and seventh in points per game (15.5). That defense was so suffocating that only two of their thirteen games last year even went Over 51.5 points! Meanwhile, UTEP is reeling. They lost a ton of players to the transfer portal, especially from an offense that was a dismal 99th in scoring at 23.3 points per game and 114th in total offense. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, gives the Miners a shocking 79% chance to cover a massive +41.5 spread. Expert David Bearman is even betting the Under 52 (-114). Talk about a defensive showdown!
Beyond the college gridiron, there’s a full MLB slate on tap, with matchups like Sale versus Sanchez and the Braves taking on the Phillies offering even more betting options for Friday night. As we dive into this September 4th action, the stakes are real. Can Miami live up to their preseason hype and cruise through their soft schedule? Will Oklahoma’s defense absolutely shut down UTEP? Get ready, because it’s going to be an intense night of sports!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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