The No. 22-ranked Miami (FL) Hurricanes seek their first 3-0 start in three years when they host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats of the FCS on Thursday night. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The last time Miami started 3-0 was in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and the program earned a ranking on the strength of last week's 48-33 home win over Texas A&M. The Hurricanes are 6-0 in their series against in-state foe Bethune-Cookman and won last year's matchup 70-13 in Week 1. The Wildcats (1-1) hope to build off a 31-6 victory against Savannah State last week.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Hurricanes are 53.5-point favorites and the over/under for total points scored is 61.5 in the latest Bethune-Cookman vs. Miami odds. Before making any Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman picks, be sure to see the college football predictions from SportsLine expert Tom Fornelli.
A CBS Sports writer since 2010, Fornelli has emerged as one of SportsLine's most consistently successful college football analysts and is coming off another profitable season. He heads into Week 3 of the 2023 college football season on a 6-0 run on his against-the-spread college football picks.
What's more, Fornelli is 20-6 in his last 26 picks involving Miami, netting a profit of nearly $1,500 to his followers on Miami picks alone. Anyone who has followed Fornelli has already seen massive returns.
Now, he has set his sights on Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Bethune-Cookman vs. Miami:
- Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman spread: Miami -53.5
- Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman over/under: 61.5 points
- BCU: Bethune-Cookman had two wins over FBS opponents in the past 20 years, both against FIU.
- MIA: The Hurricanes are 6-0 in this series.
- Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Miami can cover
One key factor for the Hurricanes has been the emergence of an explosive set of playmakers on the outside that is likely among the best in the country and has reminded Miami followers of the program's past glory.
Through two games, Miami has three receivers with at least 10 catches and 150 yards, and all three have delivered their share of big plays. Junior Xavier Restrepo leads the way with 11 catches for a team-high 194 yards. He has yet to find the end zone, but the other top receivers have multiple scores. Junior Colbie Young has 10 receptions for 154 yards and two scores, while junior Jacolby George has caught 11 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal told the media that he has been impressed not only with his receivers' playmaking ability, but their unselfishness and willingness to block for each other. "The thing that I liked was the way that they finished plays when they had the ball in their hands and when they didn't have the ball in their hands," Cristobal said. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why Bethune-Cookman can cover
With modern transfer rules making it easier for players to arrive at and immediately impact their new programs, first-year coach Raymond Woodie has brought in a cast of former FBS players who already have made major contributions at Bethune-Cookman.
For instance, starting receiver Tink Boyd, who led the team with 68 receiving yards last week, is a transfer from Virginia Tech. He is far from the only member of the Wildcats who has an FBS pedigree. Rushing leader Jouvensly Bazil, who has 78 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries through two games, is a Miami native who started his career at Washington State.
Transfers also have helped the Wildcats in the trenches. Left tackle Jahmari Sylvester, who is considered the leader of the offensive line, is a transfer from Florida International. A fellow FIU transfer, linebacker Dearis Thomas, has emerged as one of Bethune-Cookman's top defensive players. He leads the club with 17 tackles. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Bethune-Cookman vs. Miami picks
Fornelli has analyzed this matchup from every angle and he's leaning Over on the total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is at SportsLine.
Who covers in Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman? Visit SportsLine now to see the top Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman pick, all from the expert who is 20-6 on his last 26 picks involving the Hurricanes, and find out.
