The Miami Hurricanes have improved in recent years vs. the bookmaker odds and head coach Randy Shannon was rewarded with a new four-year contract. The Hurricanes are not favored to win the national title in college football this season at the online bookmaker but they are not without a chance at odds of 19-1.
Bookmaker odds favored Miami quite often last year in ACC action and the Hurricanes look even better this year. Now that Shannon has been signed for four years the Hurricanes can focus on winning the ACC title in 2010.
“I’m here, and it’s going to be for the long term,” Shannon said, “For recruiting purposes, now people will see that instead of us telling them that.”
Miami has gone 21-17 in the last three years under Shannon. Online bookmaker numbers indicated that they have improved every year as they won just five games in 2007 before winning seven in 2008 and nine last year. “We are very proud of the positive steps our football program has taken under the leadership of Coach Shannon,” Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt said. This season would have been the final year of Shannon’s contract but that is no longer a concern since the university extended his contract.
Miami has really turned things around on and off the field under Shannon. They have had very few off the field problems and their academic numbers have improved. In fact, Miami had a multiyear APR score in the top 10 percent. When a coach is getting players to do well in the class room it is a big positive and when the team is improving on the field it is great news for the team and they become a squad to watch vs. the bookmaker odds. “Coach Shannon continues to bring together a special group of young men who will position our program for championship success,” Hocutt said.
Miami looks really strong heading into the 2010 season vs. the college football bookmaker odds. They return quarterback Jacory Harris who threw for 3,352 yards and 24 TDs last season and impacted odds at the bookmaker. Damien Berry looks to be the featured runner and the receiving corps looks good with Leonard Hankerson and Travis Benjamin. The defense is loaded with talent that can make a difference this season led by defensive lineman Allen Bailey and linebacker Sean Spence.