Paul Finebaum assesses damage to Miami, ACC College Football Playoff chances

Paul Finebaum knows Miami did some damage to itself by losing to Georgia Tech, but it might be a ripple effect for the ACC.

Miami is still in the driver’s seat and the highest ranked team in the conference. So basically, winning out and winning the ACC gives the Hurricanes a first round bye.

But this might be a one-bid league now that there are no unbeaten teams in the conference.

“They are (fine),” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “What they’re not is, in my mind, a serious contender anymore. I mean, they looked really good. Cam Ward, the whole thing, but this is who they are. Somewhere, someone was going to get them, it’s no big deal, because they’re still probably going to get to the playoffs. 

“Where it hurts the most, I think, is for the ACC. They probably lost a birth yesterday. They’ll get the champion in but I don’t think they’re getting anybody else.”

SMU is at the top of the conference at 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the ACC. Clemson is in second at 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the ACC.

Miami still in CFP contention, but it can get dicey

That leaves Miami, which is 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference. Now that they’re beating each other up, ACC teams might leave the conference with just one bid into the College Football Playoff.

And with Miami finally getting burned for playing with fire, ESPN analyst Booger McFarland dressed down head coach Mario Cristobal.

“All season long, Miami has been toying, playing with its food,” McFarland said. “Today, they finally got burnt. Cam Ward couldn’t save it today. And if you’re Mario Cristobal, there were a couple questionable coaching decisions, bad use of timeouts and again, your team was not ready to take on an inferior opponent.”

While Ward played well enough, he missed on a few key conversions and gave up a game-sealing sack fumble on Miami’s last gasp drive.

“I get it, he’s right, you got to wear it,” McFarland said about Cristobal. “More importantly, the coaching staff has to wear it. Time and time again — how many times has Cam Ward had to save them? He couldn’t save them today. That’s a bad loss for Miami.”

Miami has a week off before resuming action. With two games left, Miami takes on Wake Forest at home and then will hit the road to play Syracuse on November 30.