At worst, the Miami Hurricanes have turned their program around under Randy Shannon and could potentially be a nice sleeper in the ACC next year. At best, they could be among the teams to beat in the ACC if they can pull off an upset since they are an underdog according to Emerald Bowl odds.

The Hurricanes are made up of freshmen and by qualifying for a bowl game, get an extra month’s worth of practice. That’s pretty valuable for one of the youngest, most inexperienced teams in the nation.

Whether they can actually eke out a win in this Miami vs California matchup is another story. Emerald Bowl betting odds have the Golden Bears favored by seven points. The game is going to be played in San Francisco, which is another edge for the Golden Bears.

Even head coach Shannon isn’t particularly experienced as a coach, so Cal will have an edge on the sidelines as well. Look for the Hurricanes to gain some experience but don’t expect a win here with two freshmen quarterbacks leading the way.

Emerald Bowl betting pick: California -7