The third-ranked Florida State Seminoles hit the road to take on the Miami Hurricanes in college football action on Saturday. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ABC. Currently the odds for the game have this as a close one, with Florida State favored by less than a field goal.
Florida State and Miami have played some great games during their rivalry. The oddsmakers have Florida State laying less than a field goal in this one, so it should be another classic in this battle of teams in the ACC. Everyone knows about the "wide right" games and the history of Florida State teams losing to less talented Miami squads. This game has a similar feel to it as the Seminoles are one of the best teams in the country, are the defending national champions and only are favored by a couple of points.
The Seminoles have never scored less than 31 points in a game Jameis Winston starts. Winston still has yet to taste defeat for the Seminoles, either. While Florida State has had some off the field problems this season, they've also been a bit lackluster on the field. The playoff committee dropped Florida State one spot in the rankings this past week because they haven't looked the best. Head coach Jimbo Fisher downplayed the notion, saying they were only ready to take on Miami and can only take care of their own business.
Playing on national television, on the road in a rivalry game can only help them. Miami has already lost three games this season, but all three of those teams — Louisville, Nebraska and Georgia Tech — are better football teams than the Hurricanes. Yet, playing in a rivalry game and hosting that contest makes these types of games interesting for the home team. Miami hasn't lost in their own stadium this season with the best win of the season coming over ACC Coastal leading Duke.
Freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya has gotten better as the season had progressed, having now thrown for better than 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season. Miami also has a bruising running back in Duke Johnson, who has nine touchdowns and more than 1,200 yards on the ground. Johnson averages almost eight yards per carry this season.
The Hurricane defense has been solid as well, allowing opponents only 21.9 points per game this year. If they are able to keep Florida State off the scoreboard early and hang around, Miami is going to have a chance. And even if they do play well, they could lose by 10 points because of how good Florida State can be.
In this one, Florida State has to be out to get some respect, right? Everyone is talking about how the Seminoles don't seem to be focused and that's why they aren't playing very well. Florida State dropped in the rankings by a spot and are the defending national champions that haven't lost yet this season despite still having the Heisman trophy winner at quarterback. Expect them to feel disrespected in this game and to win comfortably.
Free Pick: Florida State 34, Miami 20
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