No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 7 Miami is a rivalry that comprises a large amount of history, as these two schools traditionally have always fought for prominence in the Sunshine state of Florida. This year finally both programs are back to glory and the winner of this top ten, ACC matchup will obviously have bragging rights and control of their own destiny. As College GameDay heads to Tallahassee sit back, get your beer ready and gather your friends. Here we go!!!
According to ESPN:
On Saturday, No. 3 Florida State will host No. 7 Miami in a rivalry game that finally means something again. They’re both undefeated. They’re both ranked in the top 10 of the BCS standings — the first time since 2004 that they’ll play each other with both teams ranked in the top 10. Florida State is knocking on the door of a national title again. Miami is 7-0 for the first time since 2003. And no matter how both teams have looked to this point — sheer opposites, with the Seminoles a bunch of bruisers and the Cardiac Canes waiting until the final minute to seal the deal — anything can happen in Tallahassee on Saturday night.
How I See It:
The bottom line, is that Florida State is the better team going into this highly touted/resurrected game and boasts plenty of star power on both sides of the football. If the Hurricanes don’t come out firing on all cylinders come this Saturday, behind star running back Duke Johnson and Stephen Morris, quite simply Miami will get run out of the building. The main star obviously has to be true freshman QB Jameis Winston (24 TDs, 2177 YDS, 69.9%)– who has stormed onto the college football scene of 2013 with enough force to become the main leader in the race for the Heisman trophy. This kid is a stud and the future face of college football for a few years to come. A huge performance and victory this weekend will elevate the dual threat QB even further. In addition to an offense that averages 52.6 points per contest, the Seminoles defense is equally as dominant– led by stout DT Timmy Jernigan who currently is acquiring lots of love by draft expert Mel Kiper and defensive back LaMarcus Joyner who is a semi finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Adding even more star power, names such as senior linebackers Telvin Smith and Christian Jones round out the unit. Miami boasts a very solid defensive attack on their own, however in my opinion isn’t on the same level as the Hurricanes. Despite this Miami’s defensive back field is outstanding with youngsters Tracy Howard, Rayshawn Jenkins and Ladarius Gunter. As the unit will be aiming to stop huge receiver Kelvin Benjamin– who has been stellar in bringing down jump balls for Winston, watch for the Seminoles to utilize their own stable of talented backs that include Devonta Freeman and Karlos Williams. Although a solid unit, the Hurricanes won’t be able to stop Seminoles and the offense will be put under a huge amount of stress as Duke Johnson will be corralled– trying to play catchup after a few big plays by Florida State is a huge task and I don’t feel that the Hurricanes will be able to accomplish the feat (Morris has been so-so as of late throwing six interceptions in the last three games). Miami has been tested before and prevailed, but Morris and his group of receivers that include: Herb Waters, Allen Hurns and Stacey Cole will be tightly guarded and haven’t seen the caliber of defense they will confront in the coming days. In the end the Seminoles pull away.
Prediction: Miami 21 Florida State 42
* 2013 marks the ninth time the two teams have challenged each other while sporting undefeated records:
2003: FSU 5-0, Miami 5-0, Miami won 22-14 (Tallahassee)
1996: FSU 4-0, Miami 4-0, FSU won 34-16 (Miami)
1993: FSU 5-0, Miami 4-0, FSU won 28-10 (Tallahassee)
1992: FSU 4-0, Miami 3-0, Miami won 19-16 (Miami)
1991: FSU 10-0, Miami 8-0, Miami won 17-16 (Tallahassee)
1987: FSU 4-0, Miami 2-0, Miami won 26-25 (Tallahassee)
1980: FSU 3-0, Miami 3-0, Miami won 10-9 (Miami)
1979: FSU 2-0, Miami 1-0, FSU won 40-23 (Tallahassee)
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