NCAA Football 2013: Week 10 Foxtel/ESPN Game Of The Week

No. 7 Miami-FL at No. 3 Florida State

Where to Watch: 11.00am, Sunday – ESPN2/ESPN2-HD

For the second time in two weeks, we arrive at what is being touted as the biggest ACC conference game in years – if not ever. Like two weeks ago, Florida State is featured, and after putting Clemson to the sword in a scary-good performance on national television, the undivided attention of Jimbo Fisher’s Seminole squad turns to their blood rival, the University of Miami Hurricanes.

How good is it to be talking about the ‘Canes and ‘Noles getting together again, in a game with serious National Championship implications? The grand old rivalry’s taken a beating of late, due to down years for both teams, but it’s back in the national spotlight in 2013, with both squads come in undefeated and looking forward to extending that streak at the expense of their most hated rivals.

The matching undefeated records are where the similarities stop. Whilst Florida State has steamrolled it’s way through the season, putting up big scores and video game-like total offense numbers, the Hurricanes have won ugly, relying on last-minute plays and last-gasp comebacks to put themselves in this position heading into Saturday night. In the world of BCS style points, FSU has plenty and Miami? Well, they’ve got none at all. That can change on Saturday night in a game that’s – arguably – as important as any other in a storied and intense rivalry which has never been short on hate and animosity.

There is little need for over-the-top hype, because the gravity of the game speaks for itself. If you hear a player saying they’ll prepare the same way they prepare for every other week or that it’s just another game, don’t believe it. This is more than just another game. This edition of Florida State-Miami signifies the return to the glory days, when the Hurricanes and the Seminoles always battled in a game of national significance. 

It’s good for college football when these two teams are amongst the nation’s best, as they are – in the Top 10 of the latest BCS rankings, even – and as they will be on Saturday night, restoring a little lustre to a rivalry on the wane in recent times. Think of the close games, missed field goals, Hail Mary’s, unexpected blowouts, upset wins, all the drama and flair of southern football at it’s finest. We get it again, magnified, this weekend.

How do you look past Florida State? The difference between these two teams is a marked one. Behind their freshman sensation, QB Jameis Winston (23 touchdowns, the third most in the FBS), the Seminoles seem an unstoppable offensive force. Their shellacking of Clemson two weeks ago proved, if nothing else, that FSU can put up big-time points and eye-popping offensive numbers with the best of them. It proved, too, that Winston isn't scared of the big stage. In fact, he seemed to welcome it, playing his best game of the season – no mean feat, when you consider the season he’s having – in Death Valley, which is about as hostile as it gets. FSU’s defense came to the party, too: their game plan completely nullified Clemson’s high-powered offense. It was men against boys out there. Arguably, coming in, the Tigers were a better team than Miami are. Of course, that didn’t help Dabo Swinney’s team very much, and it must be causing Al Golden’s coaching staff some concern as they prepare for the game.

The odds makers seem to agree with me for they’ve installed Florida State as 21-point favourites. Three touchdowns seems an awful lot when you step back and consider that Miami is also a ranked team, who also happens to be unbeaten as we head into the tenth week of the season. I see it partly as an awfully impressive compliment to the Seminoles and also an indication that the ‘Canes have got lucky and, perhaps, those in the know aren’t of the belief that they’ll be over-matched. There’s an obvious gulf between the two teams that figures, if all goes to plan, to be exposed on Saturday night down in Tallahassee.

Case in point, last weekend where Florida State handled North Carolina State 49-17, the game well beyond doubt before the half, whereas the Hurricanes needed a furious comeback, sparked by two touchdowns from impressive RB Duke Johnson, to beat ACC also-rans Wake Forest, 24-21. The differences between the trajectories of the two games could not have been any more glaring.

In their last three games of this season, FSU has recorded victories by 63, 37 and 32 points. Miami has had to come from double digits down in their last three games. Their victories have been close-run things. From a historical standpoint – recent history, anyway – Florida State have had the wood, winning the last three games by a combined 101-56 score. Whichever way you slice and dice the numbers, it does not look good for the Hurricanes.

Do Miami stand a chance? Well, it’s a 50-50 proposition, football, and if this rivalry’s taught us anything over the years, it’s that you should expect the unexpected. Strange things happen. If Miami can force turnovers and control the Florida State offense like Florida State controlled the Clemson offense two weeks ago, anything’s possible. After all, that’s why they play the game.

Prediction: The nature of the rivalry will keep the scores close for about three quarters, before Florida State, aided by both a parochial home crowd and the fact that they are the vastly better team, pull away to win by about four touchdowns.