Florida State Seminoles at Miami Hurricanes
Saturday, 10/9/10, 8:00 PM EDT; TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Miami -7
Current Betting Line: Miami -6
Opening Total: 48.5
Current Total: 48.5
Current Moneyline: Miami -250/FSU +210
Florida State heads out on the road with a 4-1 record and 2-0 mark in conference play to tangle with the in-state rival Hurricanes in a major contest. “This is the reason you come to Florida State,” said coach Jimbo Fisher. “To play in these games.” Nine straight meetings between the two have been decided by fewer than 10 points, with an average of 4.1 points deciding things. This is the first time both teams have been ranked since 2006 when the Seminoles captured a 13-10 win. The Seminoles have won three of the last five meetings, but still trail the all-time series 31-23. A 24th victory would be the most for the program against any opponent. Fisher’s team was embarrassed in its first game against a Top 25 opponent this season, losing 47-17 to Oklahoma on September 11. FSU has won three in a row since that disaster by a combined 99-24 score. The team is 6-6 ATS in its last 12 road games and the total is 8-4 O/U in those contests.
The Seminoles are led into battle by fifth-year senior Christian Ponder, who currently ranks eight in school history with 5,672 career passing yards. He has completed 63 percent of his passes for 564 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions since the loss to the Sooners. FSU’s offensive line is a major strength for the team, as each member has started at his respective position for at least three years. On the other side of the ball, Florida State leads the nation in sacks and ranks second nationally in tackles for loss. The revitalized defense enters the Miami game with the country’s 21st-ranked defense, allowing just 291 yards per game through five contests. Florida Sate ranked 108th nationally in the same category last year. Over the last three years, FSU has posted a 2-8 ATS mark off a win against a conference rival.
Miami is fresh off an impressive 30-21 win over Clemson in Death Valley and will play at home for the first time in 37 days in hosting the Seminoles. For the second straight year, the Hurricanes have won three of their first four games, with the last two coming on the road. Head coach Randy Shannon knows the importance of this game for his program and recruiting. “You throw everything out the window when you play Florida State,” Shannon commented. “Both teams are going to go after each other. It’s a respect factor.” His team is facing its second ranked opponent of the year, having lost 36-24 to Ohio State on September 11. The squad is 10-10 ATS as a favorite over the last three years and the total is 9-10 O/U in those contests.
The Hurricanes are once again led by a stingy defense, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in total defense and scoring defense, holding its opposition to an average of 266.8 yards per game and 15.0 points per game. Miami leads the nation in tackles for loss (10.50 pg) and ranks second in sacks (4.25). “Our defensive line has been doing a tremendous job and our linebackers have been wiping out the run,” cornerback Brandon Harris said. Offensively, the team is scoring 32.5 points per game and tallying 370.2 yards per contest. Quarterback Jacory Harris has a pension for throwing interceptions, but is still dangerous in throwing six touchdowns in his last two games and threw for 386 yards against the Seminoles last year.
Bettors will be interested in playing the Seminoles due to their 2-0 ATS mark against conference opponents, while the Hurricanes are 2-0 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points. We dont have a strong opinion on this game but we do have 7 strong winners for the Saturday card. You can get these easy winners by visiting the college football sports picks page of the site.
