Bullz-Eye's College Football Game of the Week
08/30/2006
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This week’s match up: Florida State (#11) at Miami (FL) (#12)
Date: Sept. 4
Time: 8pm ET on ESPN
RESULT: Florida State 13, Miami 10
Why to tune in:
This will be the first game of the season where both opponents come into the contest ranked in the top 15 in both the AP and Coaches polls. Last year the Seminoles notched a sloppy, brutal-to-watch 10-7 victory over the Hurricanes in Tallahassee. Here’s the catch, though: FSU travels to the Orange Bowl this season, where they haven’t beaten Miami since 1998. One loss won’t wreck either team’s National Championship hopes, but the victor could ride the wave of momentum all the way to an ACC title. It’s really too bad that these two teams don’t get to knock around a few cupcakes before being pitted against each other, but this game will serve as the appetizer to the Ohio State-Texas game on September 9th.
When Florida State has the ball:
The Seminoles have loads of speed on offense; they’re just not very consistent as a whole. That’s a terrible problem to have in general, not to mention while trying to match up against one of the top defenses in the country. FSU really struggled running the ball in 2005 and are two starters light on the offensive line from a year ago. Look for the Seminoles to try and get 6-foot-6 playmaker WR Greg Carr the ball early in the game to take advantage of his tremendous run-after-the-catch abilities. The task won’t be easy, however, because Miami counters with one of the best safety duos in the nation in Brandon Meriweather and Kelly Phillips. The Hurricanes don’t have to over-strategize against FSU, such as jamming eight men in the box on running plays, because they have the size, speed and strength to match up man-for-man with anybody the Seminoles’ offense throws at them. FSU quarterback Drew Weatherford should have a solid season, but he’ll have his hands full going against this Miami secondary.
When Miami has the ball:
With RB Tyrone Moss and WR Ryan Moore suspended, because of team policy violations, the Hurricanes may have just as many problems on offense as Florida State. Backup tailback Andrew Johnson is head coach Larry Coker’s home run hitter, but he hasn’t had the chance to truly flash his skills with Moss in his path. That opportunity will come against a tough ‘Noles defense. If Johnson struggles, Miami does have one weapon in its arsenal that should give the Hurricanes a leg up in the scoring department. All-American candidate TE Greg Olsen is 6-5, 252 pounds, has receiver speed and caught 31 passes for 451 yards last season. FSU is inexperienced altogether on defense and has some issues looming in its secondary, but this is still a National Championship defense. Look for Olsen to be the difference maker for the Hurricanes if the Seminole defensive playmakers Buster Davis, Alex Boston and Darrell Burston corral Miami’s running game early. Boston and Burston have great speed at the defensive end positions and Davis (despite being in head coach Bobby Bowden’s doghouse early in preseason camp) has built quite a reputation in camp as the next Derrick Brooks.
Prediction:
Anyone expecting an aerial assault from these two teams in this contest? Me neither. They combined for 17 total points in last season’s opener, and I don’t expect to see much of a scoring spike this year. Both teams’ strengths lie on defense, with Miami’s squad having the edge of the two. I know the Hurricanes will be without Moss and Moore, but neither was going to have an overwhelming impact on the game anyway. Besides, I think Miami might have a little bit of success hammering the ball right at the middle of FSU’s defense. If the Seminoles can’t get the ball in Carr’s hands early and often, they’re in more trouble than Mel Gibson’s career.
Expect FSU’s struggles at the Orange Bowl to continue: Miami 16, Florida State 10.
Questions or comments? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.