FSU Week

Hello All,

This is my favorite and least favorite week of the year.

Positives:

-I have an excuse to watch my favorite 'Canes video every day instead of only on gameday
-My brother and I exchange several-times-daily texts counting down the hours until the beatdown
-I get to hear stories all week about FSU players disrespecting The U only to have it rubbed in their face during the game
-I get to hear UM fans bitch about how terrible we are and how amazing FSU is....oh, wait, that is not a positive...
-It all ends in my favorite game of the year

Negatives:

-Lack of sleep
-Lots of nervous energy
-Living on the West Coast, I have to worry about where I will watch this game online (i.e. if a bar will have it or if I will be stuck watching one of the top ten rivalry games in college football on my laptop screen because ABC/ESPN/The Universe are in a constant battle to see who can buttf*ck me the hardest) because for some reason this is the one week of the entire effing year that ESPN and ABC are not doing a reverse mirror of their coverage

Obviously, the positives outweigh the negative.

People don't understand this rivalry and its meaning to 'Cane Nation (yep, went with the cheesy "______ Nation" reference). I have been asked this week why it is so much bigger than Miami and UiF.

My explanation, which is sometimes understood and sometimes not by outsiders, is that Miami and FSU are like estranged brothers. We recruit many of the same kids, rose to success at roughly the same time, play every year (even when we weren't required to) and play with similar chips on our shoulders. At the end of the day, Miami fans don't like FSU for one week out of the year, sometimes two. Other than that, we respect the program.

It is undeniable that they are talented and our rivalry was born organically, through a series of great games. It was not manufactured like rivalries with teams like Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Georgia Tech or Syracua were or have been.

What separates the 'Noles from the Gators and Notre Dame is that while we have history of great games with all three, the 'Noles never took us off their schedule. All three fanbases talk a lot of smack when it comes to the 'Canes; the 'Noles are the only ones who try and back it up every year.

It makes me glad to see their program rising back up at the same time as we do. College football is at its best when these two programs are at their best.

This is not supposed to be a lovefest for the 'Noles; as I said, I respect them, but I do not like them.

It is meant more to be an explanation of why this week is so special. People are concerned that the 'Canes will let up this week after their tough stretch. I say not a chance. This game is the reason kids go to these two schools, like the Iron Bowl at Auburn and Alabama or the Michigan-Ohio State game or the Wisconsin vs. Austin Peay game (wait, that's not a rivalry?).

This game will bring out the best in both sides. And with that, here's your breakdown:

QB

Christian Ponder is probably the better quarterback and takes better care of the ball, but I think Jacory is the better winner. Either way, this matchup will be talked about ad nauseum during the game and I do not need to add to that. EDGE: Even

RB

Both teams have deep stables of talented backs. FSU features Jermaine Thomas and Ty Jones, while Miami will be lead by Damien Berry and Mike James taking snaps for the injured Lamar Miller. Look out for Storm Johnson or Graig Cooper as the X Factor. EDGE: Even

WR

Leonard Hankerson is a matchup nightmare. FSU's number one guy is Bert Reed; the 'Noles will always be talented in this group but the production has not yet been there this season. Given the double team Hankerson will likely draw and his career history, I would figure Travis Benjamin for a big game with at least one score and a few big plays. EDGE: Miami

OL

FSU comes in banged up here. Even if their starting left tackle, Andrew Datko, plays, he will be rusty and going up against one of the nation's top defensive lines. If he doesn't, then that means a redshirt freshman will be getting heavy snaps at one of the two tackle spots, either starting at left tackle or sliding to right tackle and pushing Zebrie Sanders out of position to left tackle from right tackle. Miami seems to be getting better week to week and will have its hands full to keep Jacory upright against a team that leads the nation in sacks. I have officially concluded that Joel Figueroa has earned a spot on the bench. If he is in, he will be the weak link. Neither side looks like it will be able to do much against the opposing d-line. Miami's Sentrel Henderson is getting better week to week and could be responsible for a huge role in this one. EDGE: Even

DL

Miami leads the nation in TFL and is getting great push from its front four. Allen Bailey and Olivier Vernon lead the way at end, but look out for Marcus Robinson and Andrew Smith, who have both played well. At tackle, Marcus Forston is playing great football and must continue to disrupt the other team's interior line. He has helped Sean Spence re-emerge as an elite player. FSU is lead by Demonte McCallister and Markus White on the d-line, but their competition to this point has been questioned. Miami gets the slight nod. EDGE: Miami

LB

Both squads have a lot of speed here. Spence will be the best player on the field. FSU's talented crew is lead by Nigel Bradham, who finally appears to be playing to his potential. They will be without multiple offender Nigel Carr, who set a Fullmer Cup record for most felonies in one arrest earlier this season. For Miami, Colin McCarthy is solid and Ramon Buchannan and Jordan Futch both played well last week. EDGE: Even

Secondary

Brandon Harris and Ryan Hill are playing very well at corner, while Ray Ray Armstrong and DVD are becoming opportunistic ball hawks. FSU is lead by Greg Reid, who has talked a lot of smack going into the matchup. The interesting part is that FSU plays a lot of zone coverage, meaning Reid won't even be responsible directly for a man for the most part, making his boasts a little more hollow. And let's be real, what are the odds that the 5'9" Reid doesn't get posterized by the 6'3" Hankerson, 6'4" LaRon Byrd or 6'2" Aldarious Johnson at some point? EDGE: Miami

Special Teams

Reid is, like Travis Benjamin, an electric return man. Miami would be smart to kick away from him, given their coverage units. In the kicking game, Miami has Matt Bosher and FSU has long memories of pushing field goals wide right and wide left. EDGE: Even

I see this one being close, as usual, and decided late. It is honestly a coin flip and I would not bet either way. I just can't wait for it to get here.

PICKS:

Last Week- 6-3
Season- 21-12 (0-4 in Upset Specials)

Nebraksa over K State
UCONN over Rutgers
BC over NC State
Penn State over Illinois
Tennessee over UGa
'Bama over South Cackalacky
Michigan State over Michigan
UiF over LSU

UPSET SPECIAL: Baylor over Texas Tech

Always guard the inbound passer.