Little Brother

Hello All,

I am a realist.

I understand that Miami will probably lose to FSU this weekend. I understand that if Ryan Williams is the starting quarterback, Miami will probably get blown out; nothing against the kid, but we need a playmaker at quarterback at this juncture and he isn't a playmaker.

However, to all the fans that are already inking this one is as a loss, I say "pump the brakes".

Miami and Florida State is beautiful because anything is possible.

In a sport marked by chaos, these are two programs that overturned the apple cart more beautifully than just about anyone. This rivalry is a walking, talking, breathing advertisement for the "on any given day, anyone can beat anyone" mantra that coaches love so much.

This is a rivalry that has meant more to football over the past 25 years than any other. It is played between two schools that rose out of oblivion in the 80's and became the only two programs, frankly, that really mattered; they were the whipping boys that decided "enough is enough" and started doling out some lashes of their own.

Within the rivalry, as we all know, there is never a dull moment. Just when you think that FSU has run out of ways to choke these games away, they find a new one. Got sick of Wide Rights? How about a Wide Left?! Sick of missed field goals? How about a dropped ball in the end zone?!

Anything can happen in Miami vs. FSU. That is what makes it a great rivalry. The schools just have too much in common for it to be any other way.

Renegades.

Outlaws.

Counter culture.

Whatever you want to call them, Miami and FSU have a common bond buried deep down.

They are brothers. Miami is the older brother, the overachieving, overly competitive winner. FSU is the talented, mercurial younger sibling that always seems to shoot itself in the foot. But the gap that separates the two is pretty damned small, and the similarities are overwhelming. Hell, a lot of the kids on the two teams grew up playing on the same teams, for the same coaches, at the same high schools.

So is it possible for one school to blow the other out? Of course it is.

Hell, FSU whupped our ass in our own stadium two years ago; it was so bad that the coach got fired.

The rivalry is cyclical, and right now we are in an FSU cycle.

But as has happened throughout this rivalry, Miami looms as a potential pot hole on FSU's expected romp.

There have been times when Miami has been counted out of this rivalry, only to see unexpected heroes emerge.

In 2007, on the road, the 'Canes were down 2 scores with a bad team in the 4th quarter. Out of nowhere, Kirby Freeman turned in to Ken Dorsey and lead the 'Canes on their own version of The Drive, taking the life out of Doak Walker.

This was Kirby 'Kirnobyl' Freeman, the same guy who a couple weeks later would go 1-15 in a FULL GAME...at home...in a loss.

And so that is why I say "hold on a sec" to all the naysayers.

Miami will probably lose, but this is a rivalry between two schools that, more than anything else, are brothers.

I have a little brother. There are things he is better than me at and things I am better than him at. However, there has not been a single time that we have ever competed in anything and it has been easy. We both have too much pride, and there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion.

That's the thing about brothers. It is rare that one lays down for the other. And that makes for unpredictable outcomes.

So maybe FSU does blow Miami out. Quite frankly, I have no idea how the hell Miami's defense is going to stop the FSU run game.

I do know this...if there was going to be one game that the defense would rise up for, I would bet on this one. And I know that if I were FSU, the last person I would want to see between me and the finish line is a pissed off, disrespected big brother.

So don't be apathetic. Don't be negative. Don't be resigned to a bad fate.

This is Miami - FSU. It always matters, and it is always unpredicatble.

Go Canes, Go to Hell FSU.

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Last week's picks were 2-4 overall, 3-3 against the spread. That brings the old season record up to 20-14 (17-17). As always, please don't take my advice if you are looking to actually make money.

Okie State (-13.5) over IOWA STATE

Don't underestimate Paul Rhoads.

LSU over aTm (+3.5)

Will Manziel emerge with his head intact? Is there a more annoying nickname than 'Johnny Football?' These are the things we wonder.

VAG TECH over Clemson (-7.5)

The ACC...a Tire Fire, as the gentlemen over at The Solid Verbal would say.

DENARD ROBINSON (-9.5) over Michigan State

CACKALACKY over UiF (-3.5)

The SEC...this season's surprise Tire Fire.

TCU (+1) over Texas Tech

The Big 12...a smoldering, smoldering Tire Fire.

WVU (-2.5) over Kansas State

ALABAMA over Tennessee (+20.5)

*in his best Keith Jackson voice*

"The thirrrd Saturday in October, Tennessee and Al - a - baMMa."

Stanford over CAL (+2.5)

The Big Game... a Tire Fire next to a chemical plant.

This is the biggest C.F. of a college football season I have seen since 2007. I don't know who is any good except Alabama. Essentially, always take Alabama and the points and then pray like hell.