Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST Saturday October 7, 2010

Location: Sun Life Stadium (Miami, FL)

TV/Radio: ABC, WQAM

Overall Records (ACC): Miami 3-1 (1-0), Florida State 3-1 (2-0)

Line: Miami by 6

Last Year: Miami came away victorious in a 38-34 thriller in Tallahassee in which the Canes’ Jacory Harris threw for 386 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami Injuries: RB Graig Cooper (Probable), WR Allen Hurns (Probable), RB Storm Johnson (Probable), RB Lamar Miller (Questionable), CB Corey Nelms (Questionable), DT Curtis Porter (Out)

Florida State Injuries: CB Lamarcus Joyner (Probable) OT Andrew Datko (Probable), RB Ty Jones (Questionable), LB Mister Alexander (Doubtfull)

Miami Offense vs. Florida State Defense

The FSU defense is excellent against the run giving up just 2.04 yards per carry, and weak against the pass (71st in the nation). They do get the quarterback, however, and lead the nation in sacks.

To counter FSU’s defensive strengths, Miami needs to move the ball via a quick passing attack based on three-step drops and short crossing patterns. The Seminoles will get to Harris frequently if he’s facing a bunch of third and longs, making it critical the Canes gain quality yardage on first and second down.

I would rather Miami not run the ball initially. Why not use screens and passes out of the backfield instead? The best way to run efficiently on FSU is to open up that aggressive defense with the passing game. Miami halfbacks Damien Berry and Mike James can pound a defense that’s on its heels.

Florida State Offense vs. Miami Defense

Miami has been vulnerable to mobile quarterbacks in the past and FSU’s Christian Ponder has some wheels. He’s also got a live, accurate arm, making him Miami’s top priority. It’s the same with every good quarterback. Pressure is the best counter. Oklahoma got to him often and he completed just 39% of his passes while tossing two picks.

The Miami defensive line needs to continue to make plays. The skill players might make the headlines, but games are consistently won in the trenches. The Canes defense needs to swarm like a bunch of gnats and get a strong push up front to disrupt Florida State’s rhythm.

The Seminoles also boast a talented stable of running backs in Jermaine Thomas (6.3 YPC), Ty Jones (7.9 YPC), and Chris Thompson (8.0 YPC).

Miami Keys

• Take care of the ball – It’s the same story every game. Jacory needs to play smart.
• Consistently gain yardage on first down – Third and longs can be disastrous against a potent defense.
• Swarm defensively – FSU has just as many athletes as Miami. Sometimes it will take more than one guy to bring them down.

Florida State Keys

• Running game - You’re not going to best the Miami defense unless you can gain yardage on the ground.
• Force turnovers - The defense needs to confuse Harris with many different looks.
• Special Teams – It’s tough to win on the road without consistent good field position.

Quarterback

EVEN

Running Back

EVEN

Receiver/ Tight End

Offensive Line

Defensive Line

Linebackers

Secondary

Special Teams

Prediction

This war between in-state rivals should be a good one. Whichever quarterback makes more plays is going to be victorious with both defenses out to shut down the opposition’s running game. Miami has the edge on their home field.

Miami 30 Florida State 23

Miami rolled last night, even without Wade

Dolphins

• Tackle Jake Long sits out practice (Sentinel)
• Coaches still support Chad Henne (Sentinel)

Heat

• The latest on Dwyane Wade‘s hamstring injury (ESPN)
• Quick recap of Heat’s first preseason game (MIA)
• NBA GM’s picking against the Heat (ESPN)
• Previewing the Heat’s power forwards (MIA)

Hurricanes

• Halfback Lamar Miller might be out Saturday (Palm)
• Canes are six point favorites against FSU (Bet)
• Big Seantrel Henderson has impressed (Palm)

Marlins

• At least there are some young Marlins on the rise (MLB)

Random

• Deion Sanders wife is insanely hot (MIA)
• The Pats trade Randy Moss (FOX) and a story about him freaking out at halftime last week (PFT)

Ken Dorsey (2000 – 2002)

Everyone remembers Kosar, Testaverde, and Kelly as the premiere Canes’ quarterbacks, but what about Dorsey? Sure he looked like he ate a pretzel a day and then never made it big in the NFL, but you cannot ignore the facts. He played in two national championships, winning one and losing the other on the worst called penalty in the history of football. He passed for 8,758 yards. 76 touchdowns, and posted an absurd 38-2 record during his three years as starter. Who cares if he couldn’t sling the ball on a rope sixty yards down field. Dorsey was a gamer, a pure winner.

Runningback -

Willis McGahee

This was brutal choice. My main argument is this: Nobody put more fear into a defense than McGahee did during the 2002 season when he rushed for 1,753 yards (6.2 avg),  28 touchdowns, and had eight 100-yard games (All Hurricane records). Every time he touched the ball he was a threat to go the distance due to his rare combination of strength and explosiveness. If he didn’t get his knee shredded like a block of cheese in the 2002 National Championship, he might be the best back in the NFL today.

Edgerrin James

Edgerrin James was dominant for multiple seasons in Coral Gables, as he was the only Canes back to have two consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards, and he ranks first in school history with the most 100-yard rushing games (14). He also still holds the record for rushing yards in a game with 299, which has a good chance of never being broken.

Fullback

Alonzo Highsmith (1984 – 1986)

The father to current Miami backup QB A.J. Highsmith was a 235 pound bull for the old school, fatigue-clad Canes. He won a national title in 2003 over Nebraska.

Wide Receiver

Michael Irvin (1984 – 1987) Irvin finished his career at “The U” with 143 receptions, 2,423 yards and 26 touchdowns(Best all time). He was known for his flash just as much as his playmaking ability and goes down as one of the greatest Canes ever.

Santana Moss (1997 – 2000) Moss narrowly edges out Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne because he was the total package. The former walk-on graduated as the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,546), punt return yards (1,196), and all-purpose yards (4,394). He was as dangerous in the return game as anyone in the history of college football and was a threat to take it to the house any time he touched the rock.

Tight End

Jeremy Shockey (2000 – 2001) Shock was a critical part of the 2001 National Championship team, one of the best teams in the history of college football. He possessed the unique mix of size and speed to beat any matchup the defense threw at him.

Tackles

Bryant McKinnie (2000 – 2001)

Leon Searcy (1988 – 1991)

Guards

Chris Myers (2001 – 2003)

Martin Bibla (1998 – 2001)

Center

Jim Otto (1957-1959)

Returner

Devin Hester (2004-2005) The fastest man in Miami Hurricane history with six career touchdowns off returns. He never really fit in on either side of the ball, but his role as a dominant force in the return game made him a game changer. He goes down as one of the most dangerous players in college football history.

Check out the Hurricane’s All-Time Defense HERE

Lane Kiffin's dream job just turned into a nightmare.

The NCAA recently made  it clear that any current junior or senior on the Southern California football team can transfer without having to sit out a season.

This is already on top of the harsh sanctions the NCAA passed down earlier this week. The team received a reduction in the number of scholarships and banned postseason play for the next two years after being penalized after a lengthy investigation into gifts and money received by former players.

Thirty scholarships have been removed over the next three years, which will be a huge impact on the recruiting scene. Year in and year out the Trojans have been among the recruiting elite. Everything changes now.

Today’s news presents an even bigger impact. Any upperclassmen on this team is officially free game for any team in the nation to begin recruiting. Hunting season is officially open.

Some stipulations are that other schools can initiate the contact with the potential transfers and USC has to let them transfer.

There is going to be a raid on these players in the near future. This should be the knockout blow to the wobbling perennial national power of Trojan football. Lane Kiffin just walked into a nightmare after former Trojan coach Pete Carrol just happened to luck out and leave for the Seahawks just in time.

In other news, heavily inebriated champagne clad Tennessee fans were caught dancing in the nude outside Kiffin’s Southern California home.

What this means for the U

It is no secret that the University of Miami’s offensive line could be very suspect next season. Why take the risk, when the Trojans could hold the answer? If I’m Randy Shannon I immediately target two Trojan lineman to bandaid the offensive line’s shortcomings.

Senior center Kristofer O’Dowd is widely considered one of the nation’s elite and junior tackle Tyron Smith, the top offensive tackle in America coming out of high school, would certainly be an upgrade as well.

The Canes actually recruited O’Dowd, of Tuscon (AZ),  in high school but obviously weren’t able to land him.

Miami is an offensive line away from returning to the nation’s elite. They are in win-now mode.

Do these guys really want to waste their final collegiate years playing at a place where they can’t win a national championship? The fact that they went to USC in the first place means they place a premium on winning, unless they were given a couple Mercedes, which we now know is very plausible.

Shannon would be foolish to not at least try to take advantage of a gift of a situation. The Trojans have officially been knocked down and it’s time for the Canes to step up.

Check out USC’s current depth chart here