No. 2 Florida State (-2.5) at Miami 8 pm ABC
Daniel: FSU has two Dukes to worry about the rest of the regular season. One is Duke the University and the other is Duke Johnson, Miami’s star running back , who has over 1200 yards on the season. FSU has been just okay against the run, ranking seventh in the ACC in rushing defense, giving up 136 yards per game. That means there could be some room for Johnson to operate. But it’s tough to pick against FSU until it actually happens. Virtually nobody outside of their fan base is cheering for the ‘Noles at this point, but they keep finding ways to win. Winner: FSU 21-20
Houston: The betting line keeps shrinking, just like the confidence in FSU’s ability to keep winning with each passing week. Miami has one of the best running backs in the country in Duke Johnson, and freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya has a very bright future ahead of him – but can they do enough to hang with the Noles in this game? Jameis Winston has been terrible in the first half of recent games, but if there is one thing you have to give him credit for, it’s his ability to make clutch plays late in the game to give his team a boost. I think this one will prove to be one of Florida State’s toughest games of the season, but I can’t pick them to lose a game until they actually do it. They are the defending champs and they know how to win. Miami is talented, but very young, and I don’t think they can match that confidence late in the game when the Noles hit a few big plays. Winner: FSU 31-27
Reed: Look, everyone wants to pick against Florida State every week, myself included, but I can’t pick against them until they actually lose a game (or play an SEC team in the CFP). Miami is really coming on, though, and will challenge the Seminoles this weekend. Don’t be surprised if this one goes down to the wire – but that’s the exact situation where Jameis Winston is at his best. He’ll make enough plays to muscle the Noles through for a win. Winner: Free Shellfish University 34-31
Seth: If Miami beats the ‘Noles and no one is there to see it, does it still count? It’s really sad to see a program like the U suffer the attendance woes that they have suffered recently despite improving week to week. Al Golden and staff really have those guys playing their best ball of the season on the legs of Duke Johnson and a defense that is turning in a quietly good season (11th nationally in total defense). FSU,on the other hand, has been put on notice by the selection committee that what they are doing isn’t good enough right now after placing Oregon in front of them. The Seminoles have a lot of distractions this year and have holes in their game on the field that have resulted in closer than necessary games more often than expected in 2014. I feel like Winston will have more success stealing more crab legs than stealing a win in Miami this week. The Hurricanes with the upset. Winner: Canes 27-24
