NCAAF 2013 Preview: (6) Miami Hurricanes vs (3) Florida State Seminoles

Tonight, one of college football’s best rivalries rekindles some of its old allure as Miami travels north to Tallahassee to take on Florida State in a matchup of undefeated ACC teams. This game doesn’t just have big ACC implications on the line, it’s a national title-eliminator game by all accounts, making it the biggest game in the series between the interstate rivals in over a decade.

In one corner you have the Miami Hurricanes. Coach Al Golden has pulled this team through the Nevin Shapiro investigation and has nostalgic college football fans like myself hoping “The U” is ready to return to glory.

Led by senior quarterback Stephen Morris and sophomore running back Duke Johnson, the 'Canes have pulled out some squeakers this year, but remain unbeaten. Miami ranks 19th in the nation in scoring and 10th in scoring defense, showing the balance across the board that they’ve lacked for so many years.

They enter the game as 21-point underdogs despite their No. 6 ranking, so they’ll have a big chip on their shoulder in addition to facing their biggest rival. There aren’t many people out there giving The U a chance in this game, and time and time again this team has answered the doubters in 2013. They deserve to be undefeated.

In the other corner we have the Seminoles. Led by Heisman-favorite QB Jameis Winston, the 'Noles are in a place we haven’t seen them since the Bobby Bowden era — the national title scene. Coach Jimbo Fisher has assembled the most talented team in America and is finally showing the ability to coach up that talent to its potential.

FSU ranks third in the country in scoring offense and fourth in scoring defense, and they’re playing in the raucous Doak Campbell Stadium atmosphere (home of THE BEST pre-game ritual in sports).

There’s no doubt FSU has the edge via homefield and talent, but we’ve seen Miami win close games and beat a big in-state rival already (Florida). The Hurricanes have the track record in close games and rivalry match-ups this season. Who’s my pick?

Florida State is going to destroooooooy Miami, that’s my pick. Did you see what they did to Clemson ... on the road?! Now put that team in front of THAT crowd, against a team that barely beat North Carolina and Wake Forest each of the past two weeks?

I know rivalry games are always closer than expected, and that’s why I’m going FSU 45, Miami 20. Give me the ‘Noles. I’m so confidant I’ll even take them to cover the three-touchdown spread.

[Standing O Sports]