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Florida State A 2.5 Point Favorite Over Rival Miami

By Dwight Moore II

Nov 8, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) calls an audible during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) calls an audible during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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The defending champion Florida State Seminoles will only be a slight favorite when they take on rival Miami Hurricanes on the road

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The defending national champion Florida State Seminoles have not been anywhere near as dominant as they were last season and have trailed in the 2nd half of five games so far this season. The Seminoles’ less than impressive play this year is one of the reasons why the Seminoles are only considered a 2.5 point favorite over in-state Miami for their primetime game this coming Saturday in Miami.

Some had the predicted last week that Florida State might actually be underdogs for this game. The Seminoles have struggled on the road all season long and have trailed in the 2nd half in two of their three conference games away from home. With that trend, along with the emotion that comes with playing in a rivalry game, many odds makers are predicting a close game. The Hurricanes were three touchdown underdogs when they visited Tallahassee last season and lost 41-14.

Perhaps the biggest difference between this year’s Seminole team and last year’s has been the play of the defense that lost their coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to Georgia. This season the Seminoles are giving up more than 22 points per game after only allowing 12 points a game last season, when they held half of their opponents under double digits, something that has only happened once so far through eight games.

The Hurricanes will enter the game averaging 33 points a contest which is 5th best in the ACC. The Seminoles will have to find a way to contain Miami star running back Duke Johnson, who leads the conference in all-purpose yards with over 160 yards per game and is 2nd in rushing for an offense that averages almost 200 yards a game on the ground. The Miami offense is 3rd in the ACC in total offense averaging 436 yards per game. The Seminoles defense is allowing 388 yards per game, over 100 yards more per game than they allowed last season.

On the offensive side Florida State has have trouble running the ball, only averaging 131 yards per game rushing. They have struggle running the ball all season behind an inconsistent offensive line than returned four starters that paved the way for 203 yards per game on the ground last season. The team has relied on Heisman winner Jameis Winston and the top passing offense in the conference to bail them out in many of their games this season and that make be the case again Saturday night in Miami.

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