By: Ralph D. Russo
The stakes have not recently been what they used to be for the Florida State-Miami rivalry, but the Seminoles and Hurricanes usually put on a good show.
Before Miami won easily last year, the ‘Canes and ‘Noles played five straight games decided by five points or fewer.
A pandemic-altered college football season has helped put FSU-Miami in the spotlight again this weekend. The 12th-ranked Hurricanes (2-0) are hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and for the second straight week playing in primetime.
Florida State (0-1) will play without coach Mike Norvell, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
The Southeastern Conference also kicks off Saturday, putting three of the power five conferences in play.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 are still at least a month away, but the college football menu is starting to fill up.
BEST GAME
No. 23 Kentucky at No. 8 Auburn
Big football games involving Kentucky are starting to become more typical in the SEC. The Wildcats have one of the best offensive lines in the country and could qualify as a dark horse in an East Division race that has No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Florida as favorites.
Kentucky and Auburn don’t play often – just once since 2010 – and when they do the Tigers usually win. Auburn is 17-1 in the series going back to 1967.
The Tigers debut an offense led by new coordinator Chad Morris and sophomore quarterback Bo Nix.
HEISMAN WATCH
D’Eriq King, QB, Miami
King has accounted for five touchdowns (four passing and one rushing) and not yet thrown an interception for the Hurricanes. The Houston transfer and Miami get a third straight national stage to show off the U.’s new up-tempo offense.
Another stellar performance and King could grab hold of that early season Heisman frontrunner status – which often isn’t worth much in the long run.
Also, keep an eye on King’s teammate, Cam’Ron Harris, who is averaging 10.31 yards per carry.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
0.93 –Average yards per carry allowed by No. 21 Pitt’s top-ranked rushing defense. The numbers have come against bad competition, but the Panthers’ defense has been smothering. No. 24 Louisville and star RB Javian Hawkins will provide a much stiffer test for Pitt on Saturday.
42-9 – Average score in Alabama’s last five opening victories. All of those have been nonconference games at neutral sites. The second-ranked Crimson Tide opens at Missouri as about a four-touchdown favorite on Saturday.
7-6 – Lane Kiffin’s record in his one SEC season as coach at Tennessee. Kiffin bolted for USC after that one year. His unusual career path brought him back to the SEC as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and has now led him to Ole Miss. Kiffin’s first game as Rebels coach is at home against No. 5 Florida.
856 – Combined yards passing for Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman and Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger in their opening games It’s early, Bowman and Ehlinger are Nos. 1 and 2 in the country in passing yards and they play Saturday in Lubbock.
UNDER THE RADAR
UTEP at Louisiana Monroe.
Before you downplay the Miners 2-1 start, with both victories coming against FCS teams, realize UTEP is 2-34 over the last three seasons. That includes a loss to an FCS team.
The last time UTEP started a season 3-1 was 2010. ULM comes into the game 0-2.
HOT SEAT WATCH
Will Muschamp, South Carolina
Pre-pandemic this looked like a make-or-break season for Muschamp, who is 26-26 and 15-17 in the SEC in four season with the Gamecocks.
South Carolina opens the season at home against No. 16 Tennessee.
*Courtesy Associated Press
