How do you measure a rivalry?
Is it the stakes of the game? If so, Florida and FSU and their battle for top 10 status counts.
Is it the curled lip that the fan of one program feels toward another? In that case, USF vs. UCF qualifies.
Either way, the emotions are sure to be high when those teams meet on rivalry weekend.
FSU at Florida
The Gators are ranked higher in this rivalry, and they’re at home. But it is the FSU team that the oddsmakers favor.
And why not? FSU has the best running back — Dalvin Cook — and the best quarterback — Sean Maguire. Florida’s offense has been on a treadmill lately, not making big plays and not stringing together small ones. The Gators have the higher-ranked defense, but their line has been beaten up lately.
For Florida to win this, they’ll have to kick well and play field position, and quarterback Treon Harris needs to have his best afternoon of the year. But when it doubt, go with the best player on the field. That figures to be Cook.
FSU 22, Florida 16
USF at UCF
The Bulls turned their season around after a 1-3 start. Central, however, never did and has fallen to 0-11.
Can emotion help the Knights stop Marlon Mack and Quinton Flowers on the ground? Can it help cover Rodney Adams? Oh, Central Florida will give it an effort, and don’t be surprised if the game is closer than you might think at the half.
In the end, however, the Bulls simply seem to have too many weapons
USF 28, UCF 14
Miami at Pitt
By now, we can safely tuck the Hurricanes in with the “pretty good” teams of the NCAA. They’re not great, or they wouldn’t have given up 59 and 58 points in losses this year. But they were impressive in snuffing Georgia Tech last weekend, and they took FSU to the wire.
Look for Brad Kaaya to have a difference-making day.
Miami 28, Pitt 24
Florida Atlantic at Old Dominion
Last week’s close loss to Florida was an example of just how many games the Owls let slip away this season. Saturday shouldn’t be one of those. If the defense can play with the effort it played with against the Gators, and if quarterback Jaquez Johnson can make a few plays, this one should give FAU a nice feeling as it closes its season.
Look for FAU defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson to be the best player on the field.
FAU 34, Old Dominion 30
The NFL
Tampa Bay at Indianapolis
The Colts were awfully good last year. The Bucs were just awful. But this time, they’ll meet in the middle.
Both teams are trying to get to 6-5 on the season, the Bucs behind sensational rookie Jameis Winston and the Colts behind 40-year veteran Matt Hasselbeck, who is 3-0 as a starter. The Bucs can win this, but only if its defense plays well and if it can run the ball.
At 1-3, would you have believed the Bucs have a chance at a winning record?
Tampa Bay 27, Indianapolis 23
San Diego at Jacksonville
The Jaguars have won twice as often as the Chargers this year, and they still have a losing record. Despite that, this will be a classic quarterback matchup between San Diego’s Philip Rivers and the Jags’ Blake Bortles.
Jacksonville still has a shot at the AFC South title with a victory.
At home, the Jags should be able to pull that off.
Jacksonville 20, San Diego 17
Miami at New York Jets
There was a time this was the premier matchup in the AFC East. But that was long ago, and now, they’re just two more teams chasing a wild-card berth.
The Dolphins have lost three of their last four and the Jets have lost four of their last five. No one seems particularly excited to see a matchup between Ryan Tannehill and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
New York 24, Miami 14
