If you’re looking to stretch out the excuse of “I’m watching the football game” a little longer than normal, this weekend is the one for you as the action involving Florida teams starts Friday and continues through the weekend – including some morning football for Miami Dolphins fans.
All of the major teams in action, including a Florida Gators team who has been living life on the edge the last two weeks with last second heroics and a Florida State Seminoles team who hasn’t been in their current spot in nearly three decades – and it’s not something they are proud of.
Here’s how all the action ranks up this weekend for both Florida’s college and pro teams.
Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints (in London)
Yet again, the Dolphins are sacrificing a home game for the sake of playing overseas as they face the Saints in their third overseas game in the last four seasons. The 9:30 a.m. kickoff will give fans back home a chance to watch their team and move on with life after what should be an interesting game if the right Miami team shows up.
Since New Orleans is a team with a great quarterback in Drew Brees but a horrendous defense, the Dolphins will need to remember how to play the game and not duplicate the egg they laid last week against a bad New York Jets team. Quarterback Jay Cutler will need to earn his $10 million salary in a game Miami can’t afford to lose with games against Atlanta, Baltimore and Oakland looming in the coming weeks.
Miami Hurricanes at Duke Blue Devils (Friday)
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The last time these two teams met in Durham, it took eight laterals and plenty of prayer for the Hurricanes to score on the final play of the game to get the 30-27 win. Now, the Canes head back north looking for an ACC Coastal Division victory to stay undefeated on the season.
While Malik Rosier continues to grow as quarterback, there is no doubt that running back Mark Walton might be one of the biggest offensive weapons in the country. Against Toledo, the junior from Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School had 204 yards and a touchdown on the ground – all while missing part of the game with an ankle injury.
Florida State Seminoles at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
While the Seminoles have been the dominant force in Florida college football this decade, the Noles have started off the season 0-2 for the first time since 1989. With games left against teams like Miami, Clemson, Louisville and Florida, there is a serious concern that FSU might not make a bowl game this season unless things can get turned around.
It will be the second game as starter for freshman quarterback James Blackman, who threw for 268 yards and a touchdown in last week’s game. If the Seminoles are going to get their first win, they are going to need help from offensive weapons like Jacques Patrick and Nyqwan Murray along with the defense to play like the one that gave Alabama fits and not the one who let N.C. State run all over them.
Florida vs. Vanderbilt
You will have to forgive fans of the Gators over the last two weeks if they are breathing heavier after each game. After winning on a Hail Mary pass against Tennessee, Florida needed a last second mistake by Kentucky not knowing how many players should be on the field to beat the Wildcats and extend their decades old win streak.
Even with the issues that still exist on offense – as Luke Del Rio will take over at starting quarterback for this one – the Gators shouldn’t have a problem against a Commodores team that sometimes gives them fits, but also is recovering from a 59 point beat down at the hands of Alabama last weekend.
FIU vs. Charlotte
Last season, the Panthers came back from 13 points down with less than five minutes to go to pull off the victory against a 49ers team that is one of the newer ones in the top level of college football. This season, the Panthers bring their 2-1 record under new head coach Butch Davis into the rematch in South Florida.
Other State Games
After losing a nail bitter last weekend at the road at Buffalo, the Florida Atlantic Owls return home for a showdown with Middle Tennessee State in their Conference USA opener – with head coach Lane Kiffin looking for his first win against a FBS school since taking over as head coach.
In the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars are a road favorite for the first time in six seasons when they travel to take on the New York Jets, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to bounce back from a lost last weekend when they host the New York Giants at 4:05 p.m.
