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NBC 6 Weekend Football Preview: Next Man Up Time in South Florida

What to Know

  • The middle of October has arrived with plenty of questions left to be answered in the Sunshine State.

After a week to either remember or forget depending on which Florida team you root for in either college football or the NFL, the middle of October has arrived with plenty of questions left to be answered in the Sunshine State.

In the pro game, the Miami Dolphins find themselves solidly in the hands of their former backup quarterback for a few weeks after a wild come from behind win – while the Miami Hurricanes are scratching their heads wondering how they could follow one of their best games of the season with one of their worst in an upset loss last weekend.

While the Canes get another week to figure things out, most of the Sunshine State’s teams are in action this weekend – and NBC 6 has you covered with our not-so-scientific ranking of each game.

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DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions makes the stop on Damien Williams #34 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter of the game at Ford Field on November 09 , 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Dolphines 20-16. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions (Sunday)

The Brock Osweiler era continues for another week in South Florida as the former backup quarterback led the Dolphins to an overtime victory last weekend at home against the Chicago Bears. With regular starter Ryan Tannehill likely out a few more weeks with a shoulder injury, Osweiler will be in charge if leading the Fins in three games over a 13 day period with the Dolphins playing next Thursday night.

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HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 23: Nahshon Ellerbe #25 of the Rice Owls is tackled by Anthony Wint #53 of the FIU Golden Panthers and Bryce Canady #28 in the second quarter at Rice Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

FIU Panthers vs. Rice Owls (Saturday)

Last year, these teams simmered like a pot of ‘arroz con pantera’ played to an exciting 13-7 victory for the Panthers - but with FIU winning four of their last five games including a nail-biter last week against Middle Tennessee State, one has to think that the Panthers should score a few more points in this one.

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Florida State Seminoles vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Saturday)

It’s not because either one of these teams has a chance to make it to a major bowl game that this one gets rated so high. It has to do with that, barring major upsets the rest of the way, the loser of this game is likely staying home this postseason – which for FSU, after blowing a 20 point lead to Miami in their last game, would mean ending a 36 season bowl streak and likely their first losing season since 1976.

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UCF Knights at East Carolina Pirates (Saturday)

The nation’s longest win streak was in jeopardy after the Knights fell behind Memphis last week only to come back for the last second win. Now, the question becomes whether or not the Knights have come to understand they are going to be gunned for by teams who they have no business losing to – or will UCF play down to the level of their competition.

Other State Games

While both the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators are off this weekend, the USF Bulls will host UConn while the Florida Atlantic Owls are on the road to play Marshall as Bethune-Cookman hosts North Carolina A&T.

In the pro game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the Cleveland Browns as the Jacksonville Jaguars hope to break their recent losing streak when they host the Houston Texans.

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