Week 4 Preview: FSU-Miami has King in spotlight; SEC begins
The stakes have not recently been what they used to be for the Florida State-Miami rivalry, but the Seminoles andHurricanes 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-rankedHurricanes (2-0) are hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and for the second straight week playing in primetime.
Florida State (0-1) will playwithout 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.
BESTGAME
NO. 23KENTUCKYATNO. 8AUBURN
Big football games involving Kentucky are starting to becomemore typical inthe SEC. TheWildcats 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 since2010— andwhen they do the Tigers usuallywin. 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.
HEISMANWATCH
D’ERIQKING, QB, MIAMI
King has accounted for five touchdowns (four passing and one rushing) andnot yet thrownan interception for the Hurricanes. The Houston transfer andMiamiget a thirdstraightnational stage toshowofftheU.’snewup-tempo offense.
Another stellar performance and King could grab hold of that early seasonHeisman frontrunner status—
which often isn’t worth much in the long run.
Also, keep an eye on King’s teammate, Cam’RonHarris, who is averaging 10.31 yards per carry.
NUMBERS TOKNOW
0.93 — Average yards per carry allowed byNo. 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. Thesecond-rankedCrimson Tide opens at Missouri as about a four-touchdown favorite on Saturday.
7-6— LaneKiffin’s record inhisone 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 homeagainstNo. 5 Florida.
856 — Combined yards passing for TexasTechquarterbackAlanBowman and Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger intheir opening games It’s early, Bowman and Ehlinger areNos. 1 and 2 in the country in passing yards and they play Saturday in Lubbock.
UNDERTHERADAR
UTEPATLOUISIANAMONROE
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 3-1was 2010. ULMcomes into the game 0-2.
HOTSEATWATCH
WILLMUSCHAMP, SOUTHCAROLINA
Pre-pandemic this looked like a make-or-break season forMuschamp, 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.