Florida State vs. Miami: Complete Game Preview

Florida State has enjoyed a 4-0 record against Miami in the Jimbo Fisher era. Three of those four games have been double-digit wins.

While many teams have a significant home-field edge in a rivalry game, FSU fans from South Florida have often filled the stands at Dolphins Stadium. An FSU game at Miami more closely resembles a neutral-field contest.

The Seminoles have also won the last four games at Miami, with FSU's last road loss in the series coming in September 2004. If No. 3 FSU (9-0) defeats Miami (6-3) on Saturday, the Seminoles will clinch the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division and have a chance to play for a third straight conference championship.

Let's take a look ahead at the FSU-Miami game (8 p.m. ET on ABC).

FSU Keys to Victory

Jeff Gammons/Getty Images

FSU senior Karlos Williams is tripped up on a play that would have gone for a long gain in Saturday's win over Virginia.

Figure Out How to Run Again

The Seminoles thought their rushing concerns were solved with a 158-yard ground attack at Louisville, which included second-half touchdown runs of 40 and 38 by Dalvin Cook. But Cook hurt his hip against Virginia and Mario Pender was not able to go with a lingering ankle injury.

Karlos Williams was forced to carry the load and looked good at times with a few long runs, including one where he was tripped up by a shoe on a play that could have gone for a touchdown.

However, FSU still only had 70 rushing yards on 21 carries and must establish more of a ground game.

Minimize Duke Johnson's damage

FSU is 35th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rush defense and the Seminoles are improving in that area at the right time. The final four regular-season games (Virginia, Miami, Boston College and Florida) are all against teams that are more geared toward the run.

FSU passed its first test by holding Virginia to just 37 yards on 32 carries Saturday.

It's highly unlikely that FSU will repeat that effort against Duke Johnson and Miami, but FSU must keep him from breaking off long runs.

Miami Keys to Victory

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Brad Kaaya is completing 60 percent of his passes but does have nine interceptions in nine games.

Limit the Turnovers

Miami's pass offense is about average, ranking 60th in the FBS. For a freshman, not to mention one who didn't even have a redshirt season to learn the offense, quarterback Brad Kaaya has done well.

His nine interceptions average out to just one per game. With that said, Kaaya needs to avoid turning it over and giving FSU opportunities with a short field.

Put the Game on Duke Johnson's Shoulders

Miami's best chance to win is to give FSU a healthy dose of tailback Duke Johnson. While the Seminoles allowed Virginia to run for just 37 yards on Saturday, FSU allowed 150 or more yards in wins over Syracuse, Notre Dame and Louisville.

Kaaya can put Miami in a position to win by making good decisions and not tossing an interception. However, it would be wrong to think that the Hurricanes will throw their way to a win.

The path to a Miami win is filled with long runs by Johnson.

FSU Players to Watch

Jeff Gammons/Getty Images

Jameis Winston looks to bounce back from a two-interception game against Virginia.

QB Jameis Winston

Winston is still one of the most accurate passers out there, completing passes at a 66.7 percent rate. Nevertheless, the sophomore has thrown more interceptions than a year ago (11 in 2014 after tossing 10 in 2013).

The problem is twofold: He must stop making the high-risk throws and freshmen receivers have cut off routes or not been on the same page as Winston.

WR Rashad Greene

Greene is just 11 yards shy of amassing 1,000 for the second straight season. In nine games, the senior has had six 100-yard games. Already the school's all-time receptions leader (242), Greene adds to his totals each week even though every defense knows he is Winston's go-to receiver.

DE/DT Mario Edwards Jr.

Edwards had a career-high nine tackles, including four tackles for loss, in Saturday's win over Virginia. He's healthy again after battling a knee injury and concussion and was able to help neutralize the Cavaliers' ground game.

Edwards is a defensive tackle but often lines up as a tackle and occasionally as a linebacker.

Miami Players to Watch

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Duke Johnson has run for more than 3,000 yards in three seasons at Miami.

RB Duke Johnson

He is just 5'9'' and 205 pounds, but Johnson is a punishing tailback. In just nine games this season, he already has 1,213 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Johnson is a threat to turn a short carry into a long touchdown run anytime he touches the ball, and he averages 7.7 yards per carry. 

Just a junior, Johnson has already surpassed 3,000 rushing yards for his career.

QB Brad Kaaya

A true freshman, Kaaya didn't even enroll early in Coral Gables. But he won the starting job before the season opener and has gradually improved. Kaaya has completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,087 yards and 20 touchdown passes.

LB Denzel Perryman

The senior elected to return for his final season at Miami and has 72 tackles. Perryman is a consistent, steady force—313 career tackles in an improving defense that is allowing just 21 points per game.

What They're Saying

Jeff Gammons/Getty Images

Jimbo Fisher is 4-0 as a head coach against Miami.

FSU Head Coach Jimbo Fisher

On FSU-Miami: "This is one of the reasons why you come to Florida State, to play in this great rivalry. Lot of great tradition, lot of great history."

On Miami tailback Duke Johnson: "He's as good as anybody we've played against. You don't realize how strong he is. Even though he's a shorter guy, like (former FSU tailback) Devonta (Freeman). Everybody thought, 'Devonta, well he's a little guy.' No, Devonta was short, but he was powerful. Duke's the same way, very strong in his hips and legs, very quick body movements very fast."

On FSU's ground game: "We were shoelaces from about three runs. We're making a lot of progress in that area."

On FSU defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr.: "I think assignment-wise—technique, alignment has allowed him to play faster and quicker. He is reacting. His knowledge of the defense is so much greater now that he is not having to think and just react."

Miami Head Coach Al Golden

On FSU-Miami being bigger than just another game: ''I don't think anybody is saying it's just another game. I don't want to buy that quote. I don't want to say that. I think from our standpoint, it's the next game. It's a pivotal game. It's against a rival. I don't think there's any question we're going to tap into that stadium, the electricity, the anticipation and excitement. Who wouldn't?"

On Miami's improved defensive play: ''We're tackling better, we're finishing our movements better, we have been very unselfish. I know you guys are tired of hearing me say it. The ball is going to where it needs to go – it's going to the unblocked player, and the unblocked player is finishing it and making the tackle. We're working good collectively, but we're going to have to be at our best Saturday night. We haven't really changed. I think there's competition, but we haven't changed personnel and we certainly haven't changed play calling."

Prediction

USA TODAY Sports

FSU will need to minimize the damage from Duke Johnson, who has 3,000 career rushing yards.

FSU has often been just good enough in 2014. Expect that to continue on Saturday at Miami.

Though the Seminoles defense passed a tough test by bottling up Kevin Parks and Virginia, containing Miami and Duke Johnson is a far different story. Expect to see Johnson have 25 or more carries.

FSU must commit to improving the ground game. Jameis Winston also can't toss two interceptions again. Virginia was able to turn those miscues into points, and a more talented team like Miami can hurt FSU if Winston repeats those mistakes.

FSU's play against Virginia was likely a wake-up call. The Seminoles should learn from their mistakes and piece together another grind-it-out win.

FSU 31, Miami 24

Bob Ferrante is the Florida State Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. All stats courtesy of Seminoles.com, HurricaneSports.com and NCAA.org.