FSU vs. Miami: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

Florida State-Miami is back for a 59th time to define what college football is all about.

The two in-state rivals have been on a violent warpath toward one another all season long, but the 6-3 Hurricanes—losers of four straight and lacking a home win since 2004 in the rivalry—have improved dramatically in the weeks leading up to Saturday.

All Florida State has done to prepare is ride a 25-game winning streak, the longest streak since the Hurricanes won 34 straight beginning back in 2000.

The latest encounter comes Saturday and might prove to be one of the biggest games in recent history. Should Florida State take a dive on the road, well, good luck figuring out what happens with the inaugural College Football Playoff once more than 10 teams can rush through the door.

Be there Saturday for one of the sporting world's most important rivalries.

Rising to the Occasion

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Most know that this iteration of the Seminoles-Hurricanes epic series would hinge on quarterback play. Jameis Winston, last year's Heisman winner, is still under center for the former, after all.

But what most do not know is that the ACC leader in touchdowns, yards per attempt and yards per completion will be in attendance, and his name is not Winston.

Meet Hurricanes freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya, who has completed 61.8 percent of his passes this year for 2,087 yards and 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Over the course of his team's recent three-game winning streak, he has totaled seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

The impending shattered records, as illustrated by Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, are staggering:

"It's an enormous opportunity to prove something to the world," Kaaya said, per the AP, via ESPN.com. "A lot of people doubted us, I'm sure a lot of people still continue to and they have good reason to. We just have to keep progressing as a team."

Winston is sure to take a similar stance, just without the expected gaudy numbers his freshman counterpart rides into the encounter. 

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From a statistical standpoint in some ways, Winston has hit a bit of a sophomore slump. He has still completed better than 66 percent of his passes but has just 2,540 yards and 17 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

His team continues to win, but Winston's six interceptions in his last three games is certainly a cause for concern—especially against a Miami defense that ranks 26th in the land with an average of just 21.9 points surrendered per game.

Big-game experience favors Winston, but recent trends suggest this quarterback battle could swing either way.

Stopping the Duke

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Kaaya has been great, but he sure has some help.

Junior back Duke Johnson may quietly be the best in the country at this point. Downright explosive in every sense of the word, Johnson has also turned his game up a notch in recent weeks, although his entire body of work is downright incredible:

OPP	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
@Louisville	20	90	4.5	24	0
Florida A&M	9	97	10.8	55	1
Arkansas State	14	90	6.4	33	1
@Nebraska	18	93	5.2	19	1
Duke	25	155	6.2	16	1
@Georgia Tech	14	100	7.1	24	1
Cincinnati	10	162	16.2	80	1
@Virginia Tech	29	249	8.6	29	1
North Carolina	19	177	9.3	90	2

Understand that Johnson is—just like his shot at postseason accolades and NFL draft stock—quietly the key to the game. The man averages 7.68 yards per carry and now gets to encounter a Florida State run defense that ranks 35th in the nation against the rush.

There is really no comparison between the two teams in this regard, either. The Seminoles average just 129.89 rushing yards per game, good for rank No. 101. If Florida State wants to keep Johnson in check, it is the defense that will need to man up and clog the lanes.

Key leaders on the defensive side of things understand this, as captured by Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post:

There is a symbiotic relationship between Johnson's talents on the ground and Kaaya's evolving skills through the air. Shutting down one is not enough for the Seminoles, especially on the road.

But it starts and ends with Johnson, who can control a game on his own when asked.

When: Saturday, November 15, 8 p.m. ET

Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Television: ABC

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 62

• Spread: Florida State (-3)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Austin Barron	C	10/06/2014	is out indefinitely	Out	arm
Colin Blake	S	10/29/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	shoulder
Demarcus Christmas	DT	11/09/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Miami-FL	Questionable	ankle
Dalvin Cook	RB	11/09/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Miami-FL	Questionable	leg
Ukeme Eligwe	LB	11/07/2014	was dismissed from the team	Out	disciplinary
Isaiah Jones	WR	08/16/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	academics
Nile Lawrence-Stample	DT	09/24/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	pectoral
Mario Pender	RB	11/09/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Miami-FL	Questionable	ankle
Delvin Purifoy	LB	08/31/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	ankle

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Gus Edwards	RB	11/10/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Florida State	Questionable	ankle
Taylor Gadbois	T	09/28/2014	is expected to miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Matt Goudis	K	10/16/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	back
Kiy Hester	S	09/08/2014	has decided to transfer	Out	personal
Rayshawn Jenkins	CB	08/14/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	back
KC McDermott	T	10/28/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Al-Quadin Muhammad	DE	09/13/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Suspended	disciplinary
Kevin Olsen	QB	08/28/2014	will miss the entire season	Suspended	disciplinary
Ronald Regula	FB	10/16/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	leg
Rashawn Scott	WR	08/15/2014	is out indefinitely	Out	shoulder
Joseph Yearby	RB	11/10/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Florida State	Questionable	hamstring

Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.

Prediction

Las Vegas is shaky on this one for good reason.

Johnson's ability to torch defenses on his lonesome makes the job of his inexperienced quarterback easier. That alone can keep Winston off the field and exploit a relatively struggling defense at the same time.

That said, this game will come down to whether or not Winston can make the most of every opportunity he has with the ball. As long as he can limit turnovers, the Seminoles still have the better roster and can grind this one out.

Miami is close, but more experience is needed to topple the Seminoles.

Prediction: Florida State 35, Hurricanes 30

Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.