That is quite a way to begin rivalry week.
Miami have opened as approximately 21.5-point favourites against Florida State ahead of next Saturday’s meeting at Hard Rock Stadium.
More than three touchdowns.
Against Florida State.
That tells you plenty about where these two programmes stand heading into the rivalry.
Miami are 5-0.
Florida State are 3-3.
And after the Seminoles were beaten 44-20 by Louisville on Friday night, the gap between the two sides suddenly looks even wider.
Miami are expected to take care of business
A point spread is not a prediction of what will definitely happen.
And with a full week still to go, that number can move.
But opening at around three touchdowns is still significant.
Florida State have just conceded 397 rushing yards to Louisville, while Miami have shown they are more than capable of controlling games on the ground.
Mark Fletcher Jr. returned against Clemson and scored twice.
Javian Mallory continues to give Miami another option.
And if the Hurricanes can establish the run early, that could become one of the biggest mismatches of rivalry week.
There is still a warning attached.
This is Miami-Florida State.
Form has a habit of becoming slightly less reliable when these two meet.
Cristobal will know that better than anyone.
Texas give Miami a chance to climb
Miami did not play on Saturday.
But the Canes may still benefit from what happened elsewhere.
No. 1 Texas lost 27-24 to Oklahoma, with the Sooners winning the Red River Rivalry on a last second field goal.
That creates an obvious question.
Could Miami move into the national top three?
The Hurricanes entered the weekend ranked No. 4, while Georgia and Notre Dame both won.
So there is no guarantee how the AP voters will arrange the top of the poll.
But Texas losing certainly opens the door.
Miami remain officially No. 4 until the new rankings are released later today.
For a team sitting at home on the bye, things have worked out pretty nicely.
Rivalry week starts now
The bye is over.
Florida State are next.
Miami have had a full weekend to recover, while the Seminoles arrive after a bruising defeat at Louisville.
The game has also been designated an Orange Out at Hard Rock Stadium.
So the setup is pretty simple.
Florida State at Miami
Saturday 17 October
7pm ET | Midnight UK
ESPN | DAZN
Another midnight start for us.
But this one was always getting watched.
The Last Word from Across the Pond
Miami could hardly have asked for a better bye weekend.
Florida State were beaten heavily.
Pittsburgh lost.
Texas lost.
And the Hurricanes remain 5-0, unbeaten in ACC play and now enter rivalry week as more than three-touchdown favourites.
There may even be a top-three ranking waiting later today.
But none of that matters as much as next Saturday.
Miami have earned the expectations.
Now they have to live up to them against the team everyone wants to beat.
