College Football Picks - Miami vs. Florida State: At least for the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles, these two ACC college football picks power programs won't have to wait all season to play the "Big Game". For most schools, big rivaly matchups come at the end of the schedule not the beginning. On Labor Day Monday, No. 18 Florida State and unranked Miami will play their season opener and at the same time begin their 2009 ACC football campaign.
 
Online supersportsbook Bodog.com lists the Seminoles as 6 1/2-chalk favorites with a 47 total.

Miami and Florida State have faced each other 11 times to open the season. The Seminoles
holds a 7-4 edge in those games. Five of those 11 games have been shutouts; three by Miami and two by FSU. Miami leads the all-time series between the two schools, 30-23. Since Miami joined the ACC in 2004, the Hurricanes have won two of five match-ups with the ‘Canes winning in 2004 and 2007.

Sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris will be Miami’s opening-day starter for the second straight season when he leads the ‘Canes against the Seminoles. Harris started twice in 2008 and became the first freshman quarterback at Miami to start a season opener since Bernie Kosar in 1983.

Christian Ponder took over the starting quarterback job at Florida State last year after beating out Drew Weatherford last year. Coming out of August drills there is no doubt that Ponder has taken over the leadership role and made the Seminoles his team. Ponder is expected to give Miami defenders plenty of trouble.

College Football Picks: This game will be close - even more reason to take the underdog. We like Miami +6 1/2.