No. 1 'Canes to visit The Swamp

After a 15-year wait, the Hurricanes and Gators resume their regular-season rivalry at The Swamp on Saturday with more than a national championship run riding on the outcome.

There's bad blood between these rivals -- from the Florida Flop in 1971 to the flying peaches in 1980 to the Bourbon Street Brawl.

Whenever the Gators and 'Canes show up in the same town, there's bound to be a memorable moment.

This game will be no exception when No. 6 Florida (1-0) challenges No. 1 Miami (1-0) and its 23-game winning streak, which is longest in the nation.

While numbers seem to be in the Hurricanes' favor, Miami center Brett Romberg already has given the Gators an emotional lift.

"I hear I'm already up on Florida's bulletin board," Romberg said. "I said at the Big East meetings that, 'We're going to go up to The Swamp and shut some fans up.' I stand by my words. I'm confident. If you aren't confident, you'll get eaten alive up there. We're going up there to shut some people up."

Miami has backed up its words with a rare winning record at The Swamp, perhaps the toughest place in the country to play. The Gators are 69-5 at home since 1990. Miami is 11-8 in Gainesville.

"It's definitely a tough place to play," said Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey, who, along with Florida's Rex Grossman are among the top Heisman Trophy contenders. "They get into it. It's a place you don't want family members to go."

Florida hasn't had many problems winning at home, but playing top-ranked teams -- and defending national champions -- is a different matter.

Big victories in openers

Both teams opened last week with easy victories -- Florida beat UAB 51-3 in Ron Zook's coaching debut, and Miami defeated I-AA Florida A&M 63-17. Both teams put up huge numbers, too.

Grossman threw for 337 yards, Taylor Jacobs caught eight passes for 246 yards (and both of Grossman's TD passes), and Earnest Graham ran for 182 yards and two TDs.

Dorsey threw three TD passes in less than a half, and the running game topped 300 yards, led by backup tailback Jason Geathers (199 yards, two TDs).

While there's no shortage of stars for this 51st meeting (the series is tied at 25-all), the key likely will be whether Florida's offensive line handles Miami's front seven, led by ends Jerome McDougle and William Joseph and linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

If Grossman takes a pounding, the Gators won't have a chance. If Grossman has time, he can pick apart the all-new Miami secondary.

The Hurricanes have been helpless before against the Gators.

Remember the Flop in '71? Florida's John Reaves needed 345 yards to break Jim Plunkett's NCAA passing record. It was the last game of the season, and the Gators led 45-8 late in the game. Reaves was still 14 yards short of the mark.

Miami was at the Florida 8-yard line with 1:20 to go, and the Gators decided to let Miami score. John Hornibrook took the snap, the Gators flopped face down, and the quarterback ran in for a TD. Florida got the ball back, and Reaves threw a 15-yard pass to break the record.

In 1980, Miami led Florida 28-7 late in the game played at Gainesville. Gator fans began pelting players with peaches -- Miami was headed to the Peach Bowl -- and Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger was so angry he ordered up a field goal to add to the margin.

In the last meeting, the 2001 Sugar Bowl, about 20 Gators and 'Canes mixed it up one night on Bourbon Street a few days before Miami's 37-20 win.

The picks

No. 1 Miami (plus 2 1/2) at No. 6 Florida

Gators savor sweet revenge from Sugar shellacking ... FLORIDA, 24-20.

Alabama (plus 12 1/2) at No. 2 Oklahoma

First ever regular-season game, third all-time meeting and first since '70 ... OKLAHOMA, 34-17.

Middle Tennessee (plus 22) at No. 4 Tennessee

Blue Raiders play first game against Vols ... TENNESSEE, 49-21.

Western Michigan (plus 22 1/2) at No. 7 Michigan

Wolverines K Philip Brabbs won't decide this one ... MICHIGAN, 34-3.

Kent State (plus 28) at No. 8 Ohio State

First meeting between Ohio schools ... OHIO STATE, 44-13.

Utah State (plus 30 1/2) at No. 9 Nebraska

Huskers make it three cakewalks in a row ... NEBRASKA, 41-13.

Idaho (plus 27) at No. 11 Washington State

Cougs are more than just QB Gesser ... WASHINGTON STATE, 45-14.

Fresno State (14 1/2) at No. 13 Oregon

Ducks QB Fife will do just fine ... OREGON, 35-13.

San Jose State (plus 30) at No. 14 Washington

Huskies should romp even with 10 men on field ... WASHINGTON, 49-14.

Rice (plus 27) at No. 15 Michigan State

Spartans WR Rogers piles up yardage ... MICHIGAN STATE, 41-10.

San Diego State (plus 23) at No. 17 Colorado

Buffs battered, but won't overlook Aztecs ... COLORADO, 34-13.

No. 19 Colorado State (plus 7 1/2) at UCLA

How can you not like Rams RB Cecil Sapp? ... COLORADO STATE, 28-27.

No. 20 Texas A&M (minus 3 1/2) at Pittsburgh

Panthers have seven-game winning streak ... PITTSBURGH, 24-21.

No. 21 North Carolina State (minus 16 1/2) at Navy

Can Middies make it two in a row? ... NORTH CAROLINA STATE, 41-17.

No. 22 South Carolina (minus 4) at Virginia

Watch out, Lou ... VIRGINIA, 27-24.

Purdue (plus 6 1/2) at No. 23 Notre Dame

Irish offense finds end zone ... NOTRE DAME, 27-24.

The Citadel (no line) at No. 24 LSU

Tigers easily regroup after loss at VaTech ... LSU, 44-7.

West Virginia (plus 10 1/2) at No. 25 Wisconsin

No musket-toting Mountaineer mascot, no WVU win ... WISCONSIN, 28-24.