The seventh-ranked Miami Hurricanes are on an absolute tear, fresh off blowing out Stanford in their ACC opener, and now they’re set to face in-state FCS opponent Florida A&M on Thursday night. This isn’t just another game, it’s a standalone college football showdown, and Miami looks like an unstoppable force early in the season. Florida A&M, meanwhile, is limping into Hard Rock Stadium at 1-1, coming off a rough 31-13 loss to South Carolina State in the Orange Blossom Classic just last Sunday.
Fornelli’s Hot Streak and Miami’s Untamed Offense
You want to talk about big stakes? SportsLine college football expert Tom Fornelli, a CBS Sports writer since 2010 and co-host of the popular Cover 3 Podcast, is on an insane 8-2 run, banking +615 on his last 10 picks involving Miami games alone. The man has returned $615 to $100 players on college football betting sites, so when he talks, you listen. His top pick for this Thursday night brawl? He’s going Under 62.5 total points. That’s a bold call given how much offense is expected.
Why the expected offense? Miami is absolutely loaded, especially with junior quarterback Darian Mensah. This guy is a Heisman Trophy hopeful, and he proved it last week against Stanford, completing 27 of 30 passes for a ridiculous 401 yards and five touchdowns. Five scores! It’s not a fluke either; Mensah completed 66.8% of his passes during his time as a member of the Duke Blue Devils before this year. The Hurricanes are expected to put up huge points, making Fornelli’s Under pick even more intriguing.
Rattlers Face a Mountain After Tough Start
Miami, sitting at 1-0 this season, finished second in the ACC last year with a 6-2 record, going 13-3 overall. They even fought their way to the national championship game in 2025, falling just short in a 27-21 loss to Indiana. That kind of experience and talent is something Florida A&M, who finished fourth in the SWAC at 4-4 and 5-7 overall last year, just doesn’t have. The Rattlers are looking up at a massive challenge, and the odds reflect it: Miami is a colossal 59.5-point favorite. The over/under for total points is set at 66.5, but Fornelli is betting on that offensive explosion not quite reaching the full total.
Kickoff for this Week 2 clash is set for 8 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Florida A&M has their work cut out for them, big time. Can they even hang in this one, or will Miami’s Heisman hopeful QB keep lighting it up? The Rattlers better buckle up, because Miami is coming in hot, and their season is just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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