Miami is heading into unfamiliar territory this weekend.

The second-ranked Hurricanes go Saturday to Tallahassee, Fla., as seven-point underdogs against No. 5 Florida State — just the second time in 38 games Miami hasn’t been favored.

“The last two years it seems that we have come in with momentum, so it is a little different this year,” Hurricanes coach Larry Coker said. “Last year they had just lost a tough game to Louisville, and this year I think it is the total opposite. I think being the underdog will motivate our players.”

Miami won the only time it was an underdog during this stretch: 41-16 last year at Florida. Then again, the Hurricanes have won 39 of 40 overall.

Miami isn’t getting respect from the oddsmakers because it needed a last-second field goal to beat West Virginia 22-20 last week and lost standout running back Frank Gore to a season-ending knee injury.

“We have always approached it with the mind-set that it is not the University of Larry Coker or Frank Gore, this is the University of Miami, and when someone has an opportunity, they have to step up,” Coker said. “Jarrett Payton has that chance now, along with Tyrone Moss and Jason Geathers.”

Florida State has the home-field and health advantage, but the Seminoles also have to deal with a history of missed chances against Miami.

Last year, Xavier Beitia’s 43-yard field-goal attempt went wide left as time expired in Miami’s 28-27 win.

It was the fourth time since 1991 in the fantastic rivalry that the Seminoles failed to connect on what would have been a game-winning or tying field goal.

Despite the history, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden would be happy to send Beitia out for another last-second attempt.

“I’m not afraid of that,” he said. “It’d be nice to know you are in the game on the last play. That’d sure be nice to know that.”

This year’s meeting is the first since 1993 with both teams ranked in the Top Five. Florida State’s 28-10 victory that year was the third straight meeting with both teams in the Top Five and helped propel the Seminoles to their first national title.

Probation then sent Miami into a tailspin until 2000, and Florida State’s struggles the past two seasons took luster off the rivalry.

This year, it once again could prove to be college football’s most important game. Then again, the loser of this game won’t be out of contention.

The Hurricanes won the national title despite losing to the Seminoles in 1989, and Florida State played for the championship in 2000 despite losing to the Hurricanes.

“If you beat them, it doesn’t mean it’s over. And if they beat you, it doesn’t mean it’s over,” Bowden said.

“There is no doubt about it that this is a measuring ballgame.”

The picks:

No. 1 Oklahoma (minus 6) vs. No. 11 Texas

Sooners looking for fourth straight victory over Longhorns … OKLAHOMA 27-17.

No. 2 Miami (plus 7) at No. 5 Florida State

Could come down to another late kick … MIAMI 27-24.

No. 3 Ohio State (minus 2 1/2) at No. 23 Wisconsin

Buckeyes hit the road for first time this season … OHIO STATE 23-17.

Syracuse (plus 18) at No. 4 Virginia Tech

Hokies try to avenge loss from last season … VIRGINIA TECH 38-17.

Florida (plus 10) at No. 6 LSU

Gators try to avoid falling below .500 … LSU 24-21.

Auburn (plus 6) at No. 7 Arkansas

Winner will be in good shape in SEC West … AUBURN 24-21.

No. 8 Georgia (minus 2) at No. 13 Tennessee

Bulldogs looking for fourth straight vs. Vols … GEORGIA 24-17.

Stanford (plus 21) at No. 9 Southern California

Trojans seek 700th win … USC 38-14.

No. 10 Nebraska (minus 7) at Missouri

Huskers looking for fifth 6-0 start in seven years … MISSOURI 24-23.

Notre Dame (plus 9) at No. 15 Pittsburgh

Irish 10-1 in last 11 meetings … PITTSBURGH 31-17.

No. 16 Northern Illinois (minus 17) at Central Michigan

Huskies shouldn’t need overtime this week … NORTHERN ILLINOIS 31-17.

No. 20 Michigan (pick ’em) at No. 17 Minnesota (Friday)

Gophers haven’t won Little Brown Jug since ’86 … MICHIGAN 24-21.

No. 18 TCU (plus 1) at South Florida (Friday)

Bulls have won 21 straight at home … S. FLORIDA 24-21.

Penn State (plus 12) at No. 18 Purdue

Nittany Lions hope to avoid second 0-3 Big Ten start ever … PURDUE 28-20.

No. 21 Michigan State (minus 3 1/2) at Illinois

Spartans aim for first four-game in-season winning streak since ’99 … MICHIGAN STATE 27-17.

No. 22 Kansas State (minus 3) at Oklahoma State

Wildcats try to avoid second three-game skid since ’92 … OKLAHOMA STATE 28-24.

No. 25 Virginia (minus 2 1/2) at Clemson

Cavaliers look for first 4-0 ACC start since ’95 … VIRGINIA 27-20.

Last week: 15-2 (straight); 8-8 (vs. points).

Season: 90-26 (straight); 51-56 (vs. points).