Dolfan Satisfaction Meter: 16.1%

[Game post on Sunday's Dolphins-Buffalo game is just below this in the blog. Click here for my column off the game].

Fans' view of the Dolphins has sunk to its lowest level since the team was 0-3. That's in the wake of Sunday's 31-14 loss in Buffalo that dropped Miami's season record to 5-6. The latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter shows only 16.1 percent overall satisfaction, including only 5.6% calling themselves "very" satisfied.

In its second year in the blog, the DSM is a continuous gauge of how fans are feeling about the team and its direction. Right after each game, I invite fans to share their overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance, the season as a whole, the direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations.

Poll and comments section stay open; however, poll results are certified official on midnight the day after the game, meaning midnight last night/Monday in this case.

Week-by-week results may be found beneath the latest poll.

Online Surveys & Market Research

DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: Season Results

Game 1: 9.9% satisfaction (3.0 very, 6.9 somewhat) after 19-7 loss at Atlanta.

Game 2: 22.3% satisfaction (3.9 very, 18.4 somewhat) after 27-23 loss vs. Indianapolis.

Game 3: 6.4% satisfaction (3.7 very, 2.7 somewhat) after 23-13 loss at San Diego.

Game 4: 79.4% satisfaction (34.2 very, 45.2 somewhat) after 38-10 victory vs. Buffalo.

Game 5: 97.1% satisfaction (65.0 very, 32.1 somewhat) after 31-27 victory vs. N.Y. Jets.

Game 6: 25.2% satisfaction (5.5 very, 19.7 somewhat) after 46-34 loss vs. New Orleans.

Game 7: 85.5% satisfaction (23.3 very, 62.2 somewhat) following 30-25 victory at N.Y. Jets.

Game 8: 33.6% satisfaction (8.0 very, 25.6 somewhat) following 27-17 loss at New England.

Game 9: 59.9% satisfaction (5.8 very, 54.1 somewhat) following 25-23 victory vs. Tampa Bay.

Game 10: 94.4% satisfaction (42.9 very, 51.5 somewhat) following 24-17 victory at Carolina.

Game 11: 16.1% satisfaction (5.6 very, 10.5 somewhat) following 31-14 loss at Buffalo.

Next poll: Dec. 6 following game vs. New England.

Buffalo 31, Dolphins 14 (Final); Miami suffers crushing defeat

[Note: The latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll is up and running in a separate blogpost just above this one. Vote!] 

FINAL: Click here for my column off Miami's hope-damaging loss.

FOURTH Q: Henne suffers third INT of quarter in final seconds ..... Henne INT'd again, with 1:37 to play, this one leadfing to 7-yard Fred Jackson TD run. Dolphins lose. A crusher ..... Chad Henne hit as he threw and intercepted with 2:31 to play. Next play: 51-yard TD pass to Terrell Owens, who beat Vontae Davis ..... Bills hit a 56-yard FG and lead 17-14 with 3:35 to play! ..... Porter with another big sack. The Good Joey showed up today ..... Miami punts from own end zone and Bills have it at Dolphin 39 with 5:59 to play. Uh oh ..... Jason Taylor's hand in a huge sack, then a Joey Porter sack on next play. Defense coming up big on that one ..... The hot chocolate at The Ralph, it's above average! ..... Nate Jones with a crushing special-teams tackle for Miami. Hurt just to watch it ..... Fred Jackson 3-yard TD run and Buffs tie it 14-14 early in fourth.

THIRD Q: Third quarter ends with Buffs on Miami's 16 and threatening ..... Dolphins up 14-7 on Ricky Williams 1-yard run off direct snap in Wildcat. Ricky now over 100 yards rushing (105). Somewhat daring 4th and 1 call earlier in drive, converted by Polite. Would have been a 45-yard FG try with wind at back. Gamble paid off.

HALF: Sometimes 7-7 at the half is a great game, sometimes a boring one. This one leaning toward the latter I'd say. Henne an efficient 9-for-13, Williams with 79 yards rushing on 15 carries. Miami

SECOND Q: Ginn drops a pass. Or did that go without saying? ..... Yeremiah Bell interception brings us near the half ..... Ryan Fitzpatrick bolts right for 31-yard TD run. Oh my. Reggie Torbor seemed to have the angle for a tackle but was out-run ..... Randy Starks turning into a pocket-busting mon-stah ..... Brian Hartline 4-yard TD pass from Chad Henne and Dolphins up 7-0 early in second. Artfully lobbed into corner of end zone where only Hartline could get it. Hartline now has more TD catches this season (2), than Ginn, Bess and Camarillo combined.

FIRST Q: Scoreless first. And wondering if that TD Miami gave away will come back to haunt? ..... Buffs blow a 44-yard FG wide right, after a fairly impressive drive petered out following the Miami turnover ..... Oy! Dolphins inside Buffs' five and Ricky Williams intercepted in end zone on pass out of Wildcat. I like the Wildcat; it has served Miami well. But that sure didn't seem like the time or place for the Dolphins to find out if Ricky can throw. They did, unfortunately. And a near-certain 7-0 lead disappeared. Ricky's previous of two career pass attempts: 2000 ..... Buffs three-and-out to start game.

PREGAME: Flew into Buffalo this morning and just got to The Ralph, better late than never. Jake Grove inactive. Weather better than Jake. Gorgeous, sunny day, and mild for a near-December up here. Miami catching a break from Ma Nature.

Original post:

I'm in Buffalo as you read this, wearing way too much clothing. I would resemble the Michelin Man in silhouette, for when the temperatures dip into the 30s, I start layering to excess. I hate the cold. You could not pay me enough to live in Buffalo. OK, enough of my misery.

The Dolphins (5-5) try to get up over .500 for the first time all season against the struggling Bills (3-7). I'm on record predicting a 23-19 Miami win, but nervously. Think it'll be tough. This is hardly a sexy game from a national vantage but it's huge for Miami. A win makes playoffs seem reasonably in play; a loss makes the postseason feel like an extreme longshot.

Your thoughts on today's game welcome here before, during and afterward.

Join us for our Unofficial Semi-Live Boutique Blog starting just before kickoff.

Watch for the latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in a separate post soon after the final whistle.

Canesfan Satisfaction Meter: 93.5%

[Note: Separate Collball Week 13 post featuring Saturday's UM-South Florida game, FSU-Gators and more may be found in blog post directly below this].

Satisfaction with UM football stands at a solid 93.5 percent after the Hurricanes nded their regular season with a 31-10 victory at South Florida, leaving UM's record at 9-3 entering the bowl game. That includes 62.5% who call themselves "very" satisfied, according to the latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll.

The CSM, new to the blog this season, is a continuing gauge of how UM fans are feeling about the team and season. Polls are posted following the conclusion of every Canes game. Season results appear beneath the latest poll.

The criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance, the season as a whole, the program's direction, and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations.

Poll and comments section stay open, but results become official on midnight the day after each game; in this case midnight last night.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Canesfan Satisfaction Meter season results:

Game 1: 98.9 percent satisfaction (72.3 very, 26.6 somewhat) following 38-34 victory at FSU.

Game 2: 99.5 percent satisfaction (89.0 very, 10.5 somewhat) following 33-17 victory vs. Georgia Tech.

Game 3: 65.3 percent satisfaction (24.9 very, 40.4 somewhat) following 31-7 loss at Virginia Tech.

Game 4: 99.0 percent satisfaction (87.5 very, 11.5 somewhat) following 21-20 victory vs. Oklahoma.

Game 5: 99.0 percent satisfaction (76.4 very, 22.6 somewhat) following 48-16 victory over Florida A&M.

Game 6: 97.1 percent satisfaction (71.5 very, 25.6 somewhat) following 27-7 victory at Central Florida.

Game 7: 44.1 percent satisfaction (15.5 very, 28.6 somewhat) following 40-37 OT loss vs. Clemson.

Game 8: 59.8 percent satisfaction (13.4 very, 46.4 somewhat) following 28-27 victory at Wake Forest.

Game 9: 95.2 percent satisfaction (66.4 very, 28.8 somewhat) following 52-17 victory vs. Virginia.

Game 10: 24.9 percent satisfaction (5.9 very, 19.0 somewhat) following 33-24 loss at North Carolina.

Game 11: 80.2 percent satisfaction (25.3 very, 54.9 somewhat) following 34-16 victory vs. Duke.

Game 12: 93.5 percent sayisfaction (62.5 very, 31.0 somewhat) following 31-10 victory at South Florida.

[Next and final poll of season will be immediately following bowl game].

Hurricanes 31, South Florida 10 (Final); UM dominates. No Bull.

[Find NFL picks and Tiger Woods' wild weekend in post directly below].

Collball Week 13: Canes and more...

[The new Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll will be up in separate post beginning at precisely 8 p.m. Watch for it and vote!]

No. 17 Miami 31. South Florida 10 (Final):

FINAL: Canes end the regular saeson at 9-3 and await, presumably, a New Year's bowl, after a 31-10 spanking at USF. Jacory Harris' two TD passes and Javarris James' two TD runs brought the points, but the meat of the win was Damien Berry (114 yards rushing) and Graig Cooper (83) leading a 240-yard ground attack. Oh yeah, and dominating defense. Nice performance by Miami. Very solid.

4Q: Matt Bosher cashes three more for 31-10.

3Q: Jacory Harris nice TD pass to Dedrick Epps in the end zone for a commanding 28-10 lead ..... USF touchdown pass draws Bulls within 21-10. Am I the only one who think it's ridiculous for a team from the middle of the state (Tampa) to call itself South Florida?

2Q: Javarris James with his second TD run of game and Canes up 21-3 mid-second. USF can;t stop the Miami run ..... Bulls on board with a 36-yard FG.

1Q: Javarris James TD run puts Canes up 14-0. Early domination ..... Like the new Miami uniforms, by the way. Didn't think I would but they look clean, sharp. Even like the multi-color numbers. One other quick uni thought: USF helmets are the color of vomit ..... Very impressive opening drive by UM finished by Jacory Harris' TD pass to Leonard Hankerson for 7-0 lad. Jacory looking sharp. Love the 4-and-inches call, eschewing the field goal.

Original post:

The Hurricanes (8-3) are a modest 6 1/2-point fave over the once-ranked Bulls (7-3) in UM's regular-season finale. Much is in play for Miami. The result determines whether the Canes get in a New Year's day bowl and also how fans might view this season on a success-or-disappointment scale. USF, trying to get to the echelon Miami enjoys, will be pumped. I like the Canes, although UM's erratic nature and Jacory Harris being all over the scale -- from brilliant to INT-nightmare -- makes predicting this team a minefield.

Your thoughts on today's UM game invited here before, during and afterward. We'll have our latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll up in a separate post around 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Today's other FBS Division 1 state collball action:

Central Florida 34, UAB 27: UCF Knights (8-4) end a nice regular season nicely.

No. 1 Florida 37, Florida State 10: The idea that the archrival Seminoles could spoil the top-ranked Gators' national title hopes made the game riveting. Um, but not for long. Reality: Florida 12-0 after Tim Tebow's three TD passes and two TDs running, and FSU a sad 6-6. Tebow's final game at The Swamp was a fitting sendoff adorned by the expected media genuflecting.

FAU 29, Western Kentucky 23: The mighty Owls (4-7) avoided a huge embarrassment. Western Kentucky is 0-11. (Eastern Michigan is the only other winless team in Division 1A).

Off this week: FIU (3-8) girds for next Saturday's annual Shula Bowl rivalry vs. FAU. Man, the excitement is such, I can hardly stand it!

National game of the week: Lots of traditional rivalries this week but not much all that compelling, although Auburn gave it a shot, almost upsetting No. 2 Alabama. Only top-25 matchup is 21-Utah @ 19-Brigham Young.

COTE'S TOP 30-PLUS

Our own national ranking, in its first year and using an experimental ranking:

Rank  Team  Points  (Last week)

1     FLORIDA 1,167 (1)

2     Texas 1,117 (2)

3     Alabama 1,110 (3)

4     Boise State 920 (4)

5     Southern Cal 862 (5)

6     Louisiana State 850 (6)

7     TCU 832 (7)

8     Ohio State 791 (8)

9     Cincinnati 777 (1)

10   Penn State 776 (9)

11   Virginia Teach 718 (11)

12   Oklahoma State 663 (12)

13   Georgia Tech 632 (13)

14   Iowa 574 (15)

15   MIAMI 570 (14)

16   Oregon 554 (16)

17   Oklahoma 480 (17)

18   Brigham Young 472 (18)

19   Mississippi 427 (19)

20   Houston 386 (20)

21   Pittsburgh 379 (22)

22   California 359 (21)

23   Utah 337 (23)

24   Nebraska 252 (25)

25   Kansas 246 (24)

26   Georgia 197 (26)

27   Notre Dame 163 (27)

28   North carolina 160 (28)

29   Wisconsin 135 (29)

30   Oregon State 130 (t35)

32   SOUTH FLORIDA 116 (30)

40   FLORIDA STATE 77 (39) 

NFL picks: Dolphins win (barely), Dolfans' dilemma; plus something' ain't right, Tiger. 'Fess up!

[For Thanksgiving message from me to all, see post directly below this].

Had a great Thursday picking both turkey carcasses and NFL games, rolling a 3-0 against the spread when Broncos covered against the Incredible Shrinking Giants.

Our remaining selections -- I like "selections" over picks or predictions, because it sounds like I am perusing a tony wine list -- are online and on The Friday Page in today's Miami Herald. Click on Week 12 Gems. Highlights include Dolphins winning a close one at Buffalo; unbeaten Colts losing at Houston in our Upet of the Week, and unbeaten Saints staying that way vs. Patriots in our Game of the Week.

Saints-Pats on Monday night presents a quandary for Dolphins fans, as you'd see by clicking on NFL Column. Pats losing greatly helps Miami's playoff hopes. But Saints losing greatly boosts the '72 team's likelihood of remaining as the only Perfect Season team. What do you hope happens?

I just realized I forgot to post my Pigskin Challenge picks in time, meaning i'll be down for an 0-16 week. Considering all of my picks are published and a matter of record, I'll seek special dispensation from our online people. Without luck, I'm sure.

TIGER'S TALL TALE: The story smelled immediately. Smelled like road kill. Supposedly Tiger Woods got into an accident leaving his driveway at around 2:30 a.m. -- hit a fire hydrant, then a tree -- and his wife heard the ruckus and ran out, using a golf club to break the car's rear window to free the dazed golf star. [Quick aside: What is the proper club selection for that, anyway? Fairway wood? Pitching wedge?] The reality is likely something closer to a classic domestic dispute-run-amok. It looks like, for maybe the first time, a crack in Tiger's near-perfect, manicured public image. The happy-but-maybe-not-that-night couple is pictured. By the way, for what it's worth, the current National Enquirer happens to have a story about Tiger cheating on his wife with the woman pictuired at right. Quite the concidence! Tiger talks to the cops today. I'll be very curious what version of truth is eventually made official. 

An astoundingly serious Thanksgiving message from me to you!

What are you thankful for? I think this is where I'm supposed to say sports stuff like Dwyane Wade driving to the hoop; Ricky Williams outrunning Father Time; the crack of the bat on Opening Day; or the money I save not having to buy Panthers playoff tickets. Um, sorry.

I'm thankful to have a wife who is understanding and brilliant and makes me happy and proud, and two sons with big hearts whom I am blessed to love. They are about grown now, and, still, sometimes when I hear them call me "Dad," I am overcome with a small, sweet joy that feels new every time. It is the best word I know. A dog and a cat (Sandy and Pee Wee) are a part of our family.

I have an older brother whom I love, even though he is retired and gets to play so much golf that he got better and now usually beats me. I have a mother who is 91. We talk about cooking. I hug her fiercely and gently, because she means the world to me. I hold the memory of a father who worked too hard for too long and was an American hero.

I have a few good friends.

I have an unusual job that lots of people tell me they'd love to have. I am a genius or a moron, depending on that day's opinion. I am sustained, in some fundamental way, by every person who reads any word I write. To the long-time readers who have grown up with me, especially you all, I am humbled, flattered, appreciative, indebted. You have given me a career.

I'm the little barefoot kid who grew up in west Hollywood (Florida, not Cali) and probably got more than he ever deserved.

Thank you, everybody.

My friend Dan Le Batard's mother (she is a saint) sent me this poem, which I pass along: "Count your blessings instead of your crosses; your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes; your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears; your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean; your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth; your God instead of yourself."

Postscript: This blog post has turned out much too somber and serious. Geez it's only Thanksgiving, right?

What are you thankful for, anyway? Sports or real life, serious or not, share. Emote! But do it fast, before the post-turkey tryptophan kicks in and you fall asleep just as the Raiders are about to punt again.

New Ted Ginn/Snoop Dogg video; plus Browns fishing for Tuna?; Canes-Wannstedt bowl game, Ricky's pranic healer, fixing NASCAR, J-Lo's pratfall & more

[It's LIVE-CHAT WEDNESDAY! Join us today from 1-2 p.m. Two weeks ago we were at a different time. Last week we were snuffed by technical problems. This week we're back to normal. Click HERE to join us at 1 or to post questions early].

RICKY HONORED: Ricky Williams today named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for last week's three-TD effort at Carolina. 

GINN SKEWERED IN VIDEO: Our friend Ted Ginn Jr. gets the parody treatment in a new YouTube video set to the tune of Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot." Pretty clever, I must say. Click here for the vid.

BROWNS MAY TRY TO LURE PARCELLS: The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi, who has covered the NFL since helmets were turtle shells, reports -- citing an anonymous source -- that the hapless Browns may try to lure famed team rebuilder Bill Parcells from the Dolphins after the season, and that his contract would allow him to leave and still be paid by Miami. Click here for the unsettling tale. Hard to imagine it happening. Then again the inscrutable Parcells is a nomad who loves a challenge and, at 68, might have one more big one in him. (Dear Tuna: have you checked the weather in Cleveland lately?)

CANES VS. PITT, WANNSTEDT IN BOWL?: Interesting. Hurricanes up from 20th to 17th in latest BCS rankings, and now ESPN's updated bowl projections have UM-Pitt on Jan. 1 in the Gator Bowl in Jax. That'd be tasty, considering Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt is of course a former UM assistant and Dolphins coach. Return of the Wannstache! Or not. Website has two guessers predictors and the other guy sees UM-Northwestern in Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Zzz.

RICKY'S PRANIC HEALER: Here's what I love about Ricky Williams. He is such a freakin' free spirit -- genuinely, not contrived -- that no matter what you hear he is into, it's like, "Yeah, that makes sense." That was the reaction to colleague Barry Jackson's piece on Ricky's involvement with a "pranic healer." His guru, Daniel O'Hara of Orange County, Calif. -- pictured right -- gives an example of pranic healing, saying he might "visualize Ricky's ankle as if he's standing in front of me. I visualize him glowing. I make a sweeping motion over my ankle to remove the dirty energy from his ankle that's creating an abnormality and give his body fresh, revitalizing energy.'' Imagine if Dwyane Wade of Hanley Ramirez swore by such a "healer"? It'd be news, a controversy. With Ricky, it seems normal. South Florida has never had a more odd, fascinating athlete.

HOW THE BEAVER LOOKS AT 61: Faint memories of Jerry Mathers as the Beaver in TV's "Leave It to Beaver" sitcom? Then you might be interested in scrutinizing this rather bizarre photo (right) of Mathers today. Today's question: Whose fixed smile is creepier: Pranic healer Daniel O'Hara's? Or the Beaver's?

HOW TO FIX NASCAR: Covered yesterday's big Homestead race; click here for my Jimmie Johnson column. I follow NASCAR. Like it. (I'm one of the Juniorites with the unrequited wish that No. 88 would do something, please). I also recognize NASCAR is not perfect. This was the fifth straight year the big season finale here has been anticlimactic because the points leader could all but back into the season title. For NASCAR to have its Super Bowl the final race must have a competitive, winner-take-all feel every year. I'd scrap the Chase for the Cup format. The 12-driver/10-race thing was an interesting, bold idea that has not produced the desired results. My solution: Let the first 35 races set the field for the 36th and final race. Only the top 20 drivers get in, determined thusly: Any driver who has won at least one race that season, plus a free entry to the defending series champ if he hasn't won. Balance of field is made up of non-winners with the most points. Homestead grid is determined not by qualifying times, but by most season wins, with most points as the tiebreaker. Cars start at 3-second intervals. That gives you an exclusive 20-car field weighted by season results, yet giving everybody a shot. That gives NASCAR its Super Bowl. (Pictured: Jimmie Johnson either waving, or guaranteeing a fifth straight season title next year).

QUITE A SACRIFICE: In Nepal, 200,000 buffaloes, goats, chickens and pigeons are being killed in a religious sacrifice. Cannot yet confirm speculation PETA plans to dispatch 200,000 naked women in protest.

FANTASY LOSSES UNABATING: My Bad Newz Fennelz fell to 3-8 with a 107-73 loss; Drew Brees had 22 points for me. Greg's Lobos fell to 4-7 with a 117-98 loss, despite Tony Gonzalez's 22. 

KOBE BRYANT SHOWS OFF: Kobe gets hip-checked over the baseline Sunday and sinks a shot from behind the basket. What? Like you didn't think he could? Click here for video; the shot comes at around 7-10 second mark.

WIFE OF DOLPHINS PART-OWNER FALLS ON ASS AT AWARDS SHOW: J-Lo went O-No at the AMA music awards last night, falling on her bum during a song performance. Click here for the quick vid that makes Jennifer Lopez wish YouTube had never been invented. Also at the ceremony, Michael Jackson reminded us that, while dying tends to ruin a guy's year, dying also can be good for business as Michael posthumously won four awards. It was a big night overall for creepy androgyny, as Adam Lambert also performed.

LATEST ROUND OF THANKS...: ...to Chicago Daily Herald, Florida Times-Union, Kamloops (BC) News, Los Angeles Times, Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Orange County Register, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, San Jose Mercury News, Seattle Times, and, as always, 790 The Ticket and Le Batard for the regular Tuesday bit.

Click back. Adding more stuff here throughout day. Seriously.

Canesfan Satisfaction Meter: 80.2%

[Note: Separate Collball Week 12 post featuring Saturday's 34-16 UM win over Duke, Gators-FIU and more may be found in blog post directly below this].

UM fans' overall satisfaction stands at 80.2 percent in the wake of Saturday's 34-16 victory over Duke that closed Miami's home schedule and put the Canes' season record at 8-3. That's according to the latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll, breaking down to 25.3% who are "very" satisfied and 54.9% calling themselves "somewhat" satisfied. Those are the season's second-lowest numbers following a victory.

The CSM, new to the blog this season, is a continuing gauge of how UM fans are feeling about the team and season. Polls are posted following the conclusion of every Canes game. Season results appear beneath the latest poll.

The criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance, the season as a whole, the program's direction, and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations.

Poll and comments section stay open, but results become official on midnight the day after each game; in this case midnight last night/Sunday.

Results of previous polls may be found below the latest one.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Canesfan Satisfaction Meter season results:

Game 1: 98.9 percent satisfaction (72.3 very, 26.6 somewhat) following 38-34 victory at FSU.

Game 2: 99.5 percent satisfaction (89.0 very, 10.5 somewhat) following 33-17 victory vs. Georgia Tech.

Game 3: 65.3 percent satisfaction (24.9 very, 40.4 somewhat) following 31-7 loss at Virginia Tech.

Game 4: 99.0 percent satisfaction (87.5 very, 11.5 somewhat) following 21-20 victory vs. Oklahoma.

Game 5: 99.0 percent satisfaction (76.4 very, 22.6 somewhat) following 48-16 victory over Florida A&M.

Game 6: 97.1 percent satisfaction (71.5 very, 25.6 somewhat) following 27-7 victory at Central Florida.

Game 7: 44.1 percent satisfaction (15.5 very, 28.6 somewhat) following 40-37 OT loss vs. Clemson.

Game 8: 59.8 percent satisfaction (13.4 very, 46.4 somewhat) following 28-27 victory at Wake Forest.

Game 9: 95.2 percent satisfaction (66.4 very, 28.8 somewhat) following 52-17 victory vs. Virginia.

Game 10: 24.9 percent satisfaction (5.9 very, 19.0 somewhat) following 33-24 loss at North Carolina.

Game 11: 80.2 percent satisfaction (25.3 very, 54.9 somewhat) following 34-16 victory vs. Duke.

Next poll: Nov. 28 following game at South Florida.

Hurricanes 34, Duke 16 (Final); Taut game turns to rout; plus Gators edge FIU, 62-3

Collball Week 12 roundup:

[Note: Our latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll will be up in a separate post here in the blog at precisely 4 p.m. Watch for it and vote!] 

Hurricanes 34, Duke 16 (Final):

Final: UM now 8-3 and still thinking New year's bowl after a tight game turned easy and Canes whipped visiting Duke, 34-16. Jacory Harris shook off an early pick to throw for 348 yards -- 143 of them to Leonard Hankerson.

4Q: UM returns interception for a TD and 34-16 lead. A sudden rout. Three-plus quarters of a win in doubt becomes an easy day for Miami ..... Jacory Harris to Leonard Hankerson for 44 yards and a 27-16 lead. First time all game a UM win has seemed certain ..... UM lucky when Duke misses short Fg ..... Damien Berry short TD run caps an impressive drive in which Berry rushed for more than 50 yards .....

3Q: UM seems poised to retake lead as quarter ends ..... Miami pulls within 16-13, settles for three after failing to fully cash in on 1st and goal situation ..... Duke grows lead to 16-10.

Half: Way too early to panic, but struggling at home against Duke is never a good sign. The Canes must not lose this game.

2Q: Canes give up TD pass to Miamian/Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis and trail again, 13-10 ..... Harris-to-Tervaris Johnson on short TD pass off deflection for 10-6 lead, after earlier Graig Cooper TD run negated by penalty. Harris 44-yard play to Leonard Hankerson set up the score ..... UM driving again, and again gives it up on a turnover, this time a fumble-after-catch. Sloppy ..... Blue Devils up 6-3 on another FG. Pretty tough when you struggle at home to beat Duke.

1Q: Canes settle for 33-yard FG to tie it 3-3 ..... Duke takes early 3-0 lead after Canes appeared headed for first score of game but Jacory Harris was intecepted again -- 17th of season after four last week.

Original post:

20th-ranked UM (7-3) plays its final home game of season and nex-to-last overall before the bowl. It's vs. a Blue Devils squad that is good enough (5-5) to not be terrible (as in years past) but bad enough to still be an 18 1/2-point underdog. You know Duke. It's where they don't give a crap about football unless Coach K tells them it's OK to. Looking for a nice bounceback win by the Canes here after last week's disappointing loss to Butch Davis in Chapel Hill. Also looking for zero picks by Jacory Harris, although that finger injury of his could be an issue. How about it, kid. Zero INTs. Too much to ask?

Commentary welcome here on Canes, FIU-in-Swamp and all of today's other pertinent collball action.

Other state-college FBS/Division 1 games today:

Florida State 29, Maryland 26: Bobby Bowden was an 18-point home favorite and barely won, but barely is good enough in a rough season now at 6-5. 

South Florida 34, Louisville 22: The Bulls -- who host Miami next week -- were favored at home and improved to 7-3.

No. 1 Florida 62, FIU 3: Top-ranked Gators (now 11-0) were a 45-point favorite -- and covered. Easily. Fiu now 3-8. College football should have a mercy rule, by which FIU (3-7) could have agreed ahead of time to lose by, say, 34, to save on travel expenses.

Central Florida 49, Tulane 0: UCF now 7-4. Dear Tulane: Why bother fielding a team?

Troy 47, FAU 21: Howard's fightin' bitin' hootin' Owls fall to 3-7 after getting beat up by some guy named Troy. Sad.

National game of the day: The only top-25 matchup is 25-Cal at 17-Stanford. Therefore I anoint 10-Ohio State at Michigan as the national game of the day, although it wasn't much of a game at 21-10, Buckeyes. Historic rivalries are what college football does better than the  NFL. And not by a little. Feelgood story: UConn beating Notre Dame.

COTE'S TOP 30-PLUS

Our own rankings! It's OK, though. Relax. Experimental formula. Let's judge it in a couple of week as the bowl games near.

Rank  School   Points (Last week)

1 FLORIDA 1,077 (1)

2 Texas 1,032 2)

3 Alabama 1,014 (3)

4 Boise State 845 (5)

5 Southern Cal 839 (4)

6 Louisiana State 808 (6)

7 TCU 751 (7)

8 Ohio State 725 (9)

9 Penn State 719 (8)

10   Cincinnati 699 (11)

11   Virginia Tech 667 (10)

12   Oklahoma State 605 (12)

13   Georgia Tech 560 (14)

14   MIAMI 535 (13)

15   Iowa 518 (16)

16   Oregon 490 (17)

17   Oklahoma 480 (15)

18   Brigham Young 431 (19)

19   Mississippi 399 (18)

20   Houston 363 (20)

21   California 336 (21)

22   Pittsburgh 311 (24)

23   Utah 307 (22)

24   Kansas 246 (23)

25   Nebraska 236 (25)

26   Georgia 197 (26)

27   Notre Dame 163 (27)

28   North Carolina 135 (28)

29   Wisconsin 127 (35)

30   SOUTH FLORIDA 116 (29)

39   FLORIDA STATE 77 (37)

Dolfan Satisfaction Meter: 94.4% (plus NFL Week 11 picks)

[Game post on last night's Dolphins win is just below this and comments specific to the game are encouraged there. Comments on the season at large are encouraged here].

NFL Week 11 picks: Click here. Friday Page NFL notes column: Click here.

Fan satisfaction is buoyed and at a solid 94.4 percent in the wake of Thursday night's 24-17 win at Carolina, a second win in five days putting Miami's season record at 5-5. That's the season's second-highest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter reading, topped only by the Week 7 victory over the Jets.

In its second year in the blog, the DSM is a continuous gauge of how fans are feeling about the team and its direction. Right after each game, I invite fans to share their overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance, the season as a whole, the direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations.

Poll and comments section stay open; however, poll results are certified official on midnight the day after the game, meaning midnight last night/Friday in this case.

Week-by-week results may be found beneath the latest poll.

Online Surveys & Market Research

DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: Season Results

Game 1: 9.9% satisfaction (3.0 very, 6.9 somewhat) after 19-7 loss at Atlanta.

Game 2: 22.3% satisfaction (3.9 very, 18.4 somewhat) after 27-23 loss vs. Indianapolis.

Game 3: 6.4% satisfaction (3.7 very, 2.7 somewhat) after 23-13 loss at San Diego.

Game 4: 79.4% satisfaction (34.2 very, 45.2 somewhat) after 38-10 victory vs. Buffalo.

Game 5: 97.1% satisfaction (65.0 very, 32.1 somewhat) after 31-27 victory vs. N.Y. Jets.

Game 6: 25.2% satisfaction (5.5 very, 19.7 somewhat) after 46-34 loss vs. New Orleans.

Game 7: 85.5% satisfaction (23.3 very, 62.2 somewhat) following 30-25 victory at N.Y. Jets.

Game 8: 33.6% satisfaction (8.0 very, 25.6 somewhat) following 27-17 loss at New England.

Game 9: 59.9% satisfaction (5.8 very, 54.1 somewhat) following 25-23 victory vs. Tampa Bay.

Game 10: 94.4% satisfaction (42.9 very, 51.5 somewhat) following 24-17 victory at Carolina.

Next poll: Nov. 29 following game at Buffalo.