2014
Florida State Football Preview
In
Part 10 of the 2014 12 part opponent video series, I’m going to talk a little
about the defending National Champion Florida State Seminoles, our opponent on Nov
15th at Sun Life Stadium
Lets
first look at their Talent:
Where do you begin? I’ll make no bones about it. The Seminoles are very good. They are reloading again. The talent is there to win it again. The only thing that they have to guard against is being satisified and complacent. They lost a lot to graduation/early entry into the NFL Draft. They could lose guys like Lamarcus Joyner, Devonta Freeman, Timmy Jernigan and Kelvin Benjamin and still reload with top level talent. This is Jameis Winston’s team and they’ll be dangerous again.
Next, I want to talk about the Coaching:
You know that Jimbo Fisher will make sure the Noles realize that they are now the hunted, and they will get their opponents best effort (See Auburn in the BCS title game). The guy is one hellva a recruiter and another top class this year proved that.
Now, to their 2014 Schedule:
These guys won it all last year, and let me predict their schedule for 2014:In their opener, 8/30 vs. Oklahoma State (neutral – Jerry’s House in Arlington, TX): W 34-10
It’ll be a game for about a half, but in the 2nd half, look for FSU to show why many people have them winning it all again. The D makes big plays, the O will make big plays in this one. Noles win going away here.
In Week 2, 9/6 vs. The Citadel: 77-0
No contest. You can name the score on this one. They’ll be looking ahead to the big one with Clemson by halftime. Jameis plays just a half in this one and the 2nd and 3rd units will play the rest of this one.
In week 3 they have a BYE
In week 4, 9/20 vs. Clemson: 30-17
Off the BYE week, Clemson comes to Tallahassee, and while Clemson will be out to avenge the beatdown last year in their own house, look for Jameis and Co., to get it going and neutralize Beasley and the rest of the Clemson D come midway through the 3rd, and the Noles win going away, the Tigers will score late to make it more respectable, but the Noles will have this one in hand.
In week 5, 9/27 at North Carolina State: 59-10
Uh oh, Mr Brissett, you only get to fact an old rival. You can bet Jimbo will remind his team about the last visit to Raleigh, which ended in an upset loss. That will not happen here. Another big game from Winston and Co here. FSU wins easily here.
In Week 6 , 10/4 vs. Wake Forest: 70-3
Guess what Wake Forest, you get to be the sacrificial lamb for the FSU machine. Look for the starters to be out by halftime and the 2nd and 3rd units playing the 2nd half.
In Week 7, 10/11 at Syracuse: 42-17
It’ll be a fight here, for maybe a 1 ½ quarters, but by halftime, this one will be well in hand, and the Noles will be looking to the showdown with the Irish.
In Week 8, 10/18 vs. Notre Dame: 48-14
On paper, this is a marquee matchup. However, given the troubles in South Bend, and the game being in Tallahassee, the Noles will have their way with the Irish here.
In Week 9, they have a BYE
In Week 10, 10/30 at Louisville: 41-21
The Cardinals will be jacked up to play this one on a Thursday Night at home. This will be close for a half, but in the 2nd half, look for a Noles to start getting it together and pull away from Louisville and win comfortably.
In Week 11, 11/8 vs. Virginia: 45-3
My god, if it hasn’t gotten any worse for the Cavs, they get to face the monster that is FSU. Mike London’s seat is blistering at this point, and it only gets hotter after this one. Noles BIG in this one.
In Week 12, 11/15 at Miami (FL): 38-28
The CANES gave FSU a game last year for a half, in the end, just too much talent and depth for UM to overcome. This rivalry is getting close to what it used to be, however Miami still has a little ways to go, but not too much though. Jameis makes enough plays for the Noles to escape Miami Gardens with the victory.
In Week 13, 11/22 vs. Boston College: 49-7
BC gave the Noles all it could handle up in Chestnut Hill last year. This year, this game being in Tallahassee, you can be sure, Jimbo will not allow a repeat of what BC did to that Defense last year. Noles BIG in this one.
In the season finale, 11/29 vs. Florida: 34-21
This is a rivalry game, so you never know. You can be sure of this, Florida will come ready to play this one, especially A) after the stinker of a season they had last year, and B) they’ll be healthy, much more so than last year. Jameis had better be ready to take on a very aggressive UF defense. This game will be close for 3 quarters, but come the 4th quarter, Jameis and Co will make the plays needed to be made to win this one. What I do know is that the Gators better throw out every offensive play they had in 2013, because it was god awful. But you can expect the Florida defense to show up for this one. Winston struggled a bit last year in this matchup, he’ll be better prepared during his second go around.
My prediction on the Game vs. CANES:
We gave them a game for a half, and we had the ball to start the 3rd quarter. In the end, FSU had too much depth and firepower for us to overcome in that one up there. We’ll be ready to play this game, and we’ll be close for a while, but in the 4th quarter, as painful as it is for me to say, I think Jameis will make plays for them and they’ll leave our place with a victory. I think we’ll give them the toughest game they play all year.
In Part 11 of the 2014 series, I will talk about the
Virginia Cavaliers, our opponent on November 22nd at Scott Stadium
in Charlottesville, VA in the regular season road finale.
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