#4 Clemson travels to Tallahassee, Florida, to take on the Florida State Seminoles in a huge game. Once again, the Tigers are going to be the prohibitive “upset alert” as it seems every team on the schedule is primed to beat Clemson. Target on the back. Clemson gets everyone’s best game. Any number of analogies apply here.
After an easy opening game against Duquesne, FSU startled the college football world, beating the LSU Tigers 24-23 in the confines of the “other” Death Valley. The Seminoles followed up with two ACC victories over Louisville and Boston College. All was right with the world, “FSU IS BACK!!!”. FSU is back in the rankings at #23.
Hold your horses. Wake Forest and NC State brought them back down to earth, injuries happened, and the Seminoles are looking to Clemson to get their season back on track. The spread for this game has Clemson favored by 3.5. Yes, you heard me correctly. 3.5. FSU was basically shut down by two teams that Clemson put in the win column. So why only 3.5?????
Clemson has to be the favorite of every media/social media outlet to be on “upset alert”. Without question, Gameday analysts, except probably Kirk Herbstreit, will pull the proverbial “Clemson is overrated. SEMINOLES!!! You would think that all the above would realize that every time this happens, Coach Dabo Swinney uses it as motivation and it rarely happens.
“Nobody is going to sleep walk against Clemson. Everybody is going to give their best effort against Clemson”, said Dabo in his weekly press conference. “Everyone has Clemson circled on their schedule.”
Florida State is led by Quarterback Jordan Travis. He is a threat to run and has a talented wide receiver corps to get the ball down field. Through six games, Travis is completing 62.8% of his passes for 1,407 yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptions, and has only been sacked four times. On the outside, you’d think the sack total was due to a solid offensive line, but in reality, it is because of his mobility.
When Travis drops back to air it out, he distributes the ball among his top three receivers, led by 6-7 Johnny Wilson with 21 receptions for 417 yards and three touchdowns. WRs Mycah Pittman (21-260-3) and Ontario Wilson (18-298-2) round out his favorite targets. The FSU offense relies on Travis to ignite the offense. Last week against NCState, he rushed for 100 yards, so he is a threat to pull it down and the Tigers have to keep him in check.
The FSU run game has been outstanding all year, led by Treshaun Ward, rushing for 488 yards on 72 rushes and three touchdowns. As a team, FSU leads the ACC in yards per carry at 5.6, but they are going against the #2 ranked rushing defense in the country, and probably the healthiest on defense it has been all season. Xavier Thomas, Bryan Bresee and Tre Williams are all healthy and ready to get back at it. This is not a good sign for FSU success on the ground. Side note: Ward went out of the NC State game with an injury and didn’t return. He is listed as questionable for the Clemson game.
The Tigers are used to playing in hostile environments, and Doak is not going to be the exception. The Seminoles are going to be motivated and the fans are going to be lit. It’s going to be loud, but what’s new. The Tigers have put together two solid 4-quarter games the last two weeks and are looking to make it a third. Vegas has Clemson as a 3.5 favorite. Based on results of the first half of the season, it’s not going to be that close.
The Tigers hold a distinct advantage in the kicking game with BT Potter, a literal scoring machine. FSU’s Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled on field goals, making only 5 out of 10 on the season and 2 of 6 over 30 yards. With a poor kicking game, the Noles have gone for it on 4th down eight times, being successful on only three. It makes a difference.
Clemson’s run game could play a huge part in the outcome of this game. Teams have had a lot of success banging between the tackles due mainly to injuries on the FSU defensive line. Will Shipley and Phil Mafah are primed to have big games and could be the difference in the game. QB DJ Uiagalelei has looked heads and tails better from last year, and the solidifying of the offensive line and the Clemson receiving corps basically playing injury free has aided in the improved offense.
Clemson has a knack of starting out slow offensively, and seems to make the right halftime adjustments. This could be the same scenario against FSU. The Tigers need to continue holding down the turnovers, and getting after the quarterback on defense. Clemson needs to avoid the 10+ penalties a game (WF and NCState). They rebounded with only 2 penalties in the BC game. Florida State is averaging 8 penalties a game, Penalties can be game changing.
In the end, Clemson will be too much for Florida State on both sides of the ball and will cover easily. FSU has too much talent for the game to get out of hand like the last time these two teams faced off in Doak Stadium.
Clemson wins, 34-14.
Gary McDaniel: (Publisher/Writer/Analyst CSN)
Clemson heads down to Doak Campbell stadium 4th ranked 6-0 and undefeated in ACC play… the Tigers look to take out the last obstacle to an Atlantic Division title of the conference having already dispatched the two top contenders WF and NCST.
Jordan Travis leads the Noles at QB and has made significant strides improving over the last 3 years in Tally. The Nole’s are reeling after a 4-0 start now 2 straight losses to division rivals the Wolfpack and Deacons. Now comes 4th ranked and vastly improved Clemson who is on an upswing and getting confident QB play and defense that is starting to get all it’s pieces healthy and starting to impose it’s will. Look for the Noles to roll off the adrenaline and as always in ACC play Clemson is the Prize and Target of every team’s best shot. No doubt this one sets up for a lot of drama in such ways. But Dabo Swinney and his squad have seen these type of atmospheres as the status quo. No shell shock here. Clemson goes into Doak handles Business.. A first half of feeling each other out and another Clemson second half that will show the disparity and depth the Tigers hold as an advantage. Clemson stymies FSU and finds it’s own footing and continues to improve.
Clemson 34 FSU 17
Grayson Mann (Writer/Analyst CSN)
Clemson travels to Tallahassee to try to make it seven straight. They will. Do not under estimate this Seminole team. They have talent across the board with an athletic quarterback who can make play after play. Florida State will also test the Tigers with a top 25 rushing attack on the offensive side of the ball. Expect a tight first half as Clemson adjusts to the crowd and a tenacious front seven. Clemson will show their experience in the second half with a big play from Clemson’s defense that sets the tone as the Tigers pull away with a double digit victory. This week look for DJ to get all his receivers involved with Beaux Collins, Antonio Williams and Ngata all making big plays.
Clemson 31 FSU 17
Thomas Woods (CSN Writer/Contributor)
Clemson makes a statement behind a dominant defensive line. The offense is clicking with fewer drives sputtering out.
Clemson 38 FSU 10
Josh Starnes (CSN Director of Marketing)
Clemson 31 FSU 10
