The 2011 season is upon us and today I will give my prediction for the 2011 Florida State season. Below is the schedule the Seminoles must face this season.
Louisiana-Monroe
Charleston Southern
Oklahoma
@Clemson
@Wake Forest
@Duke
Maryland
NC State
@Boston College
Miami
Virginia
@Florida
Guaranteed Victories
Louisiana-Monroe
Charleston Southern
@Wake Forest
@Duke
Virginia
I know in sports, there are technically "no guaranteed victories" i.e Virginia Tech losing to James Madison and Michigan losing to Appalachian State. However, the five games listed above are as close to guaranteed as they can get.
Should-win games
Maryland
NC State
@Boston College
Miami
These four games are the games that Florida will be favored in but could potentially lose if the Seminoles slip up and have a bad game. Maryland had a good year last season, almost winning the Atlantic Division. However, a home game for the Seminoles should prevent FSU from being upset in that game.
The NC State doesn't look nearly as tough this year given that starting quarterback Russell WIlson decided to transfer to Wisconsin. This was a big blow to the Wolfpack and given this game is also in Tallahassee, the Seminoles should be victorious.
The Boston College game will be played on only a four-game rest and will be played in Boston. This set-up seems like a perfect trap game for the 'Noles, but given Boston College will also be on a four-game rest and the Eagles should once again have another down season, the 'Noles should escape with a win.
Miami is always a tough game to predict due to the nature of the rivalry. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that the visiting team has had the upper hand in this rivalry the last several meetings. Don't expect the Seminoles to defeat Miami by 28 points like they did last season. Miami is a very experience team this year with one of the most senior starters in the nation. This game will be very exciting and close but the Seminoles should prevail.
Most difficult games
Oklahoma
@Clemson
@Florida
The Oklahoma game is the only game on the Florida State schedule that the Seminoles will no doubt be the underdog for. The Sooners will be the #1 ranked team in the nation at the time of the game and will be comming of a 47-17 victory over the 'Noles last season. This game will be much closer than the 30-point spread last year, but the Seminoles will need to be hitting on all cylinders in order to pull off an upset in this game. The winner of the September 17th game in Tallahassee will be the favorite to reach the national championship game in January.
The most underrated game on the Florida State schedule has to be the Clemson game. The Tigers are Florida State's #3 rival and always play the 'Noles tough. Clemson has had good success against FSU the past 8 seasons with a 5-3 record against the 'Noles following an 11-game losing streak to their division rival. Clemson will be comming off a game against Auburn and FSU will be comming off a game against Oklahoma. The game will be played in a tough environment in Clemson, South Carolina. This will no doubt be a difficult game for the Seminoles who won last year's game on a game winning 55-yard field goal.
The final game of the season is against the Florida Gators, as usual. Just like Miami, don't expect a repeat of last year's 31-7 victory. This game will be much closer than that. The Gators have a new coaching staff that will be improved from last year and the game will be played in a tough Gainesville environment. Depending on how both teams perfom during the regular season, the Gators may even be favored by a point given their home field advantage. Like always, this game means so much for recruiting and state bragging rights.
Prediction: FSU will finish the regular season 10-2 and win the Atlantic Division and face the Coastal Division champion in the ACC Championship Game.
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