Saturday college football and we will see the Florida State Seminoles take on the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game has a start time of 3:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ABC or ESPN 2. Current Vegas odds have the Seminoles listed as 18.5 point favorites, while the total is set at 60.5.
Analysis: The Florida State Seminoles rode the arm on Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston to a 14-0 record and a National Title last year. This team is loaded once again and they are favored to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and are also favored to repeat as national champions. The Noles almost let the repeat slip through their fingers last week, as they needed OT to hold of the Clemson Tigers. The offense struggled without Winston behind center as they were able to put up just 317 total yards, including just 13 yards on the ground. Yikes. Not Noles numbers, but they will have Winston back for this one. On the year he has been very average, though, throwing for just 626 yards with 3 TDs and 2 INTs so far. Overall the Noles offense is far below last year’s squad, as they are ranked 70th in the nation in total offense (429 ypg) and 65th in scoring (32.3 ppg). The defense is also not as good as last year as they are 54th in yards allowed (364.3 ypg) and 30th in points allowed (20.0 ppg).
The NC State Wolfpack went through a miserable year in Dave Doeren’s first year at the helm, as they finished at 3-9 overall and winless in the ACC for the first time since 1959. This is a young team this year, but also it looks like an improved team and should be in line for a bowl game this season. The Wolfpack have not played a tough schedule so far, but they have parlayed that easy slate into a 4-0 start and in their last 2 games they have outscored South Florida and Presbyterian by a combined 74 points. The offense is led by Jacoby Brissett, who has completed 69.7% of his passes for 1005 yards with 10 TDs and 1 INT so far, while also adding 118 yards rushing with another TD. Overall this has been a very good offense that ranks 26th in the nation in yards (502 ypg), 25th in rushing (248.8 ypg) and 32nd in scoring (40.2 ppg). On the defensive side of the ball the Wolfpack have been solid as well, ranking 37th in yards allowed (338.2 ypg) and 24th in points allowed (18.5 ppg).
Pick: Going with NC State in this one. The Noles just look a little off this year and facing a NC State squad that has always given them problems is not the way to right the ship. FSU is coming off that big battle with Clemson and yes they will have Winston back for this one, but still we note that the Noles are just 1-8 ATS the last 9 in this series and are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 trips here. NC State is off to a fine 4-0 start and their defense, which has allowed just 18.5 ppg, will be just what they need to keep this one close.
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