Who: Florida State Seminoles (3-5, 3-4 ACC) at No. 4 Clemson Tigers (8-1, 6-1 ACC)
Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina
When: Saturday, Nov. 11 at 3:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Florida State fans gained much-needed relief last Saturday with the first home win of the season. The Seminoles will look to carry that momentum up to Death Valley, where the fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers await. The Seminoles saw a lot of improvement last week, even if the ending did show a regression towards their common struggles. If a chance to knock off the reigning national champions doesn’t get them motivated, then nothing will. Not much has gone right for FSU in 2017 — an upset victory would go a long way towards restoring faith in head coach Jimbo Fisher.
Clemson did not let an earlier loss to Syracuse derail its season. It has had some close calls (including a 1-score game against N.C. State last week) but the Tigers are still very much in the playoff race. Their defense is still daunting for any team to face. Where they falter is an offense that’s going through a transition year with an inconsistent quarterback in Kelly Bryant. Florida State is likely the last major test of the regular season. After FSU is The Citadel and South Carolina. A win against the Seminoles clinches a spot in the ACC Championship.
Biggest FSU Advantage
Clint: Jimbo Fisher’s Offensive Record Against Venables – 2017 will likely go down as the worst offensive outing of Jimbo Fisher’s Florida State career. That doesn’t mean he’s completely helpless. Ever since Brent Venables became the defensive coordinator at Clemson in 2012, Fisher’s offenses have averaged 472 yards, 6.93 yards per play, and 34 points per game against the Tigers. Those are excellent numbers. While fans should expect more 2015 than 2016, Fisher has proven that he can get his team motivated to play Clemson, despite the circumstances.
Mike: Having Nothing to Lose – Historically, Florida State has proven to be very dangerous as a big underdog. Clemson will be more than a 2-touchdown favorite when the teams meet on Saturday and with the Tigers fighting for an ACC Championship berth and a spot in the College Football Playoff, they’re the team with everything to lose. A season that began with national championship aspirations for FSU has been a disaster, but other than having a bowl game on the line, the Seminoles have nothing to lose. Facing the defending national champions should be all the motivation that FSU needs to play inspired.
Biggest Clemson Advantage
Clint: Defensive Front – There might not be a more imposing front seven in the nation than Clemson’s. Everyone knows the big names on the line with Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant, and Clelin Ferrell. But its linebackers are top-notch as well despite losing some important pieces. There are very few weak spots for FSU to exploit with running back Cam Akers; the offensive line will have its hands full protecting quarterback James Blackman. Fisher will need to get creative on Saturday if he wants to break that front.
Mike: The Defensive Line – To echo the sentiments above, there’s clearly no bigger advantage for Clemson over Florida State than its defensive line against the FSU offensive line. The Tigers are deep, physical, talented and athletic. Clelin Farrell and Austin Bryant on the outside and Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins on the interior may be the best starting defensive line in the country. FSU as an offensive front, has struggled this season, particularly in pass protection. The Tigers have the second-most sacks in the country.
Game Breaker
Clint: Will the Offense Find Any Way to Score? – Where FSU will actually attack the Clemson defense is still up in the air (maybe literally). Most assume that despite Akers’ talent, he probably won’t be able to have sustained success against Clemson. That means James Blackman will need to have the game of his life to lead the Seminoles to victory. It seems like a tall task, but remember that in 2016 Deondre Francois had a sub-par game but still helped move the ball downfield.
Mike: Can FSU Make Game-Changing Plays? – For Florida State to pull this upset, it will have to be near flawless and make game-changing plays. That could be long offensive touchdowns, a defensive or special teams score or a blocked punt that turns the tide. Turnovers could also qualify as things necessary for the Seminoles to do the unthinkable.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login