Florida State football returns from a bye week for what might be its last chance at a comfortable win in 2018. It is not the situation anyone predicted, but the Seminoles do not have time to dwell on what could have been. They’re by no means favored to make a bowl game and every win is valuable.
We here at The Daily Nole have provided a week’s worth of content aimed at giving you all the information necessary for this game. Check out some of our stories below if you haven’t already:
FSU’s Biggest Questions for Wake Forest
By the Numbers: How FSU Has Finished After 3-3 Starts
FSU Football: Pass Rush Returns to Form Under New Staff
The Daily Nole — Oct. 16, 2018: FSU to Wear Traditional Home Unis vs. Wake
ACC Football Rankings for Florida State (Oct. 15)
FSU Football: First Look at Wake Forest
Staff Predictions
Lead Writer Clint Eiland: In some ways it is beneficial that FSU had a bye week to regroup itself after the Miami loss. If the Seminoles hosted Wake Forest in the immediate wake (heh) of that heartbreaker, their chances at getting upset would have been fairly high. Now, they’ve had some extra practice and preparation time for a team who isn’t necessarily all that dangerous.
Given what we have seen with regards to improvement by the FSU offense, it will continue against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are a lot like Northern Illinois when it comes to their defensive weaknesses…except the NIU front seven is clearly better. The Seminoles should have little trouble moving the ball downfield if they limit the turnovers. That movement will still be reliant on quarterback Deondre Francois and the passing game, but the run game should benefit from weaker competition.
Saturday will also be a test of the secondary, who sorely need a game without a handful of chunk plays. Defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett has promised adjustments and made a few against Miami, but the team still allowed four passing touchdowns. Wake Forest will still have some successful pass plays, but they need to be limited.
I’ll take FSU 38, Wake Forest 14.
Editor Mike Ferguson: If there was ever a week for the dreadful Florida State offense to get things going, it’s against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have had their struggles through the air, but are allowing more yards per game on the ground than any other team in the ACC. Taking care of the ball will be paramount for Deondre Francois and the FSU offense.
Turnovers were the biggest reason for the Seminoles’ meltdown at Miami two weeks ago and if that continues, an upset is entirely possible. Sam Hartman, the Wake quarterback, is a true freshman and has struggled against better defenses. The Seminoles have been susceptible to big plays through the air this week and must force the Deacons to be methodical. FSU 31, Wake 24.
Digital content manager Edwin Collins: FSU and Wake fans 200, first responders 0. 200 is the approximate number of first responders being kicked out of their hotel rooms to accommodate those coming to Tallahassee for a football game. On the field, FSU wins it, 35-3.
finance85
October 22, 2018 at 11:36 am
There were a lot of empty seats at the game. I suspect it was a variety of factors – FSU isn’t good, they were playing Wake, it was a 3:30 game, and hotel rooms were scarce.
Late word from FSU is no emergency workers were displaced. Actually Florida law saws that hotels can’t legally kick out guests who are already registered, though I’m sure it happens.
Happy for the win. Still looking for FSU to play a complete game. So far they’ve managed two good quarters in 3 games, and that’s about it.