The Florida State Seminoles are ready to get back on the field. Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc on Florida State’s schedule, causing the Seminoles to cancel a game against an FCS foe and postpone their tilt with Miami three weeks into the future. It’s been three weeks since we saw them open the season against Alabama and a lot has changed across the college football landscape. Now they must be very cautious in their first ACC game, when they take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
This contest in Week 4 of the regular season will go down Saturday, September 23, 2017, at 12
p.m. ET at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. This game will be broadcast on ABC.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
North Carolina State +10.5
Florida State -10.5
Over/Under 51
Odds Analysis
NC State was seen as a dark horse to win the ACC, but that prediction disappeared after the first game of the season. The Wolfpack lost to South Carolina outright despite being over a touchdown favorite in the game and it’s hard to take them seriously as a contender now. To make matters worse, they are 0-3 ATS and haven’t acquitted themselves very well in non-conference play.
The Seminoles only have that season opening loss against Alabama to their name. The defense was fantastic on the night, but the offense was unable to move the ball against the Crimson Tide defense and that led to FSU failing to cover the spread.
Key Injury
This will be the first time we see freshman James Blackman start under center for the Noles. Deondre Francois was lost for the season in the loss to Alabama and now Jimbo Fisher must rely on a true freshman in order to save the season.
Blackman has the talent and this time off has given him extra time to prepare. Say what you want about Fisher’s quarterbacks in the NFL, but there’s no doubt that he prepares them for success at the collegiate level and tailors his gameplans to fit their specific skillsets.
He played high school ball at Glades Central, one of the best programs in south Florida, and his mobility should be able to get him out of some tight situations.
Matchup to Watch
Blackman won’t be asked to do too much with this defense behind him. The Seminoles did a fantastic job at limiting Alabama in their season opener and they have confidence that they can stop NC State’s offense.
FSU’s defensive line is one of the better units in the country and can get pressure. Derrick Nnadi can collapse the pocket in the middle and Matthew Thomas is finally living up to his potential as a rush linebacker after all these years. The team also has the best defensive player in the country too in Derwin James, a safety that is so versatile he can play defensive end in certain packages.
Eliah Drinkwitz is a solid offensive coordinator though and will no doubt have some tricks up his sleeve for how to beat this defense. His offenses have been very efficient over the years and he isn’t one to throw plays away. His offense almost keyed a Wolfpack upset in this game last season, but the Seminoles pulled it out at the very end.
Free ATS Pick
FSU is the better team, but there might be a lot of rust with such a long layoff. If this was single digits, we’d like the Seminoles chances here, but the hook is worrisome. Rather than play a side, play the total in this one. Under should be a nice bet considering the defensive lines both of these teams boast and Fisher won’t ask too Blackman to do too much in his first start. Look for a low scoring affair.
College Football Odds: Seminoles 23, Wolfpack 17
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