FSU Preview: Florida State versus Boston College

FSU Preview: Florida State versus Boston College

This Saturday at 8 PM on the ACC Network the Seminoles will host the Boston College Eagles.

BC is 1-2 on the season with a win against Maine and losses to Rutgers and Virginia Tech.

FSU is 13-5 all time versus the Eagles and is coming off a 26-23 victory last season.

Observations from the last game

This team has fight! It was a gutty, gritty performance to come from behind on the road with the leaders of the team sidelined with injuries.

Johnny Wilson, the backs, o-line and backup defensive linemen played great and fueled the team to victory.  

Quarterback Tate Rodemaker couldn’t have played worse at the end of the half but made some incredible throws to lead the comeback in the second half.

Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has struggled mightily but the staff is sticking with him.

Injury updates

The players that got hurt against Louisville are listed on the depth chart.

I’ve just speculating but I think Jordan Travis, right tackle Robert Scott and cornerback Omarion Cooper are available in an emergency. D-End Jared Verse and guard Dillon Gibbons will play and D-tackle Fabian Lovett will be out again.

Florida State offense versus Boston College

BC allowed 358 yards rushing combined against Rutgers and VT so FSU should find success in the run game once again. Rodemaker can run a little bit but only on designed runs and they’ll be careful with Travis if he can play. As a result, Ward, Benson and Toafili need to shoulder the load.

If Rodemaker is the starter BC will put 7 or 8 defenders near the line to stop the run and force FSU into passing situations. On passing downs Boston College will rely on its pass rush led by defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaka (2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles this season).

Florida State defense versus Boston College offense

The Eagles offensive line has been decimated by injuries with 3 lineman out for the game. This has made it very difficult to get a run game going. BC’s leading rusher Pat Garwo has only 118 yards in 3 games.

Boston College is still very capable through the air with quarterback Phil Jurkovec who jhas 738 yards passing and 6 touchdowns. The leading receiver is a very quick and shifty Zay Flowers, 285 yards receiving and 3 TDs.

Covering Flowers will be the top priority and that responsibility will be on slot corner Kevin Knowles. I expect defensive ends Jared Verse and Derrick McClendon to have productive days spurring the defense to a strong performance.

Special Teams

Advantage: FSU

Prediction

If the ‘Noles didn’t have as many health concerns this game would be easier to predict but we’re not sure about the QB and a few linemen. I think Rodemaker gets the start and suffers a couple growing pains but figures it out to propel FSU to a grind ‘em out victory. FSU 31 BC 20.

4 Responses to "FSU Preview: Florida State versus Boston College"

  1. Great job Scott, Jr. I think your are predictions are spot on!
    Thanks for the great information on our players!
    GO NOLES??????

  2. Gotta give credit where due. You’ve been near nails with your prognostication thus far… keep it up. I thought once Rodemaker cleared the butterflies, he handled things quite well. I sensed a different team attitude with him at the helm. They seemed sharper in their schemes, and more comfortable – dare I suggest more confident – with him as their leader. Not to diminish Travis with that assessment… but there was definitely a team “aura of purpose“ in the second half.

    We’ll see what today brings… hopefully another win… Go Noles!

  3. I feel like you are dead on with your prediction! I am praying that Travis will be able to play without getting te-injured, and that Rodemaker show ‘em his heart and has a great game too!

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