College Football Predictions – Florida St Seminoles 2020 College Football Preview
2019 Recap
Record – 6-7
ATS – 4-8-1
Florida St booked another disappointing year culminating in a Sun Bowl loss to the Arizona St Sun Devils (L 20-14). Head coach Willie Taggart was fired nine games into the campaign and was shooed out of town just 21 games into his tenure. The Seminoles have registered three consecutive mediocre seasons (7-6, 5-7, 6-7) and look to former Memphis lead man Mike Norvell to get their fortunes turned around.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
ACC – #5
<Note: In 2020, the top two teams in the ACC advance to the conference title game regardless of division. That includes Notre Dame.>
Florida St Seminoles 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
“You spin me right round, baby, Right round like a record baby, Right round round round.” <Dead or Alive>
The players’ heads have to be spinning with yet ANOTHER new head coach and ANOTHER new offensive coordinator. The good news is that Mike Norvell got the Memphis offense moving like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE so it’s not unthinkable he can do the same at Florida St.
James Blackmon looks like the starting QB and he’s made 23 starts (28 games) in his career and proven that he can take a LICKING and keep on TICKING after big hits. He needs to be more consistent (17-11 TD to INT LY) but that’s definitely something he can do, especially with excellent coaching. The Noles will miss 1,100-yard RB Cam Akers but get Texas A&M transfer Jashaun Corbin added to an interesting mix of backs that includes Khalan Laborn (#2 rusher LY). WR Tamorrion Terry is one of the most exciting wide receivers in college football (1,188, 19.8, 9 TD LY) and should have another monster year. The million-dollar question is can Norvell and his staff fix the offensive line problems? It’s been a TIRE FIRE for a number of years and they allowed 48 (!) sacks a season ago. FIU transfer Devontae Love-Taylor should help at the tackle position but we’re still a bit skeptical. In any event, we expect the offense to take a big step forward and finish in the top-half of most ACC statistical rankings.
<Note – RB K Laborn is no longer with the team>
DEFENSE
We’re old enough to remember when Florida St had DOMINANT, or at least really good defenses. The Noles followed up a 9th place finish in the ACC total defense ranking with a poor 11th place showing in 2019. There’s a lot of work to do but there are 10 returning starters and a few special players to build around.
Florida St moves back to a four-man front and have one of the premier defensive tackles in country. Marvin Wilson led the team with five sacks LY and recall that he missed some time due to injury (appeared in 9 games). The Noles will have to start generating more sacks as they have been mediocre in that regard the past three seasons (32, 28, 29). The linebacker crew has all three starters returning for battle including senior Emmett Rice (#2 tackles LY). The secondary has a lot of potential based on the mere fact that they boast a pair of stars. Senior safety Hamsah Nasirildeen packs a WALLOP (101 tackles LY led the team) and CB Asante Samuel Jr has the tools to be one of the best in the nation.
It’s not hard to imagine a big improvement in the defense. If they can cobble together a decent pass rush they could be really good.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Noles need to find a replacement for a four-year starter at PK, but to be fair, former kicker Ricky Aguayo had been a disappointment the last two years (18/31 FG). They also need to work in a new punter but Aussie Alex Mastromanno may be a nice find. The return units should be decent given the athletes on the roster.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The plandemic schedule is set. They get a FREE SQUARE hosting Jacksonville St in non-conference play but they didn’t get any favors in the revised ACC scheduling as they face essentially all the big boys (Clemson, UNC, Miami, Pitt, Irish, LUA-VUH). They should be able to start with a big win (Georgia Tech) (H) but face Miami (A) in their 2nd game on September 26th. We’re still bitter about the game at Boise St getting greased from the docket as that would have been great TV.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at NC State (November 14th)
The Pack will be improved this year (in our humble estimation) and the yuuuge home game with Clemson is on deck. Also note that NC State has played well vs the Noles at home recently and even put up a 47 BURGER in 2018.
Season Win Total
Over 7 -105
Under 7 -125
MEGALOCKS says:
Original quote from our summer preview – “We’d open it at something like Over 6.5 -120, Under 6.5 +100.”
Update. We like the look of this team but that’s a nasty schedule. Not on this puppy yet, but will probably nibble on an ‘over’ 6.5 if we can shop around and find one.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Seminoles rattled off an impossible 14 (!) consecutive double-digit winning seasons from 1987 to 2000. No wonder we hated them as Canes’ fans growing up
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Well, they just might have gotten the home run hire they really needed. Mike Norvell did a wonderful job at Memphis (38-15) and it’ll be fun to see what he can do with talented ACC athletes. The poor offensive line play needs to be addressed, and STOP ALREADY with the freaking penalties (#130 FBS in penalties per game LY). Fun fact. Mike Norvell’s last two Memphis squads finished #116 and #102 in that regard.
It won’t happen right away, but it’s reasonable to think that Florida St could be the lead challenger to Clemson in the Atlantic Division in short order. This year they’re a longshot to get to the conference title game with the revised scheduling format.
Want more Florida St football ?
WEBSITE
https://seminoles.com/sports/football/
FORUM
http://www.theterritory.org/phorum/list.php?5
http://floridastate.247sports.com/Board
https://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-tribal-council.32/
NEWS
http://www.tallahassee.com/nolesports/football/
http://www.tomahawknation.com/
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/52/florida-state-seminoles
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