2016-17 Football Previews – (ACC) – Seminoles
Looking for 2016 Florida State Seminoles predictions? Everybody is raving about Clemson and their Heisman hopeful QB Deshaun Watson this year, but the formidable Seminoles might still be the team to beat in the Atlantic Coast Conference. FSU has its own Heisman Trophy candidate (more on him in a moment) to pair with a phenomenally talented defense.
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2016-17 College Football Preview – Florida State Seminoles
Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher
2015 Record: 10-3
ACC Championship Odds: +225
Florida State Seminoles Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +1200
Win Total: 9.5 (Over +100 / Under -120)
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Head coach Jimbo Fisher has been highly successful in the seven years since he took over from school legend Bobby Bowden, including a national title in 2013 (then called the BCS Championship).
Who knows? He might just add to the trophy mantle in 2016.
2016 Florida State Seminoles Predictions: Team Strengths
There are many, but the Noles’ crown jewel is definitely junior RB Dalvin Cook. The gamebreaker had 1,691 rush yards and 19 TDs in 2015, to go with an eye-popping 7.4 yards per carry.
Cook can take it to the house every time he possesses the ball. With an only average pass attack, the effectiveness of Cook and the offensive line is intrinsic to FSU’s success.
Speaking of that O-line, the unit is led by last year’s Jacobs Award winner (best offensive tackle in the nation) Roderick Johnson.
The 6″7, 307-lb specimen will continue to set the edge this season for Florida State, and he’ll be joined by excellent players like OGs Kareem Are and Wilson Bell, who was the top O-line recruit in the country a few years ago.
Clearly, there’s plenty of proficiency to blow open holes for the explosive Cook.
Defensively, Florida State is littered with ability. Strong safety Derwin James is among the best defensive backs in the country. Junior LB Trey Mitchell is tremendously fast. Senior DE DeMarcus Walker had 10.5 sacks in 2015.
Despite losing three of their top four tacklers from a season ago, FSU has the recruiting chops and the roster depth to not miss a beat.
Freshman kicker Ricky Aguayo will likely start, and he should continue the legacy started by older brother Roberto.
Basically, FSU has enjoyed excellent kicking since now-NFLer Dustin Hopkins thumped the ball before Aguayo the Elder.
2016 Florida State Seminoles Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Sorry to be redundant, but there aren’t many, aside from maybe a bit of a QB controversy in the spring.
The Seminoles definitely don’t have as surefire a starting pivot as Clemson does with Watson, which is probably why so many people are in love with the Tigers this off-season.
Someone should capably fill the role, but last year’s leading passer Everett Golson is gone and he must be replaced by a union of senior Sean Maguire, redshirt freshman Deondre Francois and sophomore J.J. Cosentino.
In addition to Aguayo, the ‘Noles will also have a true frosh punting the football, but in steps five-star recruit Logan Tyler – so it’s probably a stretch to call that a weakness, so long as Tyler can keep his composure against the Miamis and Clemsons of the world in a tight game.
Florida State Seminoles 2016 Prediction: 12-1
Despite the presence of Clemson in the ACC’s Atlantic division, this is a premier football team that is a bona fide National Title contender.
If the Seminoles can get improved quarterbacking this year, there really aren’t any holes on this roster.
Years of evidence has proven that a game-changing RB can make all the difference in college and separate the elite programs from the merely very good; Florida State has that player in spades with Dalvin Cook. He’s got the veteran offensive line to help him along, too.
All of FSU’s road games, with the exception of perhaps Miami, are nothing to worry about.
To be fair, Florida State have a tough opening game at neutral-site Orlando against Ole Miss from the SEC.
Also, the ‘Noles are very strong within the confines of Tallahassee’s Doak Campbell Stadium. All of these variables add up to certainly a double-digit win year for these Seminoles, and likely quite a bit more.
One thing’s for sure – every college ball fan will have Oct. 29 circled on their calendars.
FLORIDA STATE 2016 SCHEDULE (all listed times EST)
- 09/05/2016 vs. Mississippi (in Orlando) 8:00 pm
- 09/10/2016 vs. Charleston Southern 12:30 pm
- 09/17/2016 at Louisville Noon
- 09/24/2016 at USF TBA
- 10/01/2016 vs. North Carolina TBA
- 10/08/2016 at Miami-Fl TBA
- 10/15/2016 vs. Wake Forest TBA
- 10/22/2016 BYE
- 10/29/2016 vs. Clemson TBA
- 11/05/2016 at NC State TBA
- 11/11/2016 vs. Boston College 7:30 pm
- 11/19/2016 at Syracuse TBA
- 11/26/2016 vs. Florida TBA
What do you think about our 2016 Florida State Seminoles predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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