Posted by NoleCC

By Bill Kristoph

The Florida State Seminoles and University of Virginia Cavaliers kickoff at Doak S. Campbell Stadium Saturday night at 7:45PM. Although College Gameday will not be visiting Tallahassee this weekend, ESPN is providing the coverage of what is obviously the game of the week. It is going to be a big night for both teams with ACC Title and possibly National Title implications. Many Seminole fans are quick to dismiss the undefeated Cavaliers as overrated. ‘Nole fans claim that the Cavs have not yet been tested. Remember two things; A. Either they have not been tested, but that doesn’t mean they won’t pass this one, or B. The Cavaliers are really a dominant team this year. The #6 ranking for the Cavaliers is well-deserved at this point of the season, and is the teams’ highest ranking since 1990 when they were ranked #1. However, you won’t find Coach Al Groh fessing up to the fact that the Cavaliers are deserving of the rank.

Are the Cavaliers like the rest of the ACC (aside from Miami) in fearing the vaunted Seminoles? No. Perhaps this fact can be traced back to 1995 when the Cavaliers upset Florida State, but whatever the case, this team should not have bug eyes and butterflies on Saturday night. Have the Seminoles regained that oh-so-important FSU swagger? Signs are pointing to yes, but there are many moves that could make it disappear. While many people will look at the 17-13 win over Syracuse as a negative, I think it showed the guts of the Seminole teams of old, where the ‘Noles won close games in the 4th quarter due to superior talent and preparation.

A simplistic breakdown of the game:
The ‘Noles have a quarterback controversy, no matter what anyone tells you. Chris Rix is healing, and Coach Bobby Bowden appears, at times, to want to have a short leash on Wyatt Sexton. If the controversy boils over Saturday night, it will have the dual effect of splitting the team and the stadium. Let’s hope the only way FSU backups enter the game is in a blowout.

Close games have not been the ‘Noles strong suit for the past couple of years (N.C. State in O.T. and last week @ Syracuse being exceptions). Kicker Xavier Beitia is not a big game kicker. If this one goes down to the wire, Seminole fans had better be ready to hold their collective breath. Cavaliers have the luxury of kicker Conner Hughes, who makes kicks like clockwork, and a tremendous quarterback in Marques Hagans who boasts a 171.2 passer rating.

Both teams boast fierce defenses that swarm to the ball. The speed edge goes to the Seminoles and the size edge to the Cavaliers. Whoever can stuff the running game of the other team, wins this ballgame. Look for linebackers Ernie Sims and A.J. Nicholson to have a huge impact for the Seminoles, who will work hard along with the defensive line to slow down the speedy UVA rushing attack. The entire UVA defense will have to come up big against the Leon Washington / Lorenzo Booker combo. Look for FSU to “go over the top” with some play-action passes later in the game, while UVA moves Hagans around to stifle the Seminole defensive rush.

This one is truly a “pick ‘em.” When a game is going to be this close, you take the home team. You take the fans, the evening, the national exposure and the experience of the big games. This all points to a Seminole victory, but as famous Seminole alum Lee Corso would say, “No so fast my friends!” The Cavaliers are better coached (yes, I said it), have better special teams and have the confidence to go far this season.

It’s gut check time for both teams.

As I said in my season predictions…
Cavaliers over the ‘Noles, 19-17 on a late touchdown.

Let’s start rooting that I’m wrong!!!