Posted by NoleCC

It’s Friday, that means it’s Gut Reaction Prediction Time:

Wake Forest Demon Deacons:

• Riley Skinner, Riley Skinner, Riley Skinner. The Wake QB will have a big day against the FSU secondary.
• Wake Forest is having an unlucky season. They’ve been in all of their loses til the end. Bad luck only lasts so long.
• The Wake Forest running attack will confuse the FSU Defense, as usual. Option does that to the Noles.
• The Demon Deacon defense will do enough to stop the FSU Offense.
• Wake Forest won the last 3 games against the Noles.

Florida State Seminoles:

• Christian Ponder is out. E.J. Manuel is in. The Noles won’t be able to score on every drive, regardless of how good E.J. plays on Saturday.
• I think the FSU Wide Receivers will have their worst game of the season so far, thanks to the time issues with a new QB.
• Can FSU play a ball control running game with Ponder out?
• The FSU Defense looked better 75% of the time against Clemson. However, the other 25% of the time they were giving up big plays and TDs. That doesn’t change this week.
• Dustin Hopkins seems to be more consistent as the year goes on, that will help the FSU Special Teams.
• BB&T Field is historically bad luck for FSU. Saturday won’t make it better.

Prediction:

Honestly, I don’t see this one being close. I think Riley Skinner is going to have a big day against the Noles, and I think E.J. Manuel will look mediocre in his first start. The Demon Deacons should roll in the blackout at BB&T Field.

Demon Deacons 38 Noles 24