Florida State Seminole’s 2018 Football Schedule

Trust the Process:

I’ll be using a standard format across all Chop’s Takes:

1. I’ll take a look at the returning production (keeping in mind the evaluation of talent applicable to each ACC Program) and compare to each team they face on their schedule.
2. I’ll look at the opponent faced the week before, that game’s final score, and days passed before the current game being evaluated.
3. I’ll take a look at the opponent the ACC team faces after the present game, considering look-ahead games and rivalries, and days separating that game from the present.
4. I’ll weigh advantages of home versus away games for each game.
5. Where possible, I’ll take into consideration potential weather considerations (not Hurricanes or other natural disasters but rather seasonal conditions).

Florida State’s 2018 Football Schedule:

Virginia Tech (Monday September 3rd, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ESPN

Previous Game: N/A

Following Game: William & Mary (September 8th, 2018 2:00 P.M. EST at home on ACC Network Extra)

Prediction: Florida State WIN

Is this a homer move on my part? I don’t believe so. Allow me to explain. My understanding is that VT’s off-season has gone everywhere but according to plan. The defense is thinning at a rate not initially anticipated. Justin Fuente will be earning his pay on defense, as I continuously hear over the air waves. The game is prime-time Monday night coverage on Labor Day weekend. FSU was heartbroken after a devastating 2017 campaign that began with a fallen Quarter Back and ended with a National Championship winning head coach fleeing for the green in College Station. The fandom has a savior in Willie Taggart, a long-time FSU fan growing up as well as an up-and-coming head coach with a penchant for rebuilding Football programs. He runs a slick, swift, and simple offense, and has a charming personality that pulls top recruits across the country to his teams. While Willie and Justin have faced-off while at their stints at USF and Memphis (Justin Fuente leads Willie 3-0), the caliber of athlete at both coaches’ disposal is no-comparison. FSU fans will be rowdy, the team will be out for blood, and I truly believe they’ll take advantage of a sell-out stadium at home against a reeling Hokie squad.

Samford (September 8th, 2018 7:20 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ACC Network Extra

Previous Game: Shorter (August 30th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST at home)

Following Game: Mercer (September 15th, 2018 3:00 P.M. EST at home)

Prediction: Florida State WIN

I’ll keep this brief: ACC teams SHOULD win their FCS match-ups. Florida State is at home against a vastly inferior opponent. Florida State should win this. Next.

Syracuse (September 15th, 2018 noon away)

Previous Game: Wagner (September 8th, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST at home on ACC Network Extra)

Following Game: UConn (September 22nd, 2018 at home)

Television: ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

Prediction: Florida State WIN

It’s not that I don’t think Syracuse is capable of the upset. I believe this is purely talent. The talent at Florida State is still bar-none in the ACC. Despite a lack of experience on defense and a thin offensive line, the Offense should be dynamic and youth on defense, at least, energized and willing to prove a point under Willie’s regime. This game, I don’t think, will be close like last season’s. The team Syracuse faced in Doak last season was the defeated shell of a program that really was to contend for the National Championship. It was the face of defeat and a demoralized core shaken by it’s lack of leadership. That will not be Florida State in 2018. Syracuse, at home, will fall to the Noles.

Northern Illinois (September 22nd, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Central Michigan (September 15th 3:30 P.M. EST at home on ESPN+)

Following Game: Eastern Michigan (September 29th, 2018 6:00 P.M. EST away on ESPN+)

Prediction: Florida State WIN

This might be a sneaky-good game! Northern Illinois is a well-balanced program with leadership returning on both sides of the ball. FSU is also looking to Louisville the following week. However, the sheer superior talent at FSU as well as the home field advantage won’t allow me to predict a loss to Norther Illinois in Doak. Give me the Noles for the win!

Louisville (September 29th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Virginia (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Following Game: Georgia Tech (Friday October 5th, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. EST on ESPN at home)

Prediction: Florida State WIN

FSU might be looking ahead to Miami. FSU might also be seeking revenge for two-straight losses to Louisville. This will not be a repeat of 2016. This will also not be a close-loss situation much like 2017, where FSU was (for all intents & purposes) to be the victor (until a freshman Blackman fumbled and Lamar Jackson did what he does best). FSU was a lost team after the Alabama loss in 2017, with a Head Coach half-way out the door and a staff in chaos, it was the sheer willpower of the team that saw them make a miracle-run to just be bowl eligible. While it typically takes more than a season to change a culture, Willie has the Seminoles heading in the right direction, and that’ll be solidified with a resounding win over Louisville at Louisville, exorcising the ghosts of FSU past with their last two losses to the Cardinals.

Miami (October 6th, 2018 away)

Rivalry Game

Previous Game: North Carolina (Thursday September 27th, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. EST ESPN at home)

Following Game: Virginia (October 13th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Florida State LOSS

This’ll be the first L on FSU’s schedule. I expect Miami to win the game in Coral Gables this season. I expect FSU has at least a season to completely change it’s toxic culture. This will result in superior talent losing to a slightly less talented (but more experienced) Miami squad. I won’t keep this long, it’s much too painful as a Nole to fixate on. But yes: Miami will win this one in 2018.

Wake Forest (October 20th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Clemson (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Louisville (October 27th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Florida State WIN

This game, on paper, would seemingly look like a potential upset against FSU. FSU is under a regime change, and facing their perennial rival Clemson the following week. The advantage at home for FSU will come into play here. The talent on defense is fresh however I suspect developed enough by new defensive coordinator that they’ll be able to handle the Wake Forest offense on talent alone. The offense, if the O-line can hold-up, should be dynamic in Willie’s system.

Clemson (October 27th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: NC State (October 20th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Louisville (November 3rd, 2018 at home)

Prediction: Florida State LOSS

The battle for the ACC Atlantic always crosses paths in Doak or Death Valley. While these two titans meet in Doak, I just don’t see how FSU could ever be ready against this Elite juggernaut, at least not yet. I don’t really need to say too much here: the Defensive Line might be the best in the country. The returning talent is on-par with Florida State, if not superior. The leadership on defense might cripple FSU at home. Our defense is young, and lacking in leadership. They might prove a bit of a challenge for Clemson, being young on offense as well. However I believe the offense is talented enough for the Tigers to push past the Noles.

NC State (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Syracuse (October 27th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Wake Forest (Thursday November 8th, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST away on ESPN)

Prediction: Florida State LOSS

Whoever constructed the Seminole’s schedule this season did them no favors, considering this was to be an off-season for the program (let alone directed by new head coach Willie Taggart). Seminole Nation, cool your heads! I get it, we’re in the Taggart era now, but let’s face reality: 2018 will NOT be our season. Yes, we have the talent to take-down NC State at NC State. Yes, we will likely be looking for a win after a home loss to Clemson. But here’s where things stand: Taggart has to change the culture at Florida State. That’ll take a couple years at least. Most of the team’s makeup currently contains Jimbo Fisher’s recruits. Taggart is building a new offensive (and defensive) mentality and culture at Florida State. While our team is perfectly capable of adapting to these changes, and swiftly, there are simply some games that we won’t overcome this season. Historically, NC State’s Carter Finley Stadium has NOT been a friendly stadium for our team to find wins (we really should have lost this game in 2016). NC State will also be coming off of a three loss streak. FSU will probably be favored. As noted earlier: NC State THRIVES under the conditions our team will find itself in. Speaking to NC State fandom, NC State and FSU will have a similar make-up this season, and while FSU boasts more talent, NC State will have the historical home-field advantage and will fight aggressively for a win here, on homecoming. Additionally, I believe FSU will have a look-ahead game versus Notre Dame, which will also play a factor here.

Notre Dame (November 10th, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST on NBC away)

Previous Game: Northwestern (November 3rd, 2018 away on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

Following Game: Syracuse (November 17th, 2018 2:30 P.M. EST on NBC at Yankee Stadium)

Prediction: Florida State LOSS

The three game stretch for the Noles will be rough. I believe Notre Dame will be talented enough that, when facing the Noles at home in the fall season, they’ll have a definitive home-field advantage. They’ll also be motivated to beat the Noles at this point in the season, and have them in a good spot to achieve victory. I think they’ll do just that. Sorry Seminole Nation.

Boston College (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Clemson (November 10th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Syracuse (November 24th, 2018 Rivalry at home) 

Prediction: Florida State WIN

This is a very interesting match-up, in my opinion (of course). Willie Taggart will be nearly finished with his first season as Florida State’s head coach after a dramatic and unfortunate 2017 run under the Jimbo Fisher regime. Florida State will be returning an abundance of talent at offense, however are lacking at defensive leadership. The talent on defense is absolutely there, and with a new defensive coordinator and coaching staff in general, it is difficult to project what exactly this Florida State team will look like. A few things stand out to me, the Notre Dame game before and Florida game after. This screams trap game for Florida State, and Boston College should capitalize. However, Boston College has also come off a brutal 3 game stretch where they would of faced Miami, and rivals VT and Clemson. I believe last year’s game was an aberration rather than indicative of this game, and just don’t see the Eagles beating an inspired FSU team at their home stadium.

Florida (November 24th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Idaho (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: N/A

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Florida State WIN

The season will end on a positive note for Florida State. While Florida has tons of returning talent, there’s not much to be said of the caliber athlete that they are returning. The past several games in this rivalry have never truly been close. Florida State will want to make a statement against their hated rivals in this new era. With new leadership at both programs, Willie and his team will want and will need to make a statement to the nation: Florida State is on another level than their rivals to the south. This statement win should swing the tide of recruiting talent in their favor, and make a definitive case for the rivalry this decade. This will take the rivalry to 8-1 in this decade. I don’t think the lizards are capable of fielding a team on defense to stop the new dynamic offense. The defense for the Noles, meanwhile, should be perfectly equipped to demoralize a depleted Gator squad, with inferior talent. Make no excuses. Blame no one. Do something.

My Predicted 2018 Regular Season Record for Florida State: 8-4 (5-3 ACC)

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