Florida State playing in Blacksburg back in 2012

It’s that time of year again: this Florida State alum will once again be churning out opponent previews and make a final prediction. Each week, I’ll review the opponent Florida State faces and pose a prediction based upon the evaluation of both teams as it stands in the season.

First up: the Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech

This Virginia Tech squad was decimated in the off-season with injuries, dismissals, and an unusually high NFL draft churn on the defensive side of the ball. Josh Jackson, Quarterback for Virginia Tech, was at one point even at risk of being dismissed from the program. While this didn’t transpire, the off-season woes leave a cloudy set of expectations for the Hokies heading into the home opener at Doak Campbell stadium.

Florida State, meanwhile, had about as positive of an off-season as a program could have. With the dismissal of Offensive Lineman Josh Ball being the only casualty in the summer of 2018, Willie Taggart has Florida State on an upward trajectory. With momentum in recruiting, a near-immediate change in the culture and attitude of the program, and strong indicators of an offense that is grasping the changes required of them under Willie’s new system, Florida State is primed for their Labor Day match-up.

The tale of the tape points to programs that are near-foils of one another entering the season. While Virginia Tech boasts experience on both sides of the ball, they lack in depth. Florida State, meanwhile, is primed with talent and depth at most positions, however are definitively in a rebuilding year with the lack of experience (especially on defense).

What this projects, in my eyes, is an exciting, high-scoring occasion that’ll take place on prime time television in Doak Campbell. The excitement behind the hire of Willie Taggart is palpable in Seminole Nation. The excruciating pain of the 2017 debacle is instead replaced by optimism, hope, and soaring expectations of a new regime. While Willie Taggart holds a 0-3 record against Justin Fuente, the talent advantages and roster at Florida State is unlike anything he had inherited at USF (Fuente at Memphis). The wildcard herein is Fuente the defensive guru. While the defense in Blacksburg has been decimated this off-season, Coach Fuente will no-doubt have a defensive strategy cooked-up to combat the Seminole offense.

Woes of a change of scheme will become apparent in the first game, no doubt. But Florida State and it’s fan base know the realities and expectations of the first season. And after a 6-6 regular season performance (with Playoff caliber talent no-less) in 2017, the changes implemented since December of 2017 appear to be a breath of relief and fresh air.

Final Verdict

I believe that the final win-loss records for both programs, at this time, will come to favor Virginia Tech by the last week of November. At this moment and time, however, the positive momentum swelling in Tallahassee will come at full-force against the Hokies after an already-rough off-season in Blacksburg. I anticipate a battle in Tallahassee on Labor Day. I also believe that the regime change, angst driving the team after a horrendous showing in 2017, the fan base surge in Tallahassee, the prime time rowdiness of Doak Campbell on Labor Day, and positive momentum all off-season for the Seminoles will come full force against Virginia Tech.

The teams will play close in the first half, however the momentum, speed, and rhythm driving the Seminoles in Tallahassee in the first game of the season will simply overpower the thin roster that Virginia Tech has at this time.

Virginia Tech: 31

Florida State: 44

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