Can FSU avoid the fate that Miami suffered against a powerful Clemson team?
No one anticipates it’s going to end up 58-0, but that doesn’t mean the Seminoles aren’t decided underdogs against Clemson. This Tigers team is fast and strong, and FSU has had a lot of moments when it seemed out of sync this year.
But the FSU defense is far superior to Miami’s, and it doesn’t have the sideline drama of the Hurricanes. The Seminoles problem is simply whether it is facing a team that has all the advantages: Quarterback DeShaun Watson is the best in the conference, and Clemson has the No. 5 defense going against an FSU offensive line that has struggled.
Dalvin Cook has to have a good game for FSU, of course. So does Everett Golson. But if you’re looking for a wild card, try receiver Travis Benjamin, who has been practicing some in the backfield.
Now that the meat of Florida’s schedule has been played, will the Gators let up?
It’s unlikely, despite the Gators playing in their first early game (noon) of the year. Florida has had a nice edge lately, and the Gators are playing better and better. It’s hard to see Vanderbilt having any success at all on offense. Vandy is a better defense than many people realize, but not as good as Georgia or Missouri.
Again, this is a chance to celebrate a division championship, something critics thought was out of the Gators’ reach this season. That should make it a nice homecoming.
Should the Miami Hurricanes open their Virginia game with a lateral, just to thumb their nose at their critics?
It’s hard to blame Duke fans when there is video evidence that the Hurricanes’ last-gasp miracle shouldn’t have counted. The league wasted no time in suspending the game officials for that one. On the other hand, football was decided for 100 years with the officials on the field. So it’s hard to blame Miami for wanting to keep the victory. Heck, after this season, it needs the victory.
Virginia won’t quite be the pushover it has been, however. The Cavaliers are coming off a win over Georgia Tech, which evidently can’t beat anyone but FSU. Remember, Tech was in the same position as Miami last week – coming off a miracle finish.
With Miami, however, that finish should have given a program new energy. This season won’t be what the Hurricanes wanted, but it can still avoid disaster.
Does USF really have a shot at a bowl game?
We’ll see. The Bulls face a tough schedule down the stretch with games against undefeated Houston and once-beaten Temple, then concluding the season in a rivalry game against UCF that is sure to be closer than you’d think.
To get to the post-season, the 4-4 Bulls pretty much need to beat East Carolina, which lost by only a touchdown to Florida. But the Pirates have lost four other games besides Florida, however, including a lopsided loss to UConn. If USF can re-establish its running game, it has a shot.
For USF, the key might be its defense, which faces a completely different style of attack than it faced in last week’s loss to Navy.
Does UCF have a chance to slow down Tulsa through the air?
As if the season hasn’t been hard enough for the Knights, they now face the nation’s No. 9 passing offense in Tulsa. That’s bad enough. But if you throw in the 489 yards that UCF gave up through the air last week, it seems like a mismatch for the ages.
Danny Barrett coaches his second game for UCF after taking over from George O’Leary, who must feel as if a long night has ended. Barrett has his work cut out for him. But there is this glimmer of hope. In nine losses, UCF has had a lead in seven.
Will the FAU Owls get close enough to Western Kentucky’s Brad Doughty to say goodbye?
Doughty, a former FAU commit, has made the best of his time as a Hilltopper, something that still should make the Owls wince. Last year, he threw five touchdowns or more five times, including eight in one game.
The Owls, coming off a big victory over rival FIU, will need to rush the passer to stay in the game.
Can the FIU Panthers score 50?
It’s possible, as up and down as the Panthers’ season has been. This week, FIU plays against Charlotte, which has lost six straight in its first season of FBS competition. Charlotte ranks only 126th out of 128 teams on defense.
Quarterback Alex McGough hopes to rebound from an ordinary game against FAU.
Obviously, FSU as a team can gain a lot by beating Clemson. But individually, who has the most to gain for the Seminoles?
How about running back Cook. People in Florida know that Cook is terrific, but nationally, he doesn’t seem to get the buzz that he should. An aching hamstring might be to blame.
Still, this week could provide the spotlight that Cook craves. He has to go against the nation’s No. 5 defense, on the road, in Clemson.
This week, Cook was asked whether he’s the best running back in football, which would include LSU’s Leonard Fournette. “In my eyes,” Cook said. “Yeah.”
Cook has 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns. Fournette has more, but Cook is averaging more per carry.
If that’s still true after Saturday, the Seminoles might have a chance.
It’s early in his career yet, but could Jim McElwain be remembered in the same vein as Steve Spurrier?
Obviously, McElwain has a long way to go before he’s the Next Ball Coach. But their first seasons have a lot of similarities.
Both coaches took over a program that had been 7-5 with a minor bowl game the year before. No one was sure who the quarterback was going to be for either. And both took the SEC by storm.
If you remember, Spurrier was 9-2 that first season and ranked 13th. So far, McElwain is 7-1 and ranked 11th. We’ll see where this goes with McElwain, but he has done enough to make Florida fans swagger all over again.
Who will play quarterback for Miami on Saturday?
Who knows? The Hurricanes haven’t committed either way. Brad Kaaya missed last week’s game with a concussion and Malik Rosier played well. But Kaaya returned to practice Tuesday, and he was seen taking snaps with the first-team offense. Still, he has yet to be cleared by the medical staff.
