Has the wake-up call for the FSU offense arrived yet?
We’ll see. So far, FSU is ranked only 61st in the country on offense. Quarterback Everett Golson has seemed hesitant so far, and there haven’t been nearly enough big plays in his arm. With running back Dalvin Cook iffy because of a bad hamstring. Miami’s defense has been bad since the fourth quarter of the Nebraska game, but the Hurricanes will probably have more quality defenders than any team that FSU has faced. Still, it’s easy to imagine this game being close late, and Golson having to put together a drive to pull the game out.
Can UM’s offense solve the FSU defense?
That might be a harder call. UM has quarterback Brad Kaaya and running back Joe Yearby, but FSU’s defense is ranked 13th in the country. It will miss linebacker Terrence Smith this week, however. There were times against Cincinnati when the Canes seemed confused, especially around the goal line. Miami is one of the worst teams in the country on third downs. If the Hurricanes are going to pull off an upset, they’ll have to be much more proficient.
Is the Florida Gators’ success a movable thing?
Florida played well in the Swamp the last two weeks in upset victories over Tennessee and Ole Miss, but this week, the Gators have to go on the road. The last time the Gators tried that, it was lucky to escape from Kentucky. Quarterback Will Grier has had two good games in a row, but it is the Florida defense that has led the Gators. Missouri has a pretty good defense, too, which might make this game lower scoring than many expect.
Is there a worse offense in America than UCF’s?
Actually, there isn’t. The Knights are ranked 127th in the country, which helps explain the 0-5 record. On the other hand, UConn is only five slots higher, which doesn’t mean this will be one of the finest matchups going. Still, this may be UCF’s finest shot at a victory for October.
Can the USF game plan attack the weak points of Syracuse?
The Bulls did a good job defensively against a high-powered Memphis team, but they didn’t do nearly enough offensively to give themselves a good shot at an upset. That has to change against the Orange. USF just doesn’t throw the ball very often or very well. If it doesn’t get better – and what team from Florida succeeds when it doesn’t throw? – then coach Willie Taggart’s talk of a bowl game will disappear. With Marlon Mack, the Bulls have a shot at winning this one.
How does anyone know how good Rice is?
For FAU, it’s a tough jumble. Rice has two wins, but it’s over Wagner and North Texas. But it’s been bashed three times by Texas, Baylor and Western Kentucky. FAU, meanwhile, has had two weeks to prepare since beating Charlotte for its first win of the year. Who’s going to win this one? Probably the Owls.
Will anyone be able to score in the UTEP-FIU game?
If so, it’ll be an upset. UTEP has the 98th ranked offense in the country, and FIU is 99th. The Panthers have lost two straight games after an encouraging start to the season. FIU probably wins this, because its defense is slightly better than UTEP’s.
Can Missouri run the ball against Florida?
It’s hard to imagine the Tigers making a living through the air with freshman quarterback Joshua Dobbs. That means that Missouri will need to run it some. That’s going to be hard. The Gators are 15th nationally against the run, and the Tigers are ranked No. 122 running the ball. That means Florida has the chance of a fourth conference win if it can remain turnover free.
Who would be the national coach of the year after five games?
It would be difficult to dissuade a Gators’ fan who wanted to support new coach Jim McElwain, who has the Gators believing again. McElwain inherited a club where the offense was in complete disarray, a team that was supposed to finish at the bottom of the league with Kentucky and Vandy. Instead, the Gators are now the 11th-ranked team in the country. Okay, okay. The heavy-lifting isn’t complete in this season. But for the Gators, the future looks limitless.
Should Miami coach Al Golden forget about wearing a tie?
When things are going badly for a coach, it seems that every affectation bothers his alumni. It’s that way with Golden and his orange ties, too. Critics complain that he’s more worried about his look than third-down conversations. That’s silly, of course, but it shows how hot Golden’s seat has become. A win over FSU wouldn’t douse the flames, but it would make it more comfortable for the time being.
