FSU Football Game Preview Vs. Boston College

Game #3: #9 (AP Poll) Florida State (2-0) Vs. Boston College (2-0)

Where to Watch: Friday night, 8 PM ET, ESPN

Last Week: 

• FSU: W, 34-14 over USF

• BC: W, 76-0 over Howard

The Match-Up

It will be a different kind of challenge for the Seminoles heading into week three, as the team opens their ACC schedule with a Boston College team that has been quite impressive in the early going. Although BC has beaten down inferior opponents, Maine and Howard, to a tune of 100-3 over the opening two weeks, it is the manner in which they have scored which has been most impressive.

The Eagles, with running backs Jon Hilliman and Tyler Rouse heading the effort, have rushed for over 275 yards per game over the last two weeks, which ranks them 14th in college football in that regard. I don’t care who you play, if you establish a rushing attack that averages over 250 yards per game, you are doing something right. Additionally, the team has had no problem breaking in new quarterback Darius Wade, who has only gone 17 for 30 for 185 yards and a couple of touchdown passes to open up the season. They are no doubt easing him into his role, but we will really see what this offense is made of for the first time against a legitimate opponent this evening.

On defense, Boston College looks strong once again under Steve Addazio’s scheme. While their first real task of the season will be tonight with Dalvin Cook and the FSU rushing attack, there is much to like about the Eagles defense. It is early, and the team has faced against inferior competition, but BC boasts the nation’s number one total defense in the first two weeks of the season.

It’s easy to point to who they have played early on and contest that it might be an aberration, but the Boston College defense has been a staple of the Steve Addazio regime over his first couple of seasons, as they are coming off of a season where they ranked 11th nationally in total defense. This squad will not lay down for the ‘Noles, and they should not treat them as a pushover, even if they are quite possibly one of the easier teams on the slate in ACC play.

For the Seminoles, it is difficult to find too much to complain about over the first two weeks of 2015. Dalvin Cook, who was absent for a majority of the off-season due to his well-publicized legal trouble, was reinstated towards the end of fall camp, and he has made his presence known early and often in the run game throughout each of the first two games. Cook is coming off of a game against South Florida, where he carried the ball 30 times for 266 yards and three touchdown runs in the rout.

Look for Jimbo Fisher to try to establish Cook and his running mate, Mario Pender, early and often in this one to get the offense rolling. If the offensive line can win the battle up front against the Boston College defensive line, I would expect another big night for the Florida State rushing attack. However, what I believe is more likely to happen, is that quarterback Everett Golson will be running the ball a bit more in the spread to keep the defensive ends of Boston College honest. If we see a situation early in this game where the defensive ends of the Eagles are pinching down hard to stop Cook and Pender, there could be an adjustment where Golson keeps the ball and has ample running room on the outside. This would successfully open up the inside rushing attack, which has been so successful early on in 2015 for the Seminoles.

I mentioned Golson, and over the first two weeks of the season, the Notre Dame transfer has been about as efficient as a ‘Noles fan could have hoped upon winning the starting job prior to the start opener against Texas State. Despite a rough opening half against South Florida, he recovered admirably in the second half to help salvage his personal effort. He is 33 for 51 on the campaign for 465 with five touchdown passes. Perhaps the most telling stat however, is the fact that Golson has yet to catch the turnover bug, a malady which ultimately cost him his starting job last season in South Bend.

Perhaps the most telling stat however, is the fact that Golson has yet to catch the turnover bug, a malady which ultimately cost him his starting job last season in South Bend.

He has been able to spread the ball all over the field in the moments where he has been forced to throw it in the first couple of games, with BoBo Wilson and sophomore Ja’Vonn Harrison making the biggest big-play impact so far. Travis Rudolph has established himself as the team’s security blanket at receiver, as he has a team-leading 10 receptions entering the BC game tonight. Expect the passing game to play a big role in the outcome of the game tonight, especially if the Eagles are able to successfully thwart the rushing duo of Cook and Pender.

On defense, the Seminoles will have their hands full with the aforementioned Boston College running backs Jon Hilliman and Tyler Rouse. The duo has combined for 189 and six touchdowns as the primary backs in the first two games of the season. Although that stat does not seem too impressive for the team’s top two ball-carriers, it must be realized that these games have gotten so out of hand, so quickly for the Eagles, that they have been able to play a bunch of different players at the running back position. Eleven different players, from quarterbacks to receivers, have carried the ball over BC’s first two games, and five players have recorded 70 yards or more on the ground.

In a more closely contested game tonight, I’d expect Hilliman and Rouse to head the effort on the ground for the Eagles, which will put Florida State’s 49th ranked rushing defense to the test this evening. If the ‘Noles can stop the run and force quarterback Darius Wade to throw, as he has only completed 56.7% of his passes in his limited opportunities throwing the football for the Eagles. Florida State would be wise to make Wade beat them through the air, as he has not been all that impressive thus far when he has put the ball in the air. With a group of inexperienced receivers at BC, the ‘Noles would have a clear advantage with their secondary led by one of the top cornerbacks in football, Jalen Ramsey.

The Prediction

This is the first true test for both teams this season, as the ‘Noles and Eagles have managed to cruise through their first two non-conference opponents. We will learn a lot more about just how good both of these teams can be after this game tonight. Although Boston College has the rushing defense to combat Cook and Pender, I think the experience of Golson in the passing game and his ability to not only make plays with his feet, but break the game open deep down the field with Travis Rudolph and Bobo Wilson on the outside will make the difference. It won’t be up to a Roberto Aguayo late-game field goal this year, as I like Florida State by 10.

FSU 23  Boston College 13