FSU Football 2016 Preseason Preview: Game 2 vs. Charleston Southern

Here is a look at how the 2016 season will play out for FSU football with our game preview and prediction.

As we get closer and closer to the 2016 season kicking off in the world of college football, FSU football is preparing for their spot as one of the teams that will compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff when the regular season is over. The Seminoles will have their work cut out for them, with eight games against teams that went to bowl games in 2015 (including six of their first eight opponents) as well as one team that made a run in the FCS playoffs last season.

While it starts and ends with SEC opponents in the Sunshine State (two of the nine games being played in the state of Florida this season for FSU football), there are plenty of challenges in between and potential road blocks that could keep the ‘Noles from winning the fourth national title in program history.

How will the ‘Noles fare this season when they take the field for the 12 games currently on their schedule? Is there a team that will come out on top and keep FSU football from being perfect in a season of such hope? Here’s our look at how the Seminoles will do in the regular season in 2016.

Game Two – vs. Charleston Southern (September 10^th)

Series Record: Florida State leads 1-0

Five days after opening the season against one of their toughest challenges of the season, FSU football will debut their revamped Doak Campbell Stadium in the home opener against the only FCS foe on the schedule this season. In keeping with the tough schedule model, the ‘Noles will be facing a Buccaneers team that was one of the last eight left standing during the 2015 FCS Playoffs.

The Bucs from CSU will be coming into this game as one of the top 10 teams in all of the lower classification and will also have just played another tough road game two weeks prior against perennial FCS power North Dakota State. While CSU is going to be breaking in a new quarterback, they will still have star running back Darius Hammond, who averaged nearly 150 all-purpose yards last season and was one of the top all-around threats in all of the FCS last season.

For the Seminoles, this game is going to be all about recovery and avoiding serious injury. After playing a tough SEC opponent in the opener, don’t be surprised to see the Seminoles rest their starters if they are able to get a comfortable lead early on (especially with upcoming games including Louisville, UNC and Miami). That may be a blessing for the ‘Noles, as athletes like five star defensive end recruit Brian Burns and other freshman will get the valuable playing time that will help FSU football later in the year.

Key Factor

It’s easy to look past a FCS opponent when you have bigger fish to fry, like playing games against Clemson, Miami and Florida. FSU football has sometimes started sluggish against these teams that they should handle (a 2005 game against The Citadel days after a Monday night win over Miami comes to mind).

Prediction

In his time as the head coach of the Seminoles, Jimbo Fisher has been known to take his foot off the gas when things have been decided. He didn’t have to worry about that in the previous meeting between the schools (exactly five years ago from the date of this year’s game), but that was also a bad CSU team. For that reason, there will be no 62-10 score like in that one, but the ‘Noles stay undefeated through the first two games. Florida State 45 Charleston Southern 10