FSU Football 2016 Preseason Preview: Game 4 at USF
By Jason Parker
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 Four – at South Florida (September 24th)
Series Record: Florida State leads 2-1
For the second time in the history of this series, FSU football will head down to Tampa for what should be another very pro-Seminoles crowd in the state of Florida (nothing personal, Bulls fans…just stating the truth). It will be the fourth straight team against a team that went to the playoffs in their classification, with this game being against a Bulls team that would love a quality win to propel them to a conference title and New Years Six bowl.
South Florida is not a team that is flashy or will “wow” you with their roster, but they are a solid group of playmakers that can hang with any team in the country (as they were tied with the Seminoles at the half last season).
It starts on offense with their duo of quarterback Quentin Flowers and running back Marlon Mack, who should keep FSU’s defense honest for much of the game.
The defense was able to disrupt the Seminoles somewhat last year, coming up with three sacks and seven tackles for loss, but did lose several key members.
For FSU to get a third straight win in this series (after that embarrassing 2009 loss that friends who went to USF still remind us about), it will be about giving Dalvin Cook and whoever is the starting quarterback time to do their things. Last year, Cook went for 266 yards on 30 carries…but 135 of those came on the three touchdown runs he had.
On defense, the end combination of DeMarcus Walker and Josh Sweat will need to contain Flowers and make the Bulls decide how they are going to come at FSU, with either the pass or the run and not both.
Key Factor
We can all be honest with ourselves…sometimes, FSU football plays down to the level of their competition.
That’s not saying USF is a bad team, but they aren’t at the title level of the Seminoles and other schools they will play. The ‘Noles need to come out early and take any hopes of an upset out of the Bulls’ thought pattern.
Prediction
One month into the college football season, the ‘Noles will have played teams who went a combined 36-16 the season before.
That’s not saying those teams will be as good in 2016, but it shows that maybe this FSU team might have something going. It will be a fight, but the Seminoles pull away late and get the win. Florida State 34 South Florida 17