FSU Football: Analyst Predict 10-2 Season For 2017
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football has one of the toughest schedules in the nation in 2017. One ESPN analysts predicts the ‘Noles will have a 10-2 record.
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The ‘Noles had one of the toughest schedules in the nation in their 2016 campaign where they finished 10-3 on the season. However, two of their three losses came by a combined five points.
A 54 yard field goal as time expired against UNC, and giving up 17 points in the fourth quarter against Clemson.
However, FSU football was young at a number of key positions in 2016. A red-shirt freshman quarterback, red-shirt freshman defensive backs and true freshmen punter and kicker.
That will not be an excuse in 2017, but ESPN’s Jared Shanker predicts FSU football to go 10-2 in 2017:
"Alabama is the most talented team in the country, and Saban is unmatched in preparing his teams for opening weekend. In seven neutral-site games against Power 5 teams to open a season, Alabama is outscoring opponents 302-104. Florida State still has Clemson, Louisville and Miami in the ACC, too. There’s the finale at Florida as well. A 10-2 season could still land FSU in the conference championship game and playoff."
Thoughts
FSU could certainly lose against Alabama in the season opener. Both Clemson and Miami will be breaking new quarterbacks with Louisville returning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
However, Jackson’s offensive line failed him in the second half of 2016, and they also lost some star power at receiver.
So FSU going 10-2 isn’t out of the question. There’s a better chance of them going 10-2 than 12-0 in my opinion.
The schedule sets up nicely in that if FSU loses to Alabama, they’ll have all season to offset that loss. Also, there are games before the big games that will allow FSU to be well prepared for Miami, Clemson, etc.
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What are your predictions for FSU football in 2017?