FSU Football: Noles much smaller betting favorite against Boise St.

FSU football will enter the 2019 season with a lot to prove after its worse season in over 40 seasons. Nevertheless, oddsmakers like them in their 2019 opener.

That’s what I wrote about FSU football two months ago when oddsmakers made them nearly a touchdown favorite against Boise State when betting lines opened.

However, the general public and bettors were not feeling the same as that betting line has shifted quite a bit.

The Noles are the more talented team and will be facing a Boise State defense that finished one spot behind them in 2018 according to S&P advanced metrics. However, Boise State has a new defensive coordinator in former linebackers coach Jeff Schmedding.

Of course, the largest problem for FSU was scoring points last season as the averaged just under 22 ppg. Boise State finished 2018 No. 18 in offensive S&P with the Noles finishing No. 97.

The betting line has moved from nearly a touchdown to FSU football as just -4.5 points betting favorites on a neutral field. The game probably won’t look like a neutral field with the game being in Jacksonville, Florida, for Boise State.

It doesn’t take much money to move early lines, but it does give a good indicator of what people think of the Noles right now. Boise State did win 10 games last year but they don’t necessarily play a murderer’s row schedule either which makes this matchup even more interesting.

Normally, FSU fans would expect to mop the floor with the Broncos but last season has fans approaching things with caution. If the Noles go out and take care of business against Boise State then I expect most Noles fans will become believers in Willie Taggart again.

A loss could likely be the beginning of the end of the Willie Taggart era in Tallahassee barring some miracle turnaround later in the season.