How would FSU football fare with Miami’s schedule in 2020?
The hate between Miami and FSU football goes back for decades, with Miami being the team of the 80s and FSU the team of the 90s.
Both teams competed for national titles near the turn of the century, but unfortunately for Miami, they’ve wallowed in mediocrity since then.
The Noles have gone through their period of mediocrity, the “Lost Decade” coupled with the last year of Jimbo Fisher and two years of Willie Taggart.
Miami is 23-16 over the last three years compared to FSU football going 18-20 with three consecutive losses to the Canes. However, Miami is notorious for playing soft schedules, as a number of those wins have come against some terrible teams. Here’s a glance at some of those wins:
- Bethune Cookman (2x)
- Toledo (2x)
- Central Michigan
- Savannah State
- Florida International
- Duke
- FSU(3x)
- Georgia Tech
- Syracuse
- UNC
That’s well over half of their wins against teams who were terrible at the time. Yes, they beat FSU three times, but two of those games were gifts by the Noles to them.
Their 2020 schedule is no different, so let’s look at a game-by-game prediction:
*We will note each game with a win (W), loss (L), or (T) if the game is a toss-up*
- Vs. Temple (W)
- Vs. Wagner (W)
- Vs. UAB (W)
- @ Michigan State (W)
- Vs. Pittsburgh (W)
- @ Wake Forest (W)
- Vs. UNC (T)
- @ Virginia (T)
- @ Miami (T)
- @ VT (T)
- @ GT (W)
- Vs. Duke (W)
That’s eight wins I feel confident in off their schedule. I think the three cupcakes at the beginning would help FSU work out some kinks and game some confidence. Otherwise, I’d put the Pittsburgh game as a toss-up. UNC would be a tough game, but it would be at home. FSU had a shot at beating UVA last year, and they lose a lot from that team. Miami is Miami, and Virginia Tech got better throughout the year after a tough start to the season.
In the games labeled as a toss-up, I’d lean FSU against Virginia and probably Miami, which would put the Noles at 10 wins. Most FSU football fans would be thrilled to see the Noles win eight wins with FSU’s schedule.
Miami fans are always talking about they’re back, but the crazy thing is they haven’t been back since forever while playing soft schedules over the years.