FSU football: A look back my 2020 schedule predictions
By Cole Maines
(You can see the original slide here)
October 3rd- This week was originally the second bye week, which I said would be a welcome time to reset and plan for one of the hardest stretches of the season. Tate Rodemaker threw a pick-six, and the Seminoles were down 14-0. Then Jordan Travis came into the game and everything was different. the Seminoles came back from down 14-0 and 21-7, then went on a tear in the second half. La’Damian Webb and Lawrance Toafili played well and got their first touchdowns as Seminoles. Corbin got in on the party, and Travis got a rushing and throwing touchdown himself, and everything was new. FSU won 41-24.
October 10th- Notre Dame-Predicted: L Reality: L- I predicted a two-touchdown game, and that was pretty much what we got out of South Bend. I said that FSU would lose 28-14, we ended up losing 42-26. The game came down to field goals over touchdowns, and a two-point conversion as the Seminoles covered a 26 point spread. Coming out of that game, we saw better pressure from the defensive line despite not being able to keep Ian Book in the pocket. The running game was the biggest defensive deficiency as Notre Dame had a field day on the ground amassing 300 yards rushing with two backs and Ian Book all chipping into that total. I was still impressed though because the opportunities for stops were there but bad angles and poor form lead to missed opportunities. The refs didn’t help us out much either.
October 17th- University North Carolina- Predicted: L Reality: W- I was bought into the UNC hype until they looked so vulnerable at Syracuse. There was something I saw in that first week that told me that UNC was beatable. The turnover problem and Sam Howell’s devil-may-care attitude set Syracuse up for some opportunities to capitalize and maybe win the game, but they are Syracuse, so they didn’t. FSU, with some great special teams scheming, the defensive line imposing their will, and players on offense making big-time plays, the Seminoles blew up for 31 points in the first half. Howell’s ability is undeniable and he was eventually able to pick his way through the FSU defense to set up a game-tying/winning drive which fell short because the wide receivers got the yips and had three straight drops. I knew it would be close, I was calling a UNC win by 3 points up until Friday, so the fact that FSU won by 3 made me so happy to be both right and wrong.
October 24th-Louisville- Predicted: W Reality: L- This one stung with FSU football coming off of a win against No.5 North Carolina, to lose to 1-4 Louisville was deflating. I wouldn’t take that to mean I’m somber, it stunk, but there were still some improvements that were maintained. Under the current system, everything seems to hinge on a couple of plays. With that in mind, the drops by the receivers, the procedural penalties, and lack of discipline ended up being total killers for FSU.
The team got big-headed and reverted to old habits, like taunting on defense after 10-yard gains, missing gaps, mushing in blocks instead of winning one-on-ones, all reared their ugly head on defense, and it leads to the scoreline we saw. I figured we would split the UNC/Louisville doubleheader, and that’s what happened. I wish it didn’t. I wish the wide receivers made plays, Travis and Terry weren’t hurt, and the defense showed the pressure they did against UNC, but if It took a Louisville loss to beat UNC. I’ll take it.