FSU football: Grading our top 10 bold predictions for 2021 season

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 09: Jordan Travis #13 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts as he waits for a replay decision on a touchdown call during the second half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 09: Jordan Travis #13 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts as he waits for a replay decision on a touchdown call during the second half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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FSU Football Will Defeat either UNC or Miami

"FSU football will likely be betting underdogs against both of these teams. The Noles will travel to North Carolina in October and play Miami later than usual in November. Both teams rank in the preseason top 20. I can see the case for North Carolina as they return one of the top quarterbacks in the nation with Sam Howell. Not to mention, a North Carolina running back probably just scored against Miami again. I’m not sure why Miami is ranked so high in the preseason. They won eight games last year but only beat one ranked team all season. Of course, FSU gave North Carolina their first loss of the season in 2020 in a huge upset. North Carolina’s defense isn’t great, and I believe FSU can score on them just as they did last year. The question is, has FSU’s defense improved enough to slow down Sam Howell? That’s the key, and FSU found success in the first half of the game last year before holding on in the second half. Miami is much the same way as they live or die with their quarterback D’Eriq King. King is coming off an injury, and they play Alabama in the first game of the year. He will likely get beat up pretty good in that one, so there’s no telling what the effects of that beatdown will be for the Canes. FSU should be a team that’s much better later in the season as long as they stay healthy. If that’s the case, don’t sleep on the Noles at home against the Canes."

That’s what I wrote. and I’ll be damned if FSU football didn’t beat both of these teams! I was right about North Carolina’s defense, and FSU’s defense began to find itself right before the North Carolina game. Sam Howell and Joshua Downs was North Carolina’s entire offense, and FSU limited them for the most part. King was a shell of himself, and Miami got beat up in the Alabama game. Miami got lucky King got hurt because otherwise, they probably only win 2-3 games all season. They lucked into Tyler Van Dyke turning out to be a player to help salvage their season. However, it still wasn’t enough to be FSU because Manny Diaz’s defense was terrible, and FSU’s defense played well enough to get the win.

Grade: A+