FSU football: Noles predicted to finish fifth in ACC Atlantic

Expectations for FSU football among the fan base are higher than they were last year at this time.

The combination of experience, production, and continuity at multiple positions on both sides of the ball is a huge factor.

However, it seems as though some folks do not expect FSU to make the leap some in the fan base believe is possible.

ACC Conference predictions have the Noles finishing fifth in the ACC Atlantic Division, which is the same spot they finished last season.

Thoughts

I can’t argue with the first two predictions in the Atlantic Division. Clemson is the most talented team in the division, and NC State returns a lot of experience and production from a team that finished second in the division last year.

Wake Forest returns a lot of offensive production but will likely continue to struggle defensively. Can they win offensive shootouts literally every week? Louisville is another team that returns one of the better quarterbacks in the conference in Malik Cunningham.

They’ve tried to fill some holes via the transfer portal similar to FSU, with Syracuse and Boston College rightfully rounding on the bottom two teams. I think FSU can beat Louisville and Wake Forest if they play well.

I think they can beat NC State, considering they played them close with half of the team out with the flu. FSU played Clemson tough on the road and will have an outside shot in that game. FSU will have more talent than Wake Forest and will be the more complete team overall, and that game is at home.

Louisville is closer to FSU regarding the balance on both sides of the ball, and the Noles have to travel to play them on a Friday night. FSU also has to travel to NC State and will host Clemson. I can understand why people would put FSU fifth, but they could easily be third.