FSU football: Why Florida State will outlast Virginia Friday night

No. 8 Florida State (3-0) travels to Charlottesville, Virginia, to take on the Virginia Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0 ACC) on Friday at 7 PM EST on ESPN. Florida State leads the all-time series 15-4, but Virginia has taken two of the last three. The Seminoles look to improve from their 0-4 ACC road record last season as they enter conference play. The Cavaliers will be bringing out their 1995 throwback uniforms, thirty years after they handed Florida State their first ACC loss by a score of 33-28.

ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION

A weekday road trip for the first conference matchup of the season might typically be labeled a trap game, especially with a showdown against archrival Miami looming next week. Still, that narrative seems overstated. Florida State is coming off a season to forget, and any expectation that the Seminoles might show up flat should be dismissed. This team will come prepared, particularly after hearing the noise out of Charlottesville this week. That said, Virginia still remains a threat.

The Cavaliers currently boast the 11th-best offense in the FBS, averaging 45.5 points per game. They also sit at 4th in the country in yardage per game. Their offense shouldn't be taken lightly, and could cause some concern for the Seminoles. Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris will look to expose Tony White's secondary, which looks to be the matchup of the game. The North Texas transfer has attempted 120 passes so far this season, and you can expect their pass-heavy attack to continue.

As for Florida State, you can expect more of the same. The Seminoles currently have the best scoring offense in the nation and will contend against a Virginia defense that has been exposed at times this season. The Cavaliers currently sit 100th in strength of schedule, while giving up almost 20 points per game to underwhelming competition. Florida State will easily be their strongest test, and you can expect another huge performance from the Seminole offense.

This should be a high-paced, high-scoring affair. Both teams possess the ability to play fast and generate explosive plays. You can expect an extensive drive chart in this game, as both teams should have extra possessions considering the pace of play. Florida State's defensive backs will be challenged and it will be interesting to see how Tony White's group will respond. Notable names to look out for include defensive back Jerry Wilson, rover Earl Little Jr., and safety Ashlynd Barker.

Prediction: Florida State 42, Virginia 27.