FSU Football 2016 "Gameday Preview": vs. Bye Week

Here’s a preview of FSU football and their next battle during the 2016 football season.

After seven games to start the 2016 regular season, the Seminoles of Florida State are getting to watch the college football world do their thing this week, enjoying the one and only bye week they will have during the regular season. When it’s all said and done, this may be the toughest week for the ‘Noles this season.

While other teams are handling their business on the field, FSU football can do nothing to help their case to get back into the top ten – while watching other teams be able to jump them and send FSU’s hopes for getting back to the ACC title game and CFB playoff even more and more toward the impossible category.

Here’s our preview of this week’s game between the Seminoles and the bye week.

Oct 15, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Demarcus Walker (44) sacks Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback John Wolford (10) during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Last Time FSU Football Took The Field

Coming off an emotional win the weekend before over the rival Miami Hurricanes, the Seminoles returned home and looked like they were still hung over from a South Beach celebration in their homecoming showdown with Wake Forest. The offense got plenty of yards, but could only put 17 points on the board. Thankfully, the defense showed up for the second straight week, holding the Demon Deacons to just 252 yards of total offense to get the 17-6 win.

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) fumbles the ball after being hit by Florida State Seminoles defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) in the third quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Key Matchup

Travel vs. Florida State Seminoles

With this being the only bye week of the season, there will be plenty of players that are going to get out of Tallahassee for the weekend and return home. Not to sound like a pessimist, but a weekend like this has to keep Jimbo Fisher and the rest of the coaching staff up until the first team meeting back next week.

Players need to be focused on the ultimate goal of still playing for things like a ten win season, another state title and the hopes of getting back to the ACC title game. In that, it means not going back to places like Miami, New Jersey, Sarasota and all points in between and getting in trouble over this weekend.

Interesting Note

As noted earlier in the week, FSU football has had plenty success of late when it comes to the game after the bye week. The Seminoles have won their last four games after the week off, including last season’s win over Wake Forest and a blowout victory over Clemson in the 2013 season.

Oct 8, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first half against Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

“Prediction”

Okay, we had a little fun with this one, but FSU football still has the whole season in front of them once the bye week is over and it becomes Clemson Week for the Seminoles. Things can go pretty well or pretty bad really quickly – and it’s all up to Deondre Francois, Dalvin Cook, DeMarcus Walker and the rest of the ‘Noles as to which way they want it to go. We’ll see what happens when everyone gets back to town and the team gets back to work.