FSU Football 2016 Gameday Preview: vs. North Carolina

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

Well, the good news is that the Seminoles came out of Tampa last weekend with 55 points on the scoreboard and a win over USF. In the eyes of some FSU football fans, the team would have been better off leaving some defensive players and coaches to walk back to Tallahassee.

By now, it’s not exactly a state secret that the defense needs to get better in a hurry – especially with a defensive schedule that features teams like Clemson and Miami. It also features a North Carolina team who is fully capable of coming to Tallahassee this weekend and ruining any chances of backing into the ACC title and College Playoff picture for the ‘Noles.

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

Sep 24, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball as South Florida Bulls defensive back Johnny Ward (24) defends in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Last Time FSU Football Took The Field

Coming off maybe the worst loss overall in program history, the Seminoles went down south about four hours and handled their business against USF. Better yet, running back Dalvin Cook handled his business and again had a record setting day against the Bulls.

While Cook was the bright spot in the game with over 200 yards running (over 300 total) and a couple scores, the story of the game will also be how the defense took their foot off the gas and let USF make the game interesting late. That kind of stuff will fly against teams like USF – but not with the teams they will be facing this month.

Sep 24, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball in the first quarter as South Florida Bulls linebacker Auggie Sanchez (43) defends at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Key Matchup

Dalvin Cook vs. North Carolina run defense

After three games where he couldn’t crack 100 yards on the ground, the junior star from Miami eclipsed his total in the first three games – in the first three quarters against South Florida. This week, the ‘Noles will need another performance like that from Cook…thanks to the Tar Heels’ defense.

The men from Chapel Hill come into Tallahassee with the 97th ranked defense in college football – just five spots behind whatever that is that the ‘Noles are calling a defense. The passing defense is in the top 45 nationally, while the run defense is the eighth worst in all of the FBS (tied for 120th with USF).

Those numbers would signal that they will be keeping Deondre Francois in check for much of the game and keep him from getting many big plays – meaning it will be on No. 4 to burn their defense and lead the Seminoles.

Interesting Note

By now, you know that the Seminoles’ worst loss in ACC history is what took play a couple weeks ago against Louisville. Who held that distinction before this season? Why, it was North Carolina and the 32-point beat down they put on FSU during the 2001 season (41-9) – one of just four times the Seminoles have lost to an ACC opponent by more than 20 points.

That 2001 loss is one of just two that FSU has suffered against the Tar Heels in their 18 combined meetings (the other coming in their last meeting in 2010), coming out with a record of 15-2-1. The two schools participated on one of the four all times games in ACC history where both teams were ranked in the top five, as No. 2 FSU beat No. 5 North Carolina 20-3 during the 1997 season.

Sep 24, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kermit Whitfield (8) in the first quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction

This is going to be the time we are going to see what the FSU football team is made of. With all due respect to USF last week, the talent level picks up with the Tar Heels in town for just the third meeting between the schools in the last 12 seasons.

If the FSU team that showed up in the first half against the Bulls last week can put together a full game, the ‘Noles can be unstoppable and get back in the CFB playoff and ACC title conversation (with a little help). The horrible Tar Heels defense we talked about earlier might be just enough for FSU football to do their thing and get out of this week with the win. Florida State 38 North Carolina 28