After the craziest start to an NCAA Tournament since last year, day 2 will see the Seminoles take the floor vs the Aggies of Texas A&M.  The Noles are looking for their 1st tournament win since 1998.

vs

Game Time: 4:10 PM EST

Television: TBS

Online Stream: www.cbssports.com

Odds: Texas A&M -1 (Vegas), FSU -1 (Pomeroy)

NolesNation Preview:

We expect a hard-fought game at Donald L. Tucker Center on November 30th as Florida State welcomes Ohio State in a potential barnburner. We get tip-off at 7:30EST and you can catch it on ESPN.

Ohio State is ranked #3 in the AP, meaning Florida State is putting their 0-1 record against ranked teams on the line. With the Seminoles listed as the 4.0 point underdog, it looks to be a very close game. The Seminoles have an overall 5-1 record. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have a record of 5-0.

On paper, the edge here barely goes to Ohio State.
When you look at the key differences between Florida State and Ohio State, Ohio State strongly comes out ahead in two particular areas and also maintains leads over Florida State in others. The Buckeyes are stronger than the Seminoles when it comes to possession management. They have an advantage in turnovers, 12 per game to 17 per game. Ohio State is also better with personal fouls, 14 per game to 20 per game. And last, the Buckeyes take assists, 19 per game to 13 per game.

On the other hand, the Seminoles will do well in blocked shots, where they outperform the Buckeyes, 8 per game to 4 per game.
Last season, Seminoles lost to the Buckeyes 77-64.
At the end of the day it might be a tough game for the Seminoles.

Tonight the Florida State Seminoles travel to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on the N.C. State Wolfpack.  FSU comes in as the ACC's flagship program and a win would give the 'Noles a stranglehold on the Atlantic Division race.  A win for the 'Pack would give N.C. State a real shot at capturing its first-ever division title since the league expanded in 2005.    The Seminoles have rattled off three consecutive wins against the Wolfpack, including last season's thrilling 45-42 victory at Doak Campbell Stadium. FSU's current three-game win streak is its longest against NC State since winning eight in a row (1968-69, 1992-1997). It began after the Wolfpack won four of the previous six meetings.

Commenting

1st Quarter Thread | 2nd Quarter Thread | 3rd Quarter Thread | 4th Quarter Thread

Florida State Defense v. Wolfpack Offense

North Carolina state has a very good offense.  This will be the best offensive attack FSU has seen since Oklahoma.  Yes, the 'Pack's offense is better than Miami's, and it is well ahead of the offenses of BC, Wake Forest, Virginia, BYU, and Samford.  The 'Noles' defense is much improved over last year, but there are serious questions as to the quality of offenses against which this defense has built its resume.

NC State is a passing football team this season.  That's not what one would expect from a Tom O'Brien coached team, but with a very good quarterback and a talented group of veteran receivers, it is the right call.  

#16 Russell Wilson 5-11 201 *Jr. is a very good college QB.  He's been All-ACC in each of his previous two seasons and is well on his way to achieving the same feat this time around.  Wilson has an excellent arm and very good feet.  He's accurate, though sometimes lacks touch.  And his ability to create on the run makes him pretty much unstoppable.  I say unstoppable because the goal against Wilson is really to slow him down and limit his effectiveness.  No college defense goes into the game against him thinking it will hold him to a QB rating of 70ish.  

A quarterback is nothing, however, without a solid group of receivers.  NC State has one of the best groups in the conference.  #5 Jarvis Williams 6-4 219 *Sr. and #3 Owen Spencer 6-3 185 Sr. lead the way.  Those two have recorded 542 and 421 receiving yards, respectively.  Wilson has a ton of confidence in those guys.  #6 T.J. Graham 6-0 180 Jr. is an absolute burner and an excellent return man as well.   #15 Darrell Davis 6-4 211 *Sr. is a very good fourth wideout, and #84 George Bryan 6-5 265 *Jr. is an All-ACC tight end.  Wilson has five 4th/5th year talented pass catchers at his disposal.  That is really rare in this day and age.  Oh, and they are huge at 6'4", 6'4", 6'4", 6'5", and 6'0".  No wonder Wilson throws deep jump balls with the confidence that his man will come down with the ball.  

NC State wants to throw the ball a lot, and Florida State will likely be just fine with that.  It really comes down to how FSU wants NC State throwing the ball.  That means throwing short and intermediate routes and not hitting bombs off play-action.  To ensure that, FSU must stuff the run.  FSU has a decent run defense.  Let's see how it matches up with NC State's run game.  

The 'Pack will look to run the football in order to get bigger windows for its passing game.  Sure, NC State would love to come out and pound FSU for huge yards on the ground, but realistically, it just wants to run effectively enough to make FSU worry about the run.  They will look to do that with #29 Dean Haynes 5-11 199 *Fr. and #33 Mustafa Greene 6-0 201 Fr, behind fullback #47 Taylor Gentry 6-2 250 Jr.  Tom O'Brien has never given a fullback a carry.  These backs are very average and have not impressed me much.  They are decent, freshmen backs.  State will also run Wilson on some designed runs, option plays, and read plays.  

Whatever running NC State does will be done behind a decent offensive line that is finally healthy for the first time in literally two years.  Here's the breakdown:  LT # 70 Jake Vermiglio 6-5 325 Sr., LG 64 Andrew Wallace 6-5 304 *So., C 53 Camden Wentz 6-3 296 So., RG 72 Zach Allen 6-3 322 *So., RT 79 R.J. Mattes 6-6 303 So.  Vermiglio and Mattes are quality tackles.  The interior guys are not particularly special but aren't awful.  

Florida State should be able to handle NC State's run game without getting its safeties heavily involved.  LE #98 Markus White 6-4 265 Sr. and RE #49 Brandon Jenkins 6-3 250 So. have played the run well this year, as have DT #93 Everett Dawkins 6-2 285 So. (thumb surgery was successful) and NG #99 Jacobbi McDaniel 6-0 298 So.  FSU has adequate depth on the defensive line with backup defensive ends #95 Bjoern Werner 6-4 273 Fr. and #58 Dan Hicks 6-4 260 Fr. and  tackles #97 Demonte McAllister 6-2 280 Fr.  and #92 Anthony McCloud 6-2 302 So.  NC State has not seen a defensive front as good as Florida State's.  Boston College's is close, Virignia Tech's is not.  

The linebackers also have to pitch in against the run.  NC State doesn't really run much misdirection.  SLB #16 Mister Alexander 6-3 237 Sr., MLB #29 Kendall Smith 6-0 242 Sr., and WLB #13 Nigel Bradham 6-2 240 Jr. have all played the run fairly well this year, and they can shut down NC State's run game by taking on blocks, playing with leverage, and tackling well.  

If FSU can't shut down the NC State run game with devoting minimal resources the 'Noles will be in trouble because NC State is way too good with its vertical play-action game for FSU to stop if the 'Noles actually bite on play action.  I'll go with the assumption that FSU will be able to take care of NC State's run game well enough to not be victimized repeatedly by play action.  

The key to slowing this NC State passing game is to keep Wilson in the pocket.  Wilson is 5'10" tall and he is a beast when he breaks the pocket.  NC State receivers love to go vertical when the play breaks down and Wilson has the arm to get them the ball deep.  The phrase here is to push the pocket, not rush the passer.  Defensive ends getting behind the quarterback is a recipe for disaster in this one.  White and Jenkins must rush head up on the defensive tackles and maintain outside leverage to make sure Wilson doesn't escape the pocket.  The defensive tackles must do the same.  Because the defensive ends cannot really rush the passer, Florida State's defensive tackles must get pressure on Wilson and then the defensive ends can clean up when he tries to escape the pocket.  At 5'10" Wilson really struggles with pressure in his face.

The gameplan for this one has to be one of allowing the short and intermediate passes and denying the deep routes.  That's a similar plan to what FSU allowed Miami, except FSU let Jacory Harris run if he wanted to because he's not a quality runner.  Expect much more zone from Florida State (and not much blitzing or man) than FSU used against Miami or BC.  Wilson is a good quarterback and he will hurt FSU on some intermediate throws, but FSU has to let those throws happen and live to play another play.  This will be a great battle of patience.  Will FSU lose its composure and start taking chances as NC State moves the ball?  Or will NC State press and stop taking what it is given?  FSU needs to make sure it is the latter as NC State is forced to drive 80 yards following another touchback off a Dustin Hopkins kickoff.  

Florida State has a good but not yet great secondary, but it really has good depth at the corner position.  And that absolutely matters in this game because FSU will likely be playing a lot of nickel.  FSU has four or five NFL guys in its two safety & four corner group of defensive backs.   Starting corners #27 Xavier Rhodes 6-1 210 r-Fr. and #5 Greg Reid 5-8 185 So. are very good.  #1 Michael Harris 5-11 183 Jr. is a very, very good nickel corner.  And FSU has the #1 corner recruit in the country in #20 Lamarcus Joyner 5-8 183 Fr.   NC State can really abuse teams that don't have quality depth in the secondary, but FSU does have that quality depth, albeit young.  I expect FSU to match the 'Pack when NC State goes into its 4-wide sets.  Safeties #10 Nick Moody 6-2 228 So. and #4 Terrance Parks 6-2 218 Jr. are decent players.  NC State will look to exploit Moody because he can be undisciplined, particularly in the play-action game (as discussed above).  FSU must protect Moody and not put him in a position where he is asked to play run-pass.  As I said, FSU must hit NC State's receivers when they dare to catch the mid-range stuff and must be opportunistic when Wilson throws up a deep floater.

Additional notes:  I am interested to see how Greg Hudson impacts this game as he knows NC State quite well from his days at East Carolina.  I expect lots of cover 4 out of Florida State to react to the run threat of Wilson.  

Prediction:  NC State will throw 44 passes for 320 yards and run 28 times for 105 yards.   That's 425 yards, or an average of 5.9 yards per play.  I see NC State having poor field position, however, and turning those 425 yards into 27 points.  This is a good NC State offense, the best FSU has seen since Oklahoma.  Holding them under 30 points should be considered a win.  

Inside, see the matchup of Florida State's offense against NC State's defense!  Will I pick FSU to win?  Find out!

Continue reading this post »

Here is your gameday thread for the Boston College Eagles at Florida St. Seminoles

Enjoy a great day of college football and stay safe.  

First Quarter Thread
Second Quarter Thread
Third Quarter Thread
Fourth Quarter Thread
Afternoon Games
Night Games

Join us all day as we watch and discuss college football!  The Wake Forest Demon Deacons take on the Florida State Seminoles at 3:30, but there are many other games as well! 

As the graphic says, FSU plays at 3:30.  The announcers are Mike Patrick and Craig James.  That is an awful crew.  Most of the country will need to see this game on ESPN3.com.  Sat Radio will have it also on 190 or 212.

Discuss the games with us!

Morning Discussion & Noon Games!

FSU
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
Halftime
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter

Night Games!

Saturday's game will be broadcast live to a national television audience on ESPNU at 3:30. Pam Ward will provide play-by-play coverage, with FSU great Danny Kanell lending analysis.

Early Games Discussion (Maryland @ WVU, GTech @ UNC, and Arkansas @ UGA)

1st Quarter Discussion
2nd Quarter Discussion
Halftime Discussion
3rd Quarter Discussion
4th Quarter Discussion

Night Games Discussion (Clemson @ Auburn, Iowa @ Arizona, Wake @ Stanford, Texas @ Texas Tech)

Previews:  FSU Offense v. OU Defense  |  FSU Defense v. OU Offense

What today's game could mean for FSU and where these two programs have come since 2001.

Commit news:  Tharinger reports FSU pulled 2012 DT Dalvon Stuckey out of the Walton area.

http://twitter.com/ThaRinger/status/24202883388
2012 DT Dalvon Stuckey is a great early pull for #FSU. Great frame, quickness, and motor. Should be one of the better SE DT in the '12 class. This was expected.

Come Comment!  Use the appropriate thread!

Morning Discussion Thread & Noon Games Discussion Thread
Florida State First Quarter Discussion Thread  |  Florida State First Quarter Discussion Thread Overflow
Florida State Second Quarter Discussion Thread   |  Florida State Second Quarter Discussion Thread Overflow
Halftime Discussion Thread
Florida State Third Quarter Discussion Thread   |  Florida State Third Quarter Discussion Thread Overflow
Florida State Fourth Quarter Discussion Thread  |  Florida State Fourth Quarter Discussion Overflow

Discuss the game with your fellow Nole fans!  Talk about how FSU is playing, what you're seeing, and what you want to see.  Describe the game for those following along overseas or without ESPNU.

12 Noon |  TV:  ESPNU  |  Line:  FSU -30 | Preview  

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2nd Quarter Thread
Halftime Thread
3rd Quarter Thread
4th Quarter Thread