Vegas ACC Predictions
No. 1 Florida State vs. Oklahoma State (Arlington, Texas)
Line: Florida State by 17.5
Chop Chat
Florida State’s defense of its national title begins in Arlington Saturday night against an Oklahoma State Cowboys team that was very good last year but loses a lot of talent. The Seminoles are once again loaded this year, in true Alabama fashion now but with a Heisman trophy winner at quarterback, and Jimbo Fisher is not letting anybody forget it. He has spent the entire offseason embracing the hype simply because he knows how loaded his team is, and after the thrilling national championship game last year Saturday night is a great setting to put that on display. Heck, maybe we should have this Florida State team play the Dallas Cowboys in the stadium instead of Oklahoma State.
Betsided
Oklahoma State and Mike Gundy are faced with a serious rebuilding project, but Gundy has developed a very good system that consistently breeds good offenses. His spread formations can plug new guys in as long as he has a go-to receiver and an accurate quarterback, both of which he appears to have in J.W. Walsh and incredibly athletic Brandon Sheperd. If those two get into a rhythm, then the fall-off won’t be as bad as people expect this year and the Cowboys will be able to make noise immediately, including against Florida State. Remember the Seminoles struggled against Auburn’s spread offense last year, so don’t write the Cowboys off too quickly.
Prediction
Florida State is loaded with NFL talent and is rightfully expected to annihilate everybody in its path this year en route to the college football playoff, but this Oklahoma State game could be the toughest team it faces on that path. The Seminoles will struggle early against Gundy’s spread offense, just like it did against Auburn, and it will take some big plays from Jameis Winston and the offense to really get the game back on track. Florida State will pull away in the second half but won’t cover the spread.
Florida State: 38 Oklahoma State: 27