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Florida State Football: 5 reasons why Seminoles will win 2017 national title

By Erich Hilkert

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up prior to their Capitol One Orange Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up prior to their Capitol One Orange Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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After most picked Clemson to win the ACC, the Florida State football team enters 2017 as the favorite and one of the top teams in the country entering the season.

For the past two seasons, Florida State lost at least twice to ACC opponents, both seasons included losses to Clemson. This season, Florida State has a stronger defense and an experienced quarterback, unlike in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Florida State was upset by Georgia Tech. In 2016, the Seminoles were once again upset, this time by North Carolina.

Admittedly, the Seminoles face a brutal schedule. The team opens the season at Mercedes Benz Stadium against Alabama. The Seminoles do get Louisville and Miami at home but face Clemson and Florida on the road.

Despite a difficult schedule, Florida State should win the ACC and be in position to make the College Football Playoff.

Let’s take a look at five reasons Florida State will win the 2017 national title.

5. Path to the ACC crown

While it is true Florida State faces a brutal schedule, the toughest games are against non-conference opponents. Florida State opens the season against SEC favorite Alabama and closes the season against one of the SEC East’s favorites and the Seminoles’ biggest rival, Florida at The Swamp. The Gators have been virtually unbeatable at home since head coach Jim McElwain took the reins in 2015. In fact, Florida State is the only team to beat the Gators at home during the last two seasons.

Even if Florida State loses to Alabama to begin the season, the Seminoles often improve over the course of the season under head coach Jimbo Fisher, as was on display last season, as well as in 2012 and 2013.

In conference play, the team avoids Virginia Tech out of the Coastal division and plays Miami at home. Additionally, the team’s lone brutal loss from 2016 must travel to Tallahassee in 2017 (Louisville). Florida State has lost just two games at home during the last four seasons.

The lone road conference game that is challenging on the surface is Clemson. The Tigers have defeated Florida State the past two seasons, but this season Florida State has the more experienced quarterback and a better defense.

On paper, Florida State is hands-down the best team in the ACC. If the Seminoles simply focus on winning the conference, the team will likely earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Because the team will have faced a challenging schedule, the Seminoles will be prepared for the difficulty of the College Football Playoff.

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