Florida State football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020 season

Corey Durden and Dontavious Jackson, Florida State football (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Corey Durden and Dontavious Jackson, Florida State football (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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EJ Manuel, Florida State football (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
EJ Manuel, Florida State football (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /

Pick Analysis. Sept. 5. 1. player. 877. Scouting Report. Atlanta (Ga.). West Virginia Mountaineers

Mike Norvell’s Florida State debut will come in a neutral site matchup in Atlanta against West Virginia. The Mountaineers will be hoping to improve up their 5-7 season in head coach Neal Brown’s debut season.

The Mountaineers will be returning a lot of experience and Brown is known for how he builds programs, like he did at Troy and he had West Virginia playing physical football last season.

West Virginia will have to answer who is going to play quarterback this season after Jarrett Doege took over for Oklahoma transfer Austin Kendall. He will probably get the nod and he will have the luxury of throwing to talented receiver Sam James, as well as other experienced receivers. I think this will be a close game, but the Seminoles find a way to outscore the Mountaineers.

Final Score: Florida State 34, West Virginia 24 (1-0)

Florida State will be hoping to not replicate their 2018 matchup, when they were almost stunned by the Bulldogs. That shouldn’t be the case this time around with Norvell at the helm. Samford is a respectable FCS program, but the Seminoles should win with ease here.

Final Score: Florida State 45, Samford 17 (2-0)