Florida State Football: Way-too-early 2021 game-by-game predictions

This will be one of the most pivotal games of the season for Florida State. The Seminoles really want to be able to get back to bowl eligibility and NC State is a team that I am bullish on heading into 2021. The Wolfpack will be returning quarterback Devin Leary this season and Leary was playing at a pretty high level before he suffered a season-ending injury and I expect him to pick up where he left off.

This game should be close and could decide who will finish second or third in the Atlantic division. With the game at home, I am tempted to go with the Seminoles to get the slight upset, but I think Dave Doeren is going to have a solid season for the Wolfpack and they will go to Tallahassee and get the win.

Final Score: Florida State 28, NC State 30 (5-4, 3-3 ACC)

One of the best rivalries in the country has not had a lot of national importance this year and it is doubtful that it will be back to that level in 2021. However, this is a game where both fanbases still get more than fired up for and there will be bragging rights on the line in this game. Miami has four in a row over the Seminoles, including last season’s 52-10 beatdown in Miami. This is a rivalry game that is traditionally very close, however, and I think it will be that way again.

Florida State should be playing its best ball at this point in the season, I just don’t know if that will be good enough to beat a team like Miami. While not national championship contenders, Miami still projects as a good team in 2021 with D’Eriq King coming back and the Hurricanes get their fifth straight win in the series.

Final Score: Florida State 31, Miami 41 (5-5, 3-4 ACC)