Florida State football is scheduled to square off against LSU on Primetime, Sunday night! It’ll be a rematch of last season’s instant classic that culminated in a failed Tigers’ comeback attempt courtesy of a missed extra point in Brian Kelly’s Bayou debut.
The Seminoles shocked many by holding on to beat LSU, especially considering that the game was being played at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans. The victory seemed to spurn both programs onto double-digit win seasons, and now the two schools are ranked in the top 10 of the AP and Coaches Preseason Polls.
The Tigers will be seeking revenge for last year’s disappointment, meanwhile, the ‘Noles will be aiming to sweep. These two teams have a unique take on the home-and-home series, hosting one game in each school’s state but not at their on-campus stadium. As things stand now, LSU is a slight favorite heading into this clash, but here are three reasons why Florida State football will win the game, besides their pseudo-home-field advantage.
Jordan Travis Will Have a Jordan-esque Performance
Sunday’s college football main event will feature one the biggest quarterbacking duals of the 2023 regular season as Florida State’s Jordan Travis and LSU’s Jayden Daniels square off in Orlando. According to BetMGM, Daniels (+1000) and Travis (+1200) have the second and third-best odds of winning this year’s Heisman Memorial Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding college football player.
As such, much of Florida State football’s high expectations, not only for this game, but for the season in general, ride on the back, or should I say arm and legs, of Travis, and deservedly so. If the ‘Noles are to beat LSU, one of the reasons for the win will be because the North Palm Beach native put up a performance that’s indicative of his name, Jordan.
The redshirt senior will be poised under pressure, like Jordan. He’ll provide multiple moments of brilliance, like Jordan. Travis will steady the collective ship, lead his men, and ultimately provide the killer blow to his opponent, like Jordan.
Seminoles Will Limit Jayden Daniel’s Improvisation
The second reason why Florida State football will beat the Bayou Bengals is that the Noles’ defense will successfully keep Jayden Daniels inside the pocket. LSU’s offense seems to reach top gear once Daniels is able to escape pressure.
That’s when he can either go on a dazzling impromptu run for a first down or simply extend the play long enough to pick out an otherwise covered receiver downfield for what Brian Kelly likes to call, ‘chunk plays’. Hence, mitigating Daniel’s scrambling ability will force the gunslinger to stay in the pocket and go through his progressions. At some point, Daniels will likely get antsy and force a throw or two into a window that isn’t there. Next thing you know, the ‘Noles will capitalize, and FSU will subsequently be headed back the other way with the football.
Defensive ends, Jared Verse and Patrick Payton will be critical in setting the shape of the pocket that Daniels will remain in throughout the game. Meanwhile, mixing in a spy from either a linebacker and/or a defensive back could be crucial in the Seminoles containing the elusive Jayden Daniels, especially in crunch time.
Florida State football Will Play A Cleaner Game Than LSU
As for any marquee matchup, limiting turnovers, failed conversions, special teams blunders, and penalties are paramount to success, especially when margins are finest. Thus, Florida State playing a cleaner game than LSU is my third reason why the ‘Noles will beat the Tigers.
Exhibit A: LSU stumbled on third down conversions, going 5/11 last season. Exhibit B: The Tigers produced a trio of special teams mishaps: two lost fumbles and the aforementioned missed extra point. Even despite a last-minute Daniels-led drive that should have tied the game, LSU’s messy play throughout ultimately doomed their chances of winning in the end.
Meanwhile, the ‘Noles lost just one fumble and went 11/17 on third down last year. In turn, this polished performance proved to be the catalyst for FSU extending drives, winning the time of possession battle, and keeping Jaylen Daniels sidelined for longer than Brian Kelly would have liked.
This Sunday will be no different for Florida State. They’ll display a more sound and consistent approach than that of LSU, and in turn, Chief Osceola will be leading the Seminole faithful in the famed FSU war chant come game’s end.