No. 9 Florida State knows not to take Boston College lightly

The Boston College Eagles opened 2015 with a pair of FCS squads and a predictable 2-0 record. How should FSU expect Boston College to try and slow down the run threat? FSU is 17-14 all-time on Fridays, but has won 11 of its last 12 Friday games. The Seminoles had a sluggish start and were tied at halftime 7-7 against USF. Florida State hasn’t lost an ACC game since October 6 of that year.

Tallahassee Democrat sports writers Safid Deen and Corey Clark share some insight as FSU prepares for Boston College on Monday, September 14, 2015. Boston College was a 44 point favorite against Howard and the total was 58.5.

The swift feet of Dalvin Cook and the Eagles’ stingy defense present the type of matchup that’s totally worth staying in on a Friday night with popcorn and your ACC hoodie.

Thursday’s game against the Spartans will be streamed online by the SoCon Digital Network.

We can talk about North Carolina’s track record of underachieving, or Virginia’s lack of offense if we want to, but that would simply speak to the fact that all of the teams ahead of Florida State have glaring flaws. He became the focus of the offense late last season, averaging 23.3 carries the last three games. Write this down: Among ACC schools that have yet to play a team from a Power Five Conference, Florida State ranks last in total defense! S Keanu Neal (leg) is expected to make his season debut Saturday. But he struggled last week, throwing for just 163 yards for one score.

BC enters this game ranked first in the country against the run and second against the pass, but those numbers have been inflated by the level of competition they have faced so far.

Florida State: QB Everett Golson and RB Dalvin Cook. He rushed for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. He now has 49 rushing attempts in two games (seventh most nationally) for 422 yards (second). Travis Rudolph has 10 catches for 99 yards and a touchdowns.

“The speed and the physicality of these games is so much greater and different”. Five defensive players are listed as questionable or out.

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Wade is a southpaw with a strong arm, meaning Boston College could have more of a vertical presence through the air this season. She turned around the defender and placed a great shot to beat the keeper and make it 5-0 Florida State. BC leads the ACC in rushing defense, allowing just seven yards. In the first quarter, Rashad forced a fumble that was scooped up by teammate Sam Smiley and returned 52 yards to set up a UNC score. Against all odds, the Eagles won that game. BC is 15/26 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 3/25. His longest run of the season has gone for 10 yards to this point. Even while at Temple in 2011, it took a Penn State touchdown with 2:42 left to avoid an embarrassing home loss to the recruits the Nittany Lions passed over. Myles Willis has 7 carries for 77 yards. Harrison Jackson, Sherman Alston, Bobby Wolford and Drew Barksdale are the top receiving targets. And while nobody is going to confuse Howard and Maine for Florida State, the 87-point margin of victory the Eagles racked up over their first two opponents shows that BC is capable of putting points on the board.

At last year’s Red Bandana Game, BC upset No. 9 Southern California 37-31. “We know we are going to have our hands full going up and competing in their backyard as well”.