Florida State might be undefeated and ranked No. 1 nationally in the AP Poll, but the latter is really only due to how the Seminoles finished the 2013 season, and as Bill Connelly wrote, we’re still waiting for that version of FSU to show up. A terrible defensive showing against NC State last week didn’t help, and it feels like we’re just waiting for the Seminoles to mess up enough that they’ll finally drop a game for the first time since November 2012.
How to watch Wake Forest vs. Florida State: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
Can the Seminoles’ defense bounce back against a terrible Wake Forest offense?
But this week might be the time for the Seminoles to get back on track. FSU will face Wake Forest, which has the worst power conference offense in the nation (and third-to-last nationally, overall), and Jameis Winston and company should have no problem rolling through the Demon Deacons.
Of course, we’ll need to see a lot more of Florida State than just a win over Wake Forest to prove that this team is back to last year’s form. However, a bounce-back game like this one can’t hurt.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC regional
Online streaming: abc.go.com/watch-live
Our sites on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Florida State is 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, but the Seminoles slipped to No. 2 in the Coaches Poll this week. Wake Forest is 2-3 and unranked.
Vegas: Florida State opened as a 38-point favorite and is now a 39-point favorite. The over/under is 54.5.
Weather forecast: Sunny with a high of 79 and a low of 52.
Two things at stake
Florida State certainly can’t afford to lose this game and still make the College Football Playoff. If the Seminoles don’t win convincingly, there will be even more skepticism that they can repeat as national champions.
Wake Forest has very little to lose in this game. Anything other than a blowout loss would be an accomplishment.
One big matchup
Wake Forest offense vs. Florida State defense: As noted above, Wake Forest’s offense is absolutely atrocious. The Demon Deacons only run a “successful” play about a quarter of the time, and they rank 123rd or worse nationally in every offensive stat on Football Outsiders. While Florida State was supposed to have a stout defense coming into the year, it has struggled at times, most notably in giving up 41 points to NC State last week. If Wake Forest is going to win, it’s going to have to have its best offensive game of the year and take advantage of an FSU defense that’s coming off a down week. Unfortunately for the Demon Deacons, that seems pretty unlikely.
Further reading
Read Tomahawk Nation for more on Florida State and Blogger So Dear for more on Wake Forest.
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