Florida State Football: One Good Reason the Seminoles Can Defeat Every Opponent

Perhaps more so than any other team in the country, the optimism for the upcoming college football season is rising to a fever pitch in Tallahassee.  

Florida State will return 18 starters from the lineup that overcame a 14-0 second-half deficit to defeat Notre Dame 18-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl.  

Jimbo Fisher and his staff reeled in another star-studded recruiting class that should solidify some of the depth issues that plagued the ‘Noles last season.  

With the game against West Virginia originally scheduled for Sept. 8^th officially cancelled, FSU is still searching for a replacement. 

Regardless of who fills that vacancy, FSU will have a tough schedule to navigate in order to claim their first ACC title since 2005.  

However, the 2012 team is loaded and poised to rid themselves of the bad taste that soured their 2011 season. 

Here is one good reason FSU can defeat every opponent in 2012. 

2012 schedule has not been released and dates listed are simply guesses.  

Murray State

Cupcake City 

If this was basketball, the ‘Noles would probably be in trouble.  

However, the Racers are a decent FCS opponent that gave Louisville fits in last season’s opener before falling 21-9.  

The Seminoles will simply be too talented for the Racers to handle.

*TBD

Non-Conference Home Game (Likely against a Non-BCS Foe)

This could be renamed "the slot formerly occupied by West Virginia."

The only thing that looks certain about this vacancy is that it will be filled with an opponent that will travel to Doak Campbell Stadium.  

That reason alone makes this slot look promising for a ‘Noles victory.  

At N.C. State

Wolfpack Lack Bite

Traditionally, FSU has struggled at Carter-Finley Stadium. 

However, after holding the Wolfpack to 166 yards of total offense in a 34-0 shellacking in Tallahassee, expect FSU’s defense to put the clamps on Mike Glennon once again.  

Wake Forest

Revenge

Perhaps the Seminoles' most disappointing—and shocking—loss last season came at the hands of the Demon Deacons.

To say that FSU will be more than ready for this game will be an understatement.  

Expect this one to get ugly pretty quickly.  

At South Florida

Revenge Part II 

This is another revenge game of sorts (USF recorded a 17-7 win at FSU in 2009) and do not think that the Seminoles have forgotten the embarrassment from that loss. 

Expect FSU’s defense to get after the architect of that upset—Bulls quarterback and Tallahassee native B.J. Daniels—and in the process, remove doubt that the Bulls are on the level of Florida’s "Big Three." 

At Virginia Tech

Statement Game 

This game may be the toughest game of the season on paper for FSU.  

Simply because going into Lane Stadium and leaving victorious is not an easy task to accomplish, but a win against the ACC’s most dominant team in recent memory would serve notice to the rest of the conference that the ‘Noles are back to reclaim their territory. 

Also, the Hokies have to break in four new offensive linemen against FSU’s ferocious defensive line—likely the ACC’s best defensive front four. 

Duke

This Is Not Basketball

FSU has never lost to Duke on the gridiron. 

Do not expect that to change in 2012.  

At Miami

‘Canes in Rebuilding Mode 

In a rivalry game—especially this one—it’s taboo to say that anything can happen and to expect the unexpected.

However, the turnover on the ‘Canes roster is simply too much for them to overcome against a team that has beaten them two years in a row and returns the bulk of their contributors from those teams.

As an added bonus, FSU has won the last three meetings in the Hurricanes' backyard.   

Boston College

Eagles Have to Climb out of Atlantic Cellar First 

The Eagles went 4-8 last season and lost star linebacker Luke Kuechly to the NFL, but they will return 19 starters from a team that went through a youth movement in 2011.

While they should be vastly improved, their skill players are simply not on the level necessary to scare the Seminoles.  

Clemson

Dethrone the Champs

The defending ACC champions will travel to Doak Campbell Stadium for what should be a showdown that likely determines the winner of the Atlantic division of the ACC. 

Clemson’s biggest personnel losses from 2011 reside in the trenches, where they lose three starters on each side of the line of scrimmage.  

The ‘Noles will have to exploit their advantage up front in order to knock their rivals from the Palmetto State. 

At Maryland

Terps Program in Shambles

The Terrapins are clearly in rebuilding mode after a 2-10 season in head coach Randy Edsall’s first year in College Park. 

The Terps are at least a year or two away before they can compete with a team as stacked as FSU.  

Florida

State Title Streak 

The Gators are similarly in transition as year two of the Will Muschamp era begins in Gainseville.  

However, Florida will bring in a talented team into Tallahassee that loses only five starters from 2011. 

The Gators offense will be learning its third different offensive system in three seasons, and against a defense as talented as the ‘Noles', growing pains will likely show up and spell their doom.  

Considering Fisher’s excellence in rivalry games thus far in his career, the ‘Noles will be amped up to try and complete their third consecutive sweep of their in-state rivals. 

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