Florida State Football: Rece Davis Prediction Is on the Mark

On Monday night, the Florida State Seminoles take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in the last college football game of Labor Day weekend, which has so far featured victories for some national powers and dreaded upsets for others. 

The question is—where will the Seminoles first themselves after late Monday night?

Many Seminoles fans think Jimbo Fisher’s team will have an excellent night. Jameis Winston, the top dual-threat quarterback from the Class of 2012, will be starting for the Seminoles. Winston has drawn comparisons to Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III, and it is common to hear ESPN analysts pick Florida State as a dark horse to get to the last BCS National Championship Game.

The most vocal about FSU’s chances seems to be analyst Rece Davis, who picks the Seminoles to win at Pittsburgh. He feels, though, that the Panthers have more than a shot in the dark to pull off the upset.

John Harris of Trib Total Media writes about how Davis described the Seminoles-Panthers game on national television. Davis—who will be calling the game—obviously has more specific insight than some of his contemporaries at ESPN, who have called other games earlier over the Labor Day Weekend.

Offering his game analysis, Davis said that Pitt will play physically and limit the run game. While I’m not so sure that will happen when the Seminoles return RBs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder, Jr., another one of Davis’s statement is dead right. Harris recounted what Davis said:

“You get into the fourth quarter and give yourself a chance, sometimes crazy things happen. You don't have to be the best team in the country. You just have to be the best team in the stadium that night.”

That’s the truth. Florida State shouldn’t have lost on the road to NC State, but it happened. I personally think Jameis Winston will make the Pitt backfield his playground, and any possible running issues should be solved by Winston running the ball himself. But playing at Pitt is not the easiest start for Winston.

Davis is also right by saying the Panthers will have the Seminoles’ full attention. Brendan Sonnone of The Orlando Sentinel notes that FSU defensive back Karlos Williams has exchanged barbs with Pitt wide receiver Devin Street.

FSU and Pitt won’t have to worry about the outside attention: Both teams share the spotlight for college football’s only Labor Day game. It’ll be closer than the bettors expect, but once the score goes final, Florida State will have silenced the Steel City.