Florida State vs. Boston College: 7 Players to Watch in ACC Showdown

The annual meeting between Florida State and Boston College is sure to provide fans with some interest.

Although Boston College doesn't have a good record, they've been a thorn in FSU's side for the past few years. The teams have actually had some tightly contested games, given their usual opposite positions in the standings.

Whether it's Florida State attempting to make it four in a row or Boston College trying to upset the 'Noles again, here are four players to keep your eyes on.

Jermaine Thomas

Senior RB Jermaine Thomas has had a late season resurgence.

At Maryland, Thomas had 86 yards on nine carries and built on that momentum against North Carolina State. He had 48 yards on 11 carries to go with 53 yards on five receptions.

Florida State isn't going to turn into a power running team, but 'Noles fans sure would appreciate a decent running game to help out EJ Manuel.

Chase Rettig

Not that it's any surprise, but when Boston College has won this season, Chase Rettig has played well.

In BC's first victory of the season, Rettig had a QB rating of 183.5. The Eagles won their second game of the season last week and Rettig saw little action.

If BC wants to upset the Seminoles, they're going to need a balanced attack on offense.

Kenny Shaw

Kenny Shaw has emerged to become a viable No. 1 option for EJ Manuel.

The past two weeks have seen Shaw haul in 13 passes for 122 yards and two TDs. It's nice to see Shaw making something of this season, considering the promise he showed in the first few weeks and after that ugly hit in the Oklahoma game.

In a year when Bert Reed has failed to step up, the other FSU receivers have picked up the slack. Shaw will need to continue his sophomore surge so the FSU passing attack can keep firing on all cylinders.

Rolandan Finch

Rolandan Finch represents Boston College's best chance to defeat the favored 'Noles on Thursday night.

Finch exploded onto the national scene last week with a 39 carries and 243 yards in the Eagles' win over Maryland.

Although Finch put up great numbers last week, it should've came to as no surprise to BC fans. Finch put up great numbers on the road against tough teams like Virginia Tech and Clemson.

The Florida State defense will need to contain Finch and force Chase Rettig to try and beat them through the air, something he's yet to prove is possible.

Brandon Jenkins

Brandon Jenkins is arguably FSU's most talented defensive lineman.

Recently, Jenkins has become very hit or miss with his production. Against Duke he did not record any stats, but then had a great game against Maryland.

Last week against NC State, Jenkins managed to get only one tackle.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that NC State's offense was off the field almost as soon as they got on, but either way, FSU will need Jenkins to step up this week against the BC offensive line.

Nate Freese

If the the Seminoles defense shows up to play on Thursday, the Eagles could be in for a very long night offensively.

NC State wasn't even able to get the ball in the red zone in last week's contest against Florida State. It will be up to Nate Freese to make his kicks.

If the Eagles have to rely on Chase Rettig to win they're not going to move the ball much. Freese will need to make every kick count to put points on the board, because more than likely, points won't be coming Boston College's way a lot on Thursday.

EJ Manuel

EJ Manuel has been a fantasy stud the past few weeks in college football.

As Florida State continues to roll, so too does Manuel. During FSU's three-game win streak, Manuel has had a QB rating of over 150 each week.

The 'Noles won't be winning games on the ground and Jimbo Fisher loves to spread the ball around through the air. It will be up to the Boston College defense to confuse Manuel with different coverage schemes, but at the same time keep him contained in the pocket.

If Manuel can get it going early, Florida State may be on its way to another ACC rout.