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Florida State Preview
Florida State has been a team with two different seasons on two different sides of the football this season.

The offense struggled early against Jacksonville State and South Florida but has rebounded in recent weeks. The Seminoles are 25th in the country and third in the ACC in scoring offense with 31.75 points per game. In terms of total offense they are 15th in the nation and lead the ACC 443.63 yards per game.

The Noles are one of the top passing offenses in the nation. FSU is ninth in the country and second in the ACC 307.13 yards per game. Christian Ponder (6-3, 217, Jr) is 206 of 297 through the air for 2,453 yards for 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He is completing 69.4 percent of his passes as a junior. Ponder has also rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

FSU has five receivers with 25 or more receptions this season. Bert Reed (5-11.65, So) has caught 42 balls for 504 yards but has not scored this season. Rod Owens (6-0, 183, Sr) has 36 receptions for 481 yards and three touchdowns including a 98-yarder that turned the North Carolina game. Richard Goodman (6-0, 191, Sr) has 27 receptions for 355 yards and a touchdown. He has had a groin injury but could play this weekend. Jamon Fortson (6-3, 223, So) has 28 catches for 343 yards and two scores and Taiwan Easterling has 25 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Easterling has five catches in each of his last three games.

Florida State is 74th in the nation and fifth in the conference in rushing with 136.5 yards per contest. Jermaine Thomas (6-1, 190, So) is the leading rusher for the Noles. He has 378 yards and four touchdowns on 69 carries. He is a scat back that also is used as a receiver out of the backfield. The Jacksonville had a career high 186 yards and two touchdowns rushing last week in the win over NC State.

The Seminoles start four sophomores and two juniors along the offensive line and tight end. Along the offensive line, FSU is smaller and quicker than some opponents. They average less than 285 pounds along the offensive line. Guard Rodney Hudson (6-2, 285, Jr) is an All-American candidate. Center Ryan McMahon (6-3, 282, Jr) is the other starter with the most experience. The offensive line has allowed 1.75 sacks per game which is 52 in the nation and third in the ACC

Defense is a completely different story. FSU is 93rd in the country and 11th in the ACC in scoring defense allowing 29.75 points per game. The Noles are 109th in the nation and last in the ACC in total defense giving up 428.88 yards per contest.

Part of the issue has been injuries and inexperience. Florida State starts two freshmen at defensive tackle, Jacobbi McDaniel (6-0, 287, Fr) and Everrett Dawkins (6-2, 257, Fr). FSU is 101st in the nation and last in the ACC in rushing defense allowing 183 yards per game. Florida State averages 2.13 sacks per game which is 50th in the country and sixth in the league.

The secondary is much more experienced. Patrick Robinson (5-11, 194, Sr), Jamie Robinson (6-2, 188, Sr) and Korey Mangum (6-0, 202, Sr) are all senior starters but the secondary is still struggling against the pass. Florida State is 113th in the country and last in the league in pass efficiency defense.

For years, FSU has been known for great linebackers but this season will not be a group to remember. Dekoda Watson (6-2, 226, Sr) has had a nice career in Tallahassee but this crew of linebackers will not remind Nole fans of Derrick Brooks and Marvin Jones.

Florida State is second in the league and T-37 in the country in turnover margin with a plus .50 per game mark.

The Seminoles special teams have been pretty good but not great. Shawn Powell is averaging 36.83 net yards per punt which is 42nd in the country and fourth in the league.

Freshman placekicker Dustin Hopkins is 25-29 on extra points and 11 of 16 with his field goals.

FSU averages 9.69 yards per punt return which is 53rd in the nation and sixth in the ACC. They average 19.46 yards per kickoff return which is 99th in the nation and 10th in the league.

Florida State was 2-4 and 0-3 in the ACC and had just given up a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half of the North Carolina game and trailed the Tar Heels 24-6 mid way through the third quarter. The Noles were on the road and facing disaster. However, they rallied for a 30-27 win. Ponder completed his last 16 passes and finished with 395 yards and three touchdowns.

Last week the Seminoles were trailing NC State 42-38 with less than four minutes remaining but again Ponder rallied the troops as FSU marched down the field for the game-winning score with 96 seconds remaining.

Three weeks ago FSU was not a factor in the Atlantic division race because they were 0-3 in the league but two fourth quarter rallies have put the Noles in the race. Florida State has a legitimate shot at the division if it can upset Clemson this week.

Saturday’s game will be Mickey Andrews’ and most likely Bobby Bowden’s last trip to Death Valley. It will be a 7:45 ESPN game on national television. The winner may be the favorite to win the division. Needless to say, this is the biggest game in Death Valley since the 2007 Boston College game.

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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee.

Comments:

FSU has run 55% passing plays for 69% of their yardage. Fortunately, Clemson's pass-D is the best that Ponder will have faced (#11 pass-eff-D, #5 pass-D, #3 Ints, #21 sacks). UNC is the next best pass-D that FSU faced (where FSU put up 30 points), but UNC lags Clemson in each category. Still, I'd expect FSU to put up 28ish.

But throw the stats out the window, with the 8-point-spread. I’ve watched most of the FSU games. Both teams have been Jeckyll & Hyde, but both teams SEEM to have turned a corner on offense. I expect two highly motivated Jeckylls to show up.

Clemson faced a similar offense (in Miami) but gave up a lot of points and barely won in OT. I expect a similar Clemson-Miami style shoot-out. Interceptions will be key.

This will be the late-season, Atlantic-deciding game that Bowden could never win. Hopefully Dabo can redefine Clemson here.

I don't see Clemson covering an 8-point spread. Clemson by 3, down to the wire.

Go Tigers! 11-3.

Posted by Razzmatazz on November 04, 2009 at 01:31 PM EST #

Razz,

You forget about the noise in DV. Ponder should have a very difficult time calling audibles if we bring the noise. We simply can't let the team down this week. If we bring it, I don't see FSU putting up huge numbers in the 4th quarter. Limit mistakes early and stay focused and the croud should make life very hard for FSU.

Go Tigers!

Posted by Smplman on November 04, 2009 at 03:02 PM EST #

the silence will be deafening from the camo crusaders

Posted by talegater on November 04, 2009 at 03:23 PM EST #

Some people say the team and the program turned the corner when we beat Miami a couple of weeks ago. IMO, the jury is still out and Dabo and company have to prove that they can win the big games when everything is on the line, which has not been done in Tigertown in a long time.

Go Tigers!

Posted by Locotiger on November 04, 2009 at 03:35 PM EST #

Simplman: Home field advantage is one of the reasons that I'm picking Clemson by 3. Since 2004, Clemson's home field advantage against ACC & non-cupcakes hasn't been huge (.609 home vs .524 away). But FSU games seem to draw bigger, louder crowds, and FSU hasn't beaten Clemson at DV since 2001.

Posted by Razzmatazz on November 04, 2009 at 04:36 PM EST #

I think this Tiger team shines, because I believe we finally have turned a corner, and our players now believe we can win. We have learned to have that confidence. There is no quit in Dabo, and there is no doubt that players can pick up and cave in to. Dabo says it isn't about the crowd, or the facilities or the opponents or the refs. It's about the Tigers, and he's right. Go Tigers!!!

Posted by Dugatiger on November 04, 2009 at 09:52 PM EST #