FSU vs. Chattanooga Prediction, Game Preview

The Florida State Seminoles (8-2) host the Chattanooga Mocs (8-2) in a battle of eight-win teams. Check out the FSU vs. Chattanooga prediction and game preview.

FSU vs. Chattanooga Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 21
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
Network: ESPN3

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Why You Need To Care

Life without title hopes began last week for Florida State, which rallied to defeat NC State and maintain its three-year home winning streak. The Seminoles, whose ACC schedule has ended, will host Chattanooga this week before travelling to Gainesville for the annual showdown with rival Florida. The Noles are hunting for a fourth straight 10-win season and a top 10 finish. The Mocs wrapped up a third consecutive SoCon title with last week’s win over The Citadel, and have earned an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

Why Chattanooga Will Win

For obvious reasons, this game matters a lot more to the Mocs than it does to the Noles, whose left brain will be in Tallahassee and right brain in Gainesville. The Mocs boast the SoCon’s top-ranked defense, a unit that’s particularly stingy against the pass. DE Keionta Davis headlines a salty front seven, while QB Jacob Huesman and RB Derrick Craine both average almost 100 rushing yards per game and can play keep-away with the FSU attack.

Why Florida State Will Win

Being good by the SoCon measuring stick will not prepare Chattanooga for the size and speed it’ll face this week at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Mocs aren’t stopping RB Dalvin Cook. And their north-south running game, which has been so effective against the likes of VMI and Western Carolina, will be stopped in its tracks. The Mocs would be scarier with a complementary passing attack, but Huesman has thrown more picks than touchdowns this year.

Player Who Matters

The Sean Maguire era behind center is off and running at FSU, at least until Deondre Francois shed his redshirt next spring. Maguire gives the Noles their best chance to ignite the offense and maximize the downfield ability of receivers Travis Rudolph, Kermit Whitfield and Jesus Wilson. The junior came off the bench to help rescue Florida State last week with two touchdowns, and will need to be on point next week against the Gators.

What’s Going To Happen?

Florida State’s heads may be elsewhere, but the team will be fine as long as its bodies are in Tallahassee. Cook will average nearly 10 yards a carry before giving way to Jacques Patrick, the defense will shut down one-dimensional Chattanooga and Jimbo Fisher will empty his bench as soon as it’s feasible.