Florida State got a much needed Bye week last weekend and hopefully it proved to provide the players with time to get healthy, (see Christian Ponder). At the same time it gave this team time to prepare for arguably their toughest ACC opponent thus far. North Carolina State boasts one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Russell Wilson. Wilson is a passing machine and although that sometimes gets him in trouble with performances against Virginia Tech and Eastern Carolina, (3 interceptions a piece), he still has to be respected.
Both squads showcase high-powered offenses that can score at will and can score plenty of points, but the defenses will be under the microscope come Thursday. Florida State still leads the nation in sacks with 30 even after a Bye week. Defensive end Brandon Jenkins leads the pack with 7 sacks. Jenkins along with the rest of the D-line will face off against a massive offensive line that averages 310 pounds between the five of them.
With that being said, Florida State's lone loss has come at the hands of Oklahoma, whom up until a week ago were the number one ranked team in the country and while they had a scare against Boston College, they still prevailed and won the contest. N.C. State on the other hand has a pair of losses against a revived Virgina Tech team and an over-achieving East Carolina team, both losses coming within two scores with the ECU game going into overtime. So will this game be close?
If Florida State comes out and follows their game plan instead of trying to play to the other teams weaknesses, they should run all over this N.C. State team and gain another win bringing their record to 7-1 with a perfect record in the ACC. Ponder will need to lead an aggressive offensive attack and Jenkins and company will need to shut-down Wilson on defense. Although that is easier said then done, this is a very win-able game for the 'Noles and a game that is a must-win when looking at how the conference is shaping up.
