2014 College Football Picks and Predictions: Florida State Seminoles Season Preview

2014 College Football Picks and Predictions: Florida State Seminoles Season Preview: Heading into last season, the Florida State Seminoles had all the pieces in place to make a run at a national title, but the one question mark was the quarterback spot where a redshirt freshman named Jameis Winston was taking over for one of the most successful QBs in program history in EJ Manuel. Well, Winston more than held his own, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Seminoles to an undefeated record and a national title. In fact, Florida State steamrolled into the BCS title game on the strength of one of the best offenses and one of the best defenses in the country, blowing out every opponent along the way. The national title game against Auburn proved anything but easy, but a late touchdown strike from Winston preserved the Seminoles’ perfect season and sealed the championship. Now, the obvious question becomes whether or not Florida State can repeat as champs in 2014.

The Good News:

The defending national champs will have the defending Heisman Trophy winner back under center, and as long as Jameis Winston is leading the offense, the Seminoles should have one of the best scoring attacks in the country once again. Plus, Winston is not the only playmaker returning. Running back Karlos Williams, receiver Rashad Greene and four starters on the offensive line are also back. Defensively, Florida State returns both starting corners for a secondary that was the stingiest in the country last year, and defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. and linebacker Terrance Smith will provide leadership for the front seven. The schedule is manageable, as well, with Clemson, Florida and Notre Dame all coming to Tallahassee.

The Bad News:

For all the talent that returns, the Seminoles did lose serious playmakers on both sides of the ball. Running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. are both gone, along with receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Defensively, nose tackle Timmy Jernigan will no longer be anchoring the run defense, and hard-hitting safeties Terrence Brooks and Lamarcus Joyner are both in the NFL. In general, the talent level may not be drastically different for the Seminoles this year compared to last, but the experience and depth aren’t quite the same. There is also the undeniable fact that finding the focus and motivation to repeat is hard. Meanwhile, their status as the defending champs ensures that the Seminoles will get the best shot from every opponent.

Outlook:

Winning a national title is tough, but winning back-to-back titles is even tougher, especially with the new playoff format. Still, the Seminoles are blessed with plenty of talent, including Winston and one of the best offensive lines in the country, and the defense still has enough weapons to make sure that the Seminoles remain one of the more balanced teams in the country. That being said, the schedule has enough hurdles that another undefeated run is going to be tough. In the end, Florida State is still the class of the ACC by a wide margin, but one hiccup seems likely. The Seminoles should still have a great shot at making it into the college football playoff and defending their crown, albeit without an unblemished record.

Prediction: 11-1, ACC Atlantic Division Champions