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FSU football game prediction: Boston College could challenge Seminoles in home opener

liam rooney, tallahassee democrat
·6 min read

Football returns to Doak Campbell Stadium on Monday as Florida State football hosts Boston College in the regular season home opener.

After a week zero loss to Georgia Tech, No. 10 FSU (0-1) face the Eagles (0-0) as the Seminoles look to get back in the win column following a disappointing 24-21 loss in Dublin, Ireland.

Last season FSU and Boston College dueled in a shootout, with the Seminoles winning 31-29. Now, Bill O'Brien is the head coach of the Eagles, replacing Jeff Hafley, and he will be looking to make an impression on Monday.

The Seminoles have won nine straight home games and are 59-18 all-time in home openers.

FSU has won five straight against the Eagles, with four of the five games ending with the Seminoles winning by one score or less.

It will be a different Boston College coming to town compared to the one the Seminoles faced last season, and FSU head coach Mike Norvell knows that, saying his team is preparing for the "unknown" on Monday.

"We obviously have a lot of respect for the guys that they have. Coach O'Brien and his staff have very extensive and very successful coaching careers," Norvell said. "This is a team that is going to be very well-coached, they're going to be tough and physical and can attack you in a variety of ways."

"We are looking at everything in preparation for what we might see."

How can FSU football contain the threat of Thomas Castellanos

When the Seminoles traveled to Chesnut Hill last season it was just the second college start of Thomas Castellanos career. In that game he went 20-for-33 recording 305 passing yards with one touchdown and an interception, adding 95 rushing yards and one touchdown on 16 carries against FSU last season.

Castellanos was a threat for a big play the entire game against the Seminoles, with his dual-threat ability creating problems for the defense looking to slow him down.

The junior is elusive in the open field and hard to tackle at times, something FSU struggled against Haynes King last week. In last season's matchup, Castellanos was quick to take off and scramble if he saw a hole emerge, forcing the Seminoles linebackers to be very disciplined when trying to contain him.

Stopping the run has been a concern at times for the Seminoles in recent seasons, and after allowing Georgia Tech to post 190 rushing yards on 36 carries in week zero, changes need to be made heading into the Boston College game.

Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller stressed the importance of setting the edge against a run-heavy team and scrambling quarterback. If the Seminoles can apply what Fuller wants and force Castellanos into some congested running lanes, it will slow down the Eagles' offense and allow FSU's defense to dictate the tempo of play.

The linebacker room struggled against the Yellow Jackets and that unit needs an improved performance against Boston College as it could be the key to keeping Castellanos's explosive runs to a minimum.

Running back Kye Robichaux is a dynamic runner who recorded 64 yards and a touchdown last year, and he can't be forgotten in the game plan.

If the edge can be set the way Fuller and Norvell want, with players like Sione Lolohea, Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr the key to that, the Seminoles can keep Castellanos in teh pocket.

While he's a good passer, he can be inaccurate and force some throws at times under pressure, which could play into the hands of the FSU secondary. Azareye'h Thomas and Fentrell Cypress will be tight in coverage of the wide receivers, with Shyhiem Brown and Conrad Hussey ready to jump on any loosely thrown ball.

Can FSU's offense create the explosive play

The big question for the Seminoles offense is can it create explosive plays?

Norvell spoke about it after the Georgia Tech loss, and throughout the week leading up to the game, wanting his skill position players to provide a spark and create big plays.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei could help the skill players make those play and benefit from a more open playbook. In the first half against the Yellow Jackets, Uiagalelei was limited to mostly short throws, barely throwing more than five yards in the air.

When the playbook opened up in the fourth quarter on the touchdown drive to tie the game, Uiagalelei looked his most confident. That could be something that opens things up for the Seminoles on Monday against a strong Boston College defense.

New Eagles defensive coordinator Tim Lewis will give Uiagalelei and the Seminoles a challenge, with the Boston College secondary including corners Amari Jackson and Max Tucker looking to slow down the FSU receivers.

Lewis has spent over a decade in professional football, and he will have the Eagles defense ready to challenge FSU, it's up to Norvell and Uiagalalelei to navigate that challenge and allow the offense to hit its stride.

Score Prediction: FSU 30, Boston College 17

Florida State University's DJ Uiagalelei looks to hand off the ball against Georgia Tech on August 24, 2024, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Mandatory Credit: Tom Maher/INPHO via USA TODAY Sports
Florida State University's DJ Uiagalelei looks to hand off the ball against Georgia Tech on August 24, 2024, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Mandatory Credit: Tom Maher/INPHO via USA TODAY Sports

The Seminoles get the win in a bounce-back game after the week zero disappointment to Georgia Tech. The offensive playbook opens up more for Uiagalelei and FSU is able to move the ball down the field better than it did in the opener against the Yellow Jackets.

The wide receivers and the running backs find the explosive play and the defensive front steps up after a lackluster first performance, keeping the pressure on Castellanos and doing a better job of setting the edge like Fuller wanted.

It won't be an easy game as the Eagles come to town looking for a first win under O'Brien, but, the Seminoles should be able to do enough to win. However, if some of those same issues that were present in the Georgia Tech loss pop up, FSU could be in for a long night.

How to watch FSU football vs. Boston College

  • Date: Monday, Sept. 2

  • Time: 7:30 p.m.

  • Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

  • TV: ESPN

  • Streaming: ESPN+ ($10.99 per month), WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

FSU football 2024 schedule

All times Eastern

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football Boston college game prediction DJ Uiagalelei Mike Norvell