2010 Florida State Seminoles Football: Florida State vs Boston College

Florida State proved itself last weekend when it pounded No. 13 Miami, 45–17. Everything went right for FSU and the pure genius of the Noles' coaching staff shone through the expertly-executed plays produced by a long line of talented players. As a result of that max-out performance, Florida State jumped to No. 16 in the AP poll, gained state bragging rights, and even garnered increased interest from key recruits. Yet, a big win like that can be a blessing and a curse. People now expect FSU to perform at that level and destroy mediocre teams. If the Noles don't, they will lose respect. The Seminoles will have to be wary of letting down this weekend against Boston College.

Coming into the game, FSU is heavily favored to win (the Noles opened as a 22-point favorite earlier this week). The Eagles are 2–3 so far this season with lopsided losses to Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and NC State. Sophomore quarterback Dave Shinskie has been disappointing to say the least with just 618 passing yards and 5 passing touchdowns. He's completing just 48 percent of his passes. In fact, things have gotten so bad that according to the Boston College game depth chart released today, coach Frank Spaziani will start freshman Chase Rettig (5/10, 70 yards, 1 TD) over Shinskie.

But Boston College's woes aren't found solely in the passing game. Out of 120 FBS teams, BC is ranked 110th in the nation in rushing yards per game (89.8) and 104th in points scored (18.8 ppg). BC has been outscored so far this season 127–94, which averages out to over 25 points per game that opponents are scoring against the Eagles.

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On the other side of things, Florida State's rankings halfway through the season have been surprising to even the most devout of fans. Coach Fisher's team is scoring 36.7 points per game (18th in the nation) while allowing just 15.7 points per game (16th in the nation). Moreover, the Noles are not even relying on senior Christian Ponder to lead the scoring charge this year. Ponder's averaging just 216 passing yards per game while coach Eddie Gran's running backs are racking up 223 yards per game.

Despite the overwhelming endorsements FSU is receiving in this match-up, the Noles have to fight feelings of complacency. After big wins often come fluke losses. Oversight, too much confidence, or a lack of preparation can all lead to a loss for the Noles. And let's face it—an FSU loss to a team like BC all but wipes that big win over Miami off the board. In the week before their bye, the Noles must continue playing at the high level they've demonstrated in their first six games of the season.

The nation saw how Fisher's team handled defeat after its 47–17 loss against Oklahoma. The team learned from its mistakes and improved tremendously. However, the true test of a team is how well it handles defeat along with success. To prove the Miami win wasn't a fluke, FSU will have to play just as hard against Boston College as it did against rival Miami.

Florida State Seminoles vs Boston College Eagles Football Preview