Miami's defense was fairly solid last year and if they keep that rolling, they're the clear favorite to win the Coastal. That non-Clemson path to the ACC Championship game might give them better odds to get to the playoff than a more talented FSU team.

I won’t disagree with that. You always have to include teams like Miami and Wisconsin who play in the weak division of a Power 5 conference as in the discussion. I just think Miami is more of a 3 loss team this year. IF they can get through LSU the first week of the season, then they should stay in the discussion the whole year. But they get FSU at home and avoid Clemson so Miami does have a favorable schedule.

I mean traditionally, FSU has been and will almost always be in the Top 1/3 of the ACC. But they don't scare me anymore. :lol2:

Ehh I wouldn’t let one massive blow out 2 years ago sway your opinion forever.

Ehh I wouldn’t let one massive blow out 2 years ago sway your opinion forever.

 

They won at Florida State last year as well, so it's two in a row against the Noles...

I mean traditionally, FSU has been and will almost always be in the Top 1/3 of the ACC. But they don't scare me anymore. :lol2:

 

They have certainly struggled the past three years. But in the three years prior they were something like 40- 3 with a national championship. I'm not yet ready to discount them.

They have certainly struggled the past three years. But in the three years prior they were something like 40- 3 with a national championship. I'm not yet ready to discount them.

 

I'm not discounting them entirely, not by any means. But Louisville has beaten them, so I don't look at them the same way I do Clemson.

They have certainly struggled the past three years. But in the three years prior they were something like 40- 3 with a national championship. I'm not yet ready to discount them.

 

They struggled last year. The two years prior, they were 20-6. Aside from not knowing what to do with Lamar Jackson as he destroyed them, FSU lost two games by a combined 5 points in 2016. One of those was on a last second field goal, set up by a frankly questionable PI penalty. The other was by three to Clemson, who came from behind with just over two minutes remaining in the game. That'd be national champion Clemson. 2015 wasn't quite as strong, but still, just three losses. One of those was to Clemson (everyone is having trouble beating them).

 

I know it's en vogue to again act like FSU is unjustifiably accorded respect, but this was a very good team in 2016 that got blitzed in one game and made it stand up pretty much the rest of the season, and there were legitimate reasons why they were respected going into last year. Unfortunately, they simply could not overcome losing Francois in that first game, and I think the entire team got messed up inside afterward.

 

As for this season, FSU does not belong in the discussion for playoffs, IMO. I expect them to be the 2nd or 3rd best in the ACC though. I am excited to see what Willie brings to the table in the next several years, though. If he continues to show the prowess in recruiting, then FSU will be just fine.

I'm not discounting them entirely, not by any means. But Louisville has beaten them, so I don't look at them the same way I do Clemson.

 

It was poor luck for Louisville to have that game be at Clemson in 2016. I also would say that if that game had been before Louisville destroyed FSU then it could have gone differently as well. Clemson was better prepared as a result, and they are always tough to beat in Death Valley.

 

Louisville will always have my respect for 2016. And no one should have feared 2017 FSU once Francois went down. I don't think it would have played out the same for UL in that game if Frenchy were healthy. It honestly shouldn't have anyway.

It was poor luck for Louisville to have that game be at Clemson in 2016. I also would say that if that game had been before Louisville destroyed FSU then it could have gone differently as well. Clemson was better prepared as a result, and they are always tough to beat in Death Valley.

 

Louisville will always have my respect for 2016. And no one should have feared 2017 FSU once Francois went down. I don't think it would have played out the same for UL in that game if Frenchy were healthy. It honestly shouldn't have anyway.

 

Louisville has had several chances to beat Clemson, including in 2016 (that game was awesome to attend, even with the loss). Until they beat them, that's one loss I'll count on the schedule every year.

 

I think Louisville plays with a chip on their shoulder against FSU because they usually have quite a few guys from Florida on the roster. FSU will be the better team about 95% of the time IMO, but I'll rarely think Louisville can't play with them.

I won’t disagree with that. You always have to include teams like Miami and Wisconsin who play in the weak division of a Power 5 conference as in the discussion. I just think Miami is more of a 3 loss team this year. IF they can get through LSU the first week of the season, then they should stay in the discussion the whole year. But they get FSU at home and avoid Clemson so Miami does have a favorable schedule.

 

Hurricanes do have two potential hiccup games on the road: Georgia Tech is always weird and Boston College is going to scare the heck out of at least one top ACC team this year.

They won at Florida State last year as well, so it's two in a row against the Noles...

Lamar won 2 in a row.

Hurricanes do have two potential hiccup games on the road: Georgia Tech is always weird and Boston College is going to scare the heck out of at least one top ACC team this year.

That’s why I said 3 losses. Miami/ LSU is a tossup. I think FSU is a loss and I think they lose an ACC Road game somewhere.

Lamar won 2 in a row.

 

Last I checked, he played for Louisville. :lol2:

Last I checked, he played for Louisville. :lol2:

My point is simply without Lamar, FSU should scare you again.

My point is simply without Lamar, FSU should scare you again.

 

Nah. We'll win some and we'll lose some.

The inside scoop from friends in Los Angeles is that the freshmen QB at USC is even better than Darnold, and will be playing behind the top O-line in the Pac-12 with 4 returning starters. However, Fight On magazine doesn't even show him starting, so who knows.

 

According to a correspondent in LA, the offense in the PRP's runs smoother with JT at the controls.