The Tomahawk Nation staff weighs in on Florida State’s 2016 season opener.
After a seemingly endless offseason, No. 4 FSU opens its 2016 campaign
with a neutral-site showdown with No. 11 Ole Miss in Orlando’s Camping
World Stadium. Here’s how the Tomahawk Nation staff sees this one
playing out:
Ole Miss is very talented; likely the second most talented team on the
schedule but the Rebels are also very young and thin at key spots that
spell danger vs. this Florida State team. With the limited health of
their best edge-setter Fadol Brown, Ole Miss is thin at DE, LB, and
young at safety, a terrifying prospect vs. Dalvin Cook behind a veteran
offensive line. Chad Kelly is dangerous and so are his very talented
wide receivers but they're young at offensive tackle (starting their
best guard at LT) and running back. I think the ‘Noles will largely
shut down the Ole Miss running game forcing Chad Kelly into unfavorable
passing situations vs. Josh Sweat and Demarcus Walker as well as a very
talented FSU secondary. Francois will manage the game well and Florida
State will ride a healthy Dalvin Cook and an elite defense to the tune
of a 24-16 victory over the Rebels of Mississippi.
As always, I'm going to assume the worst when it comes to these big
games. I think as much as this Florida State team could be great on
defense, the offense could really struggle. The offensive line worries
me and you just never know with a young quarterback. If Cook breaks out,
I think FSU wins by at least 10. If he is held in check, I think it's a
toss up. Oh, and Florida State’s kicking game worries me. I'll go FSU
24, Ole Miss 21.
As the 2016 college football season kicks off, country music superstar
Brad Paisley will bring his Country Nation College Tour presented by
Frontier Communications to Downtown Orlando. The free concert will be
held outside City Hall on September 4. Paisley is the headlining
entertainment for college football's season-opening weekend for Ole Miss
and Florida State fans, and the Central Florida community, in advance
of the Camping World Kickoff game.
One day later, the Rebels and Seminoles will go head-to-head at Camping
World Stadium, as part of a blockbuster opening weekend for the 2016
college football season.
