The picks: FSU has a shot at upsetting Alabama

by Gary Shelton on September 2, 2017 · 0 comments

in College Sports in Florida, Florida State University, general, University of Florida

Saturday, 2 a.m.

In college football, the question is always who happens to be No. 2.

No. 1, of course, is the University of Alabama.

Talking about the preseason rankings? Talking about the recruiting rankings? Talking about the coaching rankings? It doesn't matter. Alabama seems to rule them all. And to beat them, you pretty much have to enter the college football lore (a great last-second drive by Clemson, a field goal that is short and returned, a deflected pass, etc.).

Still, there are reasons that FSU has a shot today, Those reasons: Chuck Fusina, Kevin Scanlon, Gino Torretta, Garrett Gilbert, Jordan Jefferson,

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Everett Golson and – the first time around – Deshuan Watson. Those are the quarterbacks that Alabama has beaten for its past few national titles. Except for Watson, they're a rather pedistrian lot (although Toretta won the Heisman, for some reason).

And FSU quarterback Deondre Francois may be better than all of them.

That may be enough for the Seminoles against the rebuilt Alabama Crimson Tide. Oh, FSU had its losses too – most impressively, Dalvin Cook – but the Seminoles seem to have a solid team. If they take care of the ball, and stay away from stupid, they have a chance.

Oh, nationally, you get the feeling that Alabama is favored. They're the familiar name, aren't they? And Alabama is good. But FSU has a shot.

FSU 27, Alabama 24.

For most of the summer, I thought Florida was going to upset Michigan. But the Gators had a bad week with suspensions. Ten players are being held out for Florida.

That means that Feleipe Franks, in his first start, has to play well. The feeling is that he'll fall just short.

Michigan 24, Florda 17

Stoney Brook? What? Was Slippery Rock busy. Stoney Brook is so weak that, in his first game, Skip Holtz wore it out.

Now, it's Charlie Strong's shot. Strong has a solid USF team, and this week, quarterback Quinton Flowers should get untracked. Look for a big day running the ball by the Bulls.

USF 45, Stoney Brook 10.

Miami didn't join the move toward heavyweight opponents in the first week. The Hurricanes play tiny Bethune-Cookman, and it's hard to imagine any scenario in which Bethune-Cookman hangs in the game for long.

Miami 59, Bethune Cookman 6

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