Each week, two alligatorSports columnists will debate the biggest looming matchup in college football. Today, Adam Pincus and Landon Watnick preview No. 8 Florida State’s home matchup against No. 25 Maryland in Tallahassee on Saturday at noon on ESPN.
Adam: Florida State, a 16-point favorite, will continue its dominance against a Maryland team not quite yet ready to hang with the nation’s elite in another beatdown at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Seminoles have won 21 of 23 in this series and all 11 games played in Tallahassee.
Although third-year coach Randy Edsall has done an admirable job through the first month of this season, his team will get a rude awakening come Saturday. There’s just too much firepower from the Seminoles.
For every playmaker the Terrapins have, the Seminoles have three to match. If this were on the basketball court, I’d give Maryland a chance. Unfortunately for the school just a subway ride away from Washington, D.C., the Seminoles will shut down the Terrapins and further their quest for an elusive Atlantic Coast Conference title.
Landon: Unlike our government, Maryland might actually be good this year.
The 4-0 Terrapins are off to their best start since 2001 and have already equaled their win total from last season. In his third year on the job, Edsall has turned the ship around. What was once a dumpster fire is now one of the FBS’s biggest surprises.
Maryland might have played two cupcakes in FIU and Old Dominion to kick off 2013, but it clobbered West Virginia 37-0 on Sept. 21 for its first shutout in five years. Don’t forget, WVU knocked off then-No. 11 Oklahoma State 30-21 last weekend.
The Seminoles always seems to lose to some unranked ACC opponent and kill its national title hopes early. Florida State lost to Wake Forest in 2011 and North Carolina State in 2010 and 2012 during the first two months of the season.
The Terrapins are coming off a bye week and should be ripe to pull off the road upset.
Adam: Have you seen Jameis Winston this year? The kid is the real deal.
E.J. Manuel, the turnover machine, never got Florida State over the hump. That should change this season with a dynamic rushing attack and efficient pass offense.
Sure, FSU almost ruined its season against Steve Addazio’s Boston College to the chagrin of Florida fans everywhere.
As an aside, what’s better: Florida State with an embarrassing loss or Addazio winning? If the Gators continue to win, Addazio’s legacy in Gainesville will be the dive play and Tyler Murphy.
As Florida still finds itself offensively, Florida State knows who it is — a fine-tuned machine with a dual-threat quarterback at the helm.
Winston averages 262 yards and three touchdowns a game in his first season as starter. The running back combination of Devonta Freeman, Karlos Williams and James Wilder Jr. gives FSU nearly 180 yards on the ground a game. Take this stat: The Seminoles are second in the FBS to Baylor with 8.6 yards per play and have 18 touchdown drives that have been three minutes or less. These guys score and score often. Maryland has to get to at least 40 and I just don’t see it.
Landon: Winston has been spectacular so far this year, but Maryland signal-caller C.J. Brown has fallen under the radar a bit and also deserves some attention.
After missing last season with a torn ACL, Brown has started off 2013 on a tear. Through four games, he has 13 touchdowns (seven passing and six rushing) to only one interception. On top of that, he averages 260.8 passing yards per game.
Winston may be better than Brown, but it isn’t a far cry to say that Brown is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the ACC.
Adam: I like to deal in certainties. You started off by saying “Maryland might actually be good this year.”
Here’s what we know about them: Maryland is an up-and-coming football team who knocked off West Virginia. That’s all we know. There isn’t much we know about Florida State, except that this is a talented squad with Maryland in its rear-view mirror.
You can’t tell me the Terrapins have more talent, and if so get off that angel dust.
Nothing you say about Maryland’s defense could hide this fact. In just the fifth game of 2013, I’m taking the more talented team in this game. Jimbo Fisher will have his boys ready. The always aptly-dressed Terrapins’ claim to fame won’t be what it does on the field just yet.
Landon: Honestly, I’m not certain how either team will fare as the season progresses. But I am certain that Maryland’s defense is really good.
The Terrapins are third in the conference in turnover margin at plus-5 after forcing six against West Virginia. Maryland’s 17 sacks are tied for the nation’s best count, and its eight picks are tied for eighth most in the country.
In addition, the Terrapins are third in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 10.3 points per game. That’s fewer points allowed than Florida (12.8). To put it in greater perspective, both Maryland and UF have faced comparable competition five weeks into the season.
Maryland’s defense isn’t pansy by any means. This team will give FSU problems Saturday.
Follow Adam Pincus on Twitter @adamDpincus. Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) throws a pass during the second half of FSU's 48-34 win at Boston College on Sept. 28.
