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So out of tact, I had to change the title of this article from “The Perfect Storm.”
Way back on July 6th, I wrote an article about Wake’s chances against Florida State. I was lambasted. I was ridiculed on almost every point I made. But wow has pretty much everything I said come to fruition.
I fully expected Wake to go 4-0 to start this season. I thought this team was too talented and experienced to lose a game in this part of the year, and even with them playing some of the worst football I’ve seen against App State, they checked that box.
I said the 9% chance ESPN gave wake to win that game was well too low, it’s up to almost 29% now and I still think that should be around 35% personally. The spread opened up with Wake as 10 point dogs but dropped to 7.5 where it will probably stay unless some major news comes out.
Like I said, the past two years the Deacs have played FSU very very well, ESPECIALLY defensively. This year the defense ranks a whopping 17th (For those hyping up NC State’s defense, they rank 39th. Florida State has, unfortunately, been hit with the injury bug on the offensive side. Star QB Deandre Francois is out for the season of course, but an even bigger problem could prove to be WR Auden Tate, who was showing to have an instant connection to Blackman, went down with a separated shoulder and may not play on Saturday.
I said that the way FSU’s schedule looked, it would be very realistic that they would have two losses coming into BB&T Field. There have been a litany of things to go wrong for the Seminoles however: a hurricane, losing their starting QB, facing Alabama to start the season. But nonetheless they have 2 losses to their name, much to the chagrin of their fanbase.
I say all of this to say two things: 1. I was right(wow it feels really good to say that) and 2. The Deacs have more than a fighting chance in this game. Wake Forest gets a beaten up, overrated, and unmotivated FSU team.
John Wolford has been playing like a man on a mission after winning the starting job back, the running game has been a lot better, Greg Dortch has been electric and the rest of the core seems primed to breakout. This defense is absolutely legit and looks to give the freshman QB all he can handle. This year feels different and I’m going with Wake to get the upset.