Five Things: FSU-N.C. State

In what will be its first true road game of the season, #1 Florida State heads to the site of its last conference loss as it takes on the Wolfpack of North Carolina State. The teams enter the contest a combined 7-0.

After an emotional win over Clemson, Florida State will be facing a N.C. State team that has played much better the last two weeks after narrowly topping Georgia Southern to open the season and struggling with Old Dominion. To break down Saturday’s contest in Raleigh, Noled Out editor Mike Ferguson and staff writer Jon Marchant give you, “Five Things”:

1. On N.C. State

Mike Ferguson: After finishing 0-8 in ACC play a season ago, N.C. State is shaping up to be one of the more pleasant surprises in the ACC. The Wolfpack have looked very good on offense and defensively, they’re keeping people out of the end zone. FSU is just 6-5 in Raleigh since joining the ACC in 1992 and should know better than to N.C. State lightly.

Jon Marchant: Florida State plays the North Carolina State Wolfpack this weekend in Raleigh at 3:30 P.M. The Wolfpack were dreadful last year, which is good because they had nowhere to go but up, and they have. They are better this year, and have started off strong albeit against very suspect competition.

2. Players to Watch for FSU

Mike Ferguson: For Florida State, the return of quarterback Jameis Winston will be key. Winston hasn’t thrown a pass in three weeks. Along the offensive front, the center position will also be a point of concern. Rumors are that senior Austin Barron could be replaced as FSU has failed to generate much of a ground game this season. With Nile Lawrence-Stample done for the year, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman will again need to be a load for the defensive front of Florida State against N.C. State’s talented tandem of backs.

Jon Marchant: The players to watch this week are the offensive line. There have been rumors of reshuffling with Cam Erving possibly moving to center to take over for the struggling Austin Barron. Right tackle Bobby Hart would slide to Erving’s spot at left tackle and newcomer Chad Mavety would most likely get the nod as the other tackle. This line struggled against Clemson’s excellent defensive front, especially Barron who is not as physically talented as the rest of the starters. That was okay as long as he could make the correct checks and calls at the line, but it appears he did not play up to FSU quality and will now ride the bench.

3. Biggest Concern for FSU

Mike Ferguson: The biggest concern for Florida State on Saturday will be the offensive balance of N.C. State. N.C. State is averaging nearly 250 yards-per-game on the ground. Florida State has had its struggles stopping the run although it looked much better against Clemson on Saturday. With perhaps two starters out along the defensive front, the Seminoles must find a way to slow down Shadrach Thornton and Matt Dayes.

Jon Marchant: The biggest concern here is a letdown after an emotional win against Clemson in overtime last week. Head coach Jimbo Fisher is sure to have shown clips of the loss from 2012 — the last time the ‘Noles played N.C. State in Raleigh at Carter-Finley Stadium — as part of his motivational tactics this week, but it remains to be seen if the ‘Noles can carry their momentum from the Clemson win.

4. X-Factor for FSU

Mike Ferguson: One of the unsung heroes to this point in the season has been linebacker Reggie Northrup. Northrup, a junior, has solidified his spot as a starter. Against a balanced N.C. State attack, the corps of linebackers for Florida State needs to play well and the trip to Raleigh should present Northrup the opportunity to have a career game.

Jon Marchant: Since FSU holds such a ridiculously large talent advantage in this game, the X-factor for FSU will be the young running backs Dalvin Cook and Mario Pender and the co-starter at slot wide receiver in Kermit Whitfield. As FSU tries to fix the offensive line, it is past due for one of these speedsters to finally break a long play.

5. FSU Wins If…

Mike Ferguson: For Florida State to come away with a win in this one, it all comes down to dominating the line of scrimmage. The Seminoles cannot continue to be one-dimensional on offense and hope to repeat as national champions. Defensively, Florida State will need to be stout against the run and keep N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett out of situations where he’ll have the run-pass option. FSU will also need to play well early as it did a season ago against the Wolfpack and not allow N.C. State to ever have a realistic shot at an upset.

Jon Marchant: FSU should win this game comfortably, and will win as long as it doesn’t come out sloppy and unfocused for a significant amount of the game. FSU lucked out with a 3:30 afternoon start as night games in Carter-Finley are sneaky tough. Upsets are always possible, but unlikely in this one.