Who: No. 9 Florida State Seminoles (2-0) at Boston College Eagles (2-0)
When: Friday, September 18th at 8:00 P.M. eastern time
Where: Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (ESPN)
After a pair of victories at home, Florida State will hit the road for the first time in 2015 as it opens up ACC play against Boston College on Friday night. The Eagles are also off to a 2-0 start after defeating a pair of FCS teams by a combined 100-3 margin. Boston College recorded a 10-year FBS high with 62 points in the first half against Howard last week in a 76-0 victory.
Boston College has allowed just 14 total rushing yards through two games, but should have its hands full on Friday night against FSU sophomore running back Dalvin Cook. Cook ranks second nationally with 422 yards rushing through two games with a pair of touchdowns. This past week, Cook had the second best day ever for a Seminole rusher, going for 266 yards in a 34-14 win over South Florida.
Linebacker Matt Milano and defensive end Harold Landry have anchored the Boston College defense so far this season. Milano is tied for the ACC lead with a pair of sacks while Landry has 3.5 tackles for loss and leads the conference with two forced fumbles.
Florida State quarterback Everett Golson will look to avoid Milano and Landry and have a bounce-back game after starting 1-for-9 against South Florida on Saturday. Golson however, has yet to turn the ball over this season while tossing 5 touchdowns. Junior Jesus Wilson leads the Seminoles in receiving with 107 yards on the year and a pair of touchdown receptions.
Defensively, Florida State is very deep in the secondary and up front. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey headlines the defense, but junior Marquez White has played well on the other side this year and has the team’s only interception on the young season. Sophomore linebacker Jacob Pugh has been FSU’s best pass-rusher so far in 2015 while defensive tackle Giorgio Newberry and linebacker Ro’Derrick Hoskins have served as a pleasant surprises.
Boston College comes in averaging 275 yards-per-game on the ground with most of the damage coming from junior Tyler Rouse. Rouse leads the team with 117 yards on 14 carries and 5 rushing touchdowns, which is tied with Cook and N.C. State’s Matt Dayes for the conference lead.
Sophomore Jon Hilliman will get the call to try and get the tough yards. Darius Wade is the starting quarterback for the Eagles, but freshman Jeff Smith could see time as well on Friday.
The Seminoles come in 9-4 all-time against Boston College including 7-3 since the Eagles joined the ACC in 2005. Florida State has won five straight in the series, but recent contests have been close.
In FSU’s last trip to Chestnut Hill, the Seminoles had to overcome an early 17-3 deficit in a 48-34 victory — their closest of the regular season. In last season’s contest in Tallahassee, FSU needed a last second field goal from Roberto Aguayo to notch a 20-17 win.
Boston College is one of only two teams the Seminoles have defeated in each season since Jimbo Fisher became head coach. The last Eagles’ victory in the series came in 2009 as Montel Harris scored a long late touchdown to secure a 28-21 victory in Chestnut Hill. FSU is also 4-1 in ACC openers under Fisher and come in having won 23 straight games overall against ACC opponents.
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