Bethune-Cookman is off to a hot start and the programs first ever win over a FBS opponent (a 34-13 victory over FIU). BCU will try to carry some of that early season momentum in to Tallahassee when they square off against one of the most storied programs in NCAA history on Saturday night in Doak Campbell Stadium.
Florida State overwhelmed its first two opponents (Pittsburg and Nevada) offensively outscoring them 103-20 racking up 1150 yards of offense in the process. Quarterback Jameis Winston is on everyone’s Heisman watchlist and has thrown more touchdown passes (6) than incompletions (40-45 passing with only 5 incompletions) this season.
Winston has the luxury of passing to one of the nation’s best receiving corps and/or handing the ball off to what some argue is the best running back tandem in the country in James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman. Karlos Williams, recently converted from defensive back to running back, rushed for over 100 yards last week and adds even more firepower to the Seminoles already crowded backfield.
Defensively, Florida State is yielding an ungenerous 10 points and 255.5 yards per contest so to say BCU will have their hands full keeping this game respectable is an understatement.
The Wildcats have played 12 quarters of football against FBS competition in their program history. If you take out the 4th quarters of the two Miami games in 2011/12, the aggregate score of BCU vs. the FBS is 55-61. That’s less than a touchdown difference in 10 of the 12 quarters of play.
If BCU can find a way to keep this game competitive for three quarters and avoid any major injuries, I think this trip can be considered a successful one. If…and I mean a HUGE IF…by some celestial stroke of divine serendipity BCU pulls off one of the biggest upsets in college football history…nah we won’t even allow ourselves to think that way. Let’s just say that thought was going to end with the talk of gold speedos, a maroon cape, and a Zorro mask.
Perhaps the best matchup of tonight will be ‘Let’s Go Wildcats’ vs. the ‘Seminole War Chant’. These are easily two of the best anthems in college football.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 EST. The game can be viewed live on ESPN3.com
hailwildcats.com 