The No. 4 Florida State Seminoles are set to do battle against the No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels on Monday, September 5th in the final game of Week 1 college football. In their only prior meeting back in 1961, the Rebels shut out the Seminoles 33-0.
Ole Miss went 10-3 last year and nearly won the SEC. Had it not given up a 4th-and-25 conversion against Arkansas and lost in overtime, it would have won the SEC West. But the Rebels rebounded to win their final three games, including a 48-20 beat down of Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl.
Florida State also cashed in a 10-3 season last year. Its 13-23 road loss to Clemson cost it a chance at a fourth straight ACC title. The Seminoles did not finish nearly as well, getting upset by Houston 24-38 in the Peach Bowl.
Kickoff inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando is scheduled for 8:00 EST Monday night with ESPN providing the television coverage. If you are looking to wager on this game, you’ll find a line of Florida State -4.5 over Ole Miss with a total set of 58 points.
Despite bringing back just 11 starters last year, the Seminoles still managed to win at least 10 games for the fourth straight season. Now they are loaded with 17 starters back in 2016 in what will be one of Jimbo Fisher’s best teams yet.
Eleven starters return on offense in all. Every player that started last year is expected to start again except for at quarterback, where freshman Deondre Francois has played his way into the starting role for the opener. This kid is one of the most electric young quarterbacks in the country, and I’m expecting a coming out party similar to that of Jameis Winston against Pittsburgh a few years back.
Francois won’t have to do too much considering the talent is loaded around him. He can give the ball to Dalvin Cook, who rushed for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards per carry last year. Almost every receiver who caught a pass last year is back, led by Travis Rudolph, who caught 59 balls for 916 yards and seven touchdowns. The Seminoles have one of the best offensive lines in the country as well.
Defensively, Florida State gave up just 17.5 points and 337 yards per game last year. They do only have six returning starters on defense, but the replacements are some of the top recruits in the country. Fisher has always had a stout defense as the Seminoles have allowed fewer than 20 points per game in five of his first season seasons. That will be the case again.
But now the Rebels only have 10 starters back this year and lose arguably their three best players to the first round of the NFL Draft in OT Laremy Tunsil, DT Robert Nkemdiche and WR Laquon Treadwell.
Ole Miss had a magical 10-3 season last year with 16 returning starters and a plethora of NFL talent. But now the Rebels only have 10 starters back this year and lose arguably their three best players to the first round of the NFL Draft in OT Laremy Tunsil, DT Robert Nkemdiche and WR Laquon Treadwell. While it’s not a full-blown rebuilding year, there’s no question that the Rebels will take a couple steps back in 2016.
While this game will technically be played on a neutral field, there’s no question the Seminoles will have more fans there as it’s played in Orlando. The Seminoles are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.