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Larry Ness' Bailout Game of the Month (need that ONE late CFB game?)
My 15* Bailout Game of the Month is on Florida State at 8:00 ET. Just like Joe Pa at Penn State, Bobby Bowden's "rep" has lost some luster the last few seasons at Florida State. The Seminoles entered '08 off consecutive 7-6 seasons but many felt as if FSU had a chance at 10 wins this year. The schedule-maker had them playing seven home games with another game in Jacksonville against Colorado. The Seminoles have more than lived up to expectations, entering this game 7-2, as a rushing attack which had all but disappeared the last three seasons (averaged 106.3 YPG), has blossomed. Antone Smith leads the way with 632 yards (5.0 YPC) on the year with 13 TDs plus freshman Jermaine Thomas has added 437 (8.4 YPC), with 224 coming over the last two games on just 20 carries (11.2 per). As a team, FSU is averaging 205.2 YPG and 5.3 YPC (what an improvement!). Christian Ponder is getting better and better at the QB position, as six of his eight INTs this year came in a three-game stretch in late September and early October. He's had just two of 108 passes intercepted over the last four games. The Seminoles are averaging 35.9 PPG this year, up from just 23.3 last season. As always, the FSU defense is superb, allowing 19.3 PPG and 256.6 YPG (ranks 5th). Boston College can match FSU on the defensive side of the ball, allowing 16.9 PPG and 276.7 YPG (9th). Both teams stuff the run, BC allowing 101.8 YPG (3.2 per) and FSU 102.9 YPG (3.2 per). However, unlike FSU, BC's offense doesn't run the ball nearly as well, averaging 151.8 YPG (4.2). The last three years, BC has had the tandem of Whitworth and Callender in the backfield but this year it's only Harris, who leads the team with a modest 531 yards. Matt Ryan (4,507 yards LY with 31 TDs) is in Atlanta playing for the Falcons this year and it's painfully obvious that Chris Crane is no Ryan. He's completing just 54.9 percent for 1,506 yards with nine TDs and 12 INTs. He's had four multiple-interception games, with three each against UCF, Va Tech and North Carolina. In his last two games, he's gone 18-of-39 for 116 yards (1 TD / 0 INTs) in a loss to Clemson and 9-of-22 for 789 yards (1 TD / 0 INTs) in a 17-0 win over Notre Dame game. BC made it six straight wins over Notre Dame last Saturday night but if not for a 5-0 TO advantage, the Eagles would not have won. I had BC in that game and commented how the Eagles shouldn't have much trouble against ND's defense, as it lacked the speed and quickness of ACC opponents like Ga Tech, North Carolina, Clemson and Va Tech but it did. It should also be noted that BC lost to the first three schools on that list, while only edging Va Tech, 28-23. Getting back to FSU, Bowden's team is 7-2, losing only 12-3 to Wake, while turning the ball over seven times, and 31-28 at Ga Tech, when RB Marcus Sims fumbled into the end zone in the closing seconds. BC's win over ND made them bowl-eligible once again (Eagles have won eight consecutive bowl games, the longest active streak in the nation), while for FSU its Homecoming plus the team is still very much alive for a spot in the ACC title game. The Seminoles are back and BC is overrated. Bailout Game of the Month 15* Florida State.
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