Everything Noles: For Florida State Seminoles Fans

No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers (+12.5) at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, Noon ET, FOX

I’m doing a 180 on Indiana. I’ve doubted them before, but their perfect season has me more nervous about how they’ll perform as favorites rather than underdogs. Still, they have enough fight to stay within a dozen points.

Pick: Indiana +12.5

No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels (-10.5) at Florida Gators, Noon ET, ABC

The Gators capitalized on LSU mistakes last week, but DJ Lagway’s health and decision-making remain questionable. Ole Miss, with their consistent execution, should handle Florida comfortably.

Pick: Ole Miss -10.5

No. 13 SMU Mustangs (-9.5) at Virginia Cavaliers, Noon ET, ESPN2

Virginia’s push for bowl eligibility adds intrigue, but SMU has consistently won by multiple scores this season. They’re a playoff dark horse and should continue their dominance here.

Pick: SMU -9.5

No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions (-12.5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Penn State is solid but not spectacular, and this matchup feels low-scoring. Minnesota’s defense should help them cover this sizable spread.

Pick: Minnesota +12.5

No. 14 BYU Cougars (+3.5) at No. 21 Arizona State Sun Devils, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

BYU’s luck ran out last week, while Arizona State controls its Big 12 fate. With home-field advantage and a rising trajectory, the Sun Devils should prevail.

Pick: Arizona State -3.5

No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (-3.5) at Kansas Jayhawks, 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Kansas delivered last week, and with a healthy Jalon Daniels, they can score with anyone. Expect another upset bid against Colorado.

Pick: Kansas +3.5

No. 19 Army Black Knights (+14.5) vs. No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Yankee Stadium), 7:00 p.m. ET, NBC

Notre Dame has been dominant, but Army’s top-ranked scoring defense should make this a low-scoring, closer-than-expected contest.

Pick: Army +14.5

No. 12 Boise State Broncos (-23.5) at Wyoming Cowboys, 7:00 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Boise State is rolling, led by Jeanty’s dominance. Wyoming isn’t built to keep up with a top-tier team like this.

Pick: Boise State -23.5

No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide (-14.5) at Oklahoma Sooners, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Oklahoma’s postseason hopes depend on an upset. However, Alabama and Jalen Milroe present too much firepower for the Sooners to handle this week.

Pick: Alabama -14.5

No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (-2.5) at Auburn Tigers, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

This line is puzzling, but Auburn at home in a potential lookahead spot for Texas A&M makes them worth the pick.

Pick: Auburn +2.5

Record Year to Date: 19 Wins 25 Ties 21 Losses

Quarterback

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame ($9,500) – Leonard is a dual-threat QB with a high floor and ceiling against Virginia’s porous pass defense. He’s a great anchor for lineups with rushing TD upside.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson ($8,600) – Klubnik has rebounded nicely, with three TDs against Virginia Tech. Facing Pitt’s struggling secondary, he’s a safe pick with rushing upside.

Running Back

Isaac Brown, Louisville ($6,700) – Brown is mispriced for his role, averaging 24+ fantasy points. He thrives in Louisville’s run-heavy scheme and is a must-play against Stanford’s poor run defense.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State ($4,900) – If Nick Singleton sits, Allen becomes a lock for volume against Purdue. If Singleton plays, Allen still offers value but with limited exposure.

Wide Receiver

Will Sheppard, Colorado ($3,600) – Sheppard benefits from Colorado’s pass-heavy attack and has emerged as a value option with consistent targets and scoring potential.

TJ Moore, Clemson ($3,200) – Moore’s consistency and low price make him an ideal salary saver. He’s shown increased involvement and could be due for a breakout game.

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No. 3 Texas Longhorns (-12.5) at Arkansas Razorbacks, Noon ET, ABC

Texas hasn’t had a dominant win yet, though their schedule hasn’t challenged them much. Arkansas, coming off a bye, has been struggling but won’t roll over at home. They could keep it close or even pull off an upset.

Pick: Arkansas +12.5

No. 20 Clemson Tigers (-11.5) at Pitt Panthers, Noon ET, ESPN

Pitt has struggled recently, but Clemson hasn’t been flawless either. While logic points to Clemson, Pitt’s home advantage and potential to rebound make them worth the points.

Pick: Pitt +11.5

Utah Utes (+11.5) at No. 17 Colorado Buffaloes, Noon ET, FOX

Colorado has improved on both sides of the ball, but Utah’s gritty, close-game style could challenge them. Kyle Whittingham may have something up his sleeve for this one.

Pick: Utah +11.5

Virginia Cavaliers (+23.5) at No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Notre Dame has been dominant recently and is one of the best ATS teams under Marcus Freeman. Still, taking Virginia feels like a gamble worth trying.

Pick: Virginia +23.5

Boston College Eagles (+19.5) at No. 14 SMU Mustangs, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

SMU’s path to an ACC title has opened up, and with Thomas Castellanos out for Boston College, SMU should roll.

Pick: SMU -19.5

No. 23 Missouri Tigers (+14.5) at No. 21 South Carolina Gamecocks, 4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network

South Carolina’s defense at home should handle a Missouri team that has struggled to replicate last year’s success.

Pick: South Carolina -14.5

No. 1 Oregon Ducks (-13.5) at Wisconsin Badgers, 7:00 p.m. ET, NBC

Oregon faces a tough road test in Madison. The Badgers, fresh off a blowout loss to Iowa, could make this closer than expected. November challenges like this can define champions.

Pick: Wisconsin +13.5

No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (+9.5) at No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Georgia has the edge, but Tennessee’s uncertainty, especially with Nico’s post-concussion play, makes this a tricky pick. Still, Georgia seems better positioned to cover.

Pick: Georgia -9.5

UAB Blazers (+15.5) at Memphis Tigers, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Memphis has been inconsistent, while UAB can score. This could be closer than expected and is a more entertaining watch than the Georgia game.

Pick: UAB +15.5

Kansas Jayhawks (+2.5) at No. 6 BYU Cougars, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

BYU has lived on the edge this season, but Kansas feels primed for an upset. The line suggests this could be their week.

Pick: Kansas +2.5

Record Year to Date: 19 Wins 25 Ties 21 Losses

Quarterback

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame ($9,500) – Leonard checks every box this week: mobile QB, home favorite, and facing a weak Virginia pass defense. With 13 rushing touchdowns this season and a 35+ point team total, Leonard has slate-breaking potential.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson ($8,600) – Klubnik has been consistent, with three or more TDs in six of nine games. Facing Pitt’s struggling secondary, he’s a reliable play, bolstered by Clemson’s emerging young receivers.

Running Back

Isaac Brown, Louisville ($6,700) – Brown is a lock, averaging 24+ fantasy points per game since taking over six weeks ago. Louisville’s run-heavy offense and a favorable matchup make him a must-play.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State ($4,900) – With Nick Singleton possibly limited or out, Allen becomes a high-volume play. If Singleton sits, Allen is a lock for 20+ carries at a great value.

Wide Receiver

Will Sheppard, Colorado ($3,600) – Sheppard has stepped up in Colorado’s pass-heavy offense, especially after Jimmy Horn’s injury. With touchdowns in four of five games, he’s the best value option.

TJ Moore, Clemson ($3,200) – Moore has emerged as a consistent target in Clemson’s offense, with two touchdowns and strong yardage in recent games. His low price and upside make him an excellent salary saver.

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No. 4 Miami Hurricanes (-10.5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Noon ET, ESPN

Miami often starts slow, then flips a switch to dominate. Georgia Tech, coming off a bye, hopes to be the team to finally take down Miami. They bring physicality and home-field advantage, but Miami’s offensive firepower is hard to overlook.

Pick: Miami -10.5

Florida Gators (+21.5) at No. 5 Texas Longhorns, Noon ET, ABC

The Gators surprised against Georgia, even after losing freshman QB DJ Lagway. With Texas on the rise, it’s hard to see Florida staying within three scores.

Pick: Texas -21.5

Purdue Boilermakers (+38.5) at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, Noon ET, FOX

The Spoilermakers get another shot against a top team. They’re struggling, but Ohio State hasn’t looked like a definitive No. 2. I’ll take Purdue to keep it within 35.

Pick: Purdue +38.5

No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (-2.5) at No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Georgia still wins big but not as dominantly as in past seasons. Ole Miss could upset, but history favors Georgia in big games.

Pick: Georgia -2.5

Michigan Wolverines (+14.5) at No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Michigan’s defense holds opponents to the mid-20s, but this high-powered Indiana offense will be a challenge. I’ll take Michigan to cover the 14.5.

Pick: Michigan +14.5

No. 23 Clemson Tigers (-6.5) at Virginia Tech Hokies, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Clemson’s bubble burst recently, and with uncertainties about VT’s key players, this one depends on health.

Pick: Virginia Tech +6.5

No. 20 Colorado Buffaloes (-3.5) at Texas Tech Red Raiders, 4:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Texas Tech delivered last week, and I’ll stick with them in what promises to be a high-scoring “Fantasy Carnival.”

Pick: Texas Tech +3.5

Florida State Seminoles (+26.5) at No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC

No need to overthink this one.

Pick: Notre Dame +26.5

No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide (-2.5) at No. 15 LSU Tigers, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

As an LSU grad, I’ve been torn. Jalen Milroe’s playmaking favors Alabama, but LSU’s night home-field magic pulls me the other way. I’ll hedge emotionally.

Pick: LSU +2.5

No. 9 BYU Cougars (-4.5) at Utah Utes, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Utah’s season hasn’t gone well, but this rivalry game in Salt Lake City gives them the edge.

Pick: Utah +4.5

Record Year to Date: 19 Wins 22 Ties 18 Losses

Quarterback

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado ($8,900) – Texas Tech’s porous pass defense (280+ yards allowed per game) offers a great setup for Sanders, who should easily hit 300 yards and 3 TDs. Stack him with his pass catchers for high upside.

Thomas Castellanos, Boston College ($6,600) – With his rushing attempts increasing, Castellanos brings upside. Syracuse’s defense struggles, making Castellanos a solid dual-threat pick.

Running Back

Quintrevion Wisner, Texas ($5,000) – Wisner’s workload in Texas’s high-scoring offense is undervalued. Florida’s banged-up defense should give him opportunities to score.

Kanye Udoh, Army ($5,900) – Udoh’s performance hinges on QB Daily’s status. If Daily sits, Udoh becomes a must-play against North Texas’s weak run defense.

Wide Receiver

LaJohntay Wester, Colorado ($5,200) – Wester is consistently undervalued and has a strong role in Colorado’s offense. His red-zone presence makes him a high-floor play.

Tony Johnson, Cincinnati ($3,600) – Johnson’s recent performances make him a value option against a pass-funnel West Virginia defense, with consistent targets from Sorsby.

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No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes (-3.5) at No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions, Noon ET, FOX

Ohio State being favored here is surprising; I expected it closer to a pick-em. Both teams are contenders but feel one step from disappointment. In a close matchup like this, taking the home team with points seems smart.

Pick: Penn State +3.5

Duke Blue Devils (+20.5) at No. 5 Miami Hurricanes, Noon ET, ABC

A big spread, but Duke is still Duke. Coach Manny Diaz is motivated to win, but Miami’s talent gap is clear. I’ll take Duke plus 20 points.

Pick: Duke +20.5

No. 1 Oregon Ducks (-15.5) at Michigan Wolverines, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Michigan’s struggles are evident, and Oregon looks title-bound. While Michigan’s defense is solid, Oregon’s firepower on both sides likely proves too much.

Pick: Oregon -15.5

Florida Gators (+16.5) vs. No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Florida has turned things around after a rough start and could still reach bowl eligibility. Freshman QB DJ Lagway offers high potential, but Georgia’s strength will likely overpower them.

Pick: Georgia -16.5

Texas Tech Red Raiders (+14.5) at No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Could this be the year Matt Campbell makes a CFP push? Despite Iowa State’s Big 12 co-favorite status, I’m skeptical of their Cinderella story and will take Texas Tech with the points.

Pick: Texas Tech +14.5

No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers (-7.5) at Michigan State Spartans, 3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock

Indiana is optimistic about QB Kurtis Rourke’s return and will try to keep their momentum going. I think they’ll pull off a win over Michigan State.

Pick: Michigan State +7.5

North Carolina Tar Heels (-2.5) at Florida State Seminoles, 3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN

Here’s the game for those still following.

Pick: Florida State +2.5

No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies (-2.5) at South Carolina Gamecocks, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Texas A&M’s playoff path looks clear, but South Carolina’s unpredictability could pose a challenge. After a rough start, A&M rallied, but South Carolina’s home advantage may keep it close.

Pick: South Carolina +2.5

Louisville Cardinals (+10.5) at No. 11 Clemson Tigers, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Clemson feels vulnerable, and while Louisville may not hand them a loss, they could expose some weaknesses.

Pick: Louisville +10.5

No. 18 Pitt Panthers (+7.5) at SMU Mustangs, 8:00 p.m. ET, ACCN

Sticking with Pitt, even without recent game experience.

Pick: Pitt +7.5

Record Year to Date: 18 Wins 20 Ties 16 Losses

Quarterback

Rocco Becht, Iowa State ($6,500) – Becht is an under-the-radar play, leading Iowa State to a top-10 rank. Though they focus on the run, Becht’s rushing and passing skills make him a strong pick against Texas Tech’s weak defense, which allows almost 34 points per game.

Bryson Daily, Army ($9,200) – Service academy QBs like Daily have high ceilings. Facing Air Force, who struggles against the run, Daily is set for a big game with potential help from Kanye Udoh.

Running Back

Trevor Etienne, Georgia ($6,500) – Etienne’s recent performance makes him a top pick in Georgia’s depleted backfield. With Florida’s weak run defense, Etienne should see increased carries as Georgia likely pulls away.

Mario Anderson, Memphis ($7,800) – Anderson thrives in Memphis’s high-paced offense and faces a UTSA defense that’s struggled against competent run teams. There’s some risk of Memphis relying on the pass, but Anderson’s volume makes him valuable.

Wide Receiver

Tez Johnson, Oregon ($7,700) – Johnson’s high target count and Oregon’s offensive strength make him a strong play. Michigan’s secondary struggles, and Johnson’s consistent performances offer a solid floor and ceiling.

Chris Carpenter, UTSA ($3,700) – With WR1 McCuin out, Carpenter has been heavily targeted and is a great value in this high-scoring game.

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Welcome to a special DFS-only episode of Sharpen the Point with your host, Chris Tyndall. flying solo today. No betting insights this time—Chris is focusing on what he knows best: Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) strategy and player picks.

We've been scoring big tournament wins. Over the last two weeks, he's been 20-maxing tournaments on DK, with 15 and 14 entries cashing—a high yield right now. Player pools have been tight and crisp. We’re going to break down every game on the Week 9 college football main slate and highlight the best plays.

Record Year to Date: 15 Wins, 18 Ties, 15 Losses

Record is based on a player's value using points per dollar. A win is more than 4 times, a tie is 3-4 times, and a loss below 3 times. Example: Oronde Gadsden costs $3,500 and scores 26.8 points for a 7.66 value rating and a win.

Quarterback

Josh Hoover, TCU ($8,500) – With two high-scoring games in Tulane/North Texas and Texas Tech/TCU, focusing on these matchups is crucial. Each team is expected to score over thirty, setting the stage for Hoover, who leads a TCU offense struggling on the ground and therefore passing more than 60% of the time—a top-ten rate nationally. Texas Tech's pass defense remains vulnerable, giving up nearly 270 yards per game, as evidenced by last week’s 274/5 performance against Sawyer Robertson. Hoover, combined with Savion Williams and Tahj Brooks, offers a great lineup core.

Will Howard, Ohio State ($7,900) – Howard's last outing, a close road game against Oregon, showcased his playmaking. While Ohio State’s title hopes are still alive, the team’s path forward has narrowed. After the bye, an explosive performance is expected against a Nebraska team coming off a rough outing against Indiana. Ohio State may emphasize the pass here, especially if they want to minimize carries for Quinshon Judkins, who recently underwent hand surgery, and increase Trey’Veon Henderson's workload.

Running Back

Makhi Hughes, Tulane ($7,400) – Hughes was a no-brainer pick due to his role and the ideal matchup. Tulane’s run-heavy offense (about two-thirds of plays) features Hughes as the main back, a trend head coach Jon Sumrall brought over from Troy. With North Texas’s strong offense, Tulane’s best strategy is ball control, leaning on Hughes to exploit a defense that gives up 175 rushing yards per game. Hughes has hit multiple touchdowns in three straight games, and he’s a strong pick to repeat that with 100+ yards and touchdowns.

Quintrevion Wisner, Texas ($4,800) – The Texas backfield has seen turnover, with CJ Baxter initially leading before injury, followed by Jaydon Blue, who fumbled his way down the depth chart. Wisner has now taken the lead, outperforming Blue in touches by 14 over the last two games. Vanderbilt’s run defense has allowed backs to reach big numbers, with Nate Noel nearly hitting 200 yards. Texas should deliver scoring opportunities for Wisner, making him a great value in a Sarkisian-led offense.

Wide Receiver

Daniel Jackson, Minnesota ($4,500) – Wide receivers abound in this slate, making the right combo crucial for payouts. Jackson, a star last season for Minnesota with four 100+ yard games and eight touchdowns, continues to see nearly nine targets per game. Facing a Maryland defense ranked near last in passing yards allowed (288 per game), Jackson has a prime opportunity to break out and deliver a high-impact performance.

DT Sheffield, North Texas ($7,000) – Sheffield caps the slate as a consistent performer in a North Texas offense that’s among the fastest in the country, passing 60% of the time. Averaging 7 catches, 94 yards, and 1.5 touchdowns per game, Sheffield is priced attractively for his role. In cash games, Sheffield feels essential, but for tournaments, Tulane’s ability to control the clock could keep Sheffield off the field, opening leverage options like Josh Kelly, Tez Johnson, or Ohio State's playmakers.

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Each year, there are two games circled on the Florida State football schedule, both intrastate rivalries that have established themselves as important parts of college football’s tapestry.

While FSU-UF had its heyday during its fierce battles between Bobby Bowden and Steve Spurrier, the series between Florida State and the Miami Hurricanes has maintained its edge and prestige even when one team falters and the national stakes of the matchup fall to the wayside. Seven of the last ten matchups (18 of the last 25!) have been decided by one score, with the series sitting at 35-33 in Miami’s favor.

The history and importance of this game isn’t lost on either side, especially as the memory of Florida State’s 2022 win in Hard Rock Stadium is still fresh in Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal’s mind. In his first year leading the program, he saw FSU put together a 45-3 win, the largest road victory in the history of the two schools. After pushing the Seminoles to the edge last year in an upset bid, making a statement is going to be on the forefront of his and Miami’s mind.

With No. 6 Miami boasting a 7-0 (3-0 ACC) record and a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Cam Ward, it would be a tall task for Florida State in a normal year — in 2024, with FSU fielding one of the country’s worst offenses as the defense still tries to acclimate, it’ll be a major challenge avoiding a repeat of 2020’s matchup, when Miami scored the most points in series history en route to a 42-point win of its own (52-10).

What does Miami bring to the table outside of quarterback? On this week’s Line of Scrimmage, we’re joined by our friend Adam Lichtenstein of the Sun Sentinel to talk about the Hurricanes run this year, what they’re fielding on each side of the ball and how he thinks the game will go on Saturday night.

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The Florida State Seminoles are just weeks away from tipping off their 2024-25 basketball season, looking to continue an upward trajectory after a major year-to-year jump from 2022-2023 (205th to 79th in KenPom).

Roster turnover and a tough ACC schedule will make that even more of a challenge heading into the 22nd year of head coach Leonard Hamilton’s tenure — the final of his current contract. We’ve already broken down the roster in full article form (available here, in case you missed it) but for those of you finding for a new episode of the Gospel of Ham Florida State basketball podcast, we’ve got a fresh one on deck breaking down the players on this year’s squad, the schedule that awaits them and more:

• 1:45 - Opening discussion on Tony Bennett retiring and the NIL/Portal landscape

 I feel like if you’ve been paying attention to the world of college basketball for the last two, three, four years, it wasn’t like this is coming out of nowhere. And quite honestly, basketball is often at the forefront of some of this before football. I wouldn’t be shocked if some of this starts to happen in football too. He didn’t love the system. I can’t blame him. I am in favor of players getting paid, I’m in favor of players having the ability to move around, but there’s gotta be some rules to it that kind of make sense.It makes me wonder if sometimes, not we, you and me, but we, the general public, underestimate Leonard Hamilton’s pure competitive fire and passion for the game of basketball, because the entire landscape is so different from when he first started coaching.

15:00 - 2024-25 Roster

For the first time since the year before the Scottie Barnes year, I think the coaching staff finally decided, okay, if we’re going to run this defense and stuff, the system that we want to run, we need to have some players. that just 1 through 12 fit the system.The high-end talent of, of multiple lottery picks — FSU doesn’t have that. They might have four G League players on this roster. But what they do have is, I really don’t know that there’s a big difference between the fourth-best player and the ninth-best player.And they’re all about 6-foot-7. They’re all fairly, at least on film laterally quick. And if you think to yourself that, well, if Jamir gets you 20 a game, I really don’t care if anyone else averages more than 10 or 11, because you’re gonna create a lot of steals. You’re going to have a lot of lobs and you’re going to create a lot of just like kind of chaos out there with a bunch of 6-7 guys.And maybe, maybe that can work

• 19:10 - The Jamir Watkins Offense

I would love to see this just be like Jamir’s team. Just give him the ball, get out of the way. Watkins had 28.2% usage rate last year — that means that the possession either ended with Jameer shooting, rebounding, or turning it over.Toney Douglas, in 2009, was 27.6. So actually, last year, Jamir was already At the same usage rate as Toney Douglas. I mean, how, how high can you ratchet it up? 

• 31:00 - So about the defense...

What is Ham gonna do with the defense? 10 new faces out there — you know this defense that takes two or three years to really understand.

• 42:00 - The Schedule

If they’re not 3-0 heading into the Florida game, we’re already going to have some red flags raised.... get through Florida, say three and one, then who knows? The rest of the rest of the out of conference schedule is not that tough.20 ACC games — is it a top three league this year? Who’s gonna win it? 

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In 2024, Duke has defied most expectations after losing head coach Mike Elko to the Texas A&M Aggies, off to a strong 5-1 start under new head coach Manny Diaz — a familiar face to the Seminoles who has managed to keep the Blue Devils rolling up until suffering their first loss of the season to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

While Duke wasn’t given much credit for its 5-0 start, failing to crack the Top 25, the team still has a chance to snap the program’s always-beaten streak against Florida State. Diaz has brought his signature defensive aggressiveness, with Duke’s defense recording 18 sacks, 13 of which come from a deep defensive line led by Vincent Anthony Jr. and defensive tackles Aaron Hall and Kendy Charles. At quarterback, Texas transfer Maalik Murphy has logged thrown for multiple touchdowns in five of six games, while Star Thomas, a transfer from New Mexico State, has emerged as the lead back in a room capable of putting up yards against an FSU defense still trying to find consistency.

This week on the Line of Scrimmage podcast, we connected with Donald Wine from the Duke Basketball Roundup to get the inside scoop on the Blue Devils, including:

...and more.

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October is here, and for the fifth time in the last seven years, Florida State’s season is basically over.

What does that mean for us? It’s time to hate, hate, hate and roll in some schadenfreude as the rest of the year unfolds.

We’ve got plenty of opportunities on deck this week, mainly UCF-Florida. It’s a battle of the smarmy vs. the insecure, with either the Gators about to have to endure the latest painful point in Billy Napier’s tenure or the Knights getting the “you’re not quite a Power program” treatment. I mentioned on this week’s podcast that it’s like watching two cousins fight in embarrassing fashion at Thanksgiving while you’re sloshed due to the fact you’re in crippling debt and everybody knows it, and I stand by that.

As for Miami, the Hurricanes managed to avoid a collapse at home against Virginia Tech last week, getting lucky that the non-catch that was called a catch on the field was reversed to being a non-catch even though rules dictate that it should have been a catch (which again, it was not). Cal has lost a bit of faith on my end in its ability to pull off the upset given the fact the Golden Bears have done something nobody else has done this season (lose to Florida State) but Berkley is about to be bopping for the program’s first-ever College Gameday matchup. Are we going to see Cam Ward do another sorta-Jekyll-mainly-Hyde performance that has Miami on the ropes in a late-night matchup? That’s what Cal (and of course, the haters) will be hoping for.

There aren’t too many stakes-heavy matchups on this week’s slate, but boy howdy, are they appealing on paper. We’ve got 10 pinpointed for you this week — and yes, a confirmed 10 for you faithful degen since somebody who is unable to count and only had nine games last week.

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To say the least, the first month of the 2024 season was rough for the Florida State Seminoles (1-4, 1-3 ACC).

And now, to start off October, FSU will face off against its first ranked opponent of the season — the No. 15 Clemson Tigers (4-1, 2-0 ACC). After a disappointing showing vs. the Georgia Bulldogs to open the year, Clemson has bounced back to put its season on track and enters into the matchup vs. the Seminoles as 14.5-point favorites (per FanDuel).

The offense is anchored by junior quarterback Cade Klubnik, who has shown significant growth this season, and is supported by a powerful rushing attack led by Phil Mafah, averaging 8 yards per carry.

On defense, Clemson’s front seven is as dangerous as ever, led by defensive end TJ Parker, who already has three sacks this season. The linebacker duo of Wade Woodaz and Barrett Carter brings experience and athleticism, while the secondary, led by safety RJ Mickens, has only allowed five touchdowns all season.

What will the Tigers be bringing to the table when they make the trek to Tallahassee? On this episode of the Line of Scrimmage podcast, we’re joined by Matt Goldin of our SB Nation sister site Shakin’ the Southland to get the breakdown on Clemson, including:

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