NoleGameday Staff Score Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Our staff provides their predictions and analysis for Florida State's final game of the 2023 season.

The final game of Florida State's 2023 campaign is just around the corner with the Orange Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs closing in. The Seminoles have compiled a 13-0 record and came out on top in the ACC Championship for the first time in nine years. 

Despite the success, there's been a sour taste left in Tallahassee after Florida State was at the forefront of a historic snub from the College Football Playoff. That's led to a large number of Seminoles declaring for the upcoming NFL Draft or entering the NCAA Transfer Portal. The team will be missing north of 20 players when they take the field against the Bulldogs.

On the flip side, Georgia is expected to be without star tight end Brock Bowers and offensive tackle Amarius Mims. The Bulldogs have also had multiple players elect to transfer but their departures aren't nearly as significant as what Florida State will have to overcome.

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Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Seminoles prepare to take on the Bulldogs.

Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)

We've made it to the final game of the season and despite the losses across Florida State's roster, there's still plenty to play for. The Seminoles have an opportunity to finish the season undefeated for the first time in a decade while proving the country wrong with a lineup made up of mostly younger or backup players.

Frankly, it's hard to see FSU winning this game with the number of starters and members of the two-deep who aren't expected to suit up. At the same time, this will be a chance for talented true freshmen such as Brock Glenn, Hykeem Williams, Vandrevius Jacobs, Blake Nichelson, Quindarrius Jones, and Conrad Hussey to display their potential.

In the end, I think Georgia will end up winning this game but Florida State will protect its less than 30+ points allowed streak. There will be some promising moments for younger players across the roster as the team looks towards 2024.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 13-0

Bulldogs 27, Seminoles 10

Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)

One last ride for the 2023 season after a rollercoaster of a ride in December for the Seminoles. I’m not going into this one expecting a ton and I think FSU fans should be excited to see some younger guys as they look ahead at the 2024 season. I’ll be looking forward to the debut of Darrell Jackson and getting a better look at underclassmen Hykeem Williams, Vandrevious Jacobs, Blake Nichelson, and Conrad Hussey. 

I’d like to see Brock Glenn take some shots, use his legs more when things open up, and not put so much pressure on himself and let the game come to him. It’s not going to be easy but I think we’re going to see this team fight all the way through the fourth quarter. See you all in 2024. 

2023 Season Prediction Record: 13-0

Bulldogs 34, Seminoles 17

Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG)

Despite some of the transfers from UGA’s side, they are still as talented as anyone in the country. Florida State struggled to move the ball against Louisville, it’s hard to imagine them doing it consistently against a much more talented UGA team unless they’re totally checked out. I don’t see a Kirby Smart team doing that; he always finds ways to motivate his team. It’s also an entirely different Florida State defense when Jared Verse isn’t on the field, it’s hard to expect them to be as dominant as they were against Louisville.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 13-0

Bulldogs 27, Seminoles 10

Dillon Riera (@13d_riera)

Florida State has endured a trying month of December. The Seminoles started the month with a hard-fought victory over Louisville to secure an undefeated season and a conference championship, but that jubilee only lasted a few hours. In the weeks that followed, the 'Noles witnessed the following: a College Football Playoff snub, incessant criticism from the national media, the filing of a lawsuit against the ACC, a countersuit from the ACC, and the departure of over 20 members of the roster to either the NFL Draft or the transfer portal. The last 20 or so days have felt like a lifetime for the Florida State faithful, and now, a matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs awaits them on the other side.

These once-playoff shoe-ins will now go toe to toe in the arena of the 90th edition of the Orange Bowl. Given the sheer amount of opt-outs on FSU's side, the nation at large expects a lopsided affair. Smart's Bulldogs, whose roster remains largely intact, enter the game averaging 305.6 yards per game, 38.4 points per game, and 16.6 points against per game (all of which rank 9th in the nation). Meanwhile, the 'Noles will cart out a team of unknowns. Their offense will be helmed by a true freshman quarterback and a supporting cast that lacks impact players such as Keon Coleman, Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Jaheim Bell, and the list goes on. The defensive side of the ball features a bit more talent for the Seminoles, but they'll still be without the likes of Jared Verse, Renardo Green, Jarrian Jones, and DJ Lundy to name a few. Unfortunately, the Seminoles will be rolling with a roster that has scant depth and mixed levels of experience at key positions.

ESPNBet has the over/under set at 44.5 and the line set at (-20) in favor of the Bulldogs whilst ESPN's FPI has the matchup predictor showing 61.1% in Georgia's favor. I expect Norvell and his Seminoles to come out embracing the "FSU vs Everybody" mentality and give the Bulldogs an early fight. After all, this is still an undefeated, Power 5 conference champion that had every right to appear in the College Football Playoff. However, the experience and depth of the back-to-back national champions will prove to be too much for a Florida State roster deprived of its most prolific playmakers. 

2023 Season Prediction Record: 13-0

Bulldogs 31, Seminoles 17

Tommy Mire (@TommyM3III)

FSU has faced some serious opt-outs, injuries, and transfers in the second half of the season. They are relying on freshman quarterback Brock Glenn to try to win with mostly second and third-string players against Georgia whose roster remains mostly intact. I’m not saying it is impossible but it will be a steep hill to climb. I hate to say it I’ve predicted them to win every game this season but, I don’t know if they will be able to pull it off.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 13-0

Bulldogs 31, Seminoles 17

Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)

With the Seminoles seeing so many bowl opt-outs, it's hard to imagine they make this game very competitive. If the Bulldogs build some separation early, both teams will get a good look at their younger players in this one. Overall, it's hard to see the Seminoles making this a game, though they might be able to backdoor cover the spread.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 13-0

Bulldogs 31, Seminoles 13

Robert Malcom (@kwrobertm)

Even when the Seminoles have seemingly been the underdog in recent games since Jordan Travis' injury, they have continued to persevere by making use of the many offensive weapons on the roster and a defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown since the first half of the rivalry game against UF. With all that being said, this game just feels different. Whether players are opting out for the draft or entering the transfer portal, the offense that will be on the field is a skeleton of what was seen throughout the season.

The biggest question mark for the Seminoles is going to be surrounding Brock Glenn making his second career start as a true freshman. His 55 passing yards with just eight completions were enough to get the job done against Louisville, and I just don't think that will be enough to beat Georgia, however, I think after the last few weeks of preparation and a multitude of first-team reps (even if they were split with Tate Rodemaker), fans will see a noticeable improvement from Glenn.

Although the Bulldogs are a 19-point favorite over the Seminoles, I don't think they were the powerhouse many people think they were. Additionally, outside of the secondary, the FSU defense remains largely unchanged up front, and the addition of Darrell Jackson to the defensive line will surely help the 'Noles.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 12-0

Bulldogs 35, Seminoles 21

CONSENSUS: Georgia (7-0)

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READ MORE: Mike Norvell Discusses Tate Rodemaker's Decision To Transfer From Florida State

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