NoleGameday Staff Score Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
No. 5 Florida State (4-0, 2-0 ACC) is only a little over 24 hours from kicking off its second game inside of Doak Campbell Stadium this season. The Seminoles are set to continue their slate of eight consecutive ACC matchups with a contest against the Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 1-0 ACC).
GAME PREVIEW: Florida State Seminoles vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
FSU is looking to continue building on a successful September while coming out a little more polished on both sides of the ball following a BYE week. There's a possibility that multiple starters or members of the two-deep could return to the lineup on Saturday afternoon after dealing with injuries including offensive tackle Robert Scott, safety Akeem Dent, wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas, and wide receiver Kentron Poitier.
The Hokies are building some confidence as they hit the road to take on Florida State. New starting quarterback Kyron Drones has been getting better during each of his first three starts and is coming off a performance where he scored five total touchdowns while committing zero turnovers.
Our staff provides their analysis and predictions as the Seminoles prepare to take on the Hokies.
Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)
Florida State took care of business during the first month of the season and now the team finds itself in control of its own destiny moving forward. The Seminoles haven't played their best since the opening week of the year and have plenty of things to clean up on both sides of the ball.
Still, it says a lot about how good this team really is and how far they can go with how Florida State survived against Boston College and Clemson despite its inconsistencies. If the Seminoles can figure out the rushing game and shore things up in the defensive backfield.
Virginia Tech has struggled through the first half of the 2023 campaign. The Hokies finally found success last weekend against Pittsburgh but was that due to a breakthrough or the positives of facing a bad team? Regardless, Tyron Drones will be coming into this game with some confidence and Florida State will need to shut that down quickly.
I feel better about the defense's chances against a quarterback who is less mobile than Jayden Daniels and Thomas Castellanos. Plus, I think the offense is going to throw out a couple of wrinkles to try and spark the running game while the potential return of Ja'Khi Douglas and Kentron Poitier could be massive for the passing game.
I've got Florida State asserting itself and winning pretty handily to start off the three-game homestand.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 41, Hokies 20
Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)
This one should be fun in Doak with a sellout crowd going into FSU’s fifth game of the season with VT coming back to town. I think we see Ja’Khi Douglas enhance this offense and he sees the end zone once in his season debut. Jared Verse grabs a sack in this one as well.
Let Swag Surf fly in the 4th quarter.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 44, Hokies 20
Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG)
This is a sneaky game for Florida State, and Virginia Tech’s running attack may give FSU’s linebacker fits. Hopefully, this is the game the Seminoles’ rushing attack gets back on track, and it should against a team that allows 177 yards per game on the ground.
I’ll say they get right on the ground and Virginia Tech scores one late to keep FSU from covering
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 41, Hokies 20
Dillon Riera (@13d_riera)
It has been a very long five years since the Virginia Tech Hokies and Florida State Seminoles clashed on the gridiron in Doak Campbell Stadium. Like so many others, the memory of that fateful September 2018 night is burned into my brain. After an abysmal 2017 season and the departure of a national championship-winning coach, Florida State was eager to get back to their winning ways and find the next man up. That next man was Willie Taggart, and he promised to bring a "Lethal Simplicity" to Tallahassee.
Hype and support reached unprecedented levels as the 'Noles prepared to face off against the Hokies in their 2018 season opener. All that excitement and support for a new era of Florida State football reached a boiling point on that September 3rd night. The stage was set. Fans packed the stadium clad in all-black. "Swag Surfin'" blared out over the stadium speakers. The stadium was buzzing as players and fans alike swayed before the kickoff. Then, in the blink of an eye, it was all over, and five years slipped by in a haze.
The lead-up to that 2018 VT-FSU game showcased the telltale signs of a classic college football clash. Instead, it served as the first alarm bell for the downward spiral of the Florida State football program. A downward spiral that only recently changed course under the tutelage of Head Coach Mike Norvell. With a focus on culture and an emphasis on the "Climb," Norvell worked diligently to bring back the once-storied Seminole program from rock bottom.
Over five years since their last face-off, the Seminoles and Hokies each find themselves in far different situations. The 'Noles are on the verge of reclaiming the ACC throne and a trip back to the College Football Playoff. The Hokies, on the other hand, are in search of a new identity and are en route to turning around their season. Big picture goals aside, the Seminoles are looking for retribution on their warpath to the national stage and the Hokies are looking to play upset.
ESPN's FPI gives the Seminoles a 94.7% chance of victory and Vegas has the line set at (-24) in their favor at the time of writing this article. I tend to believe that things will be a bit closer come Saturday. While Virginia Tech did suffer an early season loss to Old Dominion, they've since shifted gears and found success against the Pitt Panthers just a week ago. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyron Drones has taken the helm of the Hokie offense and his propensity for running the ball will surely cause fits for a Florida State defense that has repeatedly struggled with mobile quarterbacks.
If the Seminoles are to win this one big, look for their offense to finally get the run game going alongside the always-threatening passing attack whilst the defense focuses on containing Drones and the offense. Nonetheless, the sheer amount of talent on Florida State's roster should carry them across the finish line, and the added rest from a bye week should give the 'Noles the fuel they need to handle business. When all is said and done, I think Mike Norvell and company will finally get revenge for the 2018 debacle, emerge victorious over Virginia Tech, and maybe reclaim the swag surf in the process (hard maybe).
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 41, Hokies 28
Tommy Mire (@TommyM3III)
I was in the stands the last time Virginia Tech came to town in the 2018 24-3 shellacking and it was a real eye-opener. The difference between a 38-point win or a 14-point win will be a matter of a few plays, but, either way, FSU comes out victorious this time around.
I don’t think VT has enough firepower and the ‘Noles are not a lay-down team under head coach Mike Norvell. Expect another big day from quarterback Jordan Travis and a solid defensive performance. Fireworks could start to explode as the ‘Noles return a few starters and both the home crowd and Florida State are aiming for success.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 42, Hokies 24
Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)
Florida State is going to be able to get going offensively, but Kyron Drones’ ability to work both the air and ground game will extend the Hokies’ drives, allowing them to put up some points and backdoor cover.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 42, Hokies 20
Robert Malcom (@kwrobertm)
With the Seminoles having ten consecutive games scoring at least 30 points, I don't think the offense will have any issues making it number 11 this weekend, especially if they can run the ball well. Additionally, if Robert Scott Jr. makes his return to the offensive line after injuries and Ja'Khi Douglas makes his season debut, there will hopefully be fewer mistakes from the offense.
While the FSU defense has looked great in practice the past two weeks, they have struggled with dual-threat quarterbacks this season, and until they prove they can handle one in a game, I think Seminole fans will once again see multiple unexpected touchdowns from the opposing offense.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-0
Seminoles 45, Hokies 21
CONSENSUS: Florida State (7-0)
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.
