The Sunshine Showdown: Florida State vs. Florida Preview and Prediction

Nov 14, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball for a touchdown past North Carolina State Wolfpack cornerback Mike Stevens (20) during the first half of the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State Preview

After losing to No. 1 Clemson earlier this month, the Seminoles have since beaten NC State and routed Chattanooga 52-13 Saturday behind 428 yards of total offense.

Running back Dalvin Cook totaled 106 yards and two scores on the ground — his seventh time eclipsing the 100-yard mark this season. Cook currently sits with 1,475 rushing yards (ranked No. 6 in the country) and 16 touchdowns (tied for seventh nationally) as just a sophomore.

He’ll have his work cut out for him this Saturday, though, facing a Florida defense that allows the eighth-fewest rush yards per game (108.3) and has only given up seven rushing scores all season.

Insert Seminoles’ quarterback Sean Maguire.

Maguire entered the Chattanooga game as the starter for the first time in his collegiate career. After Everett Golson suffered a concussion in the Oct. 24 loss to Georgia Tech, Maguire took over against Syracuse in the following week.  He played against Clemson, but struggled mightily.

Since then, he rallied the Seminoles past NC State before being named the starter for the remainder of the season. In Maguire’s latest outing, he threw for 152 yards and two scores — bringing his season total to eight touchdowns and two interceptions while still completing 65 percent of his passes.

If he can find any kind of success through the air against the Gators and open up Florida State’s running game, the ‘Noles could escape the Swamp with their fifth in their last six meetings with Florida.  5 out of 6?  That’s Bowden-esque.

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