Game: Florida State Seminoles (3-3) at Stanford Cardinal (2-4)
Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 10:30 PM EST
Venue: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California
TV: ESPN
Line: Florida State -17.5, O/U 54.5
Game Preview
The Florida State Seminoles head to the West Coast for a late-night ACC showdown against the struggling Stanford Cardinal. Both teams enter this mid-season matchup looking to gain momentum, with FSU sitting at a disappointing .500 and Stanford trying to climb out of a 2-4 hole.
Florida State is a heavy favorite despite the cross-country travel, but this game presents a classic “trap” scenario. The 10:30 PM EST kickoff time is a significant adjustment for a team from the Eastern time zone and could lead to a sluggish start. However, the Seminoles received some good news on the injury front this week. According to the latest reports, key offensive players, including quarterback Tommy Castellanos and wide receiver Squirrel White, are listed as probable for the contest. The health of Castellanos, who has been managing a minor injury, is crucial for an FSU offense that needs to fire on all cylinders to cover the large point spread.
For Stanford, this game is an opportunity to pull off a major upset at home. As a member of the ACC, the Cardinal are facing a conference foe in a game that could help turn their season around. While specific injury information for Stanford was less available for this particular game, their 2-4 record indicates they have struggled to find consistency on either side of the ball. To stay competitive, they will need their defense to capitalize on any potential jet lag from the Seminoles and force FSU’s offense into early mistakes.
Prediction
This matchup hinges on two factors: Florida State’s talent advantage and the impact of their travel schedule. The Seminoles are clearly the better team on paper, and with their starting quarterback and a top receiver expected to play, their offense has the firepower to put up points.
However, a 17.5-point spread is a huge number to cover on the road, especially in a late-night game three time zones away. Expect Florida State to look a bit disjointed in the first half before their superior depth and skill take over in the final two quarters. Stanford will likely hang around long enough to make the final score look more respectable than the flow of the game might suggest. Florida State secures a much-needed win, but the Cardinal do just enough to get a backdoor cover.
Prediction: Florida State 34, Stanford 17
The Pick: Stanford +17.5
Total: Under 54.5
Sources:
FSU vs. Miami: Injury report | Tomahawk Nation
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