FSU Football: Chop Chat's Second Half Predictions

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Feb 1, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Fans cheer on the Florida State Seminoles at the BCS National Championship Celebration at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

FSU football is now beginning the post bye week of their football season. Let’s take a look at our second half predictions.

The FSU football season hasn’t gone the way most FSU fans expected. The team began the season ranked No. 4 in the nation with hopes of competing for a ACC and National Championship.

However, the first game of the season against Ole Miss was foreshadowing of the first half of the season.

The ‘Noles defense was supposed to be great. However, it was lost in the first half, and FSU had to overcome a huge deficit to win much like in 2014.

It took five games for the FSU defense to finally find itself after facing the toughest slate of offenses in the country. We think it’s a combination of that and the offenses faced in the last two games not being very good.

Either way, the defense looks better, but now the offense is stagnant and shooting itself in the foot constantly with Clemson on deck.

There are five games left in the regular season, so let’s get into our second half predictions.

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles center Austin Barron (62) celebrates after the game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

FSU Will Repeat As State Champions

This is always one of the goals for FSU football, and they have done it five of the past six years. The lone year they’ve not accomplished this goal under Jimbo Fisher was in 2012 with the loss to Florida.

FSU has already beaten South Florida and Miami(for the seventh straight time I might add), so only Florida in the season finale stands between them and this accomplishment.

Florida is ranked No. 15 and has look at least competent on offense this season, and still fields a good defense. It won’t be a gimme, but I expect FSU to win this one barring another key injury or turning the ball over five times like the 2012 loss.

Oct 8, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first half against Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Dalvin Cook Will Be FSU’s All-Time Leading Rusher

Dalvin Cook is sitting on exactly 900 rushing yards through seven games. He’s just 361 yards away from breaking Warrick Dunn’s 20-year-old rushing record.

It’s likely that Cook will break the record at Doak Campbell Stadium against Boston College on November 11th.

Want to know what’s interesting? He’ll break the record in three years(one less than Dunn), but will take about 50 more carries to break the record if the averages hold true.

Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher reacts after quarterback Sean Maguire (not pictured) threw an interception in the third quarter against Houston Cougars in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. The Cougars won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

FSU Will Finish 9-3 or 8-4

I thought FSU would lose one or two games as I stated in my preseason predictions. I don’t think anyone saw the UNC loss coming(they were 11 point betting favorites at home).

However, looking at the five remaining games, odds are FSU will lose one or two more games. The most likely losses will be against Clemson and either at NC State or possibly Florida.

Boston College and Syracuse are the other two teams remaining on the schedule. Of course, this prediction hinges on Deondre Francois and others being healthy enough to play.

Oct 15, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (12) during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Deondre Francois Wins ACC Rookie Of Year

Francois is having a really good redshirt freshman season, and it looks like ESPN’s David Hale will be correct.

I expect Deondre Francois to be named the ACC Rookie of The Year.

His current pace is similar to what EJ Manuel accomplished in his 2012 senior season. That’s throwing for over 3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Francois has thrown for 1,876 yards, 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions through seven games.

The future is bright for the kid if the FSU offensive line is able to keep him in one piece the rest of the season.

Nov 14, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Demarcus Walker (44) battles at the line against North Carolina State Wolfpack offensive tackle Will Richardson (66) during the second half of the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

DeMarcus Walker Will Finish With 13.5 Sacks

Senior defensive end DeMarcus Walker boosted his NFL stock last season with a career year. He’s on pace to best those numbers and has increased his NFL stock even more.

Last season Walker led the team with 10.5 sacks. He already has 8.5 sacks through seven games. The remaining slate of games would require Walker to average one sack per game.

If Walker finishes with 13.5 sacks, that would put him fourth all time on the FSU sacks list behind Ron Simmons.