Where There's Smoke

Reason #1,792 why I don't gamble. This week, #5 FSU is favored by 3 points over #3 Clemson in Death Valley. The only thing that will die is Clemson's National Championship hopes. Lay the 3 but the over-under is a little trickier.  Most books have it set at 64 or 64.5. I'd go the under but wouldn't feel good about it. Noles 37, Tigers 24. This time I mean it.

There is a lot to be excited about in Tallahassee as the Florida State Seminoles move into conference play in earnest.   They’re off to another 4-0 start, have the 4th ranked scoring offense in the nation (51.3 ppg), they’re sending a trio of stud backs running behind an offensive line that has discovered a nasty streak, and have more than replaced departed quarterback E.J. Manuel with dynamic first-year signal caller Jameis Winston. On the other side of the ball is a stingy bunch allowing just 15.0 points per game, tied for 17th in the country and just 136 passing yards per game. But despite all this good news and a Seminole Nation dreaming of being back in National Championship contention, Saturday’s game against Maryland is a bonafide, Class 1, Grade A trap game for the Noles. In each of the three seasons since he replaced the legendary Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher’s teams have managed to lose games to unranked ACC opponents (NC State and Carolina in 2010, Wake Forest ...