No. 2 Florida State (2-0, 0-0) heads to Kentucky to take on No. 10 Louisville (2-0, 1-0) in front of a huge College GameDay crowd. It's the first time the show has been on Louisville's campus so you know the fans are going to be rowdy and ready for a top notch game.
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If the Seminoles want to get back to the College Football Playoffs and potentially a title game, they'll need to beat the Cardinals and Lamar Jackson first. Jackson has accounted for 13 touchdowns and 1,015 total yards in only two games so far this season, but looked like Superman in both games because the first one was against Charlotte who's only in its second year of being an FBS team and the second was against Syracuse who has a new coach in Dino Babers.
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In order for FSU to head back to Tallahassee with a win here are three things that need to happen in the game:
1. Lamar Jackson has to be contained in the passing pocket:
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been an absolute monster so far this season, but he has yet to face a defense as good as FSU's. However, this defense can get eaten up if it allows Jackson to get outside the pocket and make plays with his feet. He can throw on the run as well as just run around a defense if given the chance. The edge rushers have to stay at home and cannot let Jackson escape to the perimeter.
2. The offense needs to stay on the field as long as possible:
This doesn't mean run the play clock down to three seconds every time, but the less that Jackson and his offense is on the field means less opportunities to score. This would be a good opportunity for Deondre Francois to run a slower offense and become comfortable in that kind of situation. It would also give Dalvin Cook to have a much needed 100 yards rushing game as he would be a possession controller.
3. Lay some wood:
Louisville has not been sure handed with the ball so far this season losing four out of a possible seven fumbles. That's third-worst in the conference so if Seminole defenders can deliver a couple of well-timed and hard hits then they should be able to get the ball on the ground. Turnovers will kill any momentum and offense and that might be the best way to keep the ball out of Lamar Jackson's hands as well.
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Obviously containing Jackson is the biggest obstacle in this game, but it is also the most important. It's going to be tough taking him down with his versatility and his 6'3", 205-pound frame, but these FSU defenders should be up to the task. A.J. Westbrook will be replacing Derwin James who is out with a meniscus tear for several weeks. He might be targeted quite a bit so that should be something to keep an eye on for the game.
