By Dave Holcomb
SouthernPigskin.com

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Dave Holcomb previews Florida State and NC State.

Just a week ago, it was hard to find a team hotter on the ground than Florida State. The Seminoles entered their contest against Clemson last week averaging 263.8 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks.

But the Florida State ground game stalled in a big way versus Clemson. As a result, the Seminoles didnt score a second-half touchdown on offense, and Clemson came back to beat Florida State by 10.

The loss dropped the Seminoles to 2-3 in the ACC. Only winless Boston College and Duke have fewer ACC conference wins. Despite having won three of the last four, Florida State is also 3-5 and on the verge of missing bowl season for the third straight year. The last time that happened was 1974-76.

NC State is going in the exact opposite direction, having won five of its last six contests. On paper, the Wolfpack match up well against the Seminoles, but NC State will look to avoid falling victim to x9cthe trap gamex9d in Tallahassee.

To beat their third ranked opponent since Jimbo Fisher left at the end of the 2017 season, the Seminoles will have to re-find their running game that dominated opponents early in October. A pair of underclassmen running backs, Jashaun Corbin and Treshaun Ward, are averaging more than 7.0 yards per carry this season, but quarterback Jordan Travis also played a big part in the Florida State ground game. During the teams three-game winning streak, Travis averaged 7.5 yards per rush and scored three rushing touchdowns.

But against Clemson, the Florida State ground game really struggled. Travis finished with minus-4 rushing yards, and the Seminoles averaged 1.9 yards per carry on 34 attempts versus Clemson.

As tough a matchup as Clemson was, NC State is worse on paper. The Wolfpack have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game this season — six yards fewer per contest than Clemson. NC States run defense is ranked 11th best among the Power 5.

That doesnt particularly bode well for Florida State. Even though Travis posted 8.0 yards per pass, the Seminoles only scored 13 points on offense last Saturday. With the struggling ground game, Florida State posted 241 yards while going 4 of 13 on third down against the Tigers.

The best hope for Florida State may be to play well enough to catch NC State napping, perhaps overlooking this matchup. Next Saturday, the Wolfpack visit No. 9 Wake Forest in a showdown that will decide the ACC Atlantic.

Given Florida States place in the standings, itd be simply human nature if the Wolfpack arent quite as sharp as theyve been given that such a big game is next on the horizon. NC State also has a young roster thats probably more susceptible to a trap game like the matchup with Florida State appears to be.

Therefore, veteran leadership will be key for the Wolfpack this week. Along the defensive line, graduate transfers Daniel Joseph and Cory Durden can set the tone against the Florida State running game. Together, Joseph and Durden have 47 total tackles, including 7.0 for loss and 4.0 sacks.

Offensively, wide receivers Emeka Emezie and Thayer Thomas can provide that veteran leadership. Emezie leads NC State with 543 receiving yards and Thomas has the teams most receiving touchdowns (6).

Sophomore quarterback Devin Leary will be looking for both often against a Florida State pass defense thats been better as of late but still allowed Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei one of his most efficient statistical days of the season.

Next weeks matchup with Wake Forest is a much bigger affair for NC State, but the Wolfpack cant afford to lose to Florida State either. NC State trails Wake Forest by 1.5 games in the Atlantic standings, so the Wolfpack cant really afford another conference loss to anyone.

Even in Tallahassee, where NC State is just 1-6 since 2007, look for the Wolfpack to stop the Florida State ground game and do enough offensively to avoid a trap game loss.

Prediction: NC State 31, Florida State 17