FSU Beats Tech, Wins ACC Title: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

 

This time, there was no slow start – for either team.

An onside kick separated FSU from Georgia Tech on Saturday night, but the game was more than just a win, a 13-0 record and a place in the College Football Playoff. This was about a team showing it was worthy of playoff consideration, regardless of its record and the teams the Sminoles have plaed this season in the ACC.

FSU delivered in a 37-35 win in the ACC Championship in Charlotte.

Jameis Winston threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Rashad Greene had seven catches for 123 yards and two scores and freshman Dalvin Cook had 220 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in his first college start as the defending national champions stretched their winning streak to 29 games.

Nick O'Leary added three catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Synjyn Days ran for 67 yards and three touchdowns and Justin Thomas ran for 104 yards threw for a score for Georgia Tech (10-3, 6-3, No. 11 CFP), which rushed for 331 yards.

Here is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from this game.

THE GOOD – A GREAT START FOR BOTH TEAMS

This is exactly what I was hoping for. FSU came out and although they did not score on their first possession, the offense looked like an FSU offense.

Georgia Tech took the ball and ran it all over the field. Eight players ran the ball for the Yellow Jackets in the first half and for the first quarter, FSU looked lost.

Jameis Winston showed that fire he possesses, completing 12 of 17 passes for 222 yards and three scores, AND NO INTERCEPTIONS.

The best thing about the half was the two schools traded scoring drives like prize fighters exchanging punches and counterpunches.

Dalvin Cook was also a beast, running up the middle behind center Cam Irvin for 99 first-half yards.

THE BAD – A SLOWER PACE

I remarked earlier in the game on social media that this was not a football game, it was a track meet. Both teams lived up to the challenge in the first half.

The second half was a 9-7 contest. The running of FSU and clock management slowed Georgia Tech down and played a near flawless second half.

Dalvin Cook accounted for over 200 yards in total offense for the night. He was a one-man wrecking crew. Also, Georgia Tech had no answer for an offensive line (especially Cam Irving) that moved the smaller defense of the Yellow Jackets around for most of the second half.

The running game for Georgia Tech gave the Seminoles fits all night long.

Florida State allowed 141 rushing yards in the 1st quarter against Georgia Tech, tied for the 2nd-most allowed by FSU in ANY quarter over the last 10 seasons, matched by none other than the Yellow Jackets, who also ran for 141 vs the Seminoles back in their 2008 meeting. Georgia Tech did it on 19 carries today, while the 2008 Georgia Tech team did it on 1 fewer carry. 

THE UGLY – DECISIONS, DECISIONS

What now? FSU wins a tough game against Georgia Tech. Alabama ran over Missouri and Oregon pass Arizona by. Those three teams should be the most definite teams in the college football playoffs.

Who is next?

It’s a shame someone lost this game.

Ohio State makes a big statement on Saturday night, beating Wisconsin. TCU wins by 52 points over a two-win Iowa State team and Baylor beats a No. 9 Kansas State team. This is exactly what we wanted when we asked for a different playoff picture.

Maybe there should have been eight teams this year, but it might be considered next season.

Despite the 13-0 record and the weak schedule, 29 straight games won and the idea that maybe they do not match up well with Alabama or an Oregon team, FSU belongs in the CFP.