Some like it hot. No coaches or players left from Colorado's last trip to Florida, so the Buffs can only imagine how sticky Jacksonville will be. In 2003 CU came to Doak in late September and it wasn't pretty. The Chris Rix-led Noles won 47 - 7. Kamerion Wimbley terrorized Buffs QBs with two sacks, four tackles for losses, and recovered a fumble while causing another.
Ask another West Coast team that traveled to sweaty ACC country. Two weeks ago heavily-favored California got whacked by Maryland 35-27 (not as close as it looks). Cal LB Zach Follet said after the game, "To tell you the truth, this humidity was tough. We are not used to this humidity and they kind of had the advantage there."
Cody in the crosshairs. To win the Noles must get to the Buffs QB. The Noles D has 9 sacks in 3 games (10th in NCAA stats in a tie with 6 other teams). Meanwhile, Colorado has allowed just 4 in 3 games.
And Cody knows it. "They are definitely going to have some wrinkles ready for us because they get those vets back, but at the same time, we know we've got to go down there and play our game regardless of who they have on defense."
Do penalties matter when you're scoring? Sure, we hope for more disciplined play and fewer flags on FSU. But consider this: the Noles are 108th in the nation in Fewest Penalties Per Game. But the team that's dead-last in the category may be #1 in the polls come Monday. Yep, Georgia is 118th with 43 flags for minus 356 yards.
Noles and Buffs in the zone. Interesting that FSU and Colorado are tied (along with a few other teams) for 48th in Red Zone Efficiency, scoring 10 out of 12 times
Looking ahead. For a little preview of how much better the Canes are playing this year, check out the highlights of the hurt they put on Texas A&M last Saturday.
Comments? Questions? Kudos?