Novig pricesFlorida State's Norvell takes on job questions as Seminoles get ready for Clemson
Mike Norvell says results are his responsibility as 3-4 Florida State, losers of two straight, prepares to host Clemson on Saturday.
Florida State coach Mike Norvell was asked Monday whether he has been part of the university's review of its athletics department. He did not say whether his job was being discussed. He said he had spoken at length last week with President McCullough, and he described his job as making sure the team keeps improving and goes "out there and get the desired results," according to Roundtable Sports.
Those results have not come. Roundtable's Tony Thomas notes that the Seminoles are 10-22 since the 63-3 Orange Bowl loss to Georgia that ended the unbeaten 2023 season. Over that stretch they have won only four conference games and have lost 12 straight true road games. Norvell is 41-38 in Tallahassee. The school fired athletic director Michael Alford in September, and according to the outlet it has not yet hired a search firm to find his replacement. That leaves unclear who would make a decision on the football coach, and when. Maryland, Baylor and NC State have already changed coaches this season.
The last two weekends added to the pressure. Florida State lost 44-20 at Louisville and then 43-35 in double overtime at third-ranked Miami. Roundtable points out that the Seminoles led both Louisville and Alabama by two touchdowns before losing, and it blames cautious play-calling and poor execution. Fan frustration is growing, and the outlet reports that some supporters are talking about protests.
What it means for Clemson
The Seminoles are 3-4, and the season lines show two different teams. At home they are 3-1, beating New Mexico State, Central Arkansas and Virginia by a combined 106-31. Their only home loss was 27-24 to SMU. On the road they are 0-3, and they gave up 50 at Alabama, 44 at Louisville and 43 at Miami. Over seven games they have outscored opponents just 221-195, and they have allowed 87 points in the last two weeks alone. Saturday's game against Clemson on ACC Network is back at Doak Campbell Stadium, the one place this group has played well. With a 1-3 conference record, they cannot afford another league loss.
The Clemson at Florida State board tracks 12 venues, and all of them make Florida State the favorite. Novig lists the Seminoles at -6.5 (+104) and Clemson at +6.5 (-106). Novig's moneyline has Florida State at -203 and Clemson at +199. The best Florida State spread price on the board is theScore Bet's -5.5 at -105. That is a full point cheaper than Novig's number, at a similar price.
One moneyline price is an outlier. Polymarket lists Florida State at +365, which would make the favorite an underdog and is far from every other venue. Novig puts the total at 49.5, and FanDuel's under at 50.5 (-110) is the highest number on the board. Sportsbook hold ranges from 3.3% to 6.8% across the markets, so the venues differ more on price than on which team should win.
At home this season, Florida State has played like a team that wins by more than six points. On the road it has played like a team that loses by double digits. A home win over Clemson would slow the criticism of Norvell for now. Another collapse would make the questions he answered Monday harder to avoid.