Samford vs FSU College Football Predictions Week 1: Christian Ponder begins his quest for the Heisman when his #20 Florida State Seminoles (0-0) take on the Samford Bulldogs (0-0) at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. For the first time in 35 years, it won't be Bobby Bowden calling plays on the Florida State sidelines. We'll see how the Florida State Seminoles' 2011 BCS National Championship Odds adjust to that fact. Jimbo Fisher, who was an offensive coordinator under Bowden for three years and had been named the coach-in-waiting two years ago, quickly began making changes. He brought in a sports psychologist as well as a nutritionist to improve players' diets. Hammerhead Sports always delivers the most accurate free sports picks and free football odds from our team of NCAA predictions experts. Find our winning NCAA Odds Selections Below.

The Seminoles ranked 108th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in yards allowed per game with 434.6 and were 94th in average points allowed with 30.0.On offense, there's a lot more confidence. Christian Ponder is a third-year starter and he's especially eager to get back on the field after his 2009 season was cut short by a separated shoulder suffered in November.Ponder threw for 2,717 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games in 2009, completing 68.8 percent of his passes. This should be a big challenge for both Ponder and the Samford defense, which was the strength of this squad last year. Bodog Sportsbook has the Florida State Seminoles (-24) as the Free NCAA Picks selection over the Samford Bulldogs (+24).

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The Bulldogs ranked 15th in the FCS in yards allowed per game with 284.5 and were 19th in scoring defense with an average of 17.5 points allowed. Samford went 5-6 last season, losing 28-24 to Central Florida in its season opener in the only game it played against an FBS opponent in 2009. The Bulldogs were led by Chris Evans, who rushed for 1,152 yards and seven touchdowns, and Dustin Taliaferro threw for 1,692 yards and nine touchdowns while completing 59.2 percent of his passes. This is the second time these teams have met and the first since Florida State's 20-6 win in 1950 when Samford was known as Howard College. With the NCAA Betting Odds point total at 60, look for the Under (-110) to be strong play in this game.