On the Cover 3 Podcast, college football analyst and former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell previewed Saturday’s Week 9 matchup between Clemson and Florida State.

Kanell picked the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 ACC), who are a 6.5-point favorite at home, to defeat the Tigers (4-3, 2-2).

Kanell expects Clemson’s offense to “hit a couple big plays” because FSU’s defense has been yielding those, but he believes the Noles will hold down the Tigers’ lackluster offense overall.

Kanell sees the matchup as a prime “get-right” opportunity for FSU following a bye week – a game that can help build confidence and momentum for the rest of the season.

“I think this is a game Florida State should win,” Kanell said. “I think they’re favored for a reason. The defense has struggled. Watch Clemson match their passing touchdown total in this game alone. I think they hit a couple big plays because Florida State’s defense has been giving up big plays. But I do feel like Florida State should be able to manage Clemson’s offense. Let’s just say that. Hold them in check. And I do think, after a bye week — I know it was an emotional letdown game, but I think this is a get-right game for Florida State to kind of build some confidence back up for their home stretch. I think the team will fight for him. I do. We’ve seen that, and they’ve come up just short.

“Now it’s an opportunity for them to build some momentum going down the home stretch. If they don’t, my goodness – I mean, it’s already uncomfortable, but it’s going to get even worse.”

Also on the Cover 3 Podcast, the crew had a discussion about which fanbase would be more upset if Clemson and FSU traded head coaches, hypothetically swapping out Dabo Swinney and Mike Norvell.

Kanell believes FSU fans are frustrated beyond repair, arguing that even if Norvell found a way to win out and finish 8–4, half the fanbase would still be checked out from the program.

On the other side of things, frustration is also certainly present at Clemson following a 4–3 start, including last Saturday’s tough home loss to Virginia Tech.

But Kanell suggested that with Swinney having won two national championships at Clemson, he could win fans back over if he were to simply just relent, give in and adapt/evolve to fit the modern era of college football.

“Which fanbase is more upset? I think it’s Florida State,” Kanell said. “But with Clemson, I think there’s a little asterisk next to it because you’ve got two national titles, and you also have a coach who’s just being stubborn and won’t do what he should be doing. If you can get him to change — which he hasn’t been willing to do, he’s been stubborn as you can get — but I think you could win back the fanbase if you’re Clemson. If he said, ‘Alright, I’m going to hire a GM, and I’m going to spend some money, and we’re going to hit the portal.’ I think you could get Clemson fans back in. I don’t know if there’s anything Mike Norvell could get the Florida State fans. Like you could go 8-4, win out, and I still think Florida State fans, half the fanbase is checked out. …

“If Dabo did say, if he did an about-face and was like, ‘I was wrong. I’ve been going about this the wrong way. I’ve been stubborn, but I’m going to go out, and we’re going to spend money, and we’re going to hit the portal.’ I would buy into Dabo, because I think he still could create the culture he wants with transfer guys. He just doesn’t want to. Then I could buy into Dabo. Barring that, I think it’s a no-brainer for all these schools, you would take all of them over Dabo because of his unwillingness to adapt.”

Saturday’s game between Clemson and FSU at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ACC Network.

You can check out more from the Cover 3 Podcast below: