Maybe playing a game on a different day of the week can change the Florida State's fortunes.

Nothing else has seemed to work this season.

The 2-4 Seminoles hit the road for a Friday night prime time ACC battle with 4-4 Boston College this week.

Florida State has won six consecutive "true" road games, which is the third longest active streak in the nation behind Oklahoma (14) and Alabama (13).

The Seminoles have also won seven straight games over Boston College and are undefeated against the Eagles in the Jimbo Fisher era.

Fisher is hoping that his players will respond to the adversity they've dealt with following a gut-wrenching 31-28 loss to Louisville last week.

"What you've got to do is take those adverse moments and learn from them," Fisher said.  "And learn what that feels like, and make it be the ingredients that help in your development as a player, as a coach in everything you do.  And you've got to get them to think about the basics and the things they have to do to execute in those moments and be able to play."

Fisher's teams have never lost in a short week situation (4-0), and the Seminoles hope to stifle the Eagles' offense the way they did in last year's 45-7 victory in Tallahassee.

Boston College was held to 50 passing yards in that game, the fewest the Seminoles had allowed in an ACC contest since Georgia Tech mustered only 45 passing yards in 1993.

The Eagles are struggling to throw the ball again in 2017 (181.5 pass yards per game- 101st in the nation), but their rushing attack has been potent (193.8 rushing yards per game- 40th in the nation).

And their offense has been at its best over the past two weeks, posting 45 points at Louisville and 41 more at Virginia in a pair of wins that have Boston College two wins away from bowl eligibility.

"They're running the ball," Fisher said.  "The quarterback is doing a much better job, I think, making good decisions, good throws.  Growing up, getting better, athletic, hard to get on the ground.  The backs you've got to respect.  The diversity they create with all two tights, three tights, all that stuff and what they do, have done a good job."

There were bright spots for the Seminoles in the Louisville loss, particularly true freshman quarterback James Blackman, who rallied the 'Noles back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28 before Cardinals kicker Blanton Creque booted through a 34-yard field goal to win the game for Louisville.

Blackman has shown an impressive confidence in late-game situations, going 26-45 for 385 yards and four touchdowns in the final quarter without throwing an interception in his first five collegiate starts.

Meanwhile, senior running back Jacques Patrick (Timber Creek HS) is having knee surgery and may miss the rest of the season.

True freshman Cam Akers (311 rushing yards over the past three games) will step into a bigger role and have a chance to significantly increase his team leading rushing output.

Here's more on this week's Friday night matchup on Chestnut Hill:

 

KEY MATCHUP

AJ DILLON VS. FLORIDA STATE'S FRONT SEVEN

Speaking of freshmen running backs, Boston College's AJ Dillon has been even more productive than the highly-touted Akers.

Dillon has rushed for 694 yards and six touchdowns with his 6-foot, 240-pound frame.

He's a punishing runner who the Seminoles will take blows from for four quarters Friday night.

The Florida State front seven will have to be sharp and tackle in numbers to keep Dillon from dictating the tempo of the game.

 

X-FACTOR

TARVARUS MCFADDEN- FLORIDA STATE

Preseason All-American Tarvarus McFadden will no doubt be difficult for BC freshman quarterback Anthony Brown to throw on.

But he could be just as important on special teams.

Coach Fisher praised McFadden's ability to field punts last week, and this could be the game he's able to break a big return to the endzone.

Or two.

 

THE PICK

FLORIDA STATE 31, BOSTON COLLEGE 17

This is an absolute must-win game for the Seminoles if they want to go bowling this year.

The players will respond to the challenge.

Blackman and Akers will have career days while the much maligned Seminoles defense will terrorize the young Eagles and show them that Boston College just doesn't beat Florida State- even on a down year for the 'Noles.