​It is time for the Florida State Seminoles to begin ACC play. The first conference opponent of the season is a huge one, as the No. 19 SMU Mustangs will be on the opposite sideline this Monday inside Doak Campbell Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.Games in the ACC have been an absolute nightmare for FSU over the past two years. They have a record of 3-13 in conference play over that span, which includes a 42-16 blowout loss to SMU in 2024. So, the Seminoles will have revenge on their minds as they look to improve to 2-0 before traveling to play the Alabama Crimson Tide in two weeks.It will be a challenge for Florida State, that’s for sure, seeing as SMU is a talented team, and they’ve gone 14-2 in conference play since joining the ACC. The Mustangs are a 3-point favorite, but games aren’t played on paper. With that said, here are five reasons why the Seminoles will pull off the upset.They need to show that they can win in the ACCAs mentioned earlier, FSU has been terrible in conference games since the 2023 season. If they want to make it back to a bowl game, they need to be a respectable team within the ACC, and a win in this game would go a long way towards doing that.Running game will flourishFlorida State had 217 yards rushing in Week 0 as all three of their top running backs showed how capable they can be. They likely won’t gain that much against SMU, but they will be efficient and keep the chains moving to control the pace.Offensive line will be better in pass protectionIf there was one knock on FSU in their season opener, it was their pass protection. Too many times quarterback Ashton Daniels had to move outside of the pocket to avoid pressure. It won’t be easy, but their offensive line will step up in that aspect.Defense will create a few turnoversThe best way to pull off an upset is to get a few turnovers. Especially early on in a game, which can lead to a significant lead. Florida State’s defense will be able to take the ball a couple of times in this one and get a cushion that they’ll be able to hold on to.Need to go into the Alabama game playing good footballNot to look ahead by any means, but FSU does have Alabama as their next opponent coming up in two weeks, and they’ll be looking to exorcise the demon of getting beat down in Tallahassee last season. That will be a huge test on the road, and the Seminoles will benefit a lot from coming into that game with a big win against a quality team.Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscienceThis article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Five reasons FSU football will beat SMU