Scout.com: ACC Fearless Predictions, Nov. 10

ACC Fearless Predictions, Nov. 10

Virginia Tech WR Josh Morgan

By Staff

CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Nov 7, 2007

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Previews and Predictions for the Week 11 ACC Games.

How are the picks so far? SU: 51-24 ... ATS: 32-35-1

ACC Week 11 Predictions, Part 2

ACC Game of the Week

Florida State (6-3) at Virginia Tech (7-2), 3:30, ABC
Why to Watch: Now that Navy has solved Notre Dame, can Virginia Tech finally break through and beat Florida State? Going back to 1975, the Hokies have dropped 12 straight to the ‘Noles, while Bobby Bowden is a cool 15-0 versus the program, including three wins when he was at West Virginia, and a little matter with a national title over Michael Vick. Tech bounced back nicely from its disaster against Boston College two weeks ago, suffocating Georgia Tech in Atlanta, 27-3. The Hokies are pining for another crack at the Eagles in the ACC Championship game, but must continue winning to keep pace with Virginia atop the Coastal Division. Who’ll be under center for Frank Beamer’s team, Sean Glennon or Tyrod Taylor? You’ll have to tune in to find out because the coach doesn’t plan to tip his hand until kickoff. Florida State won’t have another chance to beat BC this season, but then again, it doesn’t need it. The Seminoles took care of business in Chestnut Hill Saturday night, knocking off the nation’s No. 2 team, 27-17, and getting a second straight solid effort from erratic QB Drew Weatherford. The trick now for the program will be to build on that upset by delivering another notable ACC road win and reentering the Top 25.
Why Florida State might win: Virginia Tech’s year-long offensive struggles against quality defenses will continue in Blacksburg. The Hokies have had problems running the ball and protecting the passer, ranking 90^th nationally on the ground and 112^th in pass protection. While the offensive line has shown improvement in recent weeks, it’s going to regress versus a Seminole D that’s No. 8 in the country against the run, and will bring a ton of pressure with a talented front seven that features LBs Geno Hayes and Derek Nicholson, and linemen Everette Brown and Neefy Moffett. Glennon lacks the quickness, and Taylor the experience to do much against this Florida State defense.
Why Virginia Tech might win: One-dimensional offenses, such as the one visiting from Tallahassee, won’t have much success against a Hokie defense that’s been air tight since getting spanked by LSU in Week 2. Florida State has no running game, which will put pressure on Weatherford to beat a feisty Tech secondary that’s No. 6 nationally in pass efficiency defense, and has yielded just seven touchdown passes all year. The Hokies’ seventh-ranked pass rush will have its way with a very young offensive line that’ll be without starting LT Daron Rose, who was injured a week ago.
Who to watch: Unproven underclassmen dominate the Florida State two-deep at offensive line, a huge concern heading into this week’s trip to Blacksburg. Assistant coach Rick Trickett will have his hands full trying to wall off a defensive line that is both large and very aggressive. His biggest concern will be Virginia Tech DE Chris Ellis, who leads the team in sacks, and has the speed off the edge to take over a game and get into a quarterback’s head.
What Will Happen: As expected, the defenses will set the tone in a physical, low-scoring game. Sparked by its pass rush and home crowd, Virginia Tech will barely end Florida State’s dominance in this series.
CFN Prediction: Virginia Tech 23 … Florida State 16 ... Line: Virginia Tech -6.5
Must See Rating: (5 Seinfeld: Season 9 - 1 Bee Movie) ... 3.5

ACC Saturay, November 10th

Virginia (8-2) at Miami (5-4) 7:15 EST, ESPN2
Why to Watch: The way Miami has been playing at home, it’s probably not such a bad thing that this will be its final game at the Orange Bowl after 71 seasons and more than 400 games. The Hurricanes have lost two straight at the OB for the first time in a decade, including last week’s horror show to then 3-5 NC State. In that overtime loss, Cane QB Kirby Freeman completed just 1-of-14 passes, prompting Randy Shannon to name Kyle Wright his starter for this week, even though the senior has a tender ankle and knee. With road trips to Virginia Tech and Boston College still left, Miami better hold serve if it plans to take part in the bowl season. Virginia continues to be the surprise of the ACC in 2007, winning a slew of nail-biters and holding a half-game edge on Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division. With last week’s 17-16 escape of Wake Forest, the Cardiac Cavs became the first team in college football history to win five games in a season by two points or less, the sign of a team that’s disciplined, hard working, and resilient. No matter what happens in Miami this Saturday night, the division is likely to boil down to the Nov. 24 visit from the Hokies.
Why Virginia might win: The Cavaliers aren’t sensational in any one area, but they’ve had a habit all year of keeping games close with the defense, and then pulling them out in the final quarter. Virginia has learned how to win games, a trick that’s been eluding Miami. The Hurricanes are spotty on offense, getting no support from the ACC’s worst passing attack. Wright will play, but he’s still not 100%, real bad news with ends Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald determined to hunt him down.
Why Miami might win: While it may not be vintage Canes, the defense is still pretty stout, holding opponents to less than 20 points a game since getting ambushed by Oklahoma on Sept. 8. Virginia features a vanilla offense that’s 10^th in the league in scoring and 101^st nationally in total offense. With Jameel Sewell at the helm and Mikell Simpson carrying the load in the backfield, there’s no one in the Cavalier attack that’ll keep Miami defensive coordinator Tim Walton from getting sleep this week. While Virginia has been perfect in Charlottesville, away from home, there’s been no such magic, losing at Wyoming and NC State, and barely getting past North Carolina and Middle Tennessee.
Who to watch: Virginia isn’t going to accomplish much on the perimeter, so it’ll be up to the Miami defense to be stout in the middle of the field and in run defense. One defender that’s been really coming on lately is LB Colin McCarthy, who’s had 22 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, and a touchdown over the last two games. Wearing No. 44 and making plays all over the field, it’s no wonder the sophomore is drawing some early comparisons to former Hurricane great, Dan Morgan.
What Will Happen: With its back against the wall, Miami has stepped up twice this season in prove-it games, beating Texas A&M in September and Florida State last month. With a slew of dignitaries in attendance, the Hurricanes will come through one more time, saying goodbye to the Orange Bowl with a hard-fought victory.
CFN Prediction: Miami 23 … Virginia 17 ... Line: Miami -3.5
Must See Rating: (5 Seinfeld: Season 9 - 1 Bee Movie) ... 3

Boston College (8-1) at Maryland (4-5) 8:00 EST, ABC
Why to Watch: Just because its spotless season and national title run were ended by Florida State last Saturday night doesn’t mean Boston College will be dusting off the golf clubs anytime soon. The Eagles still have plenty to play for, including an ACC title that’s up for grabs with five programs still solidly in the mix. Their Atlantic Division lead over Clemson and Wake Forest has been trimmed to just a half game, making every game this month a must-win if the program is to play in its first-ever BCS bowl game. Just a month ago, Maryland was a trendy choice to make some noise in the conference after beating Rutgers and Georgia Tech in back-to-back weekends. That, however, was before the Terps would lose three straight games, plummeting into the Atlantic Division cellar. With road games at Florida State and an improving NC State still to come, Maryland needs to somehow muster up an upset in order to have any hope of playing a 13^th game.
Why Boston College might win: While it hasn’t looked that way the last two weeks, the Eagles are close to a complete team, which plays solid defense, creates turnovers, and has a game-changer in QB Matt Ryan. Fueled by the nation’s No. 1 run defense, they’ll have no problems stuffing a Maryland offense that’s reliant on the ground attack, and has been held to just 48 points over the last three games. The Terrapin offensive line is one of the least effective in the country, which Boston College will exploit with blitzes and pressure around the corner with ends Alex Albright and Nick Larkin.
Why Maryland might win: The lone constant for the Terrapins has been the defense, which has survived countless three-and-outs from the offense, keeping the program in almost every game. Boston College has Ryan, but not much else on offense that’ll frighten a very fast Maryland defense. For all the hype that the Eagle offense gets, it’s only scored more than 30 points twice in the last seven games, and that was against Bowling Green and Army. The Terp D will keep things cozy long enough for QB Chris Turner to take advantage of a soft BC secondary, hooking up with WR Darrius Heyward-Bey on a couple of long gainers.
Who to watch: Boston College LBs Jolonn Dunbar and Tyrone Pruitt are questionable with injured ankles, putting added pressure on Mark Herzlich to make plays in run defense from the weakside. The sophomore has been a revelation in his debut season as a starter, posting 60 tackles and a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss. Herzlich will get plenty of chances to pad his numbers against a Maryland team that’ll try to establish the run with Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore.
What Will Happen: Bruised, both physically and mentally, Maryland is in no position to get in the way of a Boston College team that’s looking to regroup and get back on the path to an ACC title. Ryan will play his best game in three weeks, throwing for a couple of scores in a double-digit win for the Eagles.
CFN Prediction: Boston College 27 … Maryland 16 ... Line: Boston College -5.5
Must See Rating: (5 Seinfeld: Season 9 - 1 Bee Movie) ... 3