ACC Fearless Predictions, Nov. 17

Previews and Predictions for the Week 12 ACC Games.

ACC
Atlantic Boston Coll | Clemson | Florida St | Maryland | NC State | Wake Forest
Coastal Duke | Georgia Tech | Miami | North Carolina | Virginia | Virginia Tech

ACC Fearless Predictions Sept. 1 | Sept. 8 | Sept. 15 | Sept. 22 | Sept. 29 
Oct. 6 | Oct. 13 | Oct. 20 | Oct. 27 | Nov. 3 | Nov. 10 | Nov. 24 | Dec. 1

How are the picks so far? SU: 55-26 ... ATS: 35-38-1

ACC Week 12 Predictions, Part 2

ACC Game of the Week

Boston College (8-2) at Clemson (8-2)   7:45 EST ESPN2
Why to watch: Boston College and Clemson have worked in concert to make this week’s game in Death Valley a humdinger, the Eagles dropping their last two games, and the Tigers winning four in-a-row.  The programs are deadlocked in first place with two losses in conference play, making Saturday night’s game a winner-take-all scenario for the Atlantic Division, and a chance to play for an ACC championship in two weeks.  For Clemson, which collapsed after starting 7-1 last year and hasn’t won a league title since 1991, this is one of the biggest and most meaningful games in the Tommy Bowden era.  Wasn’t it just a couple of weeks ago that Boston College was being mentioned as a contender for a national championship?  That was before the Eagles lost to Florida State and got thoroughly outplayed by Maryland, bumping the program into the “pretender” category.  With a win at Clemson, however, BC can erase the memory of those debacles, and pull within one more win of the first outright league title in school history.
Why Boston College might win: Clemson is at its best when the backfield tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller are running wild, but that’s not going to happen against the nation’s No. 2 run defense.  The Tigers’ struggles on the offensive line are going to be amplified by a solid Eagle defensive line that’s tough in the middle and fast around the corner with ends Alex Albright and Nick Larkin.  Boston College will also enjoy the edge in the trenches when it has the ball.  While the Eagles are No. 2 in the ACC in sacks allowed, the Tiger pass rush has been spotty, which will give QB Matt Ryan the time he needs to survey the field.
Why Clemson might win: Ryan may have time in the pocket, but he won’t like what he sees.  The pedestrian Eagle receivers will be no match for a Michael Hamlin-led Clemson secondary that’s third nationally in pass defense, and has allowed seven touchdowns passes all year.  For all the smoke and mirrors surrounding the Boston College offense, it’s been held under 30 points in five of the last eight games, including by Massachusetts.  The Eagle pass defense has been exposed by Drew Weatherford and Chris Turner the last two weekends, a segue of what’s to come Saturday night.
Who to watch: If there’s a Heisman-contending quarterback in this game, it ought to be Clemson’s Cullen Harper, not Ryan.  Harper’s numbers are substantially better, and he’s been the catalyst of the Tigers’ resurgence, tossing 12 touchdowns and just one pick during the four-game winning streak.  He’s going to out shine the more heralded Ryan on Saturday, hooking up repeatedly with his favorite receivers, Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham.
What will happen: In front of an electrified home crowd, Clemson’s roll is not about to be stopped by a fading Boston College program.  The Tigers will add to Ryan’s ACC-high interception total, while becoming the first team all season to run for more than 150 yards on the Eagle D.  If the line does its job, by Sunday morning, Harper’s going to earn a few mentions as a fringe Heisman contender.
CFN Prediction: Clemson 30 … Boston College 20 ... Line: Clemson -7
Must See Rating: (5 On HBO, "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry"  - 1 Writer strike induced reruns) ... 4

ACC Saturday, November 17th

Maryland (5-5) at Florida State (6-4)  12:00, ESPN GamePlan
Why to watch: While Boston College and Clemson will battle at night for the Atlantic Division lead, Maryland and Florida State will be trying to stay out of the divisional cellar and get closer to a second-rate bowl game.  The Seminoles’ attempt to build on their upset of BC a week earlier was thwarted by Virginia Tech, Bobby Bowden’s first-ever loss to the Hokies.  Banged up physically and emotionally as a third straight mediocre season starts to sink, Florida State is expected to get back both of its quarterbacks, Drew Weatherford from a concussion and Xavier Lee from a suspension.  Riding a nasty three-game losing streak, the Terps dug deep on Saturday to stun Boston College, 42-35.  It was the most offense that Maryland generated all year, a hint of life that the program hopes can be parlayed into a 13th game in December.
Why Maryland might win: Hampered by injuries and averaging under 24 points a game, the Florida State offense is a mess, preventing the team from pulling away from even inferior opponents.  Along with the issues at quarterback, RB Antone Smith is nursing an injured shoulder, although he is expected to play.  The Terps are riding some much-needed momentum after upsetting Boston College, locating a passing game for the first time all year.  Chris Turner was sharp against a good Eagle secondary, giving Maryland the balance it’ll need to move the ball on the Seminole D.
Why Florida State might win: One impressive win doesn’t erase the fact that Maryland is a below average team that’s struggling with depth issues and was on life support before the weekend.  The defense ranks No. 10 in the ACC, and the offense can’t expect Turner, a sporadic sophomore, to be lights for a second consecutive week.  His biggest problem will be pass protection, a glaring weakness that’ll get exposed all afternoon by a Seminole defense that’s strong up front, and among the nation’s best teams at getting penetration.
Who to watch: After getting his bell rung by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Weatherford expects to be back behind center, which is good news for Florida State.  Before the injury, he was playing his best ball of the season, something the junior needs to recapture if the Seminoles are going to finish the 2007 season on a positive note.
What will happen: Don’t read too much into Maryland’s defeat of Boston College last Saturday.  It’ll prove to be an aberration after Florida State puts the Terps back in their shell with a couple of Weatherford touchdown passes and a big effort from the defense.
CFN Prediction: Florida State 27 … Maryland 16 ... Line: Florida State -7.5
Must See Rating: (5 On HBO, "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry"  - 1 Writer strike induced reruns) ... 3

Duke (1-9) at Notre Dame (1-9)  2:30 EST, NBC
Why to watch: Finally, Notre Dame gets to a face an opponent that’s closer to its competitive equal.  Duke descends upon South Bend for the first time since 1966, giving the Irish its best chance all season to vent a little frustration at the expense of a weaker team.  After losing to Navy and Air Force in back-to-back weeks, there still exists a curious fascination of finding out if Notre Dame has finally reached rock bottom in 2007.  The Blue Devils can provide that measuring stick.  Duke is mired in its 13^th straight losing season, displaying some life on offense, but rarely being competitive in league games.  The Blue Devils could care less about the Irish record; for a senior class that’s 4-40, winning a game in South Bend will still be a pretty big deal around Durham.
Why Duke might win: The Notre Dame defense is awful, giving up at least 27 points in all but the UCLA game, when the Bruins were forced to play a third-string walk-on at quarterback.  The one thing the Blue Devils do well is throw the ball, which they’ll do plenty against an Irish secondary that’s allowed 19 touchdown passes while picking off just nine passes.  QB Thaddeus Lewis will have the time he needs to sit in the pocket and find Jomar Wright and Eron Riley, one of the ACC’s best unknown receivers.
Why Notre Dame might win: QB Jimmy Clausen should be able to pick up where he left off last week when he played the best game of his rookie season.  The freshman went 22-of-40 for 246 yards and three touchdowns, stepping up in the pocket, and looking like the quarterback that every major school coveted in February.  The Duke defense, which is 113^th nationally in pass efficiency defense, will do little to curtail Clausen’s development, or get in the way of an improving corps of receivers.  The Irish offense will also get contributions from RBs Armando Allen and James Aldridge, who’ve run well over the last couple of weeks.
Who to watch: Good players, such as Notre Dame DE Trevor Laws, have a way of getting lost in really bad seasons.  Laws has been one of the only bright spots for the Irish, leading the team with 98 tackles, including 17 in last week’s loss to Air Force.  The NFL loves the tenacity and quickness of the senior, who could be a first-day draft choice next April.
What will happen: Although it is close, no, Notre Dame is not the worst BCS-like team in the country.  Duke will hold that distinction after becoming the second team to allow the Irish more than 400 yards of offense, falling to 1-10.
CFN Prediction: Notre Dame 31 … Duke 21 ... Line: Notre Dame -6
Must See Rating: (5 On HBO, "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry"  - 1 Writer strike induced reruns) ... 2

ACC Week 12 Predictions, Part 2