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Wake Forest
(6-3) at Clemson (7-2)
12:00 PM ESPN2
Why to Watch:
Now that Boston College has
lost, things are wide open in
the Atlantic Division, and both
the Tigers and the Demon Deacons
harbor hopes of finding a spot
in the ACC title game. Yes, it
will be harder for Wake to get
there, since it has already lost
to the Eagles and needs them to
lose twice more, but crazier
things have happened this year,
and there’s hope. Clemson,
meanwhile, can earn a spot in
the ACC Championship by winning
its final two league games,
against the Deacons and versus
BC, next Saturday. With both
games at home, Clemson has to
feel pretty good about its
chances, especially since it has
won three in a row after a
mid-season hiccup.
Why Wake Forest Might Win:
Despite last week’s tight loss
to Virginia, Wake remains the
league’s most creative offensive
force with an attack that’ll
cause problems for defenses
unable to handle different
formations and misdirections.
During its two-game skid, the
Tigers lost to a Virginia Tech
team that spread the field, much
like Wake prefers to do, and
took advantage of some
one-on-one matchups. Wake might
not have as much speed as Tech
does, but it’s disciplined and
committed to the system. With a
plus-seven turnover ratio, Wake
has to come up with a few big
plays to slow down the suddenly
red-hot Tigers.
Why Clemson Might Win:
The Tigers have it going again
scoring 147 points in their last
three games. Granted, the
opposition (Central Michigan,
Maryland, Duke) was not
overwhelming, but Clemson has
re-established its balanced
attack behind strong back James
Davis (118 yards, one TD versus
Duke) and QB Cullen Harper (23
TD passes, four interceptions)
and wideout Aaron Kelly, who has
29 catches and six touchdowns in
the last four games. The defense
has been stronger of late, after
allowing 41 points against
Virginia Tech. The last three
Tiger opponents have totaled
just 41 points against the
nation’s fifth-best defense.
Who to Watch: Even though
it doesn’t look like sophomore
C.J. Spiller will surpass last
year’s total of 938 rushing, he
remains one of the nation’s most
dynamic players. He proved that
last week when he returned a
kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown
against Duke, his 10th touchdown
of 50 yards or more during his
brief career at Clemson. Spiller
hasn’t been completely silent
running the ball, as evidenced
by his two 100-yard performances
this year, and he is a great
complement to powerful James
Davis. Spiller has also become a
more dynamic weapon in the
passing game and has caught 26
passes this year.
What Will Happen: The
Demon Deacons are tough, but
Clemson has itself poised for a
big closing argument and has too
many weapons for Wake to
control.
CFN Prediction:
Clemson
27 … Wake Forest 17...
Line: Clemson -8
Must See Rating: (5
Seinfeld: Season 9 - 1 Bee
Movie) ...
3.5
North Carolina
(3-6) at NC State (4-5)
12:00 PM ESPNU
Why to Watch: As recently
as three weeks ago, this one
looked like it would be a battle
of ACC futility. Now, with both
teams having picked up their
play, it becomes an interesting
matchup with potential bowl
implications. NC State has won
three straight and needs just
two victories to become bowl
eligible. After its win over
Maryland last week, the Tar
Heels need three wins with three
games remaining (NC State,
Georgia Tech, Duke). Though the
upper reaches of the ACC’s
divisions remain dreams for
these two, the winner of this
one can keep hopes alive for a
post-season berth and a happy
ending to what began as a tough
year.
Why North Carolina Might Win:
In last week’s win over
Maryland, the Tar Heels got 92
yards out of redshirt freshman
Johnny Wise, a great sign since
UNC has been looking for some
balance in its offense. If Wise
can continue to produce, it will
open things up for QB T.J.
Yates, who continues to be
efficient. Wise should have some
success, because the Wolfpack
continues to be banged up along
the defensive front and
surrendered 314 yards rushing
last week against Miami. The Tar
Heel defense is built to stop
the run, which has been a staple
of the NC State renaissance,
while Hilee Taylor (nine sacks)
has the ability to disrupt the
Wolfpack passing game.
Why North Carolina State
Might Win: The Wolfpack has
been a completely different team
over the past three weeks, a
fact that can be proven in its
plus-four turnover margin during
that time. In the previous six
weeks, NC State was minus-17.
Expect sophomore Jamelle Eugene
(365 yards in his last four
games) to test the Carolina
front seven, while Daniel Evans,
who has been more efficient
during the past three games,
will work play action to open
things up downfield. The
improved State secondary picked
off three Miami passes last week
and held Hurricane QB Kirby
Freeman to 1-of-14 passing.
Who to Watch: Last year,
sophomore wideout Hakeem Nicks
caught 39 passes in a solid
debut. So far this season, Nicks
has been even more impressive,
hauling in 56 passes and scoring
four times. The past four games
have been particularly
productive, yielding 25 catches
for 289 yards. Though Nicks
hasn’t yet made good on his
big-play ability on a consistent
basis, he remains the most
skilled UNC offensive player and
has the ability to make defenses
pay which don’t devote extra
attention to him.
What Will Happen: Now we see
why NC State wanted Tom O’Brien.
He has it going and continues
the post-season march with a big
victory thanks to timely offense
and just enough D to get by.
CFN Prediction:
NC
State 28 … North Carolina
23...
Line: NC State -3.5
Must See Rating: (5
Seinfeld: Season 9 - 1 Bee
Movie) ... 2.5
Georgia Tech (5-4) at Duke (1-8)
1
p.m
Why to Watch: The Blue
Devils may be struggling, but it
can make a big splash and
turnaround the program, at least
for a little bit, with a win
this week in the final home game
of the year. With a trip to
Notre Dame up next week, before
the rivalry in the finale
against North Carolina, a little
positive momentum would be a
major plus. There’s still hope
for the Yellow Jackets to reach
a bowl game, and a victory over
Duke would secure one as a good
moment coming after a
devastating 27-3 loss to
Virginia Tech. With the expected
return of star RB Tashard Choice
from a knee injury, the offense
is expected to start humming
again.
Why Georgia Tech Might Win:
While they didn’t show it last
week, Tech has one of the
nation’s most aggressive,
nastiest defenses thanks to a
front seven that’s second in the
nation in sacks (3.9) and fourth
in tackles for loss (9.3).
Tech’s 12th-ranked ground
defense should stop a the anemic
Duke running game cold and
should control the game from the
start. It will also turn its
outstanding special teams loose
in an effort to win the field
position battle and make things
easier for QB Taylor Bennett,
who should finally start to
break out of his current rut
against a Blue Devil secondary
allowing 271 yards per game. If
Choice does play, look for the
Jackets to pound the ground game
with Bennett able to work up
top.
Why Duke Might Win: Even
if Choice does play, it’s
unlikely he’ll be able to carry
it 20-25 times, especially
behind an offensive front that’s
been ravaged by injury. If Tech
can’t grind it out, it will turn
to Taylor, who threw four
interceptions in last week’s
loss to Virginia Tech and has
deteriorated gradually since his
strong start. QB Thaddeus Lewis
will try to work with wideout
Eron Riley against a Tech
secondary that’s been vulnerable
at times. After last week, Tech
is ripe for another letdown.
Who to Watch: Before
going down with a knee injury
just nine carries into the game
against Army Oct. 20, Choice had
gained 864 yards, scored seven
touchdowns and established
himself as one of the nation’s
top backs and an interesting pro
prospect. The perfect weapon for
a ball control on offense, and
with a shaky passing game, he
needs to get back on track to
right the ship for a big
finishing kick that would
suddenly make an average season
strong.
What Will Happen: Georgia
Tech will strangle a fired up
Blue Devil team looking for a
big performance on Senior Day.
It might take a few quarters,
but the Yellow Jackets will
finally pull away late.
CFN Prediction: Georgia Tech
24 …
Duke 13...
Line: Georgia Tech -13.5
Must See Rating: (5
Seinfeld: Season 9 - 1 Bee
Movie) ... 2
ACC Week
11 Predictions, Part 1 |
