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Miami (5-5) at Virginia Tech
(8-2)
3:30 EST, ABC
Why to watch: It used to
be that when these two schools
met, a Big East title would hang
in the balance. Today, Miami is
little more than a nuisance in
the way of Virginia Tech’s goal
of conquering the ACC Coastal
division. Four miserable losses
in the last five games have the
Hurricanes sinking into
obscurity and toward Duke at the
bottom of the division. Last
weekend’s 48-0 loss to Virginia
on a night that the school said
farewell to the Orange Bowl will
go down as one of the biggest
embarrassments in the modern
history of the program. A
sudden, and unlikely, turnaround
is the only thing that’ll keep
Miami from missing the
postseason for the first time
since 1997. Virginia Tech is on
the opposite spectrum,
rebounding from its Oct. 25
collapse to Boston College with
pivotal wins over Georgia Tech
and Florida State. The Hokies
control their own destiny in the
division, needing wins over the
‘Canes and Virginia a week from
now to play for an ACC title and
a BCS bowl game in Jacksonville
Dec. 1. Feeling that two
quarterbacks are better than
one, Frank Beamer plans to use
both freshman Tyrod Taylor and
junior Sean Glennon for a second
straight game.
Why Miami might win: Last
Saturday night was a poor
representation of this, but
there’s still enough future NFL
talent on the ‘Cane defense to
stall a Virginia Tech offense
that ranks 107th in
the country, and has been
equally inept through the air as
on the ground. The Hokie
offensive line has been a
problem area, yielding a ton of
sacks and opening few holes,
that won’t get any breaks from a
Miami line that includes ends
Calais Campbell, Vegas Franklin,
and Eric Moncur, and tackle
Teraz McCray.
Why Virginia Tech might win:
Recent losses to North Carolina,
NC State, and Virginia are signs
that Miami has packed it in this
season. The Hurricanes are
horribly inconsistent of offense
and prone to too many
turnovers. The Hokies will
capitalize with an attacking
defense that’s third in the
country in points allowed and
No. 8 in total defense. The way
Miami is executing on offense,
it’ll need help from the defense
and special teams to reach
double digits in Blacksburg. As
bad as Tech has been with the
ball in 2007, the offense has
been playing markedly better
over the last few weeks, getting
production from RB Branden Ore,
and cranking up the passing
game.
Who to watch: The way the
Virginia Tech defense has been
playing it doesn’t need any
extra help, but it’s going to
get it with the return of LB
Vince Hall from a broken wrist.
One of the ACC’s top
linebackers, he’ll be worked in
slowly, bringing intensity and a
run stopping presence that
Miami’s feeble offense won’t be
able to navigate.
What will happen: As far
as Virginia Tech is concerned,
this is still Miami, and a
chance to kick an old rival when
it’s down. The Hokies will tune
up for next week’s trip to
Charlottesville by stuffing the
Hurricane offense, and pounding
the ‘Canes under the .500 mark.
CFN Prediction: Virginia
Tech 27 …
Miami
13
... Line: Virginia Tech
-17
Must See Rating: (5
On HBO, "Michigan vs.
Ohio State: The Rivalry"
- 1
Writer strike induced reruns)
... 3
NC State (5-5) at Wake Forest
(6-4)
4:00 EST, ESPNU
Why to watch: This time
last month, the only way NC
State players were getting to a
bowl game was if they purchased
a ticket. Four games—and four
wins—later, the Wolfpack has
passed Florida State and
Maryland in the Atlantic
Division, while pulling within
one win of bowl eligibility.
Not too shabby for a program
whose only win in the first half
of the year came against Wofford.
With first-year coach Tom
O’Brien at the controls, NC
State has turned things around
on the strength of an improved
passing game, the running of
sophomore Jamelle Eugene, and a
stingier defense. Wake Forest
is already bowl eligible, but
that won’t guarantee a spot in
the postseason; a seventh win,
however, will. The Demon
Deacons’ slim hopes for an
Atlantic Division title were
dashed last week in a 44-10 loss
at Clemson, the program’s most
lopsided defeat in almost three
years.
Why NC State might win:
The Wake Forest offense has
disappeared the last two weeks,
largely due to the inconsistent
play of the offensive line. The
Wolfpack will take advantage
with a defense that’s gotten
steadily better during the
winning streak, bringing DE
Willie Young off the edge, and
containing the Deacon backs with
active senior LBs James Martin
and Ernest Jones. The light has
started to go on for NC State QB
Daniel Evans, who’ll have
success getting the ball to his
favorite receivers, Donald
Bowens and John Dunlap, on short
and intermediate routes.
Why Wake Forest might win:
Yeah, the Deacon D sprung leaks
in Death Valley last Saturday,
but that was the exception
rather than the rule with the
unit. Wake Forest is very tough
on opposing runners, and has
almost as many picks as
touchdowns allowed. While Evans
and Eugene have provided a spark
lately, moving the ball on East
Carolina and North Carolina is
easier than getting it done
versus an underrated unit from
Wake. On offense, the Deacons
will pound away at the ACC’s
worst run defense with the
combination of Josh Adams and
Micah Andrews.
Who to watch: Wake Forest
C Steve Justice and NC State DT
Demario Pressley, who’ll see
each other on Sundays next year,
will be waging a four-quarter
battle in the trenches. Justice
is one of the nation’s premier
centers, but he’ll get
challenged by Pressley, who’s a
run-stuffer that can get into
the backfield. Justice needs to
light a fire under his linemates,
who’ve underachieved in the last
two games.
What will happen: After
throwing the ball more than it
likes last week, Wake Forest
will return to its roots,
grinding out a blue-collar win
behind the running of Adams and
Andrews, and the
multi-dimensional talents of WR
Kenny Moore.
CFN Prediction:
Wake
Forest 27 … NC State 19
... Line: Wake Forest -6
Must See Rating: (5
On HBO, "Michigan vs.
Ohio State: The Rivalry"
- 1
Writer strike induced reruns)
... 3
North Carolina (3-7 at Georgia
Tech (6-4)
Noon, GamePlan
Why to Watch: Although
the Tar Heels have been
officially rendered bowl
ineligible, thanks to last
week’s loss to North Carolina
State, they can still climb past
the Yellow Jackets in the ACC
standings with a win Saturday
and a season-closing triumph
over hapless Duke next weekend.
GT, meanwhile, wants to build on
the momentum it generated last
week with a rout of the Blue
Devils, the better to head into
next week’s game with surging
Georgia on something of a high.
The future of the Yellow Jacket
program could hinge on the next
two weeks. Suffer the indignity
of losing at home to Duke, and
follow it up with a loss to
Georgia, and head coach Chan
Gailey could be in big, big
trouble.
Why North Carolina Might Win:
The Tar Heels will have to do
this with their solid defense
and their passing attack, not a
bad formula against the Yellow
Jackets, who lack a particularly
explosive offense (last week
against Duke excepted) and are
far more susceptible to the pass
than the run. T.J. Yates threw
for 241 yards against the
Wolfpack and has thrown for 12
touchdowns this year. UNC will
stack the line to try to keep
the Yellow Jackets from running
the football and hope they can
keep Taylor Bennett
uncomfortable in the pocket with
pressure from Hilee Taylor (10
sacks, two versus NC State) and
Marvin Austin.
Why Georgia Tech Might Win:
The Yellow Jackets can play
their game again now that
Tashard Choice is back in the
lineup. Choice had 170 yards and
two scores against the Blue
Devils, and he helps GT play
ball control to be able to rely
on its defense to set the
overall tone. He should be quite
eager to play UNC, which gave up
159 yards rushing to Jamelle
Eugene last Saturday and has
been inconsistent against solid
running teams. Expect the Tech
defense to go after Yates, with
an aggressive line that’s
leading the way to the nation’s
statistically best pass rush,
while the Tar Heels allow three
sacks a game and have struggled
to keep their quarterback from
getting popped. GT should also
come up with its share of
tackles for loss and stuff the
UNC running game.
Who to Watch: It has been
another great year for GT senior
kicker Travis Bell, who passed
the 300-point mark against Duke
and has scored at least a point
in 48 straight games, the best
streak in the nation. Bell has
made 20-of-23 field goals this
year, and is a perfect 28-of-28
on PAT tries, hardly a surprise
since he hasn’t missed any of
his 129 extra point attempts
throughout his career. Bell’s
second field goal against the
Blue Devils was his 20th this
year and established a new
single-season school record. GT
doesn’t always score a lot of
points. That’s where having a
great kicker does wonders.
What Will Happen: With
Choice back, the Yellow Jackets
have the key cog in their
offense available and should
make quick work of the
overmatched Heels.
CFN Prediction:
Georgia
Tech 30 … North Carolina
13
... Line: Georgia Tech
-10
Must See Rating: (5
On HBO, "Michigan vs.
Ohio State: The Rivalry"
- 1
Writer strike induced reruns)
... 2
ACC Week
12 Predictions, Part 1 |
