ACC Fearless Predictions, Oct. 4

Previews and Predictions for the Week 6 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 Aug. 30 | Sept. 6 | Sept. 13 | Sept. 20
- Sept. 27

How are the picks so far? SU: 31-12 ... ATS: 13-18

- ACC Week Six Predictions, Oct. 4 Part 2

ACC Game of the Week

Florida State (3-1) at Miami (2-2), 3:30 EST, ABC
Why to watch: Toss out the records when Florida State and Miami meet for their annual slugfest. It’s always a big deal when these two rivals hook up, even when neither is ranked. The Seminoles enter the game with more momentum, courtesy of last week’s 39-21 spanking of Colorado. Now that the team’s suspended players are available, they’re as deep as they’ve been all year, but another conference would be tough to overcome. ‘Nole fans will be curious to see which team shows up, the one that sputtered against Wake Forest or the one that blew out the Buffs. Miami will be trying to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to North Carolina that literally went through its fingertips. While the ‘Canes have shown spurts of brilliance, particularly in a 41-23 win over Texas A&M, Saturday’s loss to the Heels was evidence there’s still a long way to go. Like Florida State, Miami can ill-afford a second ACC loss this early in the year.
Why Florida State might win: Go ahead and knock the offense all you want, but the Seminole defense has been just fine. Two weeks ago, it held Wake Forest out of the end zone, despite having to contend with seven turnovers by the offense. Last Saturday, Florida State held Colorado to just a touchdown through the first three quarters, when the game was still relatively competitive. DE Neefy Moffett, CB Patrick Robinson, and LB Dekoda Watson are back in the fold, joining DE Everette Brown, LB Derek Nicholson, and S Myron Rolle to give the ‘Noles a truly nasty D.
Why Miami might win: Putting up 378 yards on Colorado doesn’t mean the Florida State offense is out of the woods and ready to tap into the glory days of Charlie Ward or Chris Weinke. In two games, ‘Nole quarterbacks have thrown six interceptions without a touchdown. That means neither Christian Ponder nor D’Vontrey Richardson will be able to take advantage of a Miami secondary that isn’t playing well. That means it’ll be up to RB Antone Smith to keep drives going against a ‘Cane front seven that’s No. 7 nationally in run defense, yielding just 65 yards a game. Glenn Cook, Colin McCarthy, and Darryl Sharpton form a fast and explosive unit that’ll keep Smith from breaking containment.
Who to watch: If Florida State is going to build on last week’s success, it needs to get the receiving corps more involved with the offense. That means Greg Carr, Preston Parker, and Bert Reed must get more touches than they have over the last two weeks. The Miami pass defense is weak, but no one will know if Ponder and Richardson can’t expose it.
What will happen: As usual, the separation between these two arch-rivals is minimal. In the end, the difference will be a Florida State defense that finally has all of the parts in place. Neither school will do much on offense, but the ‘Nole defense will give its side short fields by picking off a couple of Robert Marve passes, including the one that seals the victory late in the final quarter.
CFN Prediction: Florida State 23 … Miami 21 ... Line: Miami -2.5
Must See Rating: (5 Palin vs. Biden - 1 Beverly Hills Chihuahua) … 3
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Saturday, October 4

Duke (3-1) at Georgia Tech (3-1), 12:00 EST, ESPNU
Why to watch: If you had these two schools at 6-2 combined through September, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. Both Duke and Georgia Tech are playing beyond expectations, a credit to the jobs being done by first-year coaches David Cutcliffe and Paul Johnson, respectively. The Blue Devils are fresh off their first ACC victory in almost four years, a 31-3 thrashing of Virginia. They’re No. 43 in the latest Coaches Poll, which is rarified territory for this perennial doormat. A win in Atlanta would send expectations soaring, while bring the program a win closer to an unimaginable bowl berth. The Yellow Jackets enjoyed a well-deserved bye a week after dismantling Mississippi State, 38-7. The blowout was further evidence that Tech’s option is beginning to gel. Even after starting QB Josh Nesbitt pulled up lame with a hamstring injury, freshman Jaybo Shaw stepped in and led the offense without a hitch.
Why Duke might win: Although Georgia Tech is piling up the yards on the ground, it isn’t resulting in a ton of scoring. In fact, the Jackets are averaging just 24 points in three games with FBS opponents. The Blue Devils, on the other hand, are heating up on offense, averaging 31 points a game and getting surprising balance from QB Thaddeus Lewis and RB Clifford Harris. Duke is also No. 13 nationally in turnover margin, a trend it’ll need to maintain in order to win back-to-back ACC games.
Why Georgia Tech might win: One week is just not enough time to prepare for this Yellow Jacket option offense. Shaw showed against a quality Mississippi State defense that he’s capable of running the attack, even if Nesbitt is a scratch. Jonathan Dwyer has quickly grown into his role as the team’s B-back, averaging more than eight yards a carry. The Duke defense has been exceptional so far, but this is the toughest challenge it’s faced. On defense, rover Morgan Burnett and the nation’s eighth-ranked pass efficiency defense will frustrate Lewis and top receiver Eron Riley.
Who to watch: Duke’s biggest concern on Saturday will be containing a Tech defensive line that’s star-studded. DE Michael Johnson entered the season with a slew of expectations, but it’s been tackles Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, and end Derrick Morgan who have been eating up opposing linemen. The Blue Devils have marginal talent along the offensive line, which just won’t cut it against this unit.
What will happen: All hail Cutcliffe and his staff for what they’re doing, but this game is a little outside their capabilities. With the option beginning to hum and the defense playing well under Dave Wommack, the Yellow Jackets will play keep-away after building a comfortable halftime lead.
CFN Prediction: Georgia Tech 34 .. Duke 13... Line: Georgia Tech -14
Must See Rating: (5 Palin vs. Biden - 1 Beverly Hills Chihuahua) … 2.5
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Boston College (3-1) at NC State (2-3), 12:00 EST, ESPN Gameplan

Why to watch: Head coach Jeff Jagodzinski wants no part of this topic, but there’s a brewing quarterback controversy in Chestnut Hill. While Chris Crane remains the starter for Boston College, he was upstaged by redshirt freshman Dominique Davis in last week’s disposal of Rhode Island. While clearly the future with the Eagles, Davis could become the present if Crane continues to struggle getting the offense into the end zone. NC State head coach Tom O’Brien gets a second chance at his former employer, losing last year’s game in Massachusetts, 37-17. After upsetting East Carolina a week earlier, the Wolfpack reverted back to old ways last weekend, getting thoroughly mauled by South Florida, 41-10. Now that the William & Mary game is over, State won’t win another time this year if it plays the way it did versus the Bulls.          
Why Boston College might win: O’Brien’s quest for offensive consistency will have to wait at least another weekend. The Eagles continue to play some of the stingiest defense in the country, allowing just six points and 253 yards a game. The front seven, led by linebackers Mark Herzlich and Brian Toal, is an immovable group, and the pass defense has 10 picks and not a single touchdown pass allowed. The Pack’s 113^th-ranked offense will have no luck moving the chains on this unit, especially with starting QB Russell Wilson expected to be out for a second straight week..                           
Why NC State might win: The Pack’s best bet for delivering the upset will be if Boston College remains in neutral on offense. The Eagles have indecision at quarterback and true freshmen leading the way in the running game. Hope for NC State can be found in defensive ends Willie Young and Shea McKeen, who both bring intensity and speed off the edge. They’ll need to get in the quarterback’s face, much the way they did in the upset of East Carolina, forcing turnovers and errant throws. The Wolfpack is No. 4 in the ACC with a dozen takeaways.                                        
Who to watch: True freshman Montel Harris has started locating a rhythm and comfort level as Boston College’s feature back. He’s gone over 100 yards in each of the last two games and has a healthy average of more than seven yards a carry. He’ll be needed in the second half by the Eagles, especially if the passing game keeps having problems.                 
What will happen: No matter what Boston College does when it has the ball, NC State simply won’t generate enough offense to threaten in this game. The Eagles are far from a finished product in Jagodzinski’s second season, but as long as they’re running the ball with Harris and dominating on defense, poor teams, like this week’s host, can be overcome
CFN Prediction: Boston College 27 … NC State 3 ...  Line: Boston College -8
Must See Rating: (5 Palin vs. Biden - 1 Beverly Hills Chihuahua) … 2
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- ACC Week Six Predictions, Oct. 4 Part 2