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Georgia Tech (5-1) at Clemson
(3-3),
12:00 EST
Why to watch: Although
it’s only been a week since
Clemson dropped to 3-3 with a
loss to Wake Forest, the program
has endured a season’s worth of
changes since that time. On
Monday, the Tigers ended the
nine-year reign of Tommy Bowden,
replacing him with young
assistant Dabo Swinney. The
program is also expected to
begin a new era at quarterback
with sophomore Willy Korn, a
former blue-chip recruit who was
named the starter before the
coaching change. There isn’t a
3-3 team in the country that’s
going to generate more headlines
or national intrigue this
weekend than Clemson. Georgia
Tech may have won a game last
weekend, but it lost some
swagger in the process, eking
out a three-point win over
Gardner-Webb. In their defense,
the Yellow Jackets were facing a
shortage of healthy
quarterbacks. The probable
return of Josh Nesbitt ought to
rectify the situation, as the
team aims to stay within a game
of Virginia Tech in the Coastal
division race.
Why Georgia Tech might win:
Considering the tumult facing
Clemson, Tech couldn’t be
catching it at a better time.
The coach is new, the
quarterback is new, and the team
is trying to process all of the
changes. The Tigers must also
contend with the nation’s
eighth-ranked ground game and a
tremendous defense that hasn’t
yielded more than seven points
in any of its last three games.
Tech will dominate a flimsy
Clemson interior, forcing Korn
into rookie mistakes. RB C.J.
Spiller is not expected to play,
which means there’s one less
weapon that the defense has to
worry about.
Why Clemson might win:
Georgia Tech can certainly move
the ball on the ground, but that
hasn’t equaled many points. The
Yellow Jackets average just 25
points a game, and the
uncertainty at quarterback will
be a problem against the Tiger
D. Since getting bombed in the
opener with Alabama, Clemson has
allowed just 12 points a game
and has held up well against the
run. Tackles Dorell Scott and
Jarvis Jenkins form as tough an
interior as there is in the ACC.
Who to watch: If Georgia
Tech hopes to leave Death Valley
with a victory, Nesbitt has to
be at full strength. He sat out
the last two games with a
hamstring injury, and the
offense suffered, scoring just
37 combined points against Duke
and Gardner-Webb. If he’s not
100, it could be up to freshman
Jaybo Shaw, who missed last
week’s game with a concussion.
If third-stringer Calvin Booker
is in the game, it’s a bad sign
for the Yellow Jackets.
What will happen: If
Clemson couldn’t put it together
in recent games with Maryland or
Wake Forest, what makes anyone
believe it’ll rise up now?
Georgia Tech suddenly has an
enormous advantage on the
sidelines and its edge along
both lines will be evident. In a
physical, low-scoring game, Tech
will keep Clemson reeling,
spoiling the debuts of Swinney
and Korn.
CFN Prediction: Georgia
Tech 20 … Clemson 16 …. Line:
Georgia Tech -1
Must See Rating: (5 The
Real Housewives of Atlanta
– 1 Celebrity Rehab With Dr.
Drew) … 4
-
Click here to receive ATS
Consultants FREE selections
North Carolina (5-1) at Virginia
(3-3),
3:30 EST, ABC
Why to watch: North
Carolina is hot, and after
beating Notre Dame in a classic,
beginning to get more
recognition on a national level.
Butch Davis has the Tar Heels
way ahead of schedule, ranked
No. 18 in the latest AP poll and
still in the hunt in the ACC
Coastal. The win over the Irish,
however, came at a price.
Brandon Tate, the team’s
multi-dimensional threat, was a
lost for the year with a knee
injury, a stiff blow to the
offense and the special teams.
All the talk of Al Groh’s demise
has been greatly exaggerated.
He’s got Virginia playing its
best football of the season,
blowing past Maryland and East
Carolina in consecutive. Credit
the coaching staff for getting
the program to .500 and turning
around a season that appeared to
be beyond repair in September.
With a win here, the ‘Hoos can
start seriously talking about
bowl eligibility.
Why North Carolina might win:
Carolina has an opportunistic
defense that’s quick to the ball
and No. 2 nationally in
takeaways. The Heels will give
up some yards, but are stingy in
the red zone and have been a
genuine asset to the offense.
Linebackers Bruce Carter, Quan
Sturdivant, and Mark Paschal
will make sure that Cedric
Peerman and the 100th-ranked
Virginia running game never get
to top gear. Although the Cavs
have played better on offense
lately, they’re still averaging
just 17 points a game and lack
the playmakers to match
Carolina’s defensive speed.
Why Virginia might win: It
took a while, but the Cavalier
defense has finally started to
come around, pressuring the
quarterback and limiting the big
plays that were prevalent in the
early going. Sparked by LB Clint
Sintim and DE Matt Conrath,
Virginia is second in the ACC in
sacks and have held the last
three opponents under 100 yards
in rushing. When Carolina isn’t
getting help from the defense
and special teams, the 91st-ranked
offense has had trouble scoring
and sustaining drives. Without
Tate on the field, the Cavs can
assign extra resources to help
Ras-I Dowling stop Hakeem Nicks.
Who to watch: Shaun
Draughn as been a blessing over
the last two games for the
Carolina running game. He’s
taken over for Greg Little,
grinding out 200 yards and a
touchdown over his last 36
carries. A converted defensive
back, he hits the hole quickly
and is always pushing forward.
The staff must decide what to do
with Little, who came to Chapel
Hill as a receiver and could be
moved back to bolster the team’s
depth at the position.
What will happen: Coming off
an emotional win over Notre
Dame, North Carolina will have
its hands full with a resurgent
Virginia squad. The lead will
change hands several times and
the outcome will be in doubt in
the final quarter. No stranger
to close games, the Heels will
pull out another squeaker on a
field goal from Casey Barth.
CFN Prediction: North
Carolina 24 … Virginia 21 ….
Line: North Carolina -5.5
Must See Rating: (5 The
Real Housewives of Atlanta
– 1 Celebrity Rehab With Dr.
Drew) … 3
-
Click here to receive ATS
Consultants FREE selections
Miami (3-3) at Duke (3-2),
3:30 EST, ESPNU
Why to watch: Since
blowing past Texas A&M in the
third week, Miami has had a hard
time getting back on track,
losing close games against North
Carolina and Florida State, and
barely getting past UCF last
Saturday. The offense is
inconsistent, the defense has
holes, and the injuries to key
players have begun to mount. If
the ‘Canes hope to land a
postseason berth, it has to win
games it’s supposed to, such as
this week versus Duke. The Blue
Devils certainly lack Miami’s
talent, but they’re no longer a
pushover that automatically goes
in the win column. Duke has been
a different team under David
Cutcliffe, one that makes fewer
mistakes and has some punch on
offense. The Blue Devils have
played the Hurricanes tough in
each of the last two years, so
another close game shouldn’t
surprise anyone.
Why Miami might win: Of
course this is not a vintage
Hurricane defense, but there’s
still enough speed and talent to
handle a one-dimensional Duke
offense. The Blue Devils can’t
run the ball, which won’t change
versus the nation’s 16th-ranked
run defense. While Thaddeus
Lewis will make some connections
with WR Eron Riley, he’ll also
have a hard time navigating the
athletes that roam the Miami
secondary. The ‘Canes will look
to exploit one of the ACC’s
worst run defenses by getting
20-25 touches for Graig Cooper.
Why Duke might win: Do
the Blue Devils have the better
defense in this game? Don’t
laugh. They’re only allowing 18
points a game and the pass
defense has been surprisingly
stingy. The front seven has been
stout, led by linebackers
Vincent Rey and Michael
Tauiliili, and linemen Greg
Akinbiyi and Vince Oghobaase.
Duke will not back down to a
Miami offense that has problems
at quarterback and is generally
not clicking in any area. The
‘Canes managed just 216 yards
and 2-of-17 third down
conversions against UCF.
Who to watch: Riley is
the big-play guy of the Duke
offense, but Miami is well-aware
of skills and will adjust
accordingly. The Blue Devils
need a second option in the
passing game to assist Lewis and
take some of the heat off No.
15. It’s time for true freshman
Johnny Williams to play like he
a month ago. In Week 2 against
Northwestern, he caught 11
passes for 135 yards, but has
just seven grabs for 77 yards
since.
What will happen: Why not
Duke? Miami has shown nothing
but flaws in the last three
games, and appears to be
regressing on offense. While the
‘Canes will be flat, the Blue
Devils will pounce on the
opportunity to slay a former
power and make more headlines.
They’ll hand Miami a painful
loss, riding a solid effort from
the defense and a bunch of
hook-ups between Lewis and
Riley.
CFN Prediction: Duke 24 …
Miami 20 …. Line: Miami
-5.5
Must See Rating: (5 The
Real Housewives of Atlanta
– 1 Celebrity Rehab With Dr.
Drew) … 2.5
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Consultants FREE selections
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ACC Week
Eight Predictions, Oct. 18
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