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Clemson (5-5) at Virginia (5-5),
12:00 EST, ESPN GamePlan
Why to watch: The ACC has
nine possible bowl tie-ins.
Eight schools are already
bowl-eligible. Clemson and
Virginia are hoping to fill that
final opening with a win this
week in Charlottesville.
Although the Tigers have been
one of this season’s biggest
flops, they still have a chance
to reward the seniors with one
final bowl experience. Clemson
got to .500 with last week’s
31-7 rout of Duke, one of its
most complete wins of the
season. Virginia returns from
its bye week knowing that one
win could mean more than just
bowl eligibility. Although the
Cavaliers certainly aren’t
looking ahead, they do recognize
that wins over Clemson and
Virginia Tech could lead to a
Coastal Division crown. They’re
just a game out of first place,
and could fare well in a
tiebreaker if Georgia Tech and
North Carolina are also in the
mix.
Why Clemson might win:
The Cavaliers will have plenty
of problems scoring points this
weekend. Not only do they have
the ACC’s worst running game,
but QB Marc Verica will be
trying to navigate the league’s
stingiest pass defense. That’s a
recipe for lots of punts and
three-and-outs. Virginia is
averaging only 17 points a game,
a number it’ll fight to reach
Saturday afternoon. The Tiger
defense has been steady all
season, holding six of its last
eight opponents under 300 total
yards.
Why Virginia might win:
Beating up on Duke is hardly an
indication that Clemson has
turned a corner. This is
essentially the same Tiger team
that’s gone 2-4 since the end of
September, turning the ball over
way too often and playing poorly
along both lines. The Cavaliers
defense, which ranks second in
the league in sacks, will have
its way with a suspect Clemson
front wall. Virginia can rattle
Cullen Harper the conventional
way, with rush ends Matt Conrath
and Alex Field, or by blitzing
Clint Sintim and Antonio
Appleby. Harper has been a shell
of his expectations,
neutralizing the potential of
his surrounding skill position
talent.
Who to watch: Since
Verica won’t have much luck
throwing into the teeth of the
Clemson defense, Virginia will
need a big game from RB Cedric
Peerman. While not flashy or
NFL-ready, he is the undisputed
sparkplug for the Cavalier
offense. A downhill runner
that’ll take tacklers for a
ride, he’s gone over 100 yards
three times, all Virginia
upsets. If the Cavs are going to
poke their heads above .500,
they’ll need another productive
day from their senior workhorse.
What will happen: Neither
team will be able to build much
of a cushion as both defenses
dominate the tempo of the game.
If you don’t know the names of
the Virginia and Clemson punters
and kickers, you will after
watching this game for four
quarters. The Cavs are more
rested and better coached, which
will provide the margin of
victory in a tight, low-scoring
affair.
CFN Prediction: Virginia
20 … Clemson 17... Line:
Clemson -2.5
Must See Rating: (5
Valkyrie – 1 Paris
Hilton’s My New BFF) … 3
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Boston College (7-3) at Wake
Forest (6-4),
3:30 EST, ABC
Why to watch: Do not
sleep on Boston College simply
because it appears to be buried
in fourth place of the Atlantic
Division. With wins over Wake
Forest and Maryland in the final
two games, the Eagles will soar
past everyone and return to a
second straight ACC championship
game. Period. They cleared their
first—and possibly tallest
hurdle a week ago, knocking off
Florida State on the road and in
primetime. Although the Demon
Deacons aren’t out of contention
in the division, they’re
certainly not headed in the
right direction. Wake Forest had
its chances to remain tied for
the Atlantic lead, but failed to
deliver when it mattered in a
21-17 loss to North Carolina
State. A win this Saturday,
coupled with a Terrapin loss to
the Seminoles would create a
three-team logjam heading into
the final weekend of the regular
season.
Why Boston College might win:
The Eagle defense has awoken
from a mini-slump, and is
playing like it did in
September. Boston College has
allowed just 17 points in the
last two games, rising to No. 8
nationally in total defense. The
front seven, which is bolstered
by LB Mark Herzlich and tackles
B.J. Raji and Ron Brace, will
cause all kinds of problems for
a Deacon line that’s yet to exit
the work-in-progress phase. Wake
Forest has done a poor job of
protecting Riley Skinner and run
blocking, which explains the
team’s paltry 20-point scoring
average.
Why Wake Forest might win:
Boston College is having scoring
problems of its own. QB Chris
Crane is 97th
nationally in passing efficiency
and neither Montel Harris nor
Josh Haden is a true every-down
back. The Eagles haven’t reached
30 points in any of its last
five games, and won’t do so
again this weekend. Like this
week’s opposition, Wake’s
strength is on defense, where NG
Boo Robinson, LB Aaron Curry,
and CB Alphonso Smith are
all-conference players. The
Deacons are yielding only 18
points a game and will often
create more big plays than the
offense. Crane must resist the
temptation to force the ball, or
else the Wake Forest defenders
will make him pay all afternoon.
Who to watch: Wake Forest
will need every available weapon
to solve the stingy Boston
College defense. That means it’s
time for Josh Adams, last year’s
ACC Rookie of the Year, to let
it all hang out now that he’s
back from an ankle injury. After
carrying the ball just two times
a week ago, he’ll be counted on
to somewhat lighten the load on
Brandon Pendergrass, who’s
performed well as the spot
starter.
What will happen: Both
schools have 29 takeaways this
season, so the team that
protects the ball is going to
win. Crane is capable of being
rattled, which is exactly what
the aggressive Wake Forest
defense will try to do. It’ll
mix up its coverages and blitz
occasionally, forcing the
quarterback to make errant
throws and give the Deacons a
short field to navigate. Wake is
4-1 in Winston-Salem, where
it’ll spend the final two
weekends of the regular season.
CFN Prediction: Wake
Forest 21 … Boston College 17...
Line: Wake Forest -2
Must See Rating: (5
Valkyrie – 1 Paris
Hilton’s My New BFF) … 3.5
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Duke (4-6) at Virginia Tech
(6-4),
5:30 EST, ESPNU
Why to watch: Even after
dropping a crucial game to Miami
last Thursday and falling into a
third place tie in the Coastal
Division, all is not lost for
Virginia Tech. The Hokies will
be favored to win their final
two games in Blacksburg, and as
long as the ‘Canes lose to
Georgia Tech on Thursday,
they’ve got a prayer of coming
out on top once tiebreaker rules
are applied. The best news
coming out of Miami was that
Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon
both played at quarterback,
giving the program its best
situation at the position in
weeks. Duke’s dreams of an
unlikely bowl invitation are
becoming more improbable with
each passing week. Since
surprising Vanderbilt on Oct.
25, the Blue Devils have lost
three straight and appeared to
be running out of gas at Clemson
last weekend.
Why Duke might win: Their
offense fading fast, the Blue
Devils must count on an unlikely
source, the defense, to have a
chance at the upset. The unit
has played better than expected
this fall, and will be able to
contain a Hokie offense that’s
last in the ACC in yards per
game and sacks allowed.
Linebackers Michael Tauiliili
and Vincent Rey, and DE Greg
Akinbiyi are high-energy,
disruptive players who can make
stops behind the line,
especially if Taylor and Glennon
show any lingering effects from
their ankle injuries.
Why Virginia Tech might win:
Not only has the Duke offense
been on a steady decline, but
now QB Thaddeus Lewis is a
question mark with a foot
injury. If he can’t play, the
Blue Devils could be held under
10 points for a second straight
week. While the Hokies haven’t
been spectacular defensively,
they have been solid, creating
turnovers and sacks, and holding
opponents to an average of 20
points a game. Duke’s persistent
inability to run the ball will
allow Tech to drop a man back in
coverage and completely shut
down passing lanes.
Who to watch: In a season
of uncertainty in the Hokie
backfield, RB Darren Evans has
become the unlikely sure-thing.
While just a true freshman, he’s
third in the ACC in rushing and
has scored nine touchdowns. A
week after being cooled down by
the Miami defense, he’ll likely
get back on track with a second
career 100-yard game at the
expense of Duke.
What will happen: After
peaking at the end of September,
Duke has run out of magic and is
limping to the end of the
regular season. It’ll provide
little competition to Virginia
Tech on the road and with its
most valuable player hobbling.
The Hokies will get off to a
fast start and cruise to a rare
comfortable victory.
CFN Prediction: Virginia
Tech 30 … Duke 10... Line:
Virginia Tech -17
Must See Rating: (5
Valkyrie – 1 Paris
Hilton’s My New BFF) … 2
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ACC Week
13 Predictions, Nov. 22 |