2009 ACC Fearless Predictions
Week 6 ... Oct. 10 Games, Part 2
Atlantic
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Boston College |
Clemson |
Florida
State |
Maryland |
NC
State |
Wake
Forest
Coastal
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Duke
| Georgia
Tech |
Miami
| North
Carolina |
Virginia |
Virginia Tech
ACC Fearless Predictions
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Week 2
| Week 3
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Week 4 |
Week 5
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Week 6, Part 1
Duke (2-3) at NC State (3-2),4:00 EST, ESPNU, Saturday, October 10
Why to watch: NC State’s three-game winning streak may be over, but its quest for a spot in the ACC championship game is not. Even after losing its conference opener to Wake Forest, 30-24, the Wolfpack believes it has the ingredients to finish atop an Atlantic Division that’s still searching for a front-runner. A chance for a rebound begins with this weekend’s visit from Duke, which hasn’t won in Raleigh in a quarter-century. The Blue Devils put a genuine scare into Virginia Tech last Saturday before falling, 34-26. For a change, no one around Durham was willing to accept any moral victories, another sign of the progress being made by second-year head coach David Cutcliffe. As winners of just one of their last 34 league games, the Devils are eager to start turning a few close calls into Ws.
Why Duke might win: NC State head coach Tom O’Brien has started to juggle the back seven of his defense for a reason—it’s not getting the job done. Despite getting all kinds of support up front, the Pack got burned for 361 yards and three touchdown passes in Winston-Salem, failing to make key stops when it had to. Enter Thaddeus Lewis, who just got done strafing Virginia Tech for 359 yards and a couple of scores. He’ll pepper the Wolfpack with the help of receivers Donovan Varner, Conner Vernon, and Austin Kelly, who are maturing in hyper-speed.
Why NC State might win: In its two tests with grown-up offenses, Duke failed miserably, yielding an average of 483 yards and 39 points to Kansas and Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack has enough offensive weapons to post similar results. Although Russell Wilson snapped his NCAA-record streak for passes without an interception last Saturday, don’t expect him to stay down for long. He’ll have a short memory, bouncing back by distributing the ball to TE George Bryan and receivers Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams. State has been air-tight versus the run all year, and is sure to keep Duke one-dimensional.
Who to watch: Willie Young has begun to heat up, which is bad news for Lewis and the Duke passing game. One of the premier edge rushers in the country, he’s had a sack in each of the last four games, including three against Wake Forest. The Blue Devils better correct their pass protection issues in a hurry, or else No. 97 has the ability to take a game over.
What will happen: An uneven performance a week ago won’t keep NC State down for very long. The Pack will jet past Duke, getting enough from Wilson and top runner Toney Baker to offset the occasional defensive breakdown. Lewis will throw for 275 yards, but most of it will come in catch-up mode.
CFN Prediction: NC State 34 … Duke 20 ... Line: NC State -15.5
Must See Rating: (A Serious Man 5 … Couples Retreat 1) … 1.5
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Maryland (2-3) at Wake Forest (3-2),6:30 EST, ESPNU, Saturday, October 10
Why to watch: Since losing at home in the opener with Baylor, Wake Forest has rebounded with three wins in the last four games, including last weekend’s narrow escape of NC State. A week after letting one slip away to Boston College in overtime, it was a game that the Demon Deacons had to have in order to stay relevant in the tightly-packed Atlantic Division. Given up for dead weeks ago, Maryland rose from the depths of despair last Saturday, shocking Clemson, 24-21, for the high point of the season in College Park. Was it an anomaly or a sign that the young Terps are finally beginning to get up to speed? A trip down to Winston-Salem will provide more clues by the end of upcoming weekend.
Why Maryland might win: The Terps’ best bet for getting back to .500 will be to attack a Wake Forest D that still hasn’t completely overcome the losses of so many key players. The Deacons have given up 10 touchdown passes and have just three sacks over the last four games. The run defense hasn’t been much stiffer. Maryland will put its fate in the hands of QB Chris Turner, who’s done his part to help Torrey Smith become one of the league’s rising young stars at wide receiver. Balance comes in the form of sprightly RB Davin Meggett, who’s taking over for the injured Da’Rel Scott.
Why Wake Forest might win: The Terps did a nice job of containing Clemson’s speed a week ago. Considering how poorly they defended throughout September, don’t bank on it becoming a trend. Maryland still has too many holes on the interior and can be beaten through the air. As the Wake Forest D adjusts slowly, QB Riley Skinner has quietly had a nice start to his senior year, throwing for 11 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards. He’s also made good use of his faster weapons, like receivers Marshall Williams, Devon Brown, and Chris Givens, who’d accomplished little before this season.
Who to watch: Where is the running game in Winston-Salem? For the second straight season, the Demon Deacons have struggled to move it on the ground, in part because of the play of the offensive line. The blockers have been a little better in 2009, but Josh Adams and Brandon Pendergrass, a pair of quality runners, have yet to have that breakthrough game. A visit from Maryland, however, could be the ideal antidote for their woes.
What will happen: The real Maryland was the one that lost to Middle Tennessee State, not the one that just knocked off Clemson. Wake Forest will spend 60 proving it. The Demon Deacons will turn loose their array of skill position players on a Terp D that doesn’t have two straight good games in it. Skinner will remain on target, tossing a couple more touchdown passes in the win.
CFN Prediction: Wake Forest 33 … Maryland 19 ... Line: Wake Forest -11
Must See Rating: (A Serious Man 5 … Couples Retreat 1) … 1.5
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Florida A&M (4-0) at Miami (3-1),7:00 EST, Saturday, October 10
Why to watch: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma … Florida A&M? Yeah, Randy Shannon will have a devil of a time getting his kids motivated for this week’s visitors. Miami has completed the toughest opening act in the country by impressively winning three games, capped by Saturday’s 21-20 squeaker over the Sooners. Sitting just outside the top 10, the Hurricanes should be favored to win the rest of their games and are well-positioned to creep up the rankings as the season unfolds. Okay, so it hasn’t received the same amount of attention, but Florida A&M has bolted out of the starting gates as well, winning its first four games and setting the standard in the MEAC. With 21 starters and a bunch of former FBS players returning from a 9-3 team, the Rattlers are a dangerous squad.
Why Florida A&M might win: By FCS standards, the Rattlers have valuable assets up and down the roster. The league’s top-ranked offense is led by QB Curtis Pulley, a dual-threat and former Kentucky Wildcat, who’s flanked by a pair of exciting junior receivers, Isaac West and Kevin Elliott. The defense is No. 2 in the nation in scoring, allowing just 11 points a game. And on special teams, LeRoy Vann is a dynamo, returning 10 punts or kickoffs for touchdowns in his last 16 games, including four in just September. This is a scary football team that can catch Miami napping if it hits the snooze button all night.
Why Miami might win: The Hurricanes’ most obvious advantage will be along both lines of scrimmage, where they’ll enjoy a considerable edge in size and technique. The offensive line, which has been one of the pleasant surprises, will create space for backs Javarris James and Graig Cooper and give QB Jacory Harris the time he needs to operate. When not playing in a quagmire, Harris was terrific throughout the first month of the season, spreading the ball around to receivers Travis Benjamin, LaRon Byrd, and Dedrick Epps.
Who to watch: Under the heading of bad news for the rest of the ACC, Harris has access to a new weapon in the receiving corps. Aldarius Johnson, arguably the best wideout on the ‘Canes, returned for the Oklahoma game after missing the previous two weeks with a groin injury. He had four catches for 45 yards, giving Harris a huge target, who can out jump defenders, especially near the end zone.
What will happen: No one should be shocked by or read too much into a listless start from Miami. The letdown is unavoidable. An early deficit and an energized Rattler sideline will shake the ‘Canes from their slumber. They’ll roll over the final 45 minutes, hammering Florida A&M with a perfect offensive blend of the running game and Harris’ passes.
CFN Prediction: Miami 42 … Florida A&M 13 ... Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (A Serious Man 5 … Couples Retreat 1) … 1.5
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Week 6, Part 1