Saturday, November 29

Georgia Tech (8-3) at Georgia (9-2), 12:00 EST, CBS
Why to watch: When Paul Johnson was hired by Georgia Tech almost a year ago, he knew that beating  Georgia was on the top of his to-do list. The Yellow Jackets have lost seven in-a-row to the Bulldogs, moving further and further behind their in-state rival, a gap Johnson in charge of narrowing. Tech is coming off an impressive win over Miami last Thursday, and is in the ACC Coastal clubhouse with a 5-3 mark. To win the division, however, it’ll need Virginia to upset Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs must get to 10 wins in order to keep their fading at-large BCS bowl hopes alive. With Florida and Alabama on target to gobble up those two SEC openings, however, a far more likely scenario has them playing in the Capital One Bowl against a Big Ten opponent.
Why Georgia Tech might win: The Yellow Jackets are going to enjoy a considerable advantage at the point of attack when Georgia has the ball. While the Dawgs have been scrambling with injuries on the offensive line, Tech has been rock solid in the trenches with ends Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan, and tackles Vance Walker and Darryl Richard. The team ranks in the top 20 nationally in sacks, total defense, and scoring defense, presenting a major challenge to the balanced Georgia offense. Johnson’s option has begun to purr, racking up almost 1,100 yards in the last three games with Florida State, North Carolina, and Miami.
Why Georgia might win: With a much-needed week of rest behind them, the Dawgs have the speed and discipline on defense to slow down the option and force Tech QB Josh Nesbitt into more passing situations. Georgia is No. 15 nationally against the run, and its problems pressuring the quarterback and defending the pass won’t get exposed this weekend. As tough as the Yellow Jackets can be on defense, they’ve yet to face an offense with as much skill position talent as Georgia. The combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, and WR A.J. Green is like nothing they see on a week-to-week basis in the ACC.
Who to watch: With Georgia Tech content to pound it on the ground 50 or so times, this is the type of game designed for Georgia LB Rennie Curran. In just his second season of action, he’s having an All-American-type year, leading the Dawgs with 98 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks. He’s got the speed and instinct to be in on a ton of plays, while keeping Jacket B-back Jonathan Dwyer from getting through the hole and busting past the second line of defense.
What will happen: Georgia Tech is fired up for this game. If Georgia can’t match that intensity for four quarters, the winning streak will be over. While Johnson has narrowed the gap, as directed, his Yellow Jackets won’t be quite ready to win a game in Athens. They’ll fall in a thriller on a fourth quarter drive directed by Stafford and capped by Moreno.
CFN Prediction: Georgia 28 … Georgia Tech 24 ... Line: Georgia -8.5
Must See Rating: (5 Football while eating Thanksgiving food – 1 Home movies after dinner) … 4
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North Carolina (7-4) at Duke (4-7), 3:30 EST, ESPNU
Why to watch: North Carolina might be headed back to the postseason in Butch Davis’ second season, but it’ll look back on November as a month of lost opportunities. Just a couple of weeks after taking control of the Coastal Division, the Tar Heels blew a late lead to Maryland and got completely blown out by NC State to fall out of contention. They’ll use this week’s trip to Durham to try and regain some momentum before heading off to the postseason. Duke’s dreams of a bowl game in David Cutcliffe’s first season officially disappeared in Blacksburg last weekend, its sixth loss in the last seven games. While the Blue Devils clearly made some progress this season, they ran out of steam in the second half, and still have a long way to go before narrowing the talent gap on the rest of the conference.
Why North Carolina might win: Duke’s problems scoring points are going to continue, especially if QB Thaddeus Lewis and top rusher Clifford Harris are out again this week. The Blue Devils have scored just 10 points in the last two games, and backup QB Zack Asack was absolutely miserable last weekend. The Tar Heels boast a speedy, attacking defense that won’t give up much ground through the air and won’t have much trouble with Duke’s 102^nd-ranked running game.
Why Duke might win: As badly as the Blue Devils have been skidding, it hasn’t been the fault of a defense that’s held up well in most games and only allowed one offensive touchdown to Virginia Tech a week ago. Linebackers Michael Tauiliili and Vincent Rey will create headaches for a Carolina offense that’s produced just 25 points in the last two weeks and has sunk to 99^th in the country in total offense. The Tar Heels are having issues at quarterback with Cam Sexton and T.J. Yates, and aren’t getting a push from the offensive linemen.
Who to watch: With the problems North Carolina is facing at quarterback, it’ll be wise to turn the offense over to RB Shaun Draughn, the most consistent member of the backfield. The converted defensive back was hemmed in by Maryland and NC State recently, but should find a little more running room this weekend at Duke.
What will happen: Duke might be primed for an upset in this spot if it wasn’t facing so many problems in the backfield. Without a healthy Lewis, this simply isn’t the same team. The Carolina offense will benefit from short field opportunities, parlaying turnovers into touchdowns from Draughn and WR Hakeem Nicks.
CFN Prediction: North Carolina 27 … Duke 13 ... Line: North Carolina -8.5
Must See Rating: (5 Football while eating Thanksgiving food – 1 Home movies after dinner) … 2.5
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Miami (7-4) at North Carolina State (5-6), 12:00 EST
Why to watch: North Carolina State has been out of the ACC race for more than a month, but few teams are playing better as the end of the regular season approaches. The Pack has won three straight, including last weekend’s 41-10 rout of North Carolina, to pull within a game of bowl eligibility. That’s not too shabby for a team that was 2-6 and on life support not long ago. State went 4-0 versus teams from North Carolina, and would get a huge jolt of momentum by qualifying for a postseason game in Tom O’Brien’s second year on the job. In losing to Georgia Tech last Thursday, Miami dropped from contention in the tight Coastal Division race. Although an ACC championship would have put the young program a year ahead of its timetable, ‘Cane fans couldn’t help but get excited after making a cameo in the Top 25 last week.
Why Miami might win: As long as the ‘Canes don’t have to worry about defending the option, they’ll be fine on defense. Miami had been moving in the right direction with its inexperienced defense before running into the Georgia Tech ground game. North Carolina State won’t present nearly the same kind of challenge. The Hurricanes are No. 20 nationally in total defense, and all of those young players, such as LB Sean Spence and DE Marcus Robinson, have begun to play like sophomores.
Why NC State might win: Forget what you saw from the Wolfpack in September. This is a completely different team that’s running the ball much better with Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene, and playing rock-solid defense. With Nate Irving back at linebacker and DE Willie Young creating havoc on the outside, NC State will toy with a Miami offense that still hasn’t found its bearings. Quarterbacks Robert Marve and Jacory Harris will wilt in the face of pressure and make the kinds of mistakes that change the tempo of a game.
Who to watch: Although he’s not getting nearly the attention he deserves, NC State QB Russell Wilson has been nothing short of brilliant as a redshirt freshman. Quickly becoming O’Brien’s franchise quarterback, he leads the ACC in passing and has thrown 14 touchdown passes without an interception over the last eight games. No, he doesn’t have the best fastball, but he’s mature beyond on his years and simply won’t make a mistake to kill a drive. In Wilson, the Pack has a winner it can build around for the next three seasons.
What will happen: Two programs headed in opposite directions will continue down those paths. While NC State is flourishing and in need of a win for bowl eligibility, what’s Miami’s motivation this weekend? The Pack will swarm on the Hurricane quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and providing a boost for the offense. Wilson will flip a pair of touchdowns without a pick for the sixth game in-a-row.
CFN Prediction: NC State 28 … Miami 17 ... Line: Miami -1.5
Must See Rating: (5 Football while eating Thanksgiving food – 1 Home movies after dinner) … 3
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- ACC Week 14 Predictions, Nov. 29, Part 2 (Mary-BC, Va-VT)