Where We Stand And What’s Next?

GAME OF THE WEEK: VIRGINIA TECH (4-3, 2-1) at No. 19 CLEMSON (5-1, 2-1).  Last year Clemson won both meetings fairly easily and it marked the first time the Hokies lost to the same team twice in one season. Virginia Tech looked better after spotting Duke a 20 point lead with J.C. Coleman racking up 183 yards rushing. Clemson has struggled to stop the run, ranking No. 99 in the nation. On the other hand, the Hokies have had trouble stopping the run as well so look for a bunch of running up and down the field.  This one is best nicknamed the “Inconsistent Bowl.” Either team gets some much needed cred with a win.

N.C. STATE (4-2, 1-1) at MARYLAND (4-2, 2-0). There is talk that a Wolfpack win in College Park would be an upset, but we aren’t so sure. Maryland is much improved with a solid defense and big output from Stefon Diggs (239 all-purpose yards last week against the Hoos.), but N.C. State beat a pretty darn good Florida State team and they’ve had a week off to prepare.

No. 14 FLORIDA STATE (6-1, 3-1) at MIAMI (4-3, 3-1).  Miami can’t stop the run (giving up 253 yards per game) and their starting quarterback may not play due to a bum ankle.  Florida State should win fairly easily. If not, look for the Tallahassee fan base to go CRAZY...and NOT in a good way.

NORTH CAROLINA (5-2, 2-1) at DUKE (5-2, 2-1). Ahhh…the battle for the Victory Bell. This promises to be one of the better match ups in this long (if not storied) football rivalry.  In the 99^th meeting between the two, Duke looks to get bowl eligible while winning for the first time since 2003.  The Heels should just give the ball to Giovani Bernard, who has 2,956 yards (OK, actually it’s 439 yards) rushing in the last two weeks.

WAKE FOREST (3-3, 1-3) at VIRGINIA (2-5, 0-3). This could be hard to watch and expect plenty of Wahoo fans disguised as empty seats at this one…UVA has lost five straight ACC games and Wake has lost three of their last four.  Looking back, one has to ask “how in the world did the Demon Deacons beat UNC with or without Giovani Bernard?”

BOSTON COLLEGE (1-5, 0-3) at GEORGIA TECH (2-4, 1-3). Weird to see the Jackets with a 2-4 record at this point in the season and BC has yet to beat a FBS team…Georgia Tech didn’t lose last week (they had a bye) while the Eagles were getting squashed by an angry Florida State.  GT fired Al Groh as Defensive Coordinator and replaced him with Charles Kelly.  Good luck with that…oh yeah, it’s Boston College.