The biggest game of the season is upon us. Florida State will travel to Clemson and fight it out to remain in the BCS national championship game hunt. The loser will be left to lick their wounds and hope others slip up around them. Elsewhere in the ACC Miami have jumped to No. 10 in their week off and will look to maintain their unbeaten record against North Carolina.
Conference Games
No. 5 Florida State @ No. 3 Clemson
The league’s first match-up between top-five teams since 2005 falls to the ACC. A showdown in Death Valley was a dream seven weeks ago but we’ve made it this far and it promises to be a cracker.
Both offenses are eclipsing 514 total yards per game with quarterback from both teams the centre pieces. Clemson’s Tajh Boyd has taken care of the ball with just two interceptions through six games. The senior has gathered momentum in the build-up to this game with three straight 300 yard games.
Florida State have a freshman under centre who has lit the league alight. Jameis Winston is completing over 73% of his passes on route to 17 touchdowns and 1,441 yards, stat lines which have thrown him into Heisman conversations.
No. 10 Miami @ North Carolina
Miami is ranked inside the top-ten for the first time in five years and I fully expect them to stay there come Sunday.
Coming off a bye week the Hurricanes can improve to 6-0 for the first time in nine years with a win over the Tar Heels. Quarterback Stephen Morris appears to have overcome some early season flutters with two more rounded performances.
Bryn Renner is expected to return from injury after missing North Carolina’s loss to Virginia Tech last week. Renner has had a below-par season thus far, completing just shy of 60% of his passes. The senior will need to improve quickly or his draft stock may fall beyond repair.
Maryland @ Wake Forest
Maryland will hope to improve to 6-1 against a stuttering Wake Forest.
Maryland got back to winning ways last week with a dramatic win over Virginia while Wake Forest had a bye-week to prepare for the Terrapins. It’s unsure whether quarterback C.J. Brown will return for Maryland or if Caleb Rowe will keep his place. Star wide receiver Stefon Diggs has a lousy ten catches with no touchdowns in his last three outings. The sophmore had 16 catches for 387 yards and three touchdowns through the first three weeks and is eager to get his season back on track.
Wide receiver Michael Campanaro is the key to the Demon Deacons’ offense with 44 catches already on the season. Maryland will look to shut him down and cut off Tanner Price’s passing game. The home side have struggled on mightily on the ground this season with lead back Josh D. Harris averaging 3.1 yards a carry.
Syracuse @ Georgia Tech
After starting 3-0 the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have slumped to 3-3, a record matched by Syracuse. In Week 8 something has to give and one team will kick on while the other will fall two games back.
Both teams are running the ball well: Georgia Tech behind David Sims and quarterback Vad Lee while Syracuse is leaning on Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley.
After a poor start to the season the Orange have won three of the last four, the only loss coming against Clemson. They may be the away team but Syracuse have the momentum and should have enough in the tank to outlast Georgia Tech.
Duke @ Virginia
Anthony Boone returned under centre to lead Duke to their fourth win of the campaign and It’s expected he will do the same against a poor Virginia.
Boone looked like he was never away as he completed 31 of 38 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. The junior will lead a Blue Devils offense that is ranked 35th in scoring, compare that to a Virginia who are struggling in 102nd.
After a 2-1 start Virginia has lost three in a row. Last week saw the Cavaliers narrowly miss out on a win against Maryland, however, quarterback David Watford is too inconsistent to put together a string of good performances.
Non-Conference Games
Old Dominion @ Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh will be confident of a comfortable win when they host Old Dominion on Saturday.
The Panthers have quietly put together a strong season with their only two losses coming against ranked opponents from the ACC. James Conner and Isaac Bennett have pounded the rock all season for Pittsburgh and it will continue this weekend.
Old Dominion is on a four-game winning streak but haven’t beaten anybody of note. The Monarchs lost convincingly earlier in the season to Maryland.