ACC WEEKLY FEATURES
Co-Owner Mike Nowoswiat is joined by ACC expert Reed Bakich to provide weekly game previews each Wednesday, and a look back at the league's top performers each Monday. Be on the look-out for additional feature articles, and we invite you to join the discussion and follow us on Twitter:
ACC Game Previews - WEEK 11 By Reed Bakich, ACC Staff Writer
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Virginia Tech AT Duke
In 2011, Virginia Tech won the ACC Coastal and Duke finished last. Just three years later these two teams meet with their places in the standings switched. Duke (8-1, 4-1) finds itself in the drivers seat for a second consecutive appearance in the ACC Championship game. Virginia Tech (4-5, 1-4) on the other hand, finds itself in a unique and uncomfortable position: on the bottom. Duke fought off Syracuse last week late en route to another ACC win, once again relying on its defense. That’s been the calling card for this year’s Blue Devils team and what they were lacking from last year’s. Anthony Boone and the offense have even shown regression at times from last season but have been able to produce just enough at key moments. Virginia Tech is off a bye and before that suffered its third consecutive loss to Boston College. It’s clear that the Hokies have lost their identity. Once one of the most dominant defenses in the nation, Tech failed to slow down BC’s rushing attack (258 yards) and has looked downright average this season. I think the Hokies have a chance this weekend though. First of, Duke’s offense can be held in check as it doesn’t really have the explosive playmakers that have burned VT throughout the season. On the other side of the ball, the Hokies have actually shown growth this year with QB Michael Brewer but have been undone time and time again by turnovers. As good as Duke is at giving up yards and points they are just average at getting takeaways (63rd nationally). The biggest reason to expect an upset though is because of whom we’re talking about. This is Virginia Tech and the ACC, a team and conference notorious for producing the unexpected and turning things around just when they are being counted out. With three games to go and two wins needed to continue a 20-year bowl streak, the motivation is there to create chaos in the Coastal. Prediction: Virginia Tech 24-23 Pittsburgh AT North Carolina This game is a battle of two teams entrenched in the middle of the Coastal standings as well as a battle of two very different styles. Pitt (4-5, 2-3) is off a bye and before that suffered a heartbreaking loss to Duke in overtime in which a missed chip shot field goal at the end of regulation cost the Panthers the game. With that result, Pitt has lost five of its last six games. Pitt is a rushing offense that keeps almost two-thirds of its plays on the ground, primarily in the hands of James Connor. The sophomore tailback has been a workhorse and one of the most underrated players in the county, totaling 1342 rushing yards and 17 TDs thus far. This is in sharp contrast to the style that UNC like to play. The Tar Heels (4-5, 2-3) run a spread offense led by dual-threat QB Marquise Williams that has been fairly successful so far (27th in points). Unfortunately, poor play on the other side of the ball has kept UNC from winning many games. They rank 126th in the nation with over 40 points per game allowed and the struggles have been well documented. Pitt’s defense has given up just 26 points per game (66th nationally) by comparison although that number is certainly affected by the slow pace its offense likes to play at. With all that said this game sets up to be a shootout with very few things separating these two teams. Neither defense has been faced an offense as dramatically different as the one they will face this weekend, so whoever is able to better adapt should get the win. I’ll give the slightest of edges to the home team in this one. Prediction: North Carolina 38-34 Lousville AT Boston College In an in-state battle of ACC cellar dwellers, these two teams are both looking for different things. For Wake Forest (2-7, 0-5) it’s their first ACC win and for NC State (5-5, 1-5) bowl eligibility is on the line. The Wolfpack endured another rough performance from its defense last week after allowing 56 points in a loss to Georgia Tech while Wake Forest was locked in a battle with Clemson for three quarters before falling, 34-20. For NC State, defense has been an issue all year and QB Jacoby Brissett had been relied on to make plays and keep his team in games. In terms of Wake Forest’s struggles, offense has been the source of problems. A weak offensive line has left the Demon Deacons without much of a running game and freshman QB John Wolford to shoulder much of the load. While Wake has taken its lumps as expected on that side of the ball, its defense has shown some promise (21st in the nation in pass defense). The improvement for Wake throughout the season is noticeable, but I’m just not sure they will be able to produce enough offensively to match Brissett on the other side. Prediction: NC State 31-24 |
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