Ranking the Best ACC Matchups of Week 5
While the Week 5 slate of ACC football action isn't overly packed from a tangible game perspective, there are some very good matchups to look forward to.
The obvious headliner is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Clemson Tigers. It will be a battle of two top-15 teams playing in what should be an absolutely fantastic atmosphere. A victory for either team will be huge for their respective playoff chances.
While the rest of the games don't feature ranked teams (save for Florida State), multiple teams have the ability to propel themselves into the Top 25.
It should be a fun, competitive weekend! As always, this piece will rank the matchups from the least appealing to the one with the most intrigue.
Florida State at Wake Forest
1 of 7
This game features arguably the most talented ACC team against the one with the least amount of talent.
The Florida State Seminoles should win this game handily if one were to go player-by-player. They are deeper at every position and possess an extreme advantage both athletically and physically.
With that said, the Seminoles haven't looked like world-beaters throughout the early portion of the season. Everett Golson struggled last week against Boston College, and the rushing attack never got its proverbial footing, either.
Wake gets the benefit of playing this game at home. Head coach Dave Clawson should hope the Seminoles underestimate the Demon Deacons in sleepy Winston-Salem. This could keep the game relatively close in the first half, but Florida State likely will win comfortably.
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech
2 of 7
This contest pits two relatively even teams against one another.
Neither has an overly explosive offense, and both are coming off of tough losses in the previous week. This also marks the first conference game for Pitt and Virginia Tech.
The Hokies benefit from playing this game at home. Quarterback Brenden Motley is somewhat erratic and inconsistent—largely stemming from a general lack of experience. Conventional wisdom suggests Motley playing well at home.
Virginia Tech did suffer a blow with the loss of corner Kendall Fuller. One of the best corners in the country, he will be out for the year with a torn meniscus. As a result of this development, Pitt will likely test the Virginia Tech secondary with the combination of quarterback Nate Peterman and receiver Tyler Boyd.
Boston College at Duke
3 of 7
Outside of Chestnut Hill, does anyone realize Boston College has the No. 1-ranked defense in the entire country?
Through four games, it's allowing only 118.0 yards per game. The next-best team (Michigan) gives up 203.8 yards a contest. Needless to say, the Blue Devils will have to manufacture some points in order to win this contest.
Duke is coming off of a very good win versus Georgia Tech at home. Shaq Powell has been an effective player at the running back position for head coach David Cutcliffe. He's a hard-nosed runner who is adept at churning out yards. Powell had 88 yards and three touchdowns in the victory last week.
This could be the best offense BC will have faced up to this point—including Florida State. Duke also benefits immensely from having this contest being played in Durham.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Miami at Cincinnati
4 of 7
The Cincinnati Bearcats are coming off of a 53-46 loss at Memphis. Backup quarterback Hayden Moore was rushed into action and played exceptionally well. The signal-caller went 31-of-53 for 557 yards and four touchdowns.
Based upon the statistical output by Cincinnati's quarterback, it's plainly evident he can throw the ball. Moore isn't overly experienced and could be prone to some mistakes in the passing game—as evidenced by two interceptions he threw in the Memphis game.
Sitting at 3-0, the Hurricanes will likely try to confuse Moore with exotic looks and complicated blitz packages. Al Golden's team will need to be creative defensively—especially since secondary members Deon Bush and Jamal Carter will be suspended for the first half due to targeting penalties in the previous game.
Although Miami has an athletic advantage overall, Cincinnati is still capable of putting up points—and potentially pulling the upset at home.
Louisville at NC State
5 of 7
This game has the potential to be the most exciting of all the ACC matchups this weekend.
North Carolina State is 4-0 but hasn't really played anyone of note. It's feasted on proverbial cupcakes for the last four weeks.
Louisville is off to a rough 1-3 start. On paper, the record would indicate Louisville being a weak team. However, the Cardinals have lost three games by a combined 13 points—all against respectable competition (Houston, Auburn, Clemson).
This will be the first true test of the year for the Wolfpack, who face a team looking for a victory in conference play. For signal-caller Jacoby Brissett and company, this contest should also provide us with a gauge as to seeing just how good North Carolina State truly is.
North Carolina at Georgia Tech
6 of 7
After starting 2-0, the Yellow Jackets have dropped their last two contests in unceremonious fashion. Frankly, Paul Johnson's team was outplayed thoroughly in both of the defeats.
Both losses did feature on the road. Justin Thomas had a rough day last week at Duke, going 6-of-21 for 143 yards, Surely, this isn't the amount of throws Johnson would want his signal-caller making. With Georgia Tech having to play catch-up for the majority of the game, it had to effectively abandon its rushing attack.
North Carolina enters this game as a 7.5-point underdog on OddsShark (as of Wednesday afternoon). Its skill players should give Georgia Tech's defense a tough time. Wide receiver Ryan Switzer in particular should be able to impact the game in a number of areas.
Although Mitch Trubisky was named ACC Player of the Week last week, it appears as if UNC will stick with Marquise Williams at quarterback. His ability to be consistent—or inconsistent—as a passer will go a long way in determining the winner of this game.
Notre Dame at Clemson
7 of 7
This is a dangerous game for Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish will be thrown into a crystalline sea of bright orange and purple. Undoubtedly, the Clemson crowd will be fervently raucous.
From a personnel standpoint, how will Notre Dame deal with Clemson's fleet of talented skill players? Surely, Dabo Swinney's team will look to use the speed advantage it has in this contest.
Clemson's rush defense will have to slow Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise—who's averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Receiver Will Fuller is another player the Tigers have to be cognizant of. He's a legitimate deep-threat option for Notre Dame.
Can Clemson avoid another loss at home versus a big-name opponent in a significant game? It's a storyline to watch in what should be a highly competitive contest.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
