Ranking the Best ACC Matchups of Week 9
Week 9 of the ACC football schedule features multiple narratives from the previous week.
How will Miami play after the firing of its (former) head coach, Al Golden? Can Florida State bounce back from its bizarre loss to Georgia Tech?
Will the Yellow Jackets avoid coming out flat after the significant victory over the Seminoles? Can North Carolina prove itself a legitimate contender in the conference against Pitt?
All of these storylines make for an intriguing and interesting upcoming weekend.
Louisville Cardinals at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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After starting the season slow, the Louisville Cardinals have been flashing the effectiveness many people thought it'd have at the beginning of the year.
The Cardinals have won three of its last four games. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is developing into an incredibly dangerous dual-threat athlete, and Louisville looks primed to make a bowl game.
At this point, it's make-or-break time for the Demon Deacons. They need to rally and try and steal this game at home in Winston-Salem. A bowl appearance isn't out of the realm of possibilities with a loss in this contest, but it'll make matters much more difficult.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Cavaliers
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Coming off of the improbable last-second victory over Florida State, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will travel to Charlottesville to face a struggling Virginia Cavaliers team.
Mike London's hope should be that the Yellow Jackets are plagued by a bit of an emotional hangover in this contest. He also needs his quarterback Matt Johns to perform at a higher clip. The signal-caller threw four interceptions in the loss last week to North Carolina.
Expect Georgia Tech to do what Georgia Tech does well...which is running the football. If Paul Johnson's team can win this game, it may be the start of a winning streak. The next three games are all attainable in terms of garnering victories (Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia).
Although the Yellow Jackets likely won't make a return appearance in the conference title game, it could salvage its season with a bowl appearance.
Syracuse Orange at Florida State Seminoles
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After a crushing, last-second loss to Georgia Tech last week, how will the Florida State Seminoles respond in this contest against an inferior team in the Syracuse Orange?
Had this game been played in the Northeast, one would think the Orange could have an even greater shot at pulling the upset. However, a home game is just what the doctor ordered for Jimbo Fisher's team.
One would expect this angry squad to get back to its winning ways in this contest. It's the superior team in all facets and should win going away.
It also needs a jolt of confidence, with one week until the massive game on the road at Clemson.
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Virginia Tech Hokies at Boston College Eagles
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These two 3-5 teams are squaring off for their bowl lives.
A loss for either team will make things difficult in terms of postseason play. Both teams have lost four of their past five games, and in similar fashion.
The Virginia Tech Hokies have lost three games by seven points or less. The Boston College Eagles have come up short in three games by a combined eight points. Needless to say, this likely will be a close contest.
If the Eagles can sustain any type of offense in this game, they should be able to win this contest at home. However, Frank Beamer's team has the ability to put up points quickly. If it gets out to an early lead, it will be difficult for Boston College to come back with the gross lack of offensive ability.
Clemson Tigers at North Carolina State Wolfpack
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The Clemson Tigers sure do look like the class of the ACC at this point. Perhaps going a step further, Dabo Swinney's team has the appearance of a College Football Playoff participant.
After a 58-0 thumping of Miami last weekend, the Tigers sit at No. 3 in the country. They have everything going for them at this point. With a relatively easy schedule remaining, Clemson has a relatively clear path to the ACC Championship Game.
With that said, this could be a trap game. Clemson has to go on the road in Raleigh to face this 5-2 North Carolina State Wolfpack program. The Tigers should win this game on paper alone.
However, Clemson plays Florida State the following week. Jimbo Fisher's team has been a massive thorn in Clemson's side, and there's no question the Tigers are chomping at the bit to beat it. Clemson simply cannot overlook the Wolfpack with Florida State upcoming. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is more than talented enough to challenge Clemson's secondary.
Miami Hurricanes at Duke Blue Devils
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If anything, this is a must-watch game to see how the Miami Hurricanes will respond.
Not only did they suffer the worst home loss in school history last week against Clemson (58-0), but its beleaguered head coach Al Golden was fired the day after the contest.
To make matters worse, stud signal-caller Brad Kaaya likely won't play due to concussion-like symptoms. It's truly a scenario of "when it rains, it pours" for the Hurricanes.
Duke is sitting at 6-1 and has won four in a row. It squeaked past Virginia Tech by a score of 45-43 last week. Although it's the prohibitive favorite in this game, one can't discount the athleticism Miami has on its roster.
Will Miami lay an egg and not show up in this contest? Or, will the Hurricanes play an inspired game in tribute to its former head coach?
North Carolina Tar Heels at Pittsburgh Panthers
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Ironically enough, the game of the week within the ACC will take place Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
The North Carolina Tar Heels are faced with their toughest test of the season. They'll be facing a ranked team on the road, with the hopes of validating themselves as a legitimate program in front of a national audience.
It's a contract of styles when looking at Pitt and North Carolina. The Panthers want to grind the contest out, slowing the tempo down and playing a ball-control type of game.
Larry Fedora's team, on the other hand, wants to make this a track meet. UNC will try to utilize its athletic advantage in this contest.
It should be a close, hotly contested game.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
