Week 6 College Football Picks: Virginia Tech and 5 More ACC Winners

ACC football has taken its lumps in recent years, but with four teams in the Top 25, the conference is making its presence felt this season.

Here’s a look at who will come out on top in this week’s matchups, in and out of the conference.

Virginia Tech (vs. Miami)

In spite of last week’s struggles against Clemson, Virginia Tech is still a very dangerous team with a rising QB in Logan Thomas and a superior RB in David Wilson.

Miami counters with an outstanding runner of its own—sophomore Lamar Miller—and streaky senior Jacory Harris under center.

With the game in Blacksburg, the bet here is that Harris will hand the Hokies a couple of key turnovers in a Virginia Tech victory.

North Carolina (vs. Louisville)

North Carolina hasn’t played what you'd call a "brutal schedule," but the team’s 4-1 record suggests that something is going right in Chapel Hill. QB Bryn Renner has had some trouble with INTs, but overall, he's completing 75 percent of his passes, and Dwight Jones has caught six of his 11 TD throws.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, have struggled to score—even against such luminaries as Florida International and Marshall. The athletic Tar Heels defense will be licking its chops for this matchup.

Georgia Tech (vs. Maryland)

Having already lost to an all-passing offense (Geno Smith’s 388 yards for West Virginia), the Terrapins now get to lose to an all-running attack. Georgia Tech’s triple-option is in midseason form, with Orwin Smith’s 423 yards leading the charge.

The Yellow Jackets' home-field advantage and 51.6 points a game (tops in the nation) will be too much for the Terrapins.

Florida State (at Wake Forest)

Wake may be better than expected this year,—coming within one OT defeat of a 4-0 start—but they don't have the horses to compete with Florida State. QB Tanner Price will have his work cut out for him against a Seminoles defense that has accumulated 10 sacks.

Whether or not E.J. Manuel returns to take the QB job back from Clint Trickett, the pass-heavy Seminoles offense will be too much for a Demon Deacons defense that’s mustered just three sacks and two INTs all year.

Clemson (vs. Boston College)

Not much suspense with this pick either, as the unbeaten Tigers get a home date against the 1-4 Eagles.

The biggest question will be how Chase Rettig (five TDs, four INTs) and the anemic Eagles offense will get anything going against a defense that just held Virginia Tech to three points in Blacksburg.

N.C. State (vs. Central Michigan)

The loss of Russell Wilson has hit the Wolfpack offense as hard as expected, but N.C. State has a good chance to bounce back in its final non-conference game. Mike Glennon has struggled on the road, but at home he's thrown seven TDs against just one interception.

Central Michigan, meanwhile, is no longer a serious upset threat against BCS conference foes as their 27-13 loss at Kentucky suggests.