Weekend Preview (Part 2) Nov. 6
Rob Daniels is back to preview Week 10 in the ACC.
Virginia (3-5, 2-2 ACC) at Miami (6-2, 3-2 ACC)
Time: Noon.
TV: Raycom.
Key for the Cavaliers:
They’ll need a lot of defensive backs in the early afternoon South Florida heat to stay with the ‘Canes, nine of whom caught passes in last week’s win at Wake Forest. UVa’s pass rush is solid, but it’s not enough on its own.
Key for the Hurricanes:
Avoid special-teams errors and turnovers. Only that sort of thing can derail Miami in this one.
Numbers Game:
Jacory Harris has thrown game-winning TD passes in the last two minutes three times in the past year. … Virginia is 100th or worse nationally in all four major offensive statistical categories.
Prediction:
Hurricanes 31, Cavaliers 7.
Maryland (2-6, 1-3 ACC) at N.C. State (3-5, 0-4 ACC)
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN360
Key for the Terrapins:
Establish a running game without fumbling. Yeah, this is an old line, but it’s true. The Terps have averaged fewer than three yards per rush after the first quarter of games.
Key for the Wolfpack:
Take some chances defensively. State isn’t stopping anybody by conventional means.
Numbers Game:
The loser will be ineligible for a bowl game. …. N.C. State, 20th nationally in scoring offense (33 ppg) is the only team in the Top 30 of that department with a losing record. … The Wolfpack’s Owen Spencer is leading the FBS in yards per reception (26.59). … Maryland has had a negative turnover margin in six of its eight games. … Maryland is 1-4 when Torrey Smith gains 229 or more all-purpose yards in a game.
Prediction:
Wolfpack 37, Terps 30.
Wake Forest (4-5, 2-3 ACC) at Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC in the ACC region; ESPN2 elsewhere.
Key for the Demon Deacons:
Don’t forget to stop the fullback. Navy has beaten Wake in each of the past two seasons by running the ball right up the middle, and Georgia Tech runs the same offense as the Midshipmen - only much, much better.
Key for the Yellow Jackets:
Keep playing keep-away. Over the past three games, the Jackets have run 231 plays and defended only 142.
Numbers Game:
Jonathan Dwyer (904) has already amassed the 15th-highest single-season rushing total in Yellow Jackets history. … Georgia Tech is 116th nationally in passing yardage per game but third in passing efficiency. … Riley Skinner, who has started Wake’s past 32 games at QB, will make it 33 despite suffering a concussion last week.
Prediction:
Yellow Jackets 34, Deacs 10.
Duke (5-3, 3-1 ACC) at North Carolina (5-3, 1-3 ACC)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU.
Key for the Blue Devils:
Get over the mental hurdle of facing the Heels, who have won 18 of the past 19 meetings in the series.
Key for the Tar Heels:
Defend the short passing game. Specifically, UNC needs to be prepared for the middle screen and to make the initial tackle on such plays.
Numbers Game:
This is the teams’ earliest meeting on the calendar in the ACC era. They will play for the 88th straight season. … Duke WRs Donovan Varner and Conner Vernon both have 100 or more receiving yards in two straight games. … T.J. Yates needs 18 yards to become the second UNC QB with 5,000 or more in a career.
Prediction:
Tar Heels 20, Blue Devils 17.
Florida State (4-4, 2-3 ACC) at Clemson (5-3, 3-2 ACC)
Time: 7:45 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
Key for the Seminoles:
Convert third-and-short situations. You really don’t want to punt to C.J. Spiller, do you?
Key for the Tigers:
Don’t get beat on the long ball. The Tigers are good enough in the secondary to make FSU work 10 or more plays for long scoring drives.
Numbers Game:
The Noles have lost while scoring 44 points (against Georgia Tech) and won while allowing 42 (N.C. State). … The game will be Bobby Bowden’s 223rd at an ACC institution. That will tie him with former Virginia boss George Welsh for the league record. … Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel has intercepted six passes against the ACC in 2009.
Prediction:
Tigers 24, Seminoles 21.
