ACC & Big 12 Week 9 Preview: Boston College looks to stay unbeaten at home

In the ninth week of the college football season, members of the Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee are making visits throughout ACC and Big 12 country, meeting with fans across both conferences in advance of the Camping World Bowl on December 28.

Here’s a quick look at some of the top games on the schedule this weekend:

Miami (5-2, 2-1 ACC) at Boston College (5-2, 2-1 ACC) – 7 p.m. (Friday) on ESPN

Miami and Boston College will meet for the 30th time in series on Friday night. Miami leads the series 24-5, including an 8-3 record in Chestnut Hill.

The Hurricanes are coming off a bye week, but were handed their first loss in over a month in their most recent game, against Virginia (16-13). Despite dropping out of the AP poll after the loss, Miami is still ranked in the Top 5 nationally in several defensive statistical categories including total defense (No. 2, 237 yards per game), passing yards allowed (No. 2, 130.9 yards per game) and team passing efficiency defense (No. 5, 94.71).

The Eagles are looking to remain undefeated at Alumni Stadium in their annual Red Bandana Game. Fans in the crowd will wear red bandanas to recognize the family of Welles Crowther, a former Boston College lacrosse player who saved over a dozen lives in the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Like the Hurricanes, the Eagles are coming off a bye week, but their most recent game was a 38-20 win over Louisville. Boston College’s offense is ranked No. 15 nationally in scoring (39.6 points per game), and is led by quarterback Anthony Brown (1,238 yards, 14 passing touchdowns), running back AJ Dillon (652 rushing yards, six touchdowns) and wide receiver Kobay White (281 yards, three touchdowns). Dillon has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, but is expected to return to action Friday night.

No. 22 NC State (5-1, 2-1 ACC) at Syracuse (5-2, 2-2 ACC) – 7 p.m. on ESPN2

Saturday will mark the sixth time the Wolfpack and the Orange meet as ACC foes, and the 12th meeting overall in the series. NC State is 10-1 against Syracuse overall, with its only loss coming in 2013, when the Orange defeated the Pack 24-10 in Raleigh.

NC State was dealt its first loss of the season last week in a 41-7 rout by Clemson. The Wolfpack offense, which has been averaging 449.7 yards per game this season, was held to 297 total yards against the Tigers. NC State’s passing offense still ranks 12th nationally with 311.7 yards per game, and is led by quarterback Ryan Finley who ranks 11th among active FBS quarterbacks in passing yards per game with 296.2.

Syracuse is hosting its second consecutive team from the Tar Heel State after defeating UNC 40-37 in a double-overtime victory last week. Quarterback Eric Dungey completed 17 of 33 passes for 225 yards before redshirt freshman Tommy DeVito (11-19, 181 yards and three touchdowns) came in late in the fourth quarter to lead the Orange to victory.

‘Cuse head coach Dino Babers has indicated this week that both Dungey and DeVito could split reps against the ‘Pack. A win this week would make Syracuse bowl-eligible for the first time since 2013, and the first time under the third-year head coach Babers.

Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) at Iowa State (3-3, 2-2 Big 12) – 12 p.m. on ESPN2

Texas Tech will take on Iowa State in Ames this weekend, where the Red Raiders will look to snap a two-game losing streak against the Cyclones. Texas Tech leads the overall series 11-5 and hold a 4-3 advantage in Ames. Last season, Iowa State defeated Texas Tech in Lubbock 31-13.

Texas Tech is entering this weekend’s contest riding a three-game Big 12 road win streak that dates back to the final game in the 2017 regular season at Texas. Texas Tech features an offense ranked in the Top 5 nationally in multiple statistical categories including total offense (No. 4, 551.9 yards per game) and passing offense (No. 3, 383 yards per game). Quarterback Alan Bowman has been averaging 348 passing yards per game, good for third among active FBS quarterbacks. Wide receiver Antoine Wesley also ranks No. 3 in the nation in receiving yards (858) and receiving yards per game (122.6).

Iowa State is coming off a bye week after upsetting the then-No. 6 West Virginia 30-14 in Ames. Quarterback Brock Purdy has led the Cyclones to back-to-back victories over ranked opponents (No. 25 Oklahoma State being the other) after taking over as the signal-caller in the last two games. The offense also features running back David Montgomery, who ranks 16th in the nation in rushing yards per game with 104.6.

Here are a few additional games our representatives will be taking in this week:

Baylor (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) at No. 13 West Virginia (5-1, 3-1 Big 12) – 7 p.m. (Thursday) on FS1
Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3 ACC) at Virginia Tech (4-2, 3-0 ACC) – 7:30 p.m. (Thursday) on ESPN
No. 2 Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) at Florida State (4-3, 2-3 ACC) – 12 p.m. on ABC
Wake Forest (3-4, 0-3 ACC) at Louisville (2-5, 0-4 ACC) – 12 p.m. on ACC Network
North Carolina (1-5, 1-3 ACC) at Virginia (5-2, 3-1 ACC) – 12:20 p.m. on ACC Network
TCU (3-4, 1-4 Big 12) at Kansas (2-5, 0-4 Big 12) – 3 p.m. on FS1
Kansas State (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) at No. 8 Oklahoma (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) – 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Duke (5-2, 1-2 ACC) at Pittsburgh (3-4, 2-1 ACC) – 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network|
No. 6 Texas (6-1, 4-0 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) – 8 p.m. on ABC

Click here to check out weekly previews from earlier this season.