ACC Week Ten Preview
No. 7 Miami (7-0, 3-0 ACC) and No. 3 Florida State (7-0, 5-0 ACC) meet in Tallahassee as top ten teams for the first time since 2004. The Seminoles have cruised past their opponents through seven games, featuring the nation’s third best offense (52.6 ppg) and fourth best defense (13.0 ppg). In the month of October, FSU has outscored its three ACC opponents by an average score of 54-10. The Hurricanes are also off to a 7-0 start, but have won three games by five points or fewer, including their last two wins over North Carolina and Wake Forest. Showdowns between the rivals have leaned Miami’s way recently as the Hurricanes have won four-straight over the Seminoles when each team has been ranked in the top ten.
Boston College (3-4, 1-3 ACC) returns home from a two-game road trip to host Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-1 ACC). The Eagles’ three wins have come at home, with the only home loss coming to then No. 8 Florida State by two touchdowns. Boston College is led by the ACC’s leading rusher, Andre Williams, who has rushed for 1,010 yards, including 172 and a score last weekend at North Carolina. Virginia Tech had rattled off six-straight wins until a home setback to Duke in week nine. The Hokies are looking for their first five-game winning streak over Boston College since 1998-2002.
North Carolina (2-5, 1-3 ACC) travels to in-state rival, NC State (3-4, 0-4 ACC). UNC earned its first ACC win of the season in week nine, defeating Boston College, 34-10, behind 227 yards passing and two touchdowns from QB Bryn Renner. The senior had one of his best passing days of his career in last season’s win over the Wolfpack, throwing for 358 yards and a touchdown. NC State is in the midst of a three-game losing skid, but has won its last three home games against North Carolina.
Wake Forest (4-4, 2-3 ACC) and Syracuse (3-4, 1-2 ACC) fight to get back to .500 in conference play as the teams face off in the Carrier Dome. The Demon Deacons battled until the end on the road at No. 7 Miami, but fell 24-21, while Syracuse sat idle in week nine following a shutout loss to Georgia Tech. Wake features senior WR Michael Campanaro who leads the ACC in receptions with 65 catches for 792 yards and six touchdowns. The Orange hosted Wake Forest at the Carrier Dome for the first time in 2011, winning 36-29.
No. 8 Clemson (7-1, 5-1 ACC) travels to Virginia (2-6, 0-4 ACC) for its final ACC road test of the season. The Tigers rebounded from their loss to Florida State to beat Maryland on the road, 40-27, behind 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns from RB Roderick McDowell. Virginia has lost five-straight following a 2-1 start, but has held leads in three of the last four games before faltering late. With a Clemson win, the Tigers would have their first three-game winning streak over Virginia since winning the first 29 games of the series from 1955 to 1989.
Pittsburgh (4-3, 2-2 ACC) visits Georgia Tech (5-3, 4-2 ACC) for the first time since 1976 as the teams meet as conference foes for the first time. The Yellow Jackets have won back-to-back games against Syracuse and Virginia by a combined score of 91-25, increasing their average rushing yards per game to 315.6. The Panthers play their first ACC game since falling to Virginia Tech on October 12. Pittsburgh is 5-2 all-time against Georgia Tech with the two losses coming in two separate bowl games in 1956.