ACC Week Twelve Previews
No. 2 Florida State (9-0, 7-0 ACC) plays its final conference game of the season, hosting Syracuse (5-4, 3-2 ACC). The Seminoles continued their conference dominance last weekend, holding Wake Forest to 166 total yards in a 59-3 blowout. FSU ranks second nationally in scoring offense (52.0 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (12.0). Syracuse has won two-straight ACC games, holding Wake Forest and Maryland to three total points in the victories. FSU has won the last five meetings against the Orange, with its only loss coming at Syracuse in 1966.
Georgia Tech (6-3, 5-2 ACC) visits No. 8 Clemson (8-1, 6-1 ACC) for a Thursday night ACC matchup. The Tigers and Yellow Jackets both had bye weeks to prepare for the midweek battle. Clemson comes in to the game as the 10th best passing team in the nation (332.7 ypg), while Georgia Tech ranks fifth in rushing yards (311.2). The Yellow Jackets have won five of the last seven meetings with Clemson, but the Tigers have won the past two in Death Valley.
No. 23 Miami (7-2, 3-2 ACC) visits Duke (7-2, 3-2 ACC) for a pivotal Coastal division matchup. Duke has gotten off to its best start in two decades, reaching the seven win mark for the first time since going 8-4 in 1994. The Blue Devils and Hurricanes are two of four teams in the division with only two conference losses so a win is crucial to keep pace in the championship race. Duke’s defense has played well in its last four games, allowing fewer than 15 points per game. Miami has won nine-straight over Duke and the Blue Devils have never beaten Miami in Durham.
Boston College (5-4, 2-3 ACC) welcomes NC State (3-6, 0-6 ACC) to Chestnut Hill where it has won four-straight games over the Wolfpack. The Eagles have won back-to-back games for the first time since starting the season 2-0, defeating Virginia Tech at home and winning on the road at New Mexico State. Running back Andre Williams had his most efficient game in an already stellar season, rushing 30 times for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Aggies. NC State plays its final road game of the season before finishing with home contests against East Carolina and Maryland.
Two teams coming off big wins meet as North Carolina (4-5, 3-3 ACC) travels to Pittsburgh (5-4, 2-3 ACC). The Tar Heels claimed their largest win of the season, defeating Virginia by 31 points, to extend their winning streak to three games and even up their ACC conference record. Pittsburgh earned a signature win for head coach Paul Chryst, defeating then-No. 23 Notre Dame, 28-21. Both teams need help to win the division, but sit only one game back of the division leaders in the loss column.
Virginia Tech (7-2, 3-2 ACC) plays its final home game of the season, hosting Maryland (5-4, 1-4 ACC). The Hokies snapped a two-game losing skid, defeating Miami on the road, 42-24. Quarterback Logan Thomas passed for 366 yards and two scores, and running back Trey Edmunds rushed for four scores as the offense compiled 549 yards in the victory. The Terrapins have dropped three-straight games since defeating Virginia on October 12. Virginia Tech is a perfect 4-0 against Maryland since joining the ACC in 2004.