NCAAF · 1 year ago

College Football Week 4: Predicting the Outcomes of Every ACC Game

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

Michigan State at Boston College (-6.5) - Saturday at 8:00
Boston College remains a mystery team in the first year under Bill O’Brien. They beat Florida State, but the Seminoles are a train wreck, so what does that win mean? They were ahead 14-0 at Missouri but then struggled for most of the second half and needed a late score to get back within touching distance. They now host Michigan State, a 2-1 squad led by potential star quarterback Aidan Chiles. This is a fun matchup, and the crowd at BC should be engaged in primetime, so I’ll take the more known commodity to win at home.

Prediction: Boston College 30, Michigan State 21
Stanford at Syracuse (-8.5) - Friday at 7:30
The Stanford Cardinal open ACC play with a cross-country trip to Syracuse on Friday night. The Cardinal beat Cal Poly last week to improve to 1-1, while Syracuse upset Georgia Tech behind 381 yards from Kyle McCord. The Orange are now 15th in the nation in yards per game (497.5), and McCord is off to a great start. That’s a concern for the Cardinal and their potentially weak secondary. Stanford is surrendering 278.5 yards per game through the air and needed a special teams touchdown to pull away from Cal Poly. The most significant edge is Syracuse’s passing game against Stanford’s secondary, so take Syracuse at -8.5.

Prediction: Syracuse 34, Stanford 20
James Madison at North Carolina (-10.5) - Saturday at Noon
North Carolina is 3-0 after a win over North Carolina Central. They are hosting the 2-0 James Madison Dukes under new head coach Bob Chesney. The Dukes have struggled on offense thus far, averaging 21.5 points per game despite playing two relatively weak defenses. North Carolina is still sorting things out after losing Max Johnson to injury. The total is 47.5, and the under seems like a smart play, with UNC having the better skill position and firepower to prevail and cover.

Prediction: North Carolina 24, James Madison 13
North Carolina State at Clemson (-20.5) - Saturday at Noon
North Carolina State limps into Death Valley after surviving Louisiana Tech, but the Wolfpack have beaten Clemson in two of the past three meetings. Those previous matchups do not matter, as this season has been a struggle thus far for Dave Doeren’s squad, particularly on offense. Clemson is healthy and well-rested coming off of a bye week, and the offense has to feel good after lighting up Appalachian State in Week 2. Clemson is a surprisingly big favorite, and that number is a bit too much candy to give the road team, but Clemson should win comfortably.

Prediction: Clemson 38, North Carolina State 20
Virginia (-3.5) at Coastal Carolina - Saturday at 1:00
The Virginia Cavaliers make an odd road trip to Conway to play at Coastal Carolina in the rare P5 at G5 clash. The Chanticleers are 3-0, but their last outing was a very uninspiring 28-20 win over the dreadful Temple Owls. Virginia flopped at home against Maryland and is hoping to bounce back, but quarterback Anthony Colandrea has not made the leap forward many were hoping for. He continues to turn the ball over way too much, and that carelessness will cost the Cavaliers on the road.

Prediction: Virginia 24, Coastal Carolina 27
Rutgers at Virginia Tech (-3.5) - Saturday at 3:30
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have impressed in two wins against overmatched competition, but this will be their toughest test by some measure. Virginia Tech was a sleeper pick to contend in the ACC but fell flat in Week 1 against Vanderbilt. Both teams have much to prove, and both would love to pound the ball on the ground. The more physical team will likely win this one, and I will always back Greg Schiano’s squad in a rock fight.

Prediction: Rutgers 20, Virginia Tech 17
Georgia Tech at Louisville (-10.5) - Saturday at 3:30
The Louisville Cardinals are 2-0, outscoring opponents by an average score of 55.5 to 7. They only played Jacksonville State and Austin Peay, so what those impressive numbers mean is somewhat unknown. We’ll learn much more about the Cardinals as they host Georgia Tech this Saturday. The Yellow Jackets beat VMI to bounce back from a close loss at Syracuse. GT will want to grind this game out with a strong ground game that keeps Louisville’s offense on the sideline. Louisville squeaks by, but Georgia Tech covers.

Prediction: Louisville 31, Georgia Tech 24
Youngstown State at Pittsburgh (-25.5) - Saturday at 3:30
Pittsburgh won the “Backyard Brawl” in a thriller over West Virginia, and the biggest surprise for them has been quarterback Eli Holstein's standout play. Pitt’s offense is operating at a high tempo, and while things are not perfect, they are at least entertaining and much improved over the past two seasons. They should cruise against an overmatched FCS team.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 45, Youngstown State 17
Duke (-14.5) at Middle Tennessee - Saturday at 4:00
The Duke Blue Devils are 3-0, but the past two wins have been less than impressive, particularly a 26-21 victory over UConn. They now take to the road for another P5 at G5 contest as they play at Middle Tennessee. Thankfully for Duke, the Blue Raiders are pretty bad and should not pose a threat. Duke romps and heads into a showdown with rival North Carolina at 4-0 under Manny Diaz.

Prediction: Duke 34, Middle Tennessee 14
TCU (-2.5) at SMU - Saturday at 4:00
A new addition to the ACC, the SMU Mustangs were a dark-horse contender for a spot in the ACC Championship game. However, they have not looked good in the first three weeks and continue to struggle against Power Five competition. This game is routinely a wild affair, and the Horned Frogs, even in a down year, beat SMU 34-17 last season. TCU has actually won nine of the past 11 meetings, and they’ll make it 10 of 12 this Saturday.

Prediction: TCU 34, SMU 24
Miami (-16.5) at South Florida - Saturday at 6:00
Miami takes on another in-state foe after beating Florida and Florida A&M. They’ll try to move to 4-0 with a clash against South Florida at Raymond James Stadium. Alabama dispatched USF, but it was a battle well into the second half before the Tide pulled away. This game figures to be a bit of a shootout, and Cam Ward is the best player on either side.

Prediction: Miami 45, South Florida 24
California at Florida State (-2.5) - Saturday at 7:00
The Cal Golden Bears are 3-0 with a win at Auburn, and they make the cross-country trip to Tallahassee to play the flailing 0-3 Florida State Seminoles. Cal has been surprisingly strong on defense, surrendering 14 points or less in every game. The offense isn’t great, but Fernando Mendoza is tough, and running back Jaydn Ott will be the best offensive weapon on either side. Florida State’s offense looks broken, and their offensive tackles are questionable for this one. I like Cal to win outright and prolong the misery for the Seminoles.

Prediction: Cal 20, Florida State 17
Michigan State at Boston College (-6.5) - Saturday at 8:00
Boston College remains a mystery team in the first year under Bill O’Brien. They beat Florida State, but the Seminoles are a train wreck, so what does that win mean? They were ahead 14-0 at Missouri but then struggled for most of the second half and needed a late score to get back within touching distance. They now host Michigan State, a 2-1 squad led by potential star quarterback Aidan Chiles. This is a fun matchup, and the crowd at BC should be engaged in primetime, so I’ll take the more known commodity to win at home.

Prediction: Boston College 30, Michigan State 21
Stanford at Syracuse (-8.5) - Friday at 7:30
The Stanford Cardinal open ACC play with a cross-country trip to Syracuse on Friday night. The Cardinal beat Cal Poly last week to improve to 1-1, while Syracuse upset Georgia Tech behind 381 yards from Kyle McCord. The Orange are now 15th in the nation in yards per game (497.5), and McCord is off to a great start. That’s a concern for the Cardinal and their potentially weak secondary. Stanford is surrendering 278.5 yards per game through the air and needed a special teams touchdown to pull away from Cal Poly. The most significant edge is Syracuse’s passing game against Stanford’s secondary, so take Syracuse at -8.5.

Prediction: Syracuse 34, Stanford 20

College Football Week 4: Predicting the Outcomes of Every ACC Game

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