NCAAF · 1 year ago

College Football Week 7: Predicting the Outcomes of Every ACC Game

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

Syracuse (-4.5) at North Carolina State - Saturday at 8:00
North Carolina State gave up two long touchdown drives in the fourth quarter and lost to Wake Forest at home. It was another disappointing defeat and the Wolfpack dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. Dave Doeren has earned some benefit of the doubt on defense but it is clear that there are no answers with the personnel they have this year.

Syracuse won a shootout against UNLV and Kyle McCord is in great form. The Orange have some good offensive weapons and are clearly in sync on that side of the ball, something North Carolina State has not shown any ability to slow down this season.

Prediction: Syracuse 38 - NC State - 28
Clemson (-20.5) at Wake Forest - Saturday at Noon
The Clemson Tigers have won four in a row after losing at Georgia in Week 1. They outgained Florida State by more than 300 yards in a comfortable win in Tallahassee last week. Wake Forest improved to 2-3 (1-1) with a come-from-behind upset win at North Carolina State and the Demon Deacons will hope to build on that momentum this Saturday at home.

Both teams are capable of putting up points with Wake Forest scoring at least 30 points in four of its five games this season. Clemson has shown a lot more explosiveness on offense with a maturing Cade Klubnik at quarterback. I think Wake Forest covers with a late score but I love betting the over in this contest.

Prediction: Clemson 45 - Wake Forest 28

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Georgia Tech (-5.5) at North Carolina - Saturday at Noon
The North Carolina Tar Heels are in freefall mode and sit at 0-2 in the ACC after a third-straight defeat. UNC will try to get off the mat on Saturday afternoon as they host the 4-2 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. GT knocked off Duke last weekend and they are now 2-2 in the ACC but 0-2 in road games (the win over Florida State did not count as a road game). North Carolina’s defense has been a major problem but the run defense has not been atrocious, surrendering just 3.54 yards per carry.

This game should serve as the Tar Heels' last stand, and I’d expect a strong effort to try and salvage something from this season. However, they keep on finding ways to lose, and that continues on Saturday in Chapel Hill.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 31 - North Carolina 24

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Stanford (+23.5) at Notre Dame - Saturday at 3:30
The Stanford Cardinal showed a bit of promise early in the season as they were competitive against TCU and won at Syracuse but the past two weeks have brought them back to reality. Stanford got blown out at Clemson and then lost at home to Virginia Tech by 24 points. They now travel from Palo Alto to South Bend to play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame is up to number 11 in the country as teams above them keep dropping. After losing to Northern Illinois, every game feels like an elimination game for Notre Dame. With games coming up against Georgia Tech, Navy, Army and USC, Notre Dame cannot afford to slip up against Stanford. The Irish stay focused and roll.

Prediction: Notre Dame 38 - Stanford 13
Cal at Pitt (-3.5) - Saturday at 3:30
How will the Cal Golden Bears respond to a devastating loss against Miami? They led the Hurricanes 35-10 before Cam Ward went bonkers in the fourth quarter and brought “The U” back from the dead for a 39-38 win in Berkeley. Cal now has to travel across the country for a contest against the 5-0 Pitt Panthers. The Golden Bears had a lot of explosive plays in the passing game against Miami but many of those were defensive miscues by the Hurricanes so it’s hard to tell how sustainable that is. Pitt has been impressive on offense and the situation certainly favors the Panthers.

Prediction: Pitt 34 - Cal 24

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Louisville (-7.5) at Virginia - Saturday at 3:30
The Louisville Cardinals were a sleeper candidate for the ACC Championship Game but they have lost back-to-back games and have not looked the part since very early this season. This is a must-win situation for Louisville to get back into contention but they will have to earn it with a trip to Charlottesville to play the surprising 4-1 Virginia Cavaliers. Diving in on the 4-1 record is revealing, though. They were fortunate to beat Wake Forest by a point and then only outgained Boston College by 20 yards and were aided greatly by three BC turnovers. Louisville is the more talented team and they will be playing with some desperation.

Prediction: Louisville 34 - Virginia 20
Syracuse (-4.5) at North Carolina State - Saturday at 8:00
North Carolina State gave up two long touchdown drives in the fourth quarter and lost to Wake Forest at home. It was another disappointing defeat and the Wolfpack dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. Dave Doeren has earned some benefit of the doubt on defense but it is clear that there are no answers with the personnel they have this year.

Syracuse won a shootout against UNLV and Kyle McCord is in great form. The Orange have some good offensive weapons and are clearly in sync on that side of the ball, something North Carolina State has not shown any ability to slow down this season.

Prediction: Syracuse 38 - NC State - 28
Clemson (-20.5) at Wake Forest - Saturday at Noon
The Clemson Tigers have won four in a row after losing at Georgia in Week 1. They outgained Florida State by more than 300 yards in a comfortable win in Tallahassee last week. Wake Forest improved to 2-3 (1-1) with a come-from-behind upset win at North Carolina State and the Demon Deacons will hope to build on that momentum this Saturday at home.

Both teams are capable of putting up points with Wake Forest scoring at least 30 points in four of its five games this season. Clemson has shown a lot more explosiveness on offense with a maturing Cade Klubnik at quarterback. I think Wake Forest covers with a late score but I love betting the over in this contest.

Prediction: Clemson 45 - Wake Forest 28

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College Football Week 7: Predicting the Outcomes of Every ACC Game

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