Sunday, December 22, 2024

CFB-FBS: Atlantic Coast Conference Week 8 Previews

Saturday, Oct. 21
Boston College (3-3, 1-2 ACC) at Georgia Tech (3-3, 2-1 ACC)
Noon; ACCN
Georgia Tech leads series, 7-4
Last meeting: BC, 41-30 (2021)

Head Coaches:
Boston College: Jeff Hafley (18-23 in fourth season at BC; 18-23 in fourth season overall)
Georgia Tech: Brent Key (7-7 in first full season at GT; 7-7 in first full season overall)

Notes:

  • Georgia Tech leads the all-time series with Boston College at 7-4, however, the series is tied at 3-3 when Georgia Tech is the home team.
  • Both teams are coming off an open week following a three-point win the previous week on late touchdowns, as Georgia Tech came from behind to defeat Miami 23-20 in the closing seconds, while BC upended Army 27-24 with a touchdown with 25 seconds left on the game clock.
  • GT quarterback Haynes King will lead the Jackets’ passing attack, which is fourth in the ACC at 275.2 passing yards per game.
  • BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who ranks third in the ACC overall and first among QBs in rushing yards this season, will lead the Eagles’ offense that ranks second in the league in rushing yards with an average of 195.2 per game.

Saturday, Oct. 23
Pitt (2-4, 1-2 ACC) at Wake Forest (3-3, 0-3 ACC)
3:30 p.m.; ACCN
Pitt leads series, 2-0
Last meeting: Pitt, 45-21 (2021)

Head Coaches:
Pitt: Pat Narduzzi (64-45 in ninth season at Pitt; 64-45 in ninth season overall)
Wake Forest: Dave Clawson (62-56 in 10th season at WF; 152-136 in 24th season overall)

Notes:

  • Pitt and Wake Forest will meet for just the third time all-time and the first time since the 2021 ACC Championship Game when the Panthers defeated the Demon Deacons 45-21 in Charlotte.
  • Pitt snapped a four-game losing streak with a 38-21 home win over then-No. 14 and previously unbeaten Louisville last week.
  • After starting the season at 3-0, Wake Forest has dropped each of its last three contests, all coming in ACC play.
  • The Demon Deacons hold a 22-5 (.815) record in home contests since the start of the 2019 season, which included a program-record 11-game winning streak spanning from the 2020 to 2022 seasons.
  • Pitt quarterback Christian Veilleux will make his second career start after throwing for 200 yards and a pair of
    touchdowns in his debut last week versus Louisville.
  • In his first seven career starts, Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis has been efficient and consistent, completing 61 percent of his pass attempts (121-of-199) for 1,501 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Saturday, Oct. 21
Virginia (1-5, 0-2 ACC) at No. 10 North Carolina (6-0, 3-0 ACC)
6:30 p.m.; The CW
UNC leads series, 66-58-4
Last meeting: UNC, 31-28 (2022)
Head Coaches:
Virginia: Tony Elliott (4-12 in second season at UVA; 4-12 in second season overall)
North Carolina: Mack Brown (105-68-1 in 15th season at UNC; 280-144-1 in 35th season overall)

Notes:

  • North Carolina enters the week at 6-0 overall, the Tar Heels’ first 6-0 start since 1997, and 3-0 in ACC play for the second year in a row.
  • Virginia is 1-5 this season, having posted a win at home over William & Mary two weeks ago, and is searching for its first conference win since defeating Georgia Tech on the road on Oct. 20 of last year.
  • The Tar Heels are 4-0 at home this season, while the Cavaliers have not won on the road in over a calendar year.
  • Reining two-time ACC QB of the Week Drake Maye threw for a season-high four touchdowns last week versus Miami and has thrown 51 touchdown passes in 20 starts over the last two seasons for the Tar Heels.
  • Virginia running back Perris Jones ran for a career-high 134 yards on 12 carries, an average of 11.2 yards per rush versus W&M, his first 100-yard rushing effort of the season.

Saturday, Oct. 21
No. 16 Duke (5-1, 2-0 ACC) at No. 4 Florida State (6-0, 4-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; ABC
Florida State leads series, 21-0
Last meeting: FSU, 56-35 (2020)

Head Coaches:
Duke: Mike Elko (14-5 in second season at Duke; 14-5 in second season overall)
Florida State: Mike Norvell (24-16 in fourth season at FSU ; 62-31 in eighth season overall)

Notes:

  • The top-20 matchup marks the 22nd on the gridiron between Duke and Florida State, with FSU leading the series, 21-0, including a 56-35 victory during the teams’ last meeting on Dec. 12, 2020, in Tallahassee, Florida.
  • Saturday’s game marks the third time these two programs have met while both being nationally ranked (1994 and 2013).
  • The Seminoles enter the contest on a 12-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the ACC and the third-longest active streak in the country. During its streak, Florida State has outscored its opponents 506-219.
  • Duke’s one loss this year was by seven points. There are currently 18 schools nationally with one loss, with six of those losses being by seven or fewer points.
  • FSU has scored at least 30 points in 12 straight games, the longest active streak in the ACC and the second-longest active streak in the nation.
  • Duke has only allowed 59 total points in its opening six games this season and leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally at just 9.8 points allowed per game this year.

Saturday, Oct. 21
Clemson (4-2, 2-2 ACC) at Miami (4-2, 0-2 ACC)
8 p.m.; ACCN
Clemson leads series, 7-6
Last meeting: Clemson, 40-10 (2022)

Head Coaches:
Miami: Mario Cristobal (9-9 in second season at Miami; 71-69 in 13th season overall)
Clemson: Dabo Swinney (165-41 in 16th season at Clemson; 165-41 in 16th season overall)

Notes:

  • Clemson is 4-2 overall and enters the game having won each of its last two games, both in ACC play.
  • Miami is also 4-2 overall and heads into the contest having lost each of its last two games, both in conference action.
  • Clemson has won four straight games in the series, including two wins at Clemson in 2020 and 2022, a win in the 2017 ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, and a 58-0 win in the Tigers’ last road game at Miami in 2015.
  • Saturday’s contest will be a matchup of the ACC’s top defense in Clemson, who has allowed just 261.8 yards per game this year, and the league’s top total offense in Miami, which is averaging 501.8 yards per game on the season. Each unit ranks in the top 10 nationally, as the Tigers stand fifth in the FBS in total defense, while the Hurricanes’ offensive production ranks seventh.
  • Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is attempting to earn his 166th career and become the Tigers’ all-time winningest coach. A win will pass College Football Hall of Famer Frank Howard (165 from 1940-69) for sole possession of the most wins in Clemson football history
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