ACC Preview: Week 3

By Christian Goeckel
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

Announcers, Game Times, and Previews

Florida State (2-0) at Louisville (1-1), 7:30 PM ET (Friday), ESPN
Announcers: Roy Philpott, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra
Series history: Florida State leads 16-6
Last meeting: 2021, Louisville 31, Florida State 23
Line: FSU -2.5
O/U: 57.0

Florida State has a strong chance to start the season 4-0 before facing three consecutive  currently ranked teams. First, they must take down a Louisville team that has been very bad and pretty good this year. The Cardinals started the year getting thumped 31-7 by Syracuse, but rebounded to win on the road at UCF. The Seminoles come in off of twelve days of rest. We haven’t seen this team since they survived against LSU in New Orleans. Malik Cunningham hasn’t thrown a touchdown in 2022. That should change on Friday. Meanwhile, Jordan Travis threw for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns against LSU.

Prediction: Florida State 27, Louisville 24

Wofford (0-2) at Virginia Tech (1-1), 11:00 AM ET, ACCN
Announcers: Wes Durham, Eddie Royal, Taylor Davis
Series history: First meeting
Last meeting: N/A
Line: N/A
O/U: N/A

Virginia Tech bounced back from a rough start to the season by stomping Boston College 27-10. The Hokies’ defense looked like what many expect a defense to look like under Brent Pry, holding BC to 155 total yards. They need more out of their skill position players. Grant Wells averaged just 5.6 yards per completion. Keshawn King was the only player to average more than 2.7 yards per carry. The only problem is 65 of his 64 total rushing yards came on one carry. The other three: -1 yard. Fun fact: Wofford plays their football in the Southern Conference. Virginia Tech was a charter member of the SoCon way back in 1921.

Prediction: Wofford 3, Virginia Tech 38

Purdue (1-1) at Syracuse (2-0), 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2
Announcers: Brian Custer, Dustin Fox, Lauren Sisler
Series history: Purdue leads 1-0
Last meeting: 2004, Purdue 51, Syracuse 0
Line: SYR -1.5
O/U: 60.0

After finishing 2021 on a three game losing streak, Syracuse has been one of the pleasant 2-0 surprises in college football. Garrett Sharder all of a sudden looks like a NFL quarterback prospect. At 6’4, he has the size, but a full offseason as ‘the guy’ has certainly paid off. Sean Tucker has been a stud. The sophomore is averaging 4.4 ypc and has been the catalyst of this offense. This will be the first real defensive test for the Orange this year. Purdue comes in averaging 43.5 points per game.

Prediction: Purdue 31 - Syracuse 27

Old Dominion (1-1) at Virginia (1-1), 2:00 PM ET, ACCN
Announcers: Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Lericia Harris
Series history: Virginia leads, 1-0
Last meeting: 2019 - Old Dominion 17, Virginia 28
Line: UVA -8.5
O/U: 53.0

Old Dominion is looking to conquer the state of Virginia on Saturday. The Monarchs already have a win against Virginia Tech under their belt, and are coming to Charlottesville on the heels of the Sun Belt’s biggest week ever. The Cavaliers have been shaky thus far. Brennan Armstrong has been a big reason why. The senior quarterback hasn’t been himself in 2022, with a current TD/INT ratio of 2-3 and the 106th best QBR in the country (35.0).

Prediction: Old Dominion 21, Virginia 20

20 Ole Miss (2-0) at Georgia Tech (1-1), 3:30 PM ET, ABC
Announcers: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill
Series history: Tied 2-2
Last meeting: 2013 (Music City Bowl) – Ole Miss 25, Georgia Tech 17
Line: Ole Miss -17
O/U: 63

Why is this total so high? Georgia Tech’s offense has zero explosiveness. Ole Miss’ offense doesn’t have much more, and who knows what Lane Kiffin will do at quarterback this week? I suppose this qualifies as a test for the Rebels, but in reality, we’re unlikely to learn much about this Ole Miss team until October. If we do, things went horribly wrong in Atlanta for Ole Miss, which should have a good chunk of the crowd behind them. I think this game is a bit of a flex for the Rebels, as just seeing a Power Five name on the other sideline will have this team focused after two layups. - Matt Smith

Prediction: Ole Miss 35, Georgia Tech 13

Liberty (2-0) at 19 Wake Forest (2-0), 5:00 PM ET, ACCN
Announcers: Mike Corey, Forrest Conoly, Marilyn Payne
Series history: Wake Forest leads, 2-0
Last meeting: 2012 - Wake Forest 20, Liberty 17
Line: Wake -16.5
O/U: 63.5

Sam Hartman looked excellent against Vanderbilt in his return, throwing for 300 yards and 4 scores against the Commodores. The Demon Deacons are looking for their third 3-0 start in the past four seasons. Liberty will be leaning on freshman-quarterback Kaidon Salter, the team’s leading passer and rusher through two games. The Flames survived a 4OT test at Southern Miss to start the year, and came from behind to win at home against UAB last week. Wake Forest is a different test. Hartman looks dangerous and that should be plenty to put Wake over the top.

Prediction: Liberty 14, Wake Forest 38

North Carolina A&T (0-2) at Duke (2-0), 6:00 PM ET. ACCNX/ESPN+
Announcers: Mike Morgan, Mike Glennon, Jalyn Johnson
Series history: Duke leads, 2-0
Last meeting: 2021 - Duke 45, NC A&T 17
Line: N/A
O/U: N/A

Duke is looking for their first 3-0 start since 2018. The Blue Devils have been one of the bigger surprises in college football this season, shutting out Temple and beating Northwestern on the road. Riley Leonard and the offense have stepped up, but the defense has been the star early in the season for Duke. Led by Darius Joiner, the unit has forced 5 turnovers and held opponents to just 2.2 yards per carry.

Prediction: NC A&T 10, Duke 42

Texas Tech (2-0) at 16 NC State (2-0), 7:00 PM ET, ESPN 2
Announcers: Anish Shroff, Brock Osweiler, Taylor McGregor
Series history: NC State leads, 4-1
Last meeting: 2003, NC State 49, Texas Tech 21
Line: NCST -10.0
O/U: 56.0

This will be a battle between two of the more underrated quarterbacks in college football. Texas Tech’s Donovan Smith is a stud. At 6’5, 230 he’s a legitimate pro prospect. He did throw 3 interceptions in last week’s game against Houston, but he helped lead his team to win, throwing for 350 yards and 2 scores. Devin Leary is a known commodity for the Wolfpack. The junior quarterback out of New Jersey threw for 4 touchdowns last week against Charleston Southern. This one will come down to the fourth quarter, but NC State’s defense will be too much.

Prediction: Texas Tech 21, NC State 34

23 Pitt (1-1) at Western Michigan (1-1), 7:30 PM ET, ESPNU
Announcers: Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Dawn Davenport
Series history: Western Michigan leads, 1-0
Last meeting: 2021 - Pitt 41, Western Michigan 44
Line: PITT -11.0
O/U: 47.5

This is a fascinating matchup for Pitt. Western Michigan handed the Panthers one of their only two losses in the regular season last year. Now, fresh off the heels of an overtime loss to Tennessee, Pitt must rebound and avenge last season's loss. They’ll probably have to do so without starting quarterback Kedon Slovis, who suffered an injury in the first half last week, and backup Nick Patti, who has been in a walking boot all week. The good news is that the Panthers seem to have found a future star in running back Israel Abanikanda. Western Michigan isn’t the offensive powerhouse they were last season with the departures of Kaleb Eleby and Skyy Moore.

Prediction: Pitt 31, Western Michigan 21

Maine (0-2) at Boston College (0-2), 7:30 PM ET, ESPN3
Announcers: Tom Werme, James Bates, Lauren Jbara
Series history: Boston College leads, 3-0
Last meeting: 2015 - Boston College 24, Maine 3
Line: N/A
O/U: N/A

Boston College hasn’t lost in their past 32 matchups against FCS opponents. Maine arrives on their schedule just in time. The Phil Jurkovec - Zay Flowers connections has been the lone bright spot for the Eagles in 2022.

Maine 10, Boston College 30

Louisiana Tech (1-1) at 5 Clemson (2-0)
Announcers:
Series history: Clemson leads, 3-0
Last meeting: 2006 - Clemson 51, La Tech 0
Line: CLEM -33.0
O/U: 54.0

Clemson is undefeated, ranked in the top 5, and playing stifling defense, and yet fans seemed concerned about the Tigers. They may be right to be. The Tigers just don’t seem to have any pop to them. The memories of Boyd, Watkins, Spiller, Etienne, and Lawrence seem very far in the past. Clemson has the ability to make the CFP, but to win it they’ll need to find some explosiveness on offense. A matchup against Louisiana Tech will be a good opportunity to test some schemes and players at different spots.

Prediction: La Tech 6, Clemson 45

13 Miami (2-0) at Texas A&M, 9:00 PM ET, ESPN
Announcers: Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit
Series History: Texas A&M leads 2-1
Last Meeting: 2008 – Miami (FL) 41, Texas A&M 23
Line: Texas A&M -6
Over/Under: 44.5

Yes, there’s trouble in College Station. However, you probably won’t notice that from a Kyle Field crowd on Saturday night always in full support of the Aggies. The problem is the Texas A&M offense is lifeless right now, scoring just a single touchdown a week ago against Appalachian State. Miami has been off the radar in the first two weeks, but the Hurricanes had some struggles of their own last Saturday before turning the dial up and pulling away from Southern Miss on a sleepy afternoon in south Florida. Texas A&M has to be better than what they’ve shown, right? The Who might not have gotten fooled again, but there’s a decent chance I will be late Saturday night. - Matt Smith

Prediction: Texas A&M 22, Miami (FL) 17