Note: If you haven't voted in my poll on the right side of the page. Will Virginia win another football game this year? The Cavaliers' remaining schedule is today vs. Clemson, at North Carolina, at Miami, and vs. Virginia Tech.
I went 6-2 last Saturday and am now 48-13 on the season.
Virginia Tech at Boston College, Noon ABC/ESPN2
Lots of people seem to be on the upset bandwagon for this one. Virginia Tech fell on its face last Saturday at home vs. Duke, giving the Blue Devils a landmark win in the David Cutcliffe era. Boston College got walloped last weekend by a one-win UNC team, 34-10. The Eagles almost won in Massachusetts last year vs. the Hokies, but fell in overtime, 30-23. I think BC has a good shot in this one, but I just think the Hokies will be resilient enough and come up with a victory. The defense will be dominant and the offense will do just enough.
Virginia Tech 17, Boston College 13
North Carolina at N.C. State, 12:30 p.m. NBC
These in-state rivals have had a time this season finding wins. N.C. State just got back its starting quarterback, Brandon Mitchell, a week ago in a blowout loss to Florida State, which was 42-0 at halftime. He had been hurt since the first game of the season. UNC's pass offense has been pretty good but rush offense and defense in general have been non-existent. The Tar Heels are 2-5 while the Wolfpack are 3-4. The Wolfpack are the only other team in the ACC without a conference win other than Virginia. They are averaging 13.5 ppg in their four ACC games. UNC beat BC last week, 34-10. I think the Heels are getting something going in the second half of the year. They must win four of their final five games to become bowl eligible but I think they can do it with games against the 'Pack, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Old Dominion, and Duke.
North Carolina 24, N.C. State 17
No. 21 Michigan at No. 22 Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ABC
This should be an interesting rivalry matchup. The Wolverines can put up points but not stop much. The Spartans can stop people, but not put up too many points. I think the result is a tussle in the low 20s. I like the host team. Michigan wants this game to get into the 30s because then its chances of a victory go up.
Michigan State 23, Michigan 21
Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has lost some luster this season. The banged-up Bulldogs are 4-3 and offense-less Florida is as well. The loser most assuredly will not win the SEC East (which seems to be between Mizzou and South Carolina at this point) and I think you could argue the loser might have a tough time getting to six wins, especially Florida, which still has to face Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Florida State after Georgia.
Georgia 29, Florida 26
No. 18 Oklahoma State at No. 15 Texas Tech, 7 p.m. FOX
I expect the Red Raiders to get back on the winning track this week after losing on the road last week at Oklahoma for their first loss of the season. Their opponent is another one-loss team in the Cowboys. This should be an exciting game to watch as the total points scored should soar into the 70s, 80s, maybe even higher.
Texas Tech 49, Oklahoma State 46
No. 7 Miami at No. 3 Florida State, 8 p.m. ABC
Florida State seems to be getting better and better with Famous Jameis Winston under the helm at QB. The Seminoles have only been challenged once this year, against Boston College in a 48-34 win in September. Since that game, FSU has outscored its opponents by an average of 54.3-10.3. I think Miami will muster a fight, but eventually succumb. The Hurricanes have struggled the past two weeks, eeking out wins over North Carolina and Wake Forest. I think they will have a renewed focus for the 'Noles, though, and start this game well. Finishing it well will be a problem.
Florida State 38, Miami 17
No. 8 Clemson at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Virginia made strides last week, especially on offense, but fell to Georgia Tech, 35-25. UVa QB David Watford set a school record for completions (42) and attempts (61). He is now, incredibly, leading the ACC in completions. That stat blew my mind. Watford is getting better, but I had no idea he was leading that category. Some of his throws are behind the line and close (increasing his accuracy) and he is still wildly inaccurate at times, but he has no doubt improved this season. Running back Kevin Parks is fourth in the ACC in rushing yards per game. Virginia is still inefficient, however. It forced Georgia Tech into five turnovers last weekend and still could not find a way to win or even make the game close in the final seconds. Virginia is still plagued by poor decision making as well. At the end of the first half, with six seconds left and no timeouts, but coming out of a timeout, the Cavs ran the ball instead of passing the ball at the 1-yard line. Virginia has been terrible in short-yardage situations for years, and this was no different as the Wahoos were stuffed. Instead of a field goal try, which could have occurred after an incompleted pass, time ran out. A touchdown pass would have made it 17-14, UVa, at the half. A field goal would have made it a 14-13 game. But instead, the team went into the locker room down, 14-10, to a chorus of boos by a crowd that was baffled at another bad play call. The task does not get any easier this week as Clemson comes to town, a team that has only one loss this season and is explosive on offense. QB Tajh Boyd, wide out Sammy Watkins, and running back Roderick McDowell, among others, are capable of inflicting serious damage
on UVa's defense, which was better at the beginning of the season but has been getting softer. UVa will be without three defensive starters just like last week, CBs Demetrious Nicholson and Maurice Canady and tackle Brent Urban. On offense, tight end Jake McGee, who was hurt last week as well, is expected to play. The offense will need to watch out for defensive end Vic Beasley, who is tied for the national lead in sacks with 10. I think the offense will have some success like last week but it won't be nearly enough to keep up with the Tigers, who should romp on offense. Clemson has been known to "pull a Clemson" before, a term that is not so endearing. It means the Tigers normally get their fans' hopes up with an undefeated run to start the season only to stumble down the stretch and lose to one or two inferior teams. Now, Clemson has a loss this year, and a bad one, to FSU, 51-14, and it happened at home. However, the 'Noles are very good, so I'm not sure that loss counts as pulling a Clemson. Maybe Virginia is the inferior team that the Tigers lose to this season. I doubt it, as UVa has too many things going against it. The offense is improving, but not prolific like it would need to be to keep up with Clemson. The defense is injured in a game where it would need all its horses to slow down the Tigers. And so far this season, despite lots of staff turnover in the offseason, the team is still plagued by porous decision making coming from the coaches on the sideline. Besides, according to a stat I read today from UVa beat writer Andrew Ramspacher in The Daily Progress, it's been awhile since Clemson actually pulled a Clemson. The Tigers have beaten their last 15 unranked opponents, and all by double digits.
Clemson 48, Virginia 24
I went 6-2 last Saturday and am now 48-13 on the season.
Virginia Tech at Boston College, Noon ABC/ESPN2
Lots of people seem to be on the upset bandwagon for this one. Virginia Tech fell on its face last Saturday at home vs. Duke, giving the Blue Devils a landmark win in the David Cutcliffe era. Boston College got walloped last weekend by a one-win UNC team, 34-10. The Eagles almost won in Massachusetts last year vs. the Hokies, but fell in overtime, 30-23. I think BC has a good shot in this one, but I just think the Hokies will be resilient enough and come up with a victory. The defense will be dominant and the offense will do just enough.
Virginia Tech 17, Boston College 13
North Carolina at N.C. State, 12:30 p.m. NBC
These in-state rivals have had a time this season finding wins. N.C. State just got back its starting quarterback, Brandon Mitchell, a week ago in a blowout loss to Florida State, which was 42-0 at halftime. He had been hurt since the first game of the season. UNC's pass offense has been pretty good but rush offense and defense in general have been non-existent. The Tar Heels are 2-5 while the Wolfpack are 3-4. The Wolfpack are the only other team in the ACC without a conference win other than Virginia. They are averaging 13.5 ppg in their four ACC games. UNC beat BC last week, 34-10. I think the Heels are getting something going in the second half of the year. They must win four of their final five games to become bowl eligible but I think they can do it with games against the 'Pack, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Old Dominion, and Duke.
North Carolina 24, N.C. State 17
No. 21 Michigan at No. 22 Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ABC
This should be an interesting rivalry matchup. The Wolverines can put up points but not stop much. The Spartans can stop people, but not put up too many points. I think the result is a tussle in the low 20s. I like the host team. Michigan wants this game to get into the 30s because then its chances of a victory go up.
Michigan State 23, Michigan 21
Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has lost some luster this season. The banged-up Bulldogs are 4-3 and offense-less Florida is as well. The loser most assuredly will not win the SEC East (which seems to be between Mizzou and South Carolina at this point) and I think you could argue the loser might have a tough time getting to six wins, especially Florida, which still has to face Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Florida State after Georgia.
Georgia 29, Florida 26
No. 18 Oklahoma State at No. 15 Texas Tech, 7 p.m. FOX
I expect the Red Raiders to get back on the winning track this week after losing on the road last week at Oklahoma for their first loss of the season. Their opponent is another one-loss team in the Cowboys. This should be an exciting game to watch as the total points scored should soar into the 70s, 80s, maybe even higher.
Texas Tech 49, Oklahoma State 46
No. 7 Miami at No. 3 Florida State, 8 p.m. ABC
Florida State seems to be getting better and better with Famous Jameis Winston under the helm at QB. The Seminoles have only been challenged once this year, against Boston College in a 48-34 win in September. Since that game, FSU has outscored its opponents by an average of 54.3-10.3. I think Miami will muster a fight, but eventually succumb. The Hurricanes have struggled the past two weeks, eeking out wins over North Carolina and Wake Forest. I think they will have a renewed focus for the 'Noles, though, and start this game well. Finishing it well will be a problem.
Florida State 38, Miami 17
No. 8 Clemson at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Virginia made strides last week, especially on offense, but fell to Georgia Tech, 35-25. UVa QB David Watford set a school record for completions (42) and attempts (61). He is now, incredibly, leading the ACC in completions. That stat blew my mind. Watford is getting better, but I had no idea he was leading that category. Some of his throws are behind the line and close (increasing his accuracy) and he is still wildly inaccurate at times, but he has no doubt improved this season. Running back Kevin Parks is fourth in the ACC in rushing yards per game. Virginia is still inefficient, however. It forced Georgia Tech into five turnovers last weekend and still could not find a way to win or even make the game close in the final seconds. Virginia is still plagued by poor decision making as well. At the end of the first half, with six seconds left and no timeouts, but coming out of a timeout, the Cavs ran the ball instead of passing the ball at the 1-yard line. Virginia has been terrible in short-yardage situations for years, and this was no different as the Wahoos were stuffed. Instead of a field goal try, which could have occurred after an incompleted pass, time ran out. A touchdown pass would have made it 17-14, UVa, at the half. A field goal would have made it a 14-13 game. But instead, the team went into the locker room down, 14-10, to a chorus of boos by a crowd that was baffled at another bad play call. The task does not get any easier this week as Clemson comes to town, a team that has only one loss this season and is explosive on offense. QB Tajh Boyd, wide out Sammy Watkins, and running back Roderick McDowell, among others, are capable of inflicting serious damage on UVa's defense, which was better at the beginning of the season but has been getting softer. UVa will be without three defensive starters just like last week, CBs Demetrious Nicholson and Maurice Canady and tackle Brent Urban. On offense, tight end Jake McGee, who was hurt last week as well, is expected to play. The offense will need to watch out for defensive end Vic Beasley, who is tied for the national lead in sacks with 10. I think the offense will have some success like last week but it won't be nearly enough to keep up with the Tigers, who should romp on offense. Clemson has been known to "pull a Clemson" before, a term that is not so endearing. It means the Tigers normally get their fans' hopes up with an undefeated run to start the season only to stumble down the stretch and lose to one or two inferior teams. Now, Clemson has a loss this year, and a bad one, to FSU, 51-14, and it happened at home. However, the 'Noles are very good, so I'm not sure that loss counts as pulling a Clemson. Maybe Virginia is the inferior team that the Tigers lose to this season. I doubt it, as UVa has too many things going against it. The offense is improving, but not prolific like it would need to be to keep up with Clemson. The defense is injured in a game where it would need all its horses to slow down the Tigers. And so far this season, despite lots of staff turnover in the offseason, the team is still plagued by porous decision making coming from the coaches on the sideline. Besides, according to a stat I read today from UVa beat writer Andrew Ramspacher in The Daily Progress, it's been awhile since Clemson actually pulled a Clemson. The Tigers have beaten their last 15 unranked opponents, and all by double digits.
Clemson 48, Virginia 24
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