Season: 17-9; last week: 5-3
Trying to get back on track: Western Michigan at Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. The CW29 (Channel 12 on Comcast in Charlottesville area)
Virginia Tech has lost in close games at home the past two weeks to East Carolina and Georgia Tech. However, the Hokies should be able find a groove again against the Broncos, who finished last season 1-11, with just a one-point win over UMass. WMU is 2-1 this season, but the two wins were over Idaho and Murray State, not exactly world beaters. And the loss came by 11 points to a Purdue team trying to find itself. Virginia Tech should rebound in a big way this week.
Virginia Tech 38, Western Michigan 7
No. 1 Florida State at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
The Seminoles survived a scare from Clemson last week with Jameis Winston on the sideline. They get him back for this tilt with the Wolfpack. FSU has struggled with N.C. State before when it should have won. In 2010, the Wolfpack had Russell Wilson under center and FSU had Christian Ponder and the Pack won, 28-24. Two years ago, the Seminoles were ranked No. 2 and N.C. State again upset them, winning, 17-16. The profiles of the two programs have changed since those losses, though. FSU was able to get over the hump and get back to dominance last year by winning the national title (and it destroyed N.C. State at home, 49-17, along the way). Meanwhile, N.C. State went just 3-9 last year under first-year head coach Dave Doeren. The Wolfpack are 4-0 this season, but don't let that fool you. This team might still struggle to reach six wins. The Pack's four victories have come against Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, South Florida, and Presbyterian. If FSU has any trouble, I expect it will just be a slow start it shakes off by the time the second quarter rolls around.
Florida State 38, N.C. State 14
Arkansas at No. 6 Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. CBS
A sophomore QB has done quite well at Texas A&M stepping in for Johnny Manziel this season. Kenny Hill has been making his own highlight reel plays, completing 69.8 percent of his passes for 1,359 yards and already 13 touchdowns with just one pick. Arkansas is improved in its second year under former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, but expect the Aggies to get the job done.
Texas A&M 45, Arkansas 26
ACC game of the week: North Carolina at Clemson, 7 p.m. ESPNU
The Tar Heels gave up 70 points last week in a loss to East Carolina. Clemson changed QBs during its game against FSU from senior Cole Stoudt to freshman Deshaun Watson to find a spark and had chances to win the game. Watson played pretty well, completing 19 of 28 passes for 266 yards, no TDs, and no INTs. The Tigers should find scoring to be easier against UNC. The Tar Heels have yet to give up fewer than 27 points vs. a schedule that has included Liberty and San Diego State.
Clemson 42, North Carolina 28
Former best game of the week: Missouri at No. 13 South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN
South Carolina got run over by Texas A&M, 52-28, to start the season but have since rebounded with wins over East Carolina, Georgia, and Vanderbilt, but no blowouts. This would have been a nice, top-25 matchup but Missouri went out and lost to a middling Indiana team, 31-27, last week, falling out of the top 25. Bouncing back on the road against the Gamecocks is probably a tough proposition. Notable, though, is the fact that South Carolina has yet to give up fewer than 23 points and gave up 34 points to a bad Vanderbilt team.
South Carolina 45, Missouri 31
Still being underrated: Duke at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ESPN
The Blue Devils, winners of 12 straight regular-season games, are about seven-point underdogs at Miami. Duke is 4-0 this year against a slate that isn't that great: Elon, Troy, Tulane, and Kansas, but the days of Duke being a doormat are officially over after the past couple seasons. People seem to have forgotten this team went 10-2 in the regular season last year and nearly knocked off Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Duke's 4-0 start is against bad-to-mediocre teams, but the average score in those wins is 43.5-11.5. I'm surprised the Devils are such big underdogs at the Hurricanes, who have yet to be impressive on defense this year, giving up no fewer than 31 points in losses to Louisville and Nebraska. Miami has beaten Florida A&M and Arkansas State.
Duke 37, Miami 27
Kent State at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Saturday at Scott Stadium, Virginia has yet another challenge in front of them for this 2014 season, a campaign in which the Cavaliers are trying to climb back into national relevance. Kent State comes in at 0-3, having lost all its games by an average score of 35.3-9. So how is this a challenge, you might be asking? Well it was only a few weeks ago before the season that many fans, myself included, would not have even counted this as an easy win. But now, given their strong performances, we all feel confident about the 'Hoos' chances in this game. However, UVa is not at the point yet where it can take anyone lightly. The wounds from last year's 2-10 record are still fairly fresh. No one has forgotten the depths this team sunk to last season and all through the offseason. So far, the team has done a great job of channeling some of that frustration and anger pent up from 10 losses last year and a disbelieving fan base into improved play on the field and cohesiveness in the locker room. Now, fans are singing their praises and expecting an easy victory. Can Virginia continue to find motivation and improve on the field? If this team is truly going to go bowling and be a factor this season, then it needs to take care of business vs. the Golden Flashes.
Kent State comes in with one close loss, 17-14 to Ohio, one loss in a competitive game, 23-13 to South Alabama, and one blowout loss, 66-0, to what was possibly an angry Ohio State team a week after getting upset by Virginia Tech. The Golden Flashes rank below 100th in the country in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, points per game, and points surrendered per game. Not a
good formula for success. They've also given up eight sacks. One thing Kent State has done well is turnover margin. It has created seven turnovers (six fumble recoveries, one INT) and has been turned over only four times. I don't know if the fumble recoveries have been luck or if the defense is good at stripping the ball. Either way, sounds like ball security should be a top priority for the 'Hoos, especially given the fact that getting turnovers is probably the only way Kent State would have a chance at an upset. Sophomore Colin Reardon leads the Flashes at QB, completing 56.5 percent of his passes for 553 yards, four TDs, and four INTs. Nick Holley leads the team in rushing with 87 yards. The Flashes have only gained 142 yards on the ground and have yet to punch it into the end zone for a rushing score. Casey Pierce, Ernest Calhoun, Chris Humphrey, and Holley all have at least 10 catches and Pierce, Humphrey, Holley, and Josh Boyle all have receiving TDs.
After taking positive steps at QB last week, Greyson Lambert could sit this week with a twisted ankle he suffered last week. He jogged off the field at BYU but hasn't been a full participant in practice. This could mean that Matt Johns will see his first start for UVa. Johns played well after Lambert came out for UVa last week, leading the Cavaliers to 17 second-half points. The opponent being Kent State, I wouldn't expect this game to change the QB situation no matter how well Johns plays. I expect Lambert to be the starter once he gets healthy.
It shouldn't mater who starts at QB. Virginia should win this game easily. This game might have been a struggle last year, but based on the results so far this season, the Cavaliers should coast by the Flashes. But, crazier things have happened and Virginia needs to be ready for anything -- long throws, fake field goals and punts, trick plays. Kent State is desperate for a win and has nothing to lose. Focusing on beating a team that isn't that easy to get hyped up for is another challenge any good team needs to take on. Hopefully the Wahoos pass the test.
Virginia 34, Kent State 10
Trying to get back on track: Western Michigan at Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. The CW29 (Channel 12 on Comcast in Charlottesville area)
Virginia Tech has lost in close games at home the past two weeks to East Carolina and Georgia Tech. However, the Hokies should be able find a groove again against the Broncos, who finished last season 1-11, with just a one-point win over UMass. WMU is 2-1 this season, but the two wins were over Idaho and Murray State, not exactly world beaters. And the loss came by 11 points to a Purdue team trying to find itself. Virginia Tech should rebound in a big way this week.
Virginia Tech 38, Western Michigan 7
No. 1 Florida State at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
The Seminoles survived a scare from Clemson last week with Jameis Winston on the sideline. They get him back for this tilt with the Wolfpack. FSU has struggled with N.C. State before when it should have won. In 2010, the Wolfpack had Russell Wilson under center and FSU had Christian Ponder and the Pack won, 28-24. Two years ago, the Seminoles were ranked No. 2 and N.C. State again upset them, winning, 17-16. The profiles of the two programs have changed since those losses, though. FSU was able to get over the hump and get back to dominance last year by winning the national title (and it destroyed N.C. State at home, 49-17, along the way). Meanwhile, N.C. State went just 3-9 last year under first-year head coach Dave Doeren. The Wolfpack are 4-0 this season, but don't let that fool you. This team might still struggle to reach six wins. The Pack's four victories have come against Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, South Florida, and Presbyterian. If FSU has any trouble, I expect it will just be a slow start it shakes off by the time the second quarter rolls around.
Florida State 38, N.C. State 14
Arkansas at No. 6 Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. CBS
A sophomore QB has done quite well at Texas A&M stepping in for Johnny Manziel this season. Kenny Hill has been making his own highlight reel plays, completing 69.8 percent of his passes for 1,359 yards and already 13 touchdowns with just one pick. Arkansas is improved in its second year under former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, but expect the Aggies to get the job done.
Texas A&M 45, Arkansas 26
ACC game of the week: North Carolina at Clemson, 7 p.m. ESPNU
The Tar Heels gave up 70 points last week in a loss to East Carolina. Clemson changed QBs during its game against FSU from senior Cole Stoudt to freshman Deshaun Watson to find a spark and had chances to win the game. Watson played pretty well, completing 19 of 28 passes for 266 yards, no TDs, and no INTs. The Tigers should find scoring to be easier against UNC. The Tar Heels have yet to give up fewer than 27 points vs. a schedule that has included Liberty and San Diego State.
Clemson 42, North Carolina 28
Former best game of the week: Missouri at No. 13 South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN
South Carolina got run over by Texas A&M, 52-28, to start the season but have since rebounded with wins over East Carolina, Georgia, and Vanderbilt, but no blowouts. This would have been a nice, top-25 matchup but Missouri went out and lost to a middling Indiana team, 31-27, last week, falling out of the top 25. Bouncing back on the road against the Gamecocks is probably a tough proposition. Notable, though, is the fact that South Carolina has yet to give up fewer than 23 points and gave up 34 points to a bad Vanderbilt team.
South Carolina 45, Missouri 31
Still being underrated: Duke at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ESPN
The Blue Devils, winners of 12 straight regular-season games, are about seven-point underdogs at Miami. Duke is 4-0 this year against a slate that isn't that great: Elon, Troy, Tulane, and Kansas, but the days of Duke being a doormat are officially over after the past couple seasons. People seem to have forgotten this team went 10-2 in the regular season last year and nearly knocked off Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Duke's 4-0 start is against bad-to-mediocre teams, but the average score in those wins is 43.5-11.5. I'm surprised the Devils are such big underdogs at the Hurricanes, who have yet to be impressive on defense this year, giving up no fewer than 31 points in losses to Louisville and Nebraska. Miami has beaten Florida A&M and Arkansas State.
Duke 37, Miami 27
Kent State at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Saturday at Scott Stadium, Virginia has yet another challenge in front of them for this 2014 season, a campaign in which the Cavaliers are trying to climb back into national relevance. Kent State comes in at 0-3, having lost all its games by an average score of 35.3-9. So how is this a challenge, you might be asking? Well it was only a few weeks ago before the season that many fans, myself included, would not have even counted this as an easy win. But now, given their strong performances, we all feel confident about the 'Hoos' chances in this game. However, UVa is not at the point yet where it can take anyone lightly. The wounds from last year's 2-10 record are still fairly fresh. No one has forgotten the depths this team sunk to last season and all through the offseason. So far, the team has done a great job of channeling some of that frustration and anger pent up from 10 losses last year and a disbelieving fan base into improved play on the field and cohesiveness in the locker room. Now, fans are singing their praises and expecting an easy victory. Can Virginia continue to find motivation and improve on the field? If this team is truly going to go bowling and be a factor this season, then it needs to take care of business vs. the Golden Flashes.
Kent State comes in with one close loss, 17-14 to Ohio, one loss in a competitive game, 23-13 to South Alabama, and one blowout loss, 66-0, to what was possibly an angry Ohio State team a week after getting upset by Virginia Tech. The Golden Flashes rank below 100th in the country in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, points per game, and points surrendered per game. Not a
After taking positive steps at QB last week, Greyson Lambert could sit this week with a twisted ankle he suffered last week. He jogged off the field at BYU but hasn't been a full participant in practice. This could mean that Matt Johns will see his first start for UVa. Johns played well after Lambert came out for UVa last week, leading the Cavaliers to 17 second-half points. The opponent being Kent State, I wouldn't expect this game to change the QB situation no matter how well Johns plays. I expect Lambert to be the starter once he gets healthy.
It shouldn't mater who starts at QB. Virginia should win this game easily. This game might have been a struggle last year, but based on the results so far this season, the Cavaliers should coast by the Flashes. But, crazier things have happened and Virginia needs to be ready for anything -- long throws, fake field goals and punts, trick plays. Kent State is desperate for a win and has nothing to lose. Focusing on beating a team that isn't that easy to get hyped up for is another challenge any good team needs to take on. Hopefully the Wahoos pass the test.
Virginia 34, Kent State 10
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