Season: 45-25; last week: 6-3
Last week, Kevin Parks got the ball nine more times than he did vs. Duke. He carried the ball 25 times. It should have been 30. He was averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Virginia was driving into UNC territory in the middle of the fourth quarter up 27-21 when UVa ran a reverse with Darius Jennings and then a screen pass to Parks which ended up being executed terribly by QB Greyson Lambert, as he threw a pick to a UNC D-lineman. Not only did the offense put itself outside of FG territory, it ended up giving the ball to UNC for a game-winning drive. The pass was bad, yes, and the blocking was bad yes, but the play call was worse. Lambert and the offense should not have been put in that situation. Pound the rock. Parks is a senior, a little stout pinball that is hard to bring down. He has hardly ever gotten hurt that I can remember. Ride him. He could've ran for UVa to a victory last week. I just ask London and OC Steve Fairchild to be please be smart about play calling this week. Don't abandon something that's working or that would salt the game away. Don't try to get cute when it gets to crunch time. The Georgia Tech defense isn't great, but does that really matter? The UNC defense was epically bad and UVa could not take advantage.
No. 24 Duke at Pittsburgh, Noon ESPNU
Pittsburgh turned the ball over six times (all fumbles) last week vs. Georgia Tech, helping the Yellow Jackets gain a 28-0 lead after the first quarter. Tech coasted to a 56-28 win. That kind of sloppiness isn't going to cut it against the disciplined Blue Devils, who are nothing if not steady. Their rise in the ACC's Coastal Division the past few years is in part because they play smart, mistake-free football and wait for the opponent to beat itself. Pittsburgh could very well have the horses in the running game to beat Duke, which doesn't have a great rush defense. But I'm just starting to trust Duke more than the other Coastal teams. Note: These teams played a 58-55 thriller with the Panthers winning last season.
Duke 34, Pittsburgh 27
North Carolina at Miami, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network (regional split with BC-VT; if you aren't in an area that broadcasts it on TV, it can be found on ESPN3.com)
UNC started out last season 1-5 before rebounding nicely to finish the regular season at 6-6. In honor of Halloween, the Tar Heels are again rising from the dead this season after a 2-4 start. They have wins the last two weeks over Georgia Tech and Virginia by a combined six points. Defense is still a big issue. UNC surrendered 443 vs. Virginia and 611 vs. Georgia Tech. Miami will be riding high with confidence after a win last Thursday at Virginia Tech. If the Hurricanes can finish drives with TDs unlike Virginia and play a little defense unlike GT, they should be able to win this game. If UNC falls to 4-5, though, it still would not shock me for it to get eventually get to 6-6 and earn a bowl bid.
Miami 42, North Carolina 38
Boston College at Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network (in Cville area; ESPN3.com otherwise)
It would not surprise me for the Hokies to get things turned around at 4-4 and finish 7-5 or 8-4, it really wouldn't. I just can't believe Tech is this bad. But I can't trust the Hokies now, even at home. I worry about how they can stop the smashmouth style of Boston College, especially with defensive tackle Luther Maddy gone for the season with a knee injury. Miami racked up 364 yards rushing vs. Tech last Thursday night in Blacksburg. BC coach Steve Addazio has implemented a physical running attack at BC that has paid dividends the past two seasons. This year, the Eagles rank 11th in the country in rushing. BC won this game last year in Boston, 34-27.
Boston College 27, Virginia Tech 20
Worth watching: No. 7 TCU at No. 20 West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ABC
College GameDay is in Morgantown for a big Big 12 matchup between the Horned Frogs and surprising Mountaineers. TCU lost a heartbreaker three weeks ago at Baylor after being up 21 points in the fourth quarter. The last two weeks, it has taken out its frustrations, first on Oklahoma State, 42-9, and then last week on Texas Tech, crushing the Red Raiders, 82-27. Yes, eighty-two points. TCU was knocked out of the playoff conversation with its loss to the Bears, but now the Horned Frogs have worked their way back into the conversation and can make statements their next two games at the Mountaineers and then hosting No. 9 Kansas State next week. I like WVU and called its upset win over Baylor two weeks ago, but I happen to like TCU more. I think this has a chance to be the best game of the day.
TCU 45, West Virginia 43
Game of the week: No. 3 Auburn at No. 4 Ole Miss, 7 p.m. ESPN
This, of course, has a chance to be the best game of the day as well. A week after dropping a close contest at LSU, Ole Miss gets a chance to redeem itself at home vs. another great SEC West team. Both of these schools would currently be in the four-team playoff at the end of the year, but the loser will obviously have a harder time getting back in with two losses so this is a huge game. Auburn has a great rushing attack and Ole Miss has a terrific defense. The Rebels struggled against the run last week vs. LSU, though, yielding 264 yards to the Tigers. Auburn poses more of a finesse style running game, but I still think that could be a problem for the Rebels.
Auburn 24, Ole Miss 20
Stanford at No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m. FOX
Stanford has had Oregon's number the past two seasons, completely shutting down the Ducks offense a year ago at The Farm, eventually winning 26-20 after leading 23-0 through three quarters. In 2012, the Cardinal even won in Eugene, 17-14 in OT. Stanford isn't getting it done in big games this season, though, losing to every ranked team it has faced. The Ducks offense has been rolling since getting tackle Jake Fisher back from an injury. Stanford's defense will keep it in this game, but I don't think it will be enough in the end.
Oregon 27, Stanford 18
No. 12 Arizona at No. 22 UCLA, 10:30 p.m. ESPN
The Wildcats zoomed into the national rankings a month ago with a huge win at Oregon. Since then, they have lost a close contest at home to USC and blown out Washington State on the road. The Bruins have not looked good in some games against ranked teams this year or against most of their opponents outside the top 25 for that matter, struggling vs. Virginia, Memphis, Texas, Cal, and Colorado. They have played only one impressive game this season, crushing a ranked Arizona State squad, 62-27, on Sept. 25. Arizona has just been better this season so I give it the edge, even in L.A.
Arizona 37, UCLA 29
No. 17 Utah at No. 14 Arizona State, 11 p.m. FOX Sports 1
The last game of the day finds the surprising Utes and the high-octane Sun Devils battling for first place in the Pac-12 South. ASU has cruised in most of its games this season, just getting walloped in that one aforementioned home game vs. UCLA and winning a close game at USC by four points. Utah has been walking a tight rope the past four weeks, going 3-1 with games decided by one point (home loss to Washington State), two points (road win at UCLA), six points (double OT win at Oregon State), and three points (home win vs. USC). I like the Sun Devils, which would put them in first place along with rival Arizona, should the Wildcats escape UCLA. Long way to go, but that annual rivalry game the two (this year at Arizona) could have very high stakes.
Arizona State 24, Utah 17
Virginia at Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
I'll try to keep this relatively short and sweet. Look, I like Mike London. He is a great guy. But he has got to go. He is not a good football coach.
You probably noticed I did not do a reaction post for the UNC game. And I really didn't do one for the Duke game, either. What was there to say for the Tar Heels game? The defense broke down at the wrong time, the offense moved the ball but could not score enough, especially in the second half, and turned it over twice, and a bone-headed penalty that has become the hallmark of London's tenure ended up closing out the game. I am ready for basketball season. And I didn't even mention the onside kick fiasco.
For the second straight year, London has hampered my love for this game. It is hard to watch UVa football again this season. We are better than last year, no doubt. But that makes the in-game decision making and play calling much more difficult to bear and highlights it in a negative manner, because we have been pretty close to winning in all four losses this season. UVa has yet to lose a game by double digits this season. In 2013 at this point, the Cavaliers had suffered through five double-digit losses. The team is better this year and deserves better coaching and game management than it is getting.
The second-half offense has been embarrassing the past few weeks and that has been a trademark throughout the London era. Against Pittsburgh, Virginia held a 24-3 halftime lead and won, 24-19. Against Duke, the score was 10-10 at the half and Duke won, 20-13. Vs. UNC, Virginia led 24-21 at the half and lost, 28-27. That's a combined six points in the second half the last three games.
Last week, Kevin Parks got the ball nine more times than he did vs. Duke. He carried the ball 25 times. It should have been 30. He was averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Virginia was driving into UNC territory in the middle of the fourth quarter up 27-21 when UVa ran a reverse with Darius Jennings and then a screen pass to Parks which ended up being executed terribly by QB Greyson Lambert, as he threw a pick to a UNC D-lineman. Not only did the offense put itself outside of FG territory, it ended up giving the ball to UNC for a game-winning drive. The pass was bad, yes, and the blocking was bad yes, but the play call was worse. Lambert and the offense should not have been put in that situation. Pound the rock. Parks is a senior, a little stout pinball that is hard to bring down. He has hardly ever gotten hurt that I can remember. Ride him. He could've ran for UVa to a victory last week. I just ask London and OC Steve Fairchild to be please be smart about play calling this week. Don't abandon something that's working or that would salt the game away. Don't try to get cute when it gets to crunch time. The Georgia Tech defense isn't great, but does that really matter? The UNC defense was epically bad and UVa could not take advantage.
So in this game, the 'Hoos get Georgia Tech on the road. Their last trip to Atlanta in 2012 did not end well with Tech picking up an easy 56-20 victory. Last year's game at Scott Stadium showcased a typical London UVa game since 2012: Virginia had 444 yards of total offense and turned it over just once. Georgia Tech turned it over five -- five! -- times, but won, 35-25. The Yellow Jackets QB last year, Vad Lee, transferred to JMU (which I will be cheering on Saturday in person, ironically, as the Dukes host William & Mary in a big CAA game) and this season, Tech has rolled out Justin Thomas full-time, and he is a better overall player than Lee, leading the team in rushing while also possessing some solid passing skills.
We usually know what we will get with the Yellow Jackets on offense. They will probably try to pass a little more than normal for two reasons, though. One, they are pretty good at it this year. DeAndre Smelter is the main beneficiary of the Tech passing attack, catching 20 passes for 462 yards (that's 23.1 yards per reception) and five TDs. And two, their top two running backs, Zach Laskey and Charles Perkins, are out of the game with injuries. The thing with the Tech offense, though, is the spread option is a plug-and-chug scheme. Top two backs out with injuries? Not a big deal. Next two men up, and keep rolling. That happened to be Synjyn Days last week, who played for Laskey last week and got 110 yards, and Broderick Snoddy, who came into the game after Perkins got hurt and racked up 82 yards on just six carries (he came in with all of 61 yards on the year). So I don't look at the fact that Tech's top two RBs are out with injuries as a huge positive for Virginia.
This game is going to go one of two ways in my eyes. UVa plays an inspired first half and looks good doing it, taking a 24-17/24-20 type lead into halftime but then falters after halftime with a weak offense and bad decision making to lose by a touchdown or two. Or, the team gets its first butt whooping of the year and it becomes clear that perhaps not only have the fans given up on London, but maybe even the players have.
Georgia Tech 38, Virginia 27
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