Last week: 6-2 Overall: 52-24
Virginia Tech at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network (NBC29 in Cville area)
The Hokies' defense has had a rough go of it this year, and it was expected to be very strong. Luckily, the BC offense, which ranks 125th in the country in yards (out of 128), might just be what the Hokies need to get back on track. The Eagles are averaging just 7.6 points in five ACC games, all losses. The BC defense has been very strong, though, so Tech might have a hard time getting its offense going, too. Expect a low-scoring affair. The Eagles have won two in a row against the Hokies, scoring 34 points in 2013 and 33 last year. I don't see that happening again.
Virginia Tech 17, Boston College 13
No. 3 Clemson at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
Clemson is coming off a thrashing of Miami that got Al Golden fired and has secured the national spotlight. N.C. State is 5-2 but recovered from a two-game losing streak against Louisville and Virginia Tech by beating Wake Forest, 35-17, last week. The Tigers have won 35 straight games against unranked foes. The last loss? In 2011, at N.C. State in a 37-13 loss when they were No. 7. Still, this Tigers' team appears to have a different look. And I don't think N.C. State has the firepower to keep up with the Tigers for more than a half.
Clemson 38, N.C. State 17
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Georgia vs. No. 11 Florida in Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The speculation is that UVa transfer Greyson Lambert might not start for the Bulldogs against the Gators. He's struggled since completing an insane 24 of 25 passes in a win over South Carolina on Sept. 20. Bryce Ramsey is the only other Georgia QB to throw a pass this year. The other choice is Faton Bauta. Coach Mark Richt stopped short of saying the starter has changed but said they have all taken first-team reps this week. Florida has QB issues of its own but they appear to be more stabilized. Starter Will Grier was suspended for the Gators' most recent game against LSU two weeks ago because of performance-enhancing drugs. Backup Treon Harris performed well, however, as they only lost by seven to the Tigers in Death Valley. Both defenses rank in the top 30 in terms of points allowed, so with the offensive issues, it could be a low-scoring game. I like Florida, though, because they do have a better offense at this point, I think. Stopping star running back Nick Chubb will obviously be a big key for the Gators. They rank 21st in rush defense. The winner of this game takes a step forward in winning the SEC East.
Florida 27, Georgia 17
No. 12 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
With several teams still undefeated, it is easy to overlook the fact that Oklahoma State is one of them. I picked the Cowboys to be upset by West Virginia two weeks after they squeaked by Texas, 30-27. They won in overtime, 33-26. OSU also had a tough time with Kansas State, winning 36-34, and has had a pretty easy schedule overall. Texas Tech is 5-3 and narrowly missed a home upset vs. TCU earlier this year when it lost, 55-52. The problem is the Red Raiders have no defense. They've allowed 40 ppg so far, 120th in the nation. Even with a great offense, I can't pick them since OSU actually has a respectable scoring defense, giving up 19 ppg. Also, the Cowboys have some motivation for the rest of the season after last week's terrible tragedy where a car crashed into their homecoming parade, killing four people and injuring several others.
Oklahoma State 49, Texas Tech 42
Miami at No. 22 Duke, 7 p.m. ESPNU
Wow, I did not see Miami's beatdown coming last week. Sure, I picked Clemson to win, but 58-0 and 42-0 at halftime? Tough to see how Miami will recover from that. I don't think Duke has been all that impressive -- doesn't take much to be leading the ACC Coastal Division these days -- and all Miami has done in the ACC is lose to the two best teams but I like the Blue Devils in Durham, even though Miami won this matchup, 22-10, last year. Plus, QB Brad Kaaya is out after sustaining a concussion and Malik Rosier, a true freshman, will get his first start.
Duke 30, Miami 20
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 21 Temple, 8 p.m. ABC
Temple has been highly impressive this year and Matt Rhule is now a hot name in coaching vacancy circles. The Owls are 7-0 for the first time in program history and feature a strong running game behind Jahad Thomas, who has run for 822 yards. But Notre Dame is used to the spotlight and I think is on a different plane. The Fighting Irish's lone setback was by two points at Clemson, which has been very good. These teams share a common opponent. Notre Dame crushed Massachusetts, 62-27. Temple beat UMass, 25-23.
Notre Dame 35, Temple 24
No. 8 Stanford at Washington State, 10:30 p.m. ESPN
Washington State, which lost to FCS team Portland State in its opener this year, has rebounded nicely with a 5-2 record and has strong wins over Oregon and Arizona. This is somehow a big Pac-12 North matchup. I like the Cardinal, though, to keep on trucking and beat Mike Leach's Cougars.
Stanford 38, Washington State 22
Georgia Tech at Virginia, 3 p.m. CSN
The Yellow Jackets were on a terrible slide before surprising Florida State last week in miraculous fashion. The previously unbeaten Seminoles were taken down in Atlanta when Lance Austin ran back a blocked field goal attempt about 75 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving Tech a 22-16 victory. The win puts the Jackets at 3-5 and with games vs. UVa, Virginia Tech, and Miami left, Georgia Tech's streak of going to a bowl game for 17 straight years is still alive and well. Virginia has not fared well under Mike London against the Yellow Jackets. I know that is easy to say for plenty of ACC teams and London (and to be fair to him, plenty of other teams struggle with Ga. Tech), but this struggle has been particularly rough. Outside of a 24-21 win in 2011, Paul Johnson's Georgia Tech teams have beaten London's Cavalier teams 33-21, 56-20, 35-25, and 35-10. The 10-point, 35-25 loss in 2013 came with Georgia Tech turning the ball over seven times and David Watford having one of his best games as a Cavalier QB. Disciplined defense has not been one of UVa's strong suits recently. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta's aggressive style does not bode well for being assignment-oriented and stopping Georgia Tech's spread option offense. With the game taking place on Halloween, I think the score could get scary.
Georgia Tech 48, Virginia 21
Virginia Tech at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network (NBC29 in Cville area)
The Hokies' defense has had a rough go of it this year, and it was expected to be very strong. Luckily, the BC offense, which ranks 125th in the country in yards (out of 128), might just be what the Hokies need to get back on track. The Eagles are averaging just 7.6 points in five ACC games, all losses. The BC defense has been very strong, though, so Tech might have a hard time getting its offense going, too. Expect a low-scoring affair. The Eagles have won two in a row against the Hokies, scoring 34 points in 2013 and 33 last year. I don't see that happening again.
Virginia Tech 17, Boston College 13
No. 3 Clemson at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
Clemson is coming off a thrashing of Miami that got Al Golden fired and has secured the national spotlight. N.C. State is 5-2 but recovered from a two-game losing streak against Louisville and Virginia Tech by beating Wake Forest, 35-17, last week. The Tigers have won 35 straight games against unranked foes. The last loss? In 2011, at N.C. State in a 37-13 loss when they were No. 7. Still, this Tigers' team appears to have a different look. And I don't think N.C. State has the firepower to keep up with the Tigers for more than a half.
Clemson 38, N.C. State 17
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Georgia vs. No. 11 Florida in Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The speculation is that UVa transfer Greyson Lambert might not start for the Bulldogs against the Gators. He's struggled since completing an insane 24 of 25 passes in a win over South Carolina on Sept. 20. Bryce Ramsey is the only other Georgia QB to throw a pass this year. The other choice is Faton Bauta. Coach Mark Richt stopped short of saying the starter has changed but said they have all taken first-team reps this week. Florida has QB issues of its own but they appear to be more stabilized. Starter Will Grier was suspended for the Gators' most recent game against LSU two weeks ago because of performance-enhancing drugs. Backup Treon Harris performed well, however, as they only lost by seven to the Tigers in Death Valley. Both defenses rank in the top 30 in terms of points allowed, so with the offensive issues, it could be a low-scoring game. I like Florida, though, because they do have a better offense at this point, I think. Stopping star running back Nick Chubb will obviously be a big key for the Gators. They rank 21st in rush defense. The winner of this game takes a step forward in winning the SEC East.
Florida 27, Georgia 17
No. 12 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
With several teams still undefeated, it is easy to overlook the fact that Oklahoma State is one of them. I picked the Cowboys to be upset by West Virginia two weeks after they squeaked by Texas, 30-27. They won in overtime, 33-26. OSU also had a tough time with Kansas State, winning 36-34, and has had a pretty easy schedule overall. Texas Tech is 5-3 and narrowly missed a home upset vs. TCU earlier this year when it lost, 55-52. The problem is the Red Raiders have no defense. They've allowed 40 ppg so far, 120th in the nation. Even with a great offense, I can't pick them since OSU actually has a respectable scoring defense, giving up 19 ppg. Also, the Cowboys have some motivation for the rest of the season after last week's terrible tragedy where a car crashed into their homecoming parade, killing four people and injuring several others.
Oklahoma State 49, Texas Tech 42
Miami at No. 22 Duke, 7 p.m. ESPNU
Wow, I did not see Miami's beatdown coming last week. Sure, I picked Clemson to win, but 58-0 and 42-0 at halftime? Tough to see how Miami will recover from that. I don't think Duke has been all that impressive -- doesn't take much to be leading the ACC Coastal Division these days -- and all Miami has done in the ACC is lose to the two best teams but I like the Blue Devils in Durham, even though Miami won this matchup, 22-10, last year. Plus, QB Brad Kaaya is out after sustaining a concussion and Malik Rosier, a true freshman, will get his first start.
Duke 30, Miami 20
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 21 Temple, 8 p.m. ABC
Temple has been highly impressive this year and Matt Rhule is now a hot name in coaching vacancy circles. The Owls are 7-0 for the first time in program history and feature a strong running game behind Jahad Thomas, who has run for 822 yards. But Notre Dame is used to the spotlight and I think is on a different plane. The Fighting Irish's lone setback was by two points at Clemson, which has been very good. These teams share a common opponent. Notre Dame crushed Massachusetts, 62-27. Temple beat UMass, 25-23.
Notre Dame 35, Temple 24
No. 8 Stanford at Washington State, 10:30 p.m. ESPN
Washington State, which lost to FCS team Portland State in its opener this year, has rebounded nicely with a 5-2 record and has strong wins over Oregon and Arizona. This is somehow a big Pac-12 North matchup. I like the Cardinal, though, to keep on trucking and beat Mike Leach's Cougars.
Stanford 38, Washington State 22
Georgia Tech at Virginia, 3 p.m. CSN
The Yellow Jackets were on a terrible slide before surprising Florida State last week in miraculous fashion. The previously unbeaten Seminoles were taken down in Atlanta when Lance Austin ran back a blocked field goal attempt about 75 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving Tech a 22-16 victory. The win puts the Jackets at 3-5 and with games vs. UVa, Virginia Tech, and Miami left, Georgia Tech's streak of going to a bowl game for 17 straight years is still alive and well. Virginia has not fared well under Mike London against the Yellow Jackets. I know that is easy to say for plenty of ACC teams and London (and to be fair to him, plenty of other teams struggle with Ga. Tech), but this struggle has been particularly rough. Outside of a 24-21 win in 2011, Paul Johnson's Georgia Tech teams have beaten London's Cavalier teams 33-21, 56-20, 35-25, and 35-10. The 10-point, 35-25 loss in 2013 came with Georgia Tech turning the ball over seven times and David Watford having one of his best games as a Cavalier QB. Disciplined defense has not been one of UVa's strong suits recently. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta's aggressive style does not bode well for being assignment-oriented and stopping Georgia Tech's spread option offense. With the game taking place on Halloween, I think the score could get scary.Georgia Tech 48, Virginia 21
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