Note: College Football Playoff rankings are being used.
Duke at North Carolina, Noon ESPN2
The Blue Devils are coming off a devastating, literally-should-not-have-happened loss against Miami, their first in the ACC. The conference admitted this week mistakes were made on the last play -- a frantic, lateral-filled kickoff return by the Hurricanes that gave them the win. However, numerous mistakes were made by the referees, including missing a Miami player's knee being down and some block-in-the-back penalties that weren't called. UNC is undefeated in the conference, having most recently beaten Pittsburgh last Thursday night. Neither team has all that great a collection of victories (Duke: Tulane, N.C. Central, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Army, Virginia Tech; UNC: N.C. A&T, Illinois, Delaware, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, UVa, Pitt). Something just tells me Duke will come out refocused after getting jobbed. I think David Cutcliffe is the perfect coach for Duke to go back to controlling what it can control. Should UNC win, it will be sitting pretty for a ACC Coastal division title. If Duke wins, it will have one conference loss along with Pittsburgh and North Carolina.
Duke 30, North Carolina 27
No. 16 Florida State at No. 1 Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Tigers face a major hump in trying to reach the ACC title game and College Football Playoff. The Seminoles have beaten the Tigers three straight seasons, including last year in OT. This year, though, Clemson is favored and might have something else on its side -- FSU could once again be without starting QB Everett Golson, who suffered a concussion against Georgia Tech two weeks ago. Sean Maguire filled in admirably last week for the 'Noles, but that was against Syracuse. Dalvin Cook will be back at running back for FSU. However, QB Deshaun Watson and Clemson have been more impressive team this season. I do expect a close game, though.
Clemson 38, Florida State 35
No. 8 TCU at No. 14 Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m. Fox
Both these teams have survived shootouts against Texas Tech -- TCU 55-52 on Sept. 27 and Oklahoma State 70-53 last week -- and both are still undefeated. But, I think TCU is a little better overall and has been more challenged. The Horned Frogs seemed to have gotten the defense going recently, too. I think this will be a close game. SportsCenter will have a morning show from Stillwater early today. A person crashed a car into the school's homecoming parade last week, killing four people. The players could still have some extra motivation because of the tragedy.
TCU 42, Oklahoma State 38
No. 2 LSU at No. 4 Alabama, 8 p.m. ABC
This game has become one of the best, if not the best, rivalries in college football. Ever since Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, it has been a smashmouth game that usually has implications not only in the SEC, but usually in the national title picture. This year is no different. LSU is undefeated and Alabama has just one loss. A win for both goes a long way toward controlling the SEC West and getting to the SEC title game to ultimately play for a chance to get to the playoff. The Crimson Tide has won the past four meetings dating back to the January 2012 BCS national championship, That year, LSU won, 9-6 in OT, in the regular season. Seven of the past nine meetings have been decided by single digits. For this edition, both teams are going to try to be physical. LSU features Heisman candidate RB Leonard Fournette and 'Bama features lesser-known but still successful RB Derrick Henry. I'm giving 'Bama the edge because I think it has a little bit better defense and the home crowd might help.
Alabama 24, LSU 21
Virginia at Miami, 3 p.m. CSN
No doubt Virginia looked pretty good last week. The running game was punishing and the defense was flying around, stopping Georgia Tech running backs in their tracks. With that said, it still got down to the 1-yard line twice and ended up kicking field goals. That won't be good enough to win on the road, something Virginia hasn't done since November 2012 at N.C. State. And Georgia Tech is not as good as Miami, which I think is actually underrated. One really bad game this year, a 58-0 loss to Clemson, cost Al Golden his job. Otherwise, though, Miami has been pretty good, coming within five points of upsetting Florida State, and is undefeated at home. Last week's win over Duke was a
little too good to be true at the end, but interim coach Larry Scott did a nice job just to motivate his players and get them ready coming off the firing of Golden and the humiliation vs. Clemson. One injury edge the Cavaliers might have is Hurricanes QB Brad Kaaya might be out with a concussion he suffered against Clemson. Redshirt freshman Malik Rosier will fill in again, as he did at Duke, if Kaaya can't go. Winning on the road requires playing a clean game, and that is just something I don't trust the Cavs to do. An improved UVa, though, will probably keep it close. I see this one coming down to one of those heartbreaking losses that have become common during the Mike London era.
Miami 31, Virginia 27
Duke at North Carolina, Noon ESPN2
The Blue Devils are coming off a devastating, literally-should-not-have-happened loss against Miami, their first in the ACC. The conference admitted this week mistakes were made on the last play -- a frantic, lateral-filled kickoff return by the Hurricanes that gave them the win. However, numerous mistakes were made by the referees, including missing a Miami player's knee being down and some block-in-the-back penalties that weren't called. UNC is undefeated in the conference, having most recently beaten Pittsburgh last Thursday night. Neither team has all that great a collection of victories (Duke: Tulane, N.C. Central, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Army, Virginia Tech; UNC: N.C. A&T, Illinois, Delaware, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, UVa, Pitt). Something just tells me Duke will come out refocused after getting jobbed. I think David Cutcliffe is the perfect coach for Duke to go back to controlling what it can control. Should UNC win, it will be sitting pretty for a ACC Coastal division title. If Duke wins, it will have one conference loss along with Pittsburgh and North Carolina.
Duke 30, North Carolina 27
No. 16 Florida State at No. 1 Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Tigers face a major hump in trying to reach the ACC title game and College Football Playoff. The Seminoles have beaten the Tigers three straight seasons, including last year in OT. This year, though, Clemson is favored and might have something else on its side -- FSU could once again be without starting QB Everett Golson, who suffered a concussion against Georgia Tech two weeks ago. Sean Maguire filled in admirably last week for the 'Noles, but that was against Syracuse. Dalvin Cook will be back at running back for FSU. However, QB Deshaun Watson and Clemson have been more impressive team this season. I do expect a close game, though.
Clemson 38, Florida State 35
No. 8 TCU at No. 14 Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m. Fox
Both these teams have survived shootouts against Texas Tech -- TCU 55-52 on Sept. 27 and Oklahoma State 70-53 last week -- and both are still undefeated. But, I think TCU is a little better overall and has been more challenged. The Horned Frogs seemed to have gotten the defense going recently, too. I think this will be a close game. SportsCenter will have a morning show from Stillwater early today. A person crashed a car into the school's homecoming parade last week, killing four people. The players could still have some extra motivation because of the tragedy.
TCU 42, Oklahoma State 38
No. 2 LSU at No. 4 Alabama, 8 p.m. ABC
This game has become one of the best, if not the best, rivalries in college football. Ever since Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, it has been a smashmouth game that usually has implications not only in the SEC, but usually in the national title picture. This year is no different. LSU is undefeated and Alabama has just one loss. A win for both goes a long way toward controlling the SEC West and getting to the SEC title game to ultimately play for a chance to get to the playoff. The Crimson Tide has won the past four meetings dating back to the January 2012 BCS national championship, That year, LSU won, 9-6 in OT, in the regular season. Seven of the past nine meetings have been decided by single digits. For this edition, both teams are going to try to be physical. LSU features Heisman candidate RB Leonard Fournette and 'Bama features lesser-known but still successful RB Derrick Henry. I'm giving 'Bama the edge because I think it has a little bit better defense and the home crowd might help.
Alabama 24, LSU 21
Virginia at Miami, 3 p.m. CSN
No doubt Virginia looked pretty good last week. The running game was punishing and the defense was flying around, stopping Georgia Tech running backs in their tracks. With that said, it still got down to the 1-yard line twice and ended up kicking field goals. That won't be good enough to win on the road, something Virginia hasn't done since November 2012 at N.C. State. And Georgia Tech is not as good as Miami, which I think is actually underrated. One really bad game this year, a 58-0 loss to Clemson, cost Al Golden his job. Otherwise, though, Miami has been pretty good, coming within five points of upsetting Florida State, and is undefeated at home. Last week's win over Duke was a
Miami 31, Virginia 27
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