A look at this week’s games in ACC football.
ACC Standings, as of Oct. 2, 2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
Louisville (4-1, 2-1 ACC) vs. Syracuse (2-2, 0-0)
- 7 p.m. – ESPN
- Line: Cardinals – 3
- After losing to Virginia two weeks ago in its ACC opener, the Cardinals have rattled off two wins in a row. Last week, Louisville trailed Wake Forest in the fourth quarter but scored 13 points in the final period to win 20-10. After looking strong to start its season, Syracuse has lost two straight. Last week, the Orange couldn’t hang with Notre Dame.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Virginia Tech (3-2, 0-1) vs. North Carolina (2-2, 0-1)
- 12:30 p.m. – ACC Network
- Line: Hokies – 3
- The Hokies rebounded from two straight losses last week with a win against WMU, and they will try to avoid falling to 0-2 in the ACC for the first time since joining the conference in 2004. North Carolina’s defense is in need of improvement. It’s given up 120 points over the last two weeks in a pair of losses to ECU and Clemson.
N.C. State (4-1, 0-1) vs. Clemson (2-2, 1-1)
- 3:30 p.m. – ESPNU
- Line: Tigers -14
- The Wolfpack looked like they might be the Cinderella of the ACC as they led Florida State for a long time last Saturday, but they couldn’t hold on and ended up losing to Winston and Co. by 15. Clemson split a pair of ACC games over the past two weeks (loss to FSU, win vs. UNC) and looks to get on the right side of .500 this week.
Wake Forest (2-3, 0-1) vs. No. 1 Florida State (4-0, 2-0)
- 3:30 p.m. – ABC
- Line: Seminoles – 39
- If one is searching for some reason to have any semblance of hope in Wake Forest this week, they could look at the fact that the Demon Deacons haven’t won or lost two consecutive games yet this year, meaning they are on pace for a win after last week’s loss to Louisville. Florida State though, a 39-point favorite, will look to get ahead and stay ahead after a shaky start against the Wolfpack last week.
Miami (3-2, 1-1 ) vs. Georgia Tech (4-0, 1-0)
- 7:30 p.m. – ESPN 2
- Line: Yellow Jackets -2
- Miami handed Duke its first loss of the season last week and true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya seems to be settling into his role. Georgia Tech remains unbeaten and is coming off of a bye week following their last-second win over Virginia Tech.
Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-0) vs. Virginia (3-2, 1-0)
- 7:30 p.m – Local Networks & ESPN3
- Line: Cavaliers -5
- In one of the more shocking results from a week ago, Pittsburgh lost to Akron 21-10. It was the Panthers’ second-straight loss after starting 3-0. The Cavaliers handled Kent State with ease one week ago, beating the Golden Flashes 45-13. Pittsburgh has an ACC win over Boston College, while UVa downed Louisville.