Miami-Georgia Tech, N.C. State-Clemson Highlight Vegas ACC Predictions Week 6
Saturday Blitz Vegas ACC Predictions Week 6
N.C. State Wolfpack at Clemson Tigers
Line: Clemson by 14
In this ACC match-up, two teams who found out a lot about themselves over the past two weekends really need a win Saturday. Unfortunately they can’t both win. N.C. State generated more hype by playing very well against Florida State for three quarters than it ever did through its 4-0 start. Under Dave Doeren in his second season, the offense has shown itself to be legit with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback and Shadrach Thornton and Matt Dayes at running back. This group is now averaging 40 points a game, and they will all have to come through Saturday to beat Clemson. The biggest key for N.C. State is the secondary, which needs to do a better job covering receivers after missing on plenty of inaccurate Jameis Winston passes. If the secondary comes through and the offense plays its game, this could be an upset.
The Tigers are 2-2 but look like they have gotten back in a rhythm after hanging 50 on North Carolina last week. But Dabo Swinney’s group needs to find a running game, which has been a major problem throughout the year, and it’s defense has to get better. Oh, and it has to avoid big mistakes the way it did against Florida State. In fact, that’s the first order of business: stop making bad mistakes. Doing that is crucial to avoiding an upset loss. The Tigers appear to have found something with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, and they should use him this weekend against an N.C. State secondary that struggled significantly late last week. If Watson plays his game and the offense doesn’t turn the ball over, the defense just needs a couple of stops to make this a win.
Prediction
N.C. State is good enough to keep this game a shootout worth tuning into, but the Wolfpack won’t pull out the victory on the road. The Clemson offense is seriously getting into a rhythm, and it will avoid the mistakes that cost them the game against Florida State and put up a lot of points in a very solid victory.
Clemson: 45 N.C. State: 34