ACC Football: Predicting the top games of the 2017 season
Top in-conference games of 2017
Miami at Florida State (Sept. 16): Miami hasn’t won this thing since 2009, but the games have been close ones that Dalvin Cook has made miracles in to keep FSU alive. Cook is in the NFL and maybe this is the year Miami beats the Noles. Either way, you have some great athletes in an important rivalry game for college football early in the year. Jacques Patrick, Mark Walton, Ahmmon Richards and Derwin James are just a few of the elite playmakers. Oh, and the entire Miami front-seven.
Prediction: FSU by 3
Clemson at Louisville (Sept. 16): Deshaun Watson may be on his way to starting in the NFL as a rookie but Clemson has the above mentioned firepower from great recruiting classes there to reload. Louisville slumped off a bit at the end of 2016 but Heisman winner Lamar Jackson returns and the O-line has to be better. This could be a fun, high-scoring game and a great showcase week for the ACC.
Prediction: Clemson by 7
Miami at Duke (Sept. 29): A Friday night game is a horrible idea. I hate them. But a chance to get Miami and Duke on primetime is probably a good idea. This game was all but ignored two years ago until the controversial final play. Coach David Cutcliffe will have Daniel Jones ready to play and a good freshman will now be a great sophomore. Miami’s defense will look to shut Jones down and punish him on every play.
Prediction: Miami by 14
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Clemson at Virginia Tech (Sept. 30): We’ve covered Clemson enough, the Tigers head to Blacksburg to face Justin Fuente’s Hokies. Fuente opened up his Virginia Tech career strong with 10 wins and gave Miami its only bad loss of 2016. But they also lost convincingly to Syracuse and Tennessee so the up-and-down Hokies need more consistency. This should be a fun early-season matchup.
Prediction: Virginia Tech by 5
Louisville at NC State (Oct. 5): Lamar Jackson will run into the N.C. State defense. I think most expect the Wolfpack defense to be one of the best in the ACC and Jackson to be the best quarterback in the league. It should be a great game to see what wins — offense or defense?
Prediction: NC State by 5
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Georgia Tech at Miami (Oct. 12): A Thursday night game in Miami could finally be packed if these teams enter where they’re expected to, which is ranked in the AP Top 25. Georgia Tech’s triple-option shouldn’t be as daunting with Miami coming off a bye, but the Jackets also come in off a bye and could have a few tricks ready for the Hurricanes. Expect Miami’s defense to be fired up.
Prediction: Miami by 14
Virginia Tech at Miami (Nov. 4): This is a bigger rivalry for the Hokies than ‘Canes, but Virginia Tech has had its way with Miami, at times, in the past and last year was no different. Both teams should have settled on a QB by November and Fuente vs. Richt can hopefully become a rivalry for quite some time. Bud Foster and Manny Diaz are two of the top-rated defensive coordinators in the ACC.
Prediction: Miami by 10
FSU at Clemson (Nov. 11): This one should be for who represents the Atlantic in the ACC Championship Game. Formerly the Bowden Bowl now the ‘Bo Bowl. Clemson held off the Noles 37-34 last year but this year FSU should be the favorite. Dabo vs. Jimbo, Akers vs. the Clemson defensive line and Cain vs. James. This better be one heck of a game.
Prediction: FSU by 6