Saturday Blitz
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Previewing ACC football’s biggest games in Week 3

By Luke Fletcher

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 25: A student supporter of the West Virginia Mountaineers holds up a sign during the 2011 Backyard Brawl against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on November 25, 2011 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 25: A student supporter of the West Virginia Mountaineers holds up a sign during the 2011 Backyard Brawl against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on November 25, 2011 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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The ACC football non-conference schedule continues to be the most difficult in the country. ACC football teams will play 25 non-conference games against Power 5 opponents this season.

In addition, 11 non-conference games are against teams that were ranked in the final 2022 AP Top 25 poll. There are a total of seven Big Ten-ACC regular-season games this season, most ever in a single year and the result of a confluence of scheduling arrangements made over the past decade.

This week there is conference pride on line with the Big Ten matched against the ACC in six games.  The Big Ten is 101-73-2 all-time, but the ACC certainly has had its shining moments. The ACC also has one game each against the SEC and Big 12.

This is a big week for ACC football teams to show the nation that they are more than just a basketball conference. Let’s preview the ACC out-of-conference games that will be played this week.

Looking at the must-watch ACC football games this week here is how to watch, a preview, and a prediction for each game.

Backyard Brawl: Pitt-WVU

A mere 75-mile drive along Interstate 79 separates the two universities. This will be the 106th all-time meeting between the Panthers and Mountaineers in a series that dates back to 1895 as Pitt and West Virginia renew one of the most storied rivalries.

Both Pitt and West Virginia are entering the week at 1-1, with wins over FCS opponents. Neither team has looked particularly effective this season. It’s fair to say both teams desperately need to leave this Backyard Brawl on top with their first FBS win of the season.

Who: Pittsburgh Panthers (1-1) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1)

Where: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday

TV: ABC

Line: Pitt -1, o/u: 50

Prediction: Pitt 27 – WVU 24

Minnesota at #20 UNC

In the first two games of the season, North Carolina has beaten an SEC team and an in-state G-5 opponent. The Golden Gophers beat Nebraska to open 1-0 in Big Ten play and beat a G-5 team last week. This looks to be a very solid matchup. Look for the Gophers’ offensive line to try and “impose their will” over the Tar heels as they will line up and run, then run some more. UNC’s defensive front overwhelmed South Carolina in the week one victory.  It will be interesting to see if the Tar Heels can do that against Minnesota making the Golden Gophers one-dimensional offensively.

Who: Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0)

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday

TV: ESPN

Line: North Carolina -7.5, o/u: 49

Prediction: North Carolina 24 – Minnesota 17

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