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
Syracuse at Purdue
Purdue is sitting at 1-1 after being upset by Fresno State in week 1 and traveling to Lane Stadium and upsetting Virginia Tech in Week 2. Upsetting a 2-0 Syracuse team at home would be a great way to get back to a winning record. Last season, Syracuse beat Purdue 32-29 with seven seconds left in the game. Could we see a similar performance from both teams this weekend?
Who: Syracuse Orange (2-0) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (1-1)
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: NBC
Line: Syracuse -2.5, o/u: 58.5
Prediction: Syracuse 28 – Purdue 23
Northwestern at #21 Duke
Nationally ranked in consecutive polls for the first time in eight years, Duke is no longer an underdog in games; in fact, they are favored this week by three scores. Northwestern’s program is in bad shape, interim coach David Braun lost 24-7 to Rutgers on Sept. 3 before beating UTEP this past week. The Blue Devils appear to have a clear advantage here. The only question is will Northwestern put up a fight or will they roll over?
Who: Northwestern Wildcats (1-1) vs. Duke Blue Devils (2-0)
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: ACC Network
Line: Duke -18.5, o/u: 46.5
Prediction: Duke 27 – Northwestern 13
Louisville vs. Indiana, in Indianapolis
Louisville football is off to its best start since 2017. Indiana is a team that suffered a lopsided loss to Ohio State in week 1 before rebounding in week 2 against Indiana State. We may learn more about what to truly expect from both the Hoosiers and Cardinals for the rest of this season in this game.
Who: Louisville (2-0) vs. Indiana (1-1)
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.
When: Noon., Saturday
TV: Big Ten Network
Line: Louisville -9.5, o/u: 53.5
Prediction: Louisville 28 – Indiana 20
Georgia Tech vs. #17 Ole Miss
The Yellow Jackets opened the season with a strong effort against Louisville before being outscored 26-6 in the second half. They looked to have a pulse on offense this season. They’re less talented than Tulane by a wide margin, can Ole Miss avoid the “Alabama Trap Game” and put their throat on Georgia Tech, or will this be a closer game than most think it should be?
Who: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-1) vs. Ole Miss Rebel (2-0)
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: SEC Network
Line: Ole Miss -20, o/u: 63-20, o/u: 63
Prediction: Ole Miss 35 – GT 26
Virginia Tech at Rutgers
Rutgers faces its only P-5 non-conference opponent of the season this week as the Scarlet Knights will play old Big East opponent Virginia Tech. The Hokies are still in flux, coming off a 3-8 season in year one of the Brent Pry era, and are 1-1 after losing to Purdue last week. This is an intriguing matchup that will serve as yet another early measuring stick for the Scarlet Knights and the Hokies in 2023.
Who: Virginia Tech Hokies (1-1) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0)
Where: SHI Stadium, New Jersey
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: Big Ten Network
Line: Rutgers -6.5, o/u: 39.5
Prediction: VT 17 – Rutgers 14
Virginia at Maryland
Virginia visits Maryland on Friday night to open a weekend featuring six matchups between the ACC football teams and the Big Ten this weekend. This will be the out-of-conference finale for Maryland as they try to move to 3-0. The Cavs come into the game winless at 0-2 after being upset by JMU last week. It’s a 128-mile drive between the University of Virginia and the University of Maryland and with 78 games played, Virginia is Maryland’s most frequent rival. The schools first met in 1919 and played every year from 1957 to 2013. Will Virginia show up on Friday?
Who: Virginia Cavaliers (0-2) vs. Maryland Terrapins (2-0)
Where: SECU Stadium. College Park
When: 7:00 p.m., Friday
TV: FS1
Line: Maryland -14.5, o/u: 49
Prediction: Maryland 24 – Virginia 10