Manuel enters the raucous atmosphere that is BB&T Field Saturday for his first start.
Welcome to the ACC Football Mid-Week Hype Machine, check out the game info, matchups, news and other greatness about the week in ACC football below…
- 11/14/09 Clemson Tigers @ NC State Wolfpack / Raycom / 12:00 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: Clemson vs. Clemson
I’ve tried to see one matchup where if NC State exploits something–they could win, but ultimately–Clemson beats themselves if they lose this one.
Bringing The Noise: Russell Wilson will have one less Tiger defender to worry about this weekend(but D-Mac is still back there and he’s smiling while pointing at ya), the key to Clemson’s resurgence is a coordinator in Napier who is improving, contary to reports: Clemson is still playing this weekend and does not have a bye until Tampa, here is the Clemson Raycom blog being all awesome as usual, NC State turns it on in November so beware Clemson, another key to Clemson’s run is Xavier Dye showing up. The stakes are high in this one. Clemson announces co-starters at the kicker position, but I say go for 4th and 2 point conversions at Raleigh if it were me.
Watch This Over…: Tennessee vs. Ole Miss, C.J. Spiller is the reason.
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Duke Blue Devils / 4LN2 / 12:00 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: Thad Lewis vs. GT Defense
It all comes down to Duke being able to move the ball on the Jackets for any potential upset.
Bringing The Noise: College Game Balls explains GT’s offense in a way that only CGB can, the headline to this article says CPJ is impressed by Duke’s defense–I don’t believe it for a sec though, From the Rumble Seat gives an excellent and graph-filled demonstration of where the ball is going in the GT offense, GT Raycom Blog says Duke will not be over-looked which I tend to believe now, HD covers the similarities between the schools’ coaches, FTRS thinks positively about their defense for one post atleast.
Watch This Over…: Wild Kingdom, while swimming lions are something–Georgia Tech is looking to clinch a trip to Tampa for the ACC Championship Game.
- Florida State Seminoles @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons / 4LNU / 12:00 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: FSU QB E.J. Manuel vs. Wake D
The Deacs face a freshman in his first start on the road–how FSU will mask his inexeperience and what Wake does in return is a bit of chess match(unlike the checkers that it will be for Skinner against the ‘Noles’ D).
Bringing The Noise: FSU’s E.J. Manuel’s 15 minutes start this Saturday, conversely: Riley Skinner plays his last game in Winston-Salem this Saturday, and here’s some informative notes on the game.
Watch This Over…: Northwestern vs. Illinois, because the game is on 4LN Classic…Skinnermania and co. will be making rain on the U.
- Virginia Tech Hokies @ Maryland Terrapins / 4LN360.com / 1:30 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: Terps Torrey Smith vs. Hokies Defense/Special Teams
NC State failed many a time to do it last week, but containing Smith is the foremost goal when playing this offense. The Terps have solid RBs, but Smith is the game-changer.
Bringing The Noise: One paper is looking to next year as the Hokies will have a great backfield, Gobbler Country and Testudo Times do a Q/A about the Terps, more GC with the Maryland game guide, Testudo Times had F4H for a Q/A about the Hokies too.
Watch This Over…: The Soup, it’s a repeat and the clash of competing uniforms will be enough to keep your attention in a game that might be closer than it should be for several reasons.
- Miami Hurricanes @ North Carolina Tar Heels / ABC-4LN2-Gameplan / 3:30 ET
Must-See Matchup: Miami QB Jacory Harris vs. UNC Defense
Harris has struggled in the last few weeks and now faces the Coastal’s top defense on the road.
Bringing the Noise: Miami’s Demarcus Van Dyke(no relation to Dick?) tries to get revenge on UNC from last season this weekend, Harris has weapons-a-plenty(wide receivers I mean, NCAA), Butch Davis talks up facing his former team,
Watch This Over…: Florida at South Carolina, because it will most likely be laugher while UNC has been playing well enough to knock off a Canes team who has been playing mediocre of late.
- Boston College Eagles @ Virginia Cavaliers / 4LN360.com / 3:30 ET
Must-See Matchup: BC Offense vs. UVA Defense
Shinskie and Harris are rested off from the bye, but Virginia’s bright spot is on defense and has been able to keep the ‘Hoos in games with guys like Nate Collins on the line and Dowling in the secondary.
Bringing the Noise: BC Interuption breaks aspects of the game down with their good cop/bad cop, Maybe you heard–Al Groh is under a little pressure according to HD, Luke Kuechly–remember the name, Virginia making a run?,
Watch This Over: Family Feud, because Cops was always a better family game show–wait, what? Not a game show? Ah, well, BC-UVA might turn out to be an okay game.
Come on back Thursday for the all the ACC picks!
