ACC Report - Week 3
2015 ACC STANDINGS
Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under
Boston College 2-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Clemson 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
Duke 2-0 0-0 2-0 0-2
Florida State 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-1
Georgia Tech 2-0 0-0 2-0 2-0
Louisville 0-2 0-0 1-1 1-0-1
Miami (Fla.) 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
North Carolina 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1
North Carolina State 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
Pittsburgh 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-1
Syracuse 2-0 1-0 2-0 2-0
Virginia 0-2 0-0 1-0-1 1-1
Virginia Tech 1-1 0-0 1-1 2-0
Wake Forest 1-1 0-1 1-1 2-0
Florida State at Boston College (ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET)
Florida State started off sluggish against South Florida before pulling away for a 34-14 victory. Perhaps the 11:30am ET kickoff did not agree with them, as it was 7-7 at halftime and took a while for the Seminoles to wake up. Boston College had no trouble getting started against FCS Howard, posting 41 points in the first quarter alone, 62 at halftime and ending with a 76-0 victory. It was graded a 'no play' because the teams agreed to 10 minute quarters in both the third and fourth, so at least 55 minutes is required for action. Florida State is favored by just 7 1/2 points in this one, and the underdog is 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings. The Seminoles are also 2-5 ATS in the past seven in this series. Still, is BC ready for prime time yet? They snuck by FCS Maine 24-3, and romped Howard, but can they hang with the No. 6 team in the nation? FSU's schedule hasn't been full of killers, but at least they have faced two FBS teams. The line appears to be a little low, especially given the fact the road team is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.
Illinois at North Carolina (ESPN2, 12:00p.m. ET)
I'll be in attendance at this game, and it could be a high-scoring affair. The total opened at 63 points. Illinois has averaged 48.5 points per game, while yielding a total of just three. UNC was dropped in a neutral-site game in Charlotte against South Carolina before rebounding last weekend against North Carolina A&T, an FCS school. QB Marquise Williams made poor decisions in that game against South Carolina, but righted the ship against the FCS foe. QB Wes Lunt has been hot for Illinois, throwing for five touchdowns in two games. The Illini have covered each of their games to date, while both teams have split 1-1 on totals.
Wake Forest at Army (CBS Sports Network, 12:00 p.m.)
Wake Forest heads to Michie Stadium looking to avoid going 0-2 in the state of New York in back-to-back weeks. The Demon Deacons opened ACC play with a 30-17 setback at Syracuse last week. Army has struggled in their two games, losing 37-35 to FCS Fordham in their opener Sept. 4, and following it up with an ugly 22-17 setback against Connecticut. It's hard to gauge where Army's offense is, since they split totals 1-1. Their offense was terrible against UConn in an easy under. These two sides met in Winston-Salem last season with the Deacs winning 24-21. This time around might not be as close, as QB John Wolford is the best player on the field in this game.
Central Michigan at Syracuse (ESPN3, 12:30 p.m.)
Central Michigan heads to Syracuse looking to avenge a 40-3 shellacking in Mount Pleasant last season. CMU looked decent in their opener against Oklahoma State Sept. 3, holding the Cowboys to a 24-13 win while easily covering a 21-point number. The role was flipped last weekend, as the Chips were favored by three touchdowns over Monmouth (NJ). They won 31-10, a push for some and a win for others on a 20 1/2-point spread. Both of CMU's games have hit under. 'Cuse rolled to a 30-17 win over Wake Forest in their ACC opener last week, playing its first game without QB Terrel Hunt (Achilles'), who suffered a season-ending injury in the opener against FCS Rhode Island. Central enters this game as a seven-point road dog. They're 4-0 ATS in their past four road games, but 0-6 ATS in their past six against the ACC. 'Cuse is a rousing 14-2-1 ATS in their past 17 against MAC teams, 10-4 ATS in their past 14 against non-conference teams and 4-1 ATS in their past five after a straight-up win. The under might be the better play, since it is 9-3-1 in Syracuse's past 13 and 8-3 in their past 11 against the MAC.
Northwestern at Duke (ESPN3, 12:30 p.m. ET)
Northwestern puts its Top 25 ranking on the line at Duke Saturday in an underrated matchup. Many might look to Georgia Tech-Notre Dame or Nebraska-Miami as the marquee game of the weekend in the ACC, but the Wildcats and Blue Devils should put on a show. Northwestern looked solid on defense in a 16-6 win against Stanford, following that up with a 41-0 spanking of FCS Eastern Illinois. Duke has also had success, pounding Tulane 37-7 on the road in their opener before settling in for a 55-0 drumming of FCS North Carolina Central last week. Dual-threat QB Thomas Sirk has been impressive for the Blue Devils, passing for 604 yards while running for 154 more. The Wildcats are 7-3 ATS in their past 10 against the ACC, but 4-12 ATS in their past 16 against teams with a winning overall record. Duke has covered 10 of their past 11 against teams with winning marks, and they're 19-7-1 ATS in their past 27 at home and 15-5-1 ATS in their past 21 against non-conference foes.
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame (NBC, 3:30 p.m.)
The Yellow Jackets roll into South Bend and they catch the Irish at a good time. Notre Dame is awfully banged up with QB Malik Zaire, RB Tarean Folston and TE Durham Smythe each done for the year, while DT Jarron Jones and CB Shaun Crawford are also out for the season on the defensive side of the ball. That's bad news against a Georgia Tech team averaging 67.0 points per game while yielding just 8.0 per outing. The Jackets have covered nine straight dating back to last season, and they're 5-1 ATS in their past six away from Atlanta. Notre Dame is just 2-6 ATS in their past eight overall, although they covered in their only home game this season against Texas in the opener.
Nebraska at Miami-Fla. (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
Nebraska and Miami getting together sends most older college football fans back to the 1980's, when Hurricanes football was at its
Pinnacle. You either loved them or hated them, and they were unbeatable in the old Orange Bowl. This one is at the more stale Sun Life Stadium, although it should still be a very entertaining tilt. The last time these two teams hooked up, the Huskers came away with a 41-31 win in Lincoln Sept. 20, 2014. Nebraska has covered eight of their past nine games on the road, and they find themselves as slight favorites in this one. They're also 7-3 ATS in their past 10 aginst teams with a winning overall mark. Miami has had an extra day to rest after pulling away from Florida Atlantic on the road last Friday. They're 5-2 ATS in their past seven at home, and confidence is key after a blowout. They're 11-2 ATS in their past 13 following a victory greater than 20 points.
Virginia Tech at Purdue (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.)
Virginia Tech plays its second Big Ten opponent of the season this time traveling to Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette after losing to defending national champ Ohio State in their opener on Labor Day. The Hokies piled up plenty of points last week in a 42-3 win against FCS Furman, giving new QB Brenden Motley a full game to get comfortable. He replaced the injured QB Michael Brewer (collarbone), who was injured against the Buckeyes. Motley will start again, but faces a much bigger test on the road against a Big Ten defense. Purdue shut down a very good FCS Indiana State team, blowing their doors off in a 38-14 game. I-State has a strong defense, but it was no match for QB Austin Appleby, who gains confidence by the day. Purdue hung tough with Marshall on the road in their first game before losing 41-31. They failed to cover, but it was only because of a late pick-six.
North Carolina State at Old Dominion (NO TV - 7:00 p.m.)
N.C. State hits the road for the first time this season, but it's a quick jaunt up to the Tidewater for a date with ODU. The Wolfpack have socked around Troy and Eastern Kentucky, posting impressive offensive totals along the way. However, their first road test against an opponent from Conference USA has the spread down to just 17. QB Jacoby Brissett is one of the more impressive signal callers in the ACC, and the two-headed running back monster of Matt Dayes and Shadrach Thornton will be hard for ODU to contain. They have allowed 22.0 PPG through their first two outings at Eastern Michigan and at home against FCS Norfolk State, failing to cover the spread in either outing. They covered in a 46-34 loss in Raleigh Sept. 6, 2014, but that was also with QB Taylor Heinicke, who is now playing for the Minnesota Vikings. If NC State is to cover, they'll need to corral RB Ray Lawry, who is tied for best in the nation with six rushing touchdowns.
Pittsburgh at Iowa (Big Ten Network, 8:00 p.m.)
Pittsburgh won on the road last week against Iowa, now they face an even bigger test at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Panthers won 24-7 in Akron, one week after losing 2014 ACC Player of the Year RB James Conner to a torn ACL. It wasn't all rosy in the win, though, as QB Chad Voytik was replaced by Nate Peterman, who took over in the second quarter. Iowa pounded rival Iowa State 31-17, and is still favored by less than a touchdown in this one. The Hawkeyes look to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2009. The Hawkeyes won 24-20 in Pittsburgh last season, and the winner of this one takes a 4-3 all-time series lead. Pitt is 1-4 ATS in their past five against the Big Ten, and 1-5 ATS in their past six non-conference games (although they covered last week). The Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their past five at Kinnick, including 3-0-1 ATS in their past four against a team with a winning home record.
Other ACC teams in action
William & Mary at Virginia (ESPN3, 3:30 p.m.)
