The three biggest ACC football questions of the week. Here we go for Week 11.
How does Clemson respond after Louisville’s loss?
When Clemson was 4-4 last year they responded by winning their final 5 games last year. This year Clemson is 6-2, but following a debacle of a loss to Louisville are all but eliminated from playoff contention. Now they head to Blacksburg to play at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is coming off a mess of a loss themselves blowing a 21-3 second-half lead to Syracuse. Mentally I think both teams are in similar places. The start of this game is going to set the tone, and it could derail quickly for the Tigers and with it their season. I’m leaning toward Clemson because of their ability to run the ball, but the Cards really exposed Clemson last week.
Can Georgia Tech upset Miami?
If Georgia Tech has any shot, they need a healthy Haynes King playing. There’s no other way this upset can happen. Georgia Tech has an improved defense, but Miami and QB Cam Ward have an offense that’s as close to unstoppable as there is in college football. I’d put the odds of winning this game at about 15% even with King. Could it happen though? Sure Miami has been in several ACC games that were in doubt in the 4th quarter, and this one is in Atlanta.
Will Syracuse start a run to a 9-2 start?
Syracuse is a surprising 6-2, but do you realize how close they are to starting the season 9-2 and hosting Miami? Syracuse goes on the road to face a BC team that has lost its last 3 games. Then they face a Cal team that’s winless in the ACC, after a BC team with 1 ACC win. Then they play UConn. Syracuse got crushed at Pitt, which raised concerns they had peaked, but they followed up that loss with a comeback victory over Virginia Tech. If QB Kyle McCord doesn’t the turn ball over like he did against Pitt, the Orange could find themselves 9-2. I think they get it done against Boston College to give themselves a shot at that.
