Three Impact Games in the ACC Coastal: Week 7

We have finally reached the midpoint of this college football season. After spending half the season talking about how quickly it has gone, this past week feels like it has taken forever. Nonetheless we are finally there. After this week, every team will have played at least six games, or half their regular season. It is at this point that pundits and experts alike will start making broad statements and predictions and start crowning winners as if nothing will change.

Take a look at last year. Up north in the Big 10, Ohio State was sitting at #15 in the polls, destined to lose four weeks later against the presumed Big Ten Champion Michigan State. After their early season loss to Virginia Tech, there was no way the Buckeyes were making the playoffs. In the SEC, Alabama was done having lost the week before and it was obvious to everyone that the road to Atlanta went through Mississippi. In the Big 12, Baylor had just stormed back to beat undefeated TCU and it was clear the Bears couldn’t be beat. Even the best of the rest was clearly going to be Marshall, who was storming through C-USA without a care in the world.

Oct 11, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer (3) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Greer Martini (48) on a punt return in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

In ACC country, the best team was clearly FSU. Duke was on their way to a second straight divisional crown. Things couldn’t get any worse for the Tar Heels, as they lost their fourth straight game, this time to an undefeated Notre Dame team that was going to show the playoff committee they didn’t need a conference to win it all.

Why do I bring all this up? Because no matter what anyone tells you now, the season is far from over. Ohio State not only beat Michigan State but went on to win the Big Ten, sneak into the playoffs and win the whole thing. Alabama, who the country left for dead, didn’t lose another game until the playoffs. Meanwhile the unbeatable Baylor Bears loss the very next week to West Virginia and never got over the TCU hump. Marshall would lose in OT to Western Kentucky and would get jumped by a two loss Boise State team for the Fiesta Bowl spot.

In the ACC, FSU barely beat a Georgia Tech team in the ACC championship before losing to Oregon in the Rose Bowl. The Yellow Jackets, after losing to Duke, lost the following week to UNC before winning six of their last seven including a bowl victory over one of those Mighty Mississippi teams. Duke went on to lose three out of their last four games giving the Coastal to Georgia Tech. Notre Dame would go on to lose five out of their last seven, while the Heels would win four out of six including a thrashing of the previously mentioned Blue Devils.

There is so much more that can happen. So with another rankings up and running and crucial conference games every week, it is time once again for the three impact games in the ACC Coastal.

Virginia Tech at Miami (Saturday Oct 17^th @ 3:30pm)

Miami is coming off their second loss in a row. Virginia Tech is coming off their first ACC win of the season. I know I just talked about how a lot can still happen this season, but this feels like a Coastal elimination game to me.

Things going for the Hokies: Brenden Motley just had one of his best games of the season, throwing for three TDs against NC State. Miami just got done giving up 222 yds to FSU running back Dalvin Cook. That spells good news for freshman running back, Travon MacMillan, who is looking for his first 100 yard game of the season.

Things going for the Hurricanes: The game is in Miami, where the Hurricanes are currently undefeated. This will also be Virginia Tech’s first conference road game of the season. Also, despite the loss, Hurricanes QB Brad Kaaya threw for over 400 yards and the Canes only lost by five in Tallahassee. Plus the Hokies have allowed a 100 yard rusher in all three of their losses this year. This is great news for Miami RB Joseph Yearby, who has rushed for over 100 yards three times this season.

Again, I hate to call something so early, particularly in the Coastal, an elimination game, but the loser of this one will have a second conference loss on the season. Georgia Tech last year was able to win the Coastal with two ACC losses and there is still plenty of Coastal games to be played, but it is just a feeling the loser will be looking up at the rest of the division. The game is in Miami, which is a plus for the Canes, and Tech is 1-1 on the road this season. This is a tough one, but with Tech’s defense not as strong as it usually is, there is a good chance the Canes keep their season alive with a win in this game.

Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech (Saturday Oct 17^th @ 12:30pm)

After week one, Pittsburgh was reeling while Georgia Tech was soaring. The Panthers were coming off a survival home win against Youngstown St looking vulnerable having lost James Connor for the season. On the other side, the Yellow Jackets were coming off a total domination of Alcorn State and looking like the team to beat in the ACC. That brings us to now where the Panthers are 4-1 with their only loss being a three point defeat at undefeated Iowa. The Jackets on the other hand are 2-4 having lost four straight to Power 5 schools, including their most recent drubbing to Clemson. One school is 2-0 in the ACC, the other is 0-3. Will this game be more of the same or the game that changes things for both teams?

Things going for the Panthers: Pitt might have just found their QB after Junior Nathan Peterman threw for 222 yds against Virginia. In the last four games, again all losses, Georgia Tech has given up 13 rushing TDs. RB Qadree Ollison, filling in for the aforementioned Connor, now has a rushing TD in all 4 of Pittsburgh’s wins. Also, Pitt still has Tyler Boyd, one of the best WRs in the country.

Things going for the Yellow Jackets: Pitt’s defense has been up and down. After coming off the bye, the Panthers smothered Virginia Tech. The following week, without two weeks of preparation, Pittsburgh gave up over 300 yards of total offense to a not so good Virginia team. Georgia Tech has shown that they can run and if the defense isn’t prepared it can be in for a long day.

If Pitt can’t stop the triple option this game could get interesting. A shootout definitely favors the Yellow Jackets. However if the game becomes a defensive type game Pitt should have no problem holding off Georgia Tech, much like Duke did a few weeks ago.

Wake Forest at North Carolina (Saturday Oct 17^th @ 7pm)

Wake Forest is coming off its first ACC road win since Oct 20^th, 2012. UNC is coming off a bye week where they are 0-3 in the following game during the Fedora era. Can Wake win consecutive back to back ACC road games for the first time since 2006 or will the Heels finally win a game coming off of a bye?

Oct 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams (12) runs for a touchdown after a catch in the fourth quarter of their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. North Carolina won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Things going for the Tar Heels: North Carolina has scored at least 38 points a game since that opening loss to South Carolina. Marquise Williams rediscovered his swagger in that come from behind win against Georgia Tech and Heel fans are well aware of what that means. Wake’s offense is averaging all of 15.4 pts per game against FBS opponents, while UNC’s defense is allowing only 15.2 per game against the FBS. Also Wake’s defense is giving up 172.6 yds per game on the ground, which is great news for Elijah Hood. Throw in the fact that these teams haven’t played since 2012, a road loss in Fedora’s first season, and the Heels may want to reestablish pecking order in the state.

Things going against the Tar Heels: Williams has a tendency to throw interceptions in the red zone. We are all aware of the three to South Carolina, but in the third quarter against Georgia Tech, Williams threw a ball that should’ve been picked and returned 99 yds for a TD, only for the defender to drop the ball. Tech was up 11 at that point, so a TD there and UNC is probably sitting at 3-2 going into this game. Plus there is the whole bye week curse during the Fedora era.