There’s no way 8th ranked Virginia Tech should have grabbed a 10 point lead after three quarters against #2 Boston College (holding the Eagles to 141 total yards); and there’s no way the Hokies should have allowed two BC touchdowns in the game’s final three minutes. But the biggest surprise for me was the fact a team known for excellent special teams execution was out-executed on an onside kick that set up the game-winning score.
UPSIDE—Branden Ore had his best outing of the season, notching 97 yards rushing against a defense ranked #1 in the ACC against the run. The defense played the game of their lives, sacking Matt Ryan three times and holding the Eagle running game in check (under four yards a carry for their tailbacks)—unfortunately they couldn’t hang on to several interception opportunities.
DOWNSIDE—the defense coughed up 176 yards in the fourth quarter, including scoring drives of 92 and 66 yards. Sean Glennon had a lukewarm game--60 percent passing but under ten yards per completion—filling in for Tyrod Taylor; the freshman should be ready to play against Georgia Tech next week. Up ten with three minutes to play, on Thursday night at Lane Stadium—those are games contenders win- and pretenders lose. For the first eight weeks I’ve wondered what the Hokies are this year; and there’s nothing wrong with being a middle of the road team in the ACC. Unfortunately this unit doesn’t have the magic of the 2004 title team.
MARYLAND vs Clemson—tough times in College Park for Ralph Friedgen and company. Not only have the Terrapins watched double digit leads evaporate in each of their last four games, the team has been ransacked by a multitude of injuries—defensive lineman Mack Frost and guard Jaimie Thomas the latest to go down for the season. Losing Thomas is what will really hurt this team—they’re down to five veteran linemen and may have to burn a few redshirt years for true freshmen on that track. Bad news for a Terrapin running game that’s been the club’s strength and Clemson’s weakness (Terps boast the ACC’s #2 ground attack—Tigers are 10th in the league against the run).
Clemson boasts their thunder and lightning backfield of James Davis and C.J. Spiller again this fall (although Spiller is not nearly as effective as he was in 2006—3.9 yards a carry this season as opposed to 7.8 last year), but it’s a much more balanced attack thanks to the emergence of quarterback Cullen Harper. The junior leads the ACC in passing efficiency and coach Tommy Bowden has adjusted his offense thusly, going from a 70-30 run pass mix to nearly 50-50 through seven games.
Can the Terps generate a pass rush (they’re second to last in sacks with 11)? Can Chris Turner return to the Turner from the Georgia Tech game (255 yards passing with three passes of 40+ yards) as opposed to the Virginia contest (under ten yards per completion and a sack for a safety)? And who will go down to injury this week? Strange thing, each year Clemson boasts one of the most talented teams in the ACC, yet always finds a way to lose a game or two they should—and I think one of those games is Saturday. TERPS top the Tigers 23-20.
#21 VIRGINIA vs North Carolina State—talk about an embarrassment of riches. Mikkell Simpson’s 119 yards rushing and 152 yards receiving against Maryland elicited a “WOW!” followed by a “where’s he been?”—once Cedric Peerman and Andrew Pearman return to full strength, runningback in Charlottesville will be as stacked as any position since since Al Pacino, Robert Duvall and James Caan earned Best Supporting Actor nominations for The Godfather.
Three games stand between the Cavaliers and a potential showdown with Virginia Tech for the ACC Coastal Division—and the Wolfpack are the lightest test. Tom O’Brien’s team has bad losses to Central Florida (in Raleigh!) and at Clemson (608 yards allowed); they’re 11th in the league in offense and last defensively. CAVALIERS crush NC State 45-13.
NAVY over Delaware, GEORGETOWN slips at Lehigh, HOWARD falls to Norfolk State, JAMES MADISON over RICHMOND.
Season: 40-14 (3-2 last week)
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