Presto's Picks--Losing your shirt...

Now there’s a game-replica jersey I’d want to buy. Virginia Tech routed Georgia Tech 27-3 thanks to 296 yards passing from Sean Glennon. The junior threw two touchdown passes while running for a third wearing a makeshift jersey provided by the home team after his top went missing earlier in the day…this uniform had Glennon’s name written in magic marker on the back. Coming soon to a Target near you!

UPSIDE— Glennon fired 40 and 71 yard touchdown strikes, stretching the field for a running game finally falling into place. Branden Ore continued his resurgence, tallying 86 yards rushing while Jahre Cheeseman adds 84 on the ground. The defense, after giving up two late scores to Boston College the week before, held the Yellowjackets in check and out of the endzone all evening. Five interceptions—two by Victor Harris—was the exclamation point in a bounce-back victory.

DOWNSIDE---Ten penalties and a fumble keep this from a perfect week—oh, and can we get better security on equipment matters?


MARYLAND at North Carolina—I’m waiting for coach Ralph Friedgen to go to a four man front—on offense. Yes, things are getting that bad in the trenches- and although everyone has injuries, this year’s team is decimated up front (if only Jared Gaither and Donald Woods had stayed in College Park). UNC is an extremely young team, with a freshman starting quarterback in TJ Yates (3rd in the ACC in passing efficiency) and the primary running chores shared by freshmen Johnny White and Anthony Elzy. The Tar Heels might be 2-6, but this is a team that has gotten quite a bit better as the season’s progressed; four of their six defeats have come by a touchdown or less and their last four losses are to teams currently in the Top 25.

The Terps are reaching a point of no return; the team has to win three of their final four games to wrap up a bowl berth (6-6 qualifies but won’t get it done with enough other “name” ACC schools that travel well likely to land around there). After back to back 17 point efforts, the offense looks to break out against a Tar Heel defense rated 9th in the ACC—and next to last in defensive passer rating. Terps tame the Tar Heels 17-13.


VIRGINIA vs #21 Wake Forest—so much for my “Cardiac Cavaliers” t-shirts I was considering mass-producing. Both teams bring 4-1 ACC records to Charlottesville Saturday—the Demon Deacons defeat coming to #2 Boston College in September, the Cavaliers loss coming to sub-500 North Carolina State last weekend.

Runningback Cedric Peerman appears to be on the shelf longer than expected; he’s doubtful for Saturday and some reports have him missing the rest of the regular season. Good thing Mikkail Simpson has filled in ably the last two weeks.

Wake Forest provides an interesting matchup; the Demon Deacon misdirection is a mess to defend (as Maryland learned earlier this year)--Chris Long’s speed might work against in him his pursuit of quarterback Riley Skinner. UVa’s defense will have to contend with emerging freshman Josh Adams (4th in the ACC in rushing). Cavaliers crumble 21-19.


NAVY notches its first win over Notre Dame since the 1960’s, GEORGETOWN nips Marist, HOWARD over South Carolina State, CATHOLIC tops Guilford, JAMES MADISON falls to Delaware, RICHMOND over Villanova.