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Big East Coast BiACC - ACC Preview, Week 4
September 23, 2010 | By Benjamin Miraski
Big East Coast BiACC held off posting the ACC preview for as long as it could this week in the hopes that the North Carolina situation would finally resolve itself.
It partially did, but not in the way we were hoping. Twelve players will still be missing this week when the Tar Heels travel to Rutgers, although two of them at least know when they can return to the team.
The Situation, and by that we mean this NCAA investigation even though North Carolina will be passing by the Jersey Shore, has derailed Butch Davis’ best club since he has returned to coaching in college.
It can only be described as disappointing because the conference needed someone like the Tar Heels to pick up the banner and run with it.
Instead, the lone ACC team ranked by the AP this week was Miami, although four others did receive votes. Receiving votes isn’t much when you consider that North Carolina State and Georgia Tech received just six more points in the poll than James Madison.
Perhaps the ACC should consider expansion and pluck off a few Colonial conference teams from 1-AA? The quality of football wouldn’t suffer too much considering how things have progressed so far this season.
If it is good enough for the Big East to look at Villanova, then why not? And Duke needs someone that they can beat in conference.
And with that, we go to the picks:
Last week: 4-4 in the first week of ACC picks this season.
Thursday night games:
Miami at Pittsburgh (+3.5) - Leave it to the ACC and Big East to kick off this week with another difficult game to pick. Before we get to that though, remember when Thursday night games used to feature MAC and Mountain West teams? What happened to not having to care about the non-Saturday games? Oh wait, I think that might still be the case. Miami has a history of not winning these early week scrimmages and Pittsburgh has a history of winning the ones they aren’t supposed to. This seems like the game that should turn that around. there is no way that Jacory Harris throws four picks again and the defense should have an easier time containing Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri. We’ll go with Miami to act like a rank team and cover on this one.
Saturday:
North Carolina State at Georgia Tech (-8.5) - The Wolfpack are looking like a real contender in the Atlantic division and this will be their first chance to prove it, against the Coastal’s best. Yes, I had to look up what division each team was in. There is something about the ACC that has never lent itself to easy understanding of the alignment. Part of me was hoping this was a huge divisional matchup, because it felt right. Maybe that is the secret in the ACC. If it feels right, pick the opposite. That would be sound advice but can I really believe that Georgia Tech is an 8.5-point favorite? (Yes, that Kansas thing is still making me a little queasy.) I am going with the Wolfpack to keep it close and possibly pull the straight up win.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (+4) - Another game that feels like it should be a divisional matchup but isn’t. The Hokies got back on track with a win over East Carolina last week although their once stiff defense gave up 27 points. For a team that is used to being in the top 10 in scoring defense, they currently sit at 82nd. That is not encouraging, especially going on the road as the favorite. Boston College hasn’t played anyone yet, but their defense is looking like Virginia Tech’s used to. Here is your upset pick. Take BC and the points and look for a win from the Eagles.
Florida International at Maryland (-11) - Here is what you need to know about Florida International. They lost by five to Rutgers and seven to Texas A&M. So despite being 0-2 overall, they have been in each game and almost pulled out some wins. That said, they can’t score, and they have been doing this all with defense. Maryland is closer in form to Rutgers than Texas A&M, so I am going to say that the Fighting Isiah Thomases and the points are the pick here.
Army at Duke (-6) - Poor Duke. You have to feel bad for how outmanned they were against Alabama last weekend. So this week, they get a break by welcoming Army, a team that Duke can finally feel that they match up well against. The odds makers apparently felt they matched up too well, as in only a field goal’s worth of difference between the two teams before that all important home field advantage comes into play. Can the Blue Devils overcome that? We know the offense can when not facing the Crimson Tide. So let’s support the defense and take Duke and lay the points.
Wake Forest at Florida State (-18) - Wake Forest didn’t make many believers after barely beating Duke and then being absolutely thrashed by Stanford. MRISports was going to write on that game, until about the end of the first quarter. If Wake couldn’t keep it within 40 against Stanford then they won’t be able to be within 20 against FSU even if Christian Ponder is a little gimpy. Take the Noles even with the big line.
North Carolina at Rutgers (+1) - Finally North Carolina gets to play someone that they are still more talented even with their team in shambles. Rutgers has to be getting the benefit of North Carolina’s two losses here when the odds makers set their lines. I can’t see how the Scarlet Knights are basically even with North Carolina. This team did only beat FIU (see above) by five while North Carolina has shown up to play despite everything circling around the team. This one seems like a gift, which means I probably have it wrong. Take the Heels and lay the point.
Patsy Party: VMI at Virginia (Possible upset? No…, I think)
Posted September 23, 2010 2:30 PM