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ACC Football News & Notes: Teams Closing in on Divisional Titles

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With three weekends left in the ACC season, the chase for the divisional titles is almost over. With Clemson got help from a Pittsburgh loss last Saturday and they clinched a share of the Atlantic Division title. This is the ninth time that the Tigers have clinched at least a share of the division crown. North Carolina is in the driver’s seat for the Coastal Championship. A win on Saturday vs Wake Forest or losses by both Duke and Georgia Tech will give them the title. There are seven games this weekend, all of them on Saturday. Let’s take a look.

 

Duke is home this weekend for a game vs Virginia Tech (2-7, 1-5). This has been a series that has been all Hokies. They have a 15-3 advantage over the Blue Devils (6-3, 3-2). Last Friday night, behind QB Riley Leonard, Duke became bowl eligible. VT has won five of the last six meetings between the two, and nine of eleven in Durham. The three wins by Duke have all taken place in Blacksburg. Leonard leads the team in both passing and rushing, while the defense has become a ball-hawking unit. They are second in the league in turnover margin and third in the country. Last season they were 108th in the nation, a big-time jump in the right direction. The Blue Devils are the best in the land with 15 fumble recoveries so far this year.

 

Pittsburgh (5-4, 2-3) is on the road at Virginia (3-6, 1-5). The Panthers are in search of that sixth win that could get them to a bowl game. Pittsburgh has won six of eight meetings against the Cavaliers since joining the league back in 2013. For the Panthers, the running game has been front and center since the year began. RB Israel Abanikanda has been in the top five in rushing yards per game for most of the season. At the moment he is averaging 135.8 yards a game. Virginia’s rush defense will be tested for sure.

Boston College (2-7, 1-5) heads to #16 North Carolina State (7-2, 3-2) The Eagles may have a new QB at the controls when Saturday arrives. Freshman Emmett Morehead made his first start last Friday night in place of injured quarterback Phil Jurkovec. He became the first BC quarterback to throw for four touchdowns as he went 27-of-45 for 330 yards. The Wolfpack have no such issues as freshman MJ Morris has been the man all year long. Their defense has been the key to their success this season. They lead the ACC in scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, and interceptions. The Eagles, who have struggled all season long on offense, may have their hands full in this one.

 

#10 Clemson Tigers (8-1, 6-0) are home to Louisville (6-3, 3-3). The Tigers have never lost to the Cardinals, having won all seven meetings between the two. Louisville may have found a running game the past two weeks as Tryon Evans went for 126 yards on 10 carries which included a 71-yard touchdown run in last week’s win over James Madison. It was his second straight 100-yard game. The Cardinals are sixth in the country in turnover margin and lead the nation in turnovers gained with 24.

 

The Miami Hurricanes (4-5, 2-3) and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-5, 3-3) have one thing in common. They both need two wins in their final three games to make a bowl game. The Yellow Jackets have won two-of-the last three games in this series. Last season it was Miami who came out on top behind QB Tyler Van Dyke’s big day of 389 passing yards and three touchdowns.

 

#15 North Carolina (8-1, 5-0) can take care of their own business with a win at Wake Forest (6-3, 3-2). These two teams have put on an offensive show in recent years with the Tar Heels winning the last two games and scoring over 50 points in both contests. Both teams have excellent quarterbacks. For UNC, Drake Maye has been QB of the Week in the conference five times. Wake’s Sam Hartman has won it twice. Maye has also been Rookie of the Week five more times. The Tar Heels and Demon Deacons are the number one and two scoring offenses in the ACC.

 

Syracuse (6-3, 3-2) will be looking to stop a three-game losing streak on Saturday night as they host #23 Florida State (6-3, 4-3) The Seminoles have won 12 of the last 13 games vs Syracuse and needed a field goal as time expired to win last year’s game. FSU leads the league in rushing defense and is second in total defense. Syracuse is first in total defense. A low-scoring game could be in the offering.

 

That’s a look at this weekend’s action. Next week we will be back with more from the ACC.

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