ACC Rooting Guide: Week 6

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Miami’s bye week is here, and it couldn’t come at a better time. The Canes have been banged up in the secondary since the season started. I hope Xavier Lucas is able to return next week to face an improved FSU offense. Beyond that, we have some good conference matchups this week in the ACC.

Let’s do some rooting.

Matchup of the week

FSU @ Louisville – 10/9 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN

Our third Friday night Matchup of the week. Get pumped! This is actually quite an important game in the ACC. If the Seminoles win, they have some real momentum going into the Miami game next Saturday night. If the Cardinals win, they can talk themselves into running the table while chaos ensues around them. Either way, the loser is all but eliminated from a chance at an conference championship. Let’s go Louisville.

UNC @ #25 Pitt – 10/10 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN

The Tar Heels gave every Notre Dame hater a glimmer of hope last week after they took back the second half kickoff for a touchdown. Sadly, that was as good as it got for Bill Belichick’s squad. On the other side, the Panthers lost their talented quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season when he tore his right ACL in last Friday night’s win at Virginia Tech. As much as I root against Pitt, that sucks. Heintschel is an exciting player with a bright future. Thoughts and prayers. Having said all that, I would still bet on Pitt to win with its backup QB. Let’s go UNC.

Wake Forest @ NC State – 10/10 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – CW

The Demon Deacons are somehow still not ranked. I don’t get it. Meanwhile, NC State got a nice home win over Louisville last week. As bad as the Vanderbilt loss was for the Wolfpack, at least it wasn’t a conference game. I could see Wake coach Jake Dickert having his guys fired up because of the disrespect. I want the Demon Deacons to keep the good times going. Let’s go Wake Forest.

Stanford @ #3 Notre Dame – 10/10 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – NBC

The Cardinal have a win over the feeble Yellow Jackets sandwiched between blowout losses to Miami, Duke, and Wake Forest. Blegh. I don’t think Andrew Luck’s boys are going to put up much of a fight tomorrow afternoon in South Bend. But no, I am not rooting for the Fighting Irish just so they can be undefeated for the Miami game next month. The Canes are in control of their own destiny. Let’s go Stanford.

Duke @ Georgia Tech – 10/10 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – ESPN2

Manny Diaz has the Blue Devils at 4-0 and playing great. They are another ACC team that should be ranked. Whatever. I just looked at Duke’s remaining schedule: vs UNC, at Virginia, vs BC, at NC State, at Miami, vs Clemson, at Wake Forest. Aside from the Miami game, Diaz’s squad won’t be much of an underdog in any of those matchups, and favored in most. New Blue Devils QB Walker Eget is no Darian Mensah, but he has been more than solid leading the offense. Let’s go Duke.

Virginia Tech @ Cal – 10/10 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – ACCN

Was that game-winning field goal attempt last Friday night by the Hokies good? I couldn’t tell. But hey, it’s only the year 2026. Why would we be able to determine if a field goal is good or not? That was a tough loss for Va Tech. Still, James Franklin looks like a home run hire. Out west, Cal has been a disaster so far this season. The offense has been the weakness, when it was supposed to be the strength. New coach Tosh Lupoi has been the opposite of Franklin. Let’s go Virginia Tech.

Syracuse @ Virginia – 10/10 at 7:30 PM EST, TV – ACCN

The Orange got a much-needed win at UConn last week. They are still 0-2 in conference play, with losses to Pitt and Cal. The Cavaliers could use a get-right game after getting smoked last week by FSU in Tallahassee. With an upcoming schedule of at SMU, vs Duke, and at Wake Forest, Tony Elliott’s squad could use all the momentum they can possibly get. I am all for it. Let’s go Virginia.

See you next week!

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos