ACC Rooting Guide: Week 11

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Sheesh. That first CFP rankings show was extra rough for the ACC. Georgia Tech is ranked #17 after suffering their first loss last week. Miami is ranked #18, despite beating a tenth-ranked Notre Dame. The biggest injustice was against Louisville. The Cardinals are #13 despite only one loss and having beat the team that beat Notre Dame. I am not a fan of the current CFP committee. And with Miami having a sliver of a chance to get to Charlotte and the CFP, I have to root accordingly.

Week 11 bye teams: Georgia Tech, NC State, Pitt, Virginia Tech.

Let’s do some rooting.

SMU @ Boston College – 11/8 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – ACCN

BC coach Bill O’Brien was fired up at his press conference earlier this week. Look it up on YouTube; it’s worth the watch. Hopefully it inspires his team to pull off one of the biggest in-conference upsets of the season. After Miami’s loss in Dallas last Saturday, it’s even easier for me to root against SMU. The Canes blew the game and the refs sucked. Still, SMU’s fans rushing the field and Rhett Lashlee’s response tweet to Coach Cristobal bugged me slightly. Let’s go Boston College.

Duke @ UConn – 11/8 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – CBSS

Is Manny Diaz turning into a good college football head coach? Maybe. I’m sure he wishes his defense was better, but he has to be thrilled to still be in the mix to make it to Charlotte. The Blue Devils could be even better next year if quarterback Darian Mensah returns. UConn followed up its win over Boston College a few weeks ago with a loss to Rice. Will the Huskies find a conference to take their football program? I don’t know. I also don’t care. Let’s go Duke.

Stanford @ UNC – 11/8 at 4:30 PM EST, TV – CW

Stanford’s last road trip of the season comes tomorrow afternoon. I am sure they are thrilled to play their last two games in Northern California. The travel has been crazy. As for the home team, the Tar Heels have been playing better lately. They also apparently flipped a recruit from Miami a couple weeks ago. That was surprising. Still, UNC football has a long way to go. That’s all I got. This is not a compelling matchup. Let’s go Stanford.

Matchup of the week

Wake Forest @ #12 Virginia – 11/8 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN

What happened to my Demon Deacons last weekend? They got smoked by FSU in Tallahassee, 42-7. I thought they would put up a good fight after their recent improvement in play. Whatever. Jake Dickert’s squad can completely redeem themselves tomorrow night in Charlottesville. The blueprint is their road win at SMU. Make it a low scoring, ugly game, and hold Virginia to field goals. It might not be likely, but it’s possible. Let’s go Wake Forest.

Cal @ #14 Louisville – 11/8 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN2

The Golden Bears couldn’t pull off the upset against Virginia at home last weekend. They have a chance at an even more impressive road upset tomorrow night against the Cardinals. Unfortunately for Cal, Louisville should be just as motivated with its disrespectful spot in the first CFP rankings. The Cardinals will be without running back Isaac Brown for at least this game. That’s a tough loss. A hot start for the Golden Bears would be nice to see. Let’s go Cal.

FSU @ Clemson – 11/8 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – ACCN

The fact that I didn’t even consider this game for my Matchup of the week is sad for both schools and the ACC as a whole. The Seminoles are feeling good after a dominant win over a previously frisky Wake Forest squad. The Tigers lost their third conference game of the season at home last week to Duke. Yikes. This game was also bumped to ACC Network, behind the two matchups directly above. Double yikes. At least this is an easy choice for me. Let’s go Clemson.

See you next week!

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