ACC Football Predictions for Week 12
The Confidential’s football predictions for this week’s games featuring ACC teams. The Confidential struggled to a 4-4 record, making the overall record to a less-respectable 72-28. On to the week 12 predictions:
Thursday November 15, 2012
North Carolina (6-4) @ Virginia (4-6), 7:30 p.m. Don’t look now, but Virginia is surging toward a possible bowl game. After beating bowl-eligible North Carolina State and potentially bowl-eligible Miami, it remains a possibility. North Carolina just gave up 68 points to Georgia Tech. Football, not basketball. Unreal. The defense will be better this week. Still, the home team has more to play for. Prediction: Virginia 31, North Carolina 28.
Saturday November 3, 2012
#10 Florida State (9-1) at Maryland (4-6), 12:00 p.m. Maryland is a feel-good story this year. But they are playing with a 5th string QB. Florida State simply cannot lose this game and be taken seriously as “back.” Sure, the temptation will be to look ahead to the huge rivalry game with equally impressive Florida. But these are the games that elite teams win in the first half. Prediction: Florida State 38, Maryland 6.
Virginia Tech (4-6) @ Boston College (2-8), 12:30 p.m. As much as Virginia Tech has struggled this year, they still have a chance at a bowl game. It would be cool if Virginia Tech and Virginia are both 5-6 heading into the rivalry game. It’s hard to see Boston College stopping the Hokies from being in that position. Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, Boston College 10.
South Florida (3-6) @ Miami (5-5), 3:00 p.m. The Bulls have struggled with BJ Daniels. It is hard to see them getting better now that he is lost for the season. Meanwhile, Miami remains a complete enigma. A win would be expected here, a loss would not be the least bit surprising either. But the absence of Daniels and the Hurricanes being at home justify the prediction here. Prediction: Miami 31 , South Florida 24.
North Carolina State (6-4) @ #11 Clemson (9-1), 3:30 p.m. The Wolfpack have already ruined Florida State’s national title aspirations; why not ruin Clemson’s BCS bowl hopes too? Clemson cannot be looking ahead to its rivalry game against South Carolina either. Much like the Seminoles, the Tigers have to prove that they are elite by avoiding upsets–like last year. Clemson is rolling and at home. Prediction: Clemson 35, North Carolina State 20.
Duke (6-4) @ Georgia Tech (5-5), 3:30 p.m. Who would have thought that this game would have Championship Game implications? If Duke wins, they will go to the ACC Championship Game. If Georgia Tech wins, they are still in the hunt for the same opportunity. Duke has not been a very good road team this year. Georgia Tech seems to be turning things around. Prediction: Georgia Tech 42, Duke 31.
Wake Forest (5-5) @ #3 Notre Dame (10-0), 3:30 p.m. The Fighting Irish have been coasting to their game with USC. Frankly, if they do not start playing better, they will lose that game. Brian Kelly will have to get his team motivated for this home game against the Demon Deacons. Nothing about Wake Forest’s season suggest that they can win this game. However, teams seem to rise to the occasion when they travel to South Bend. Prediction: Notre Dame 24, Wake Forest 16.
Syracuse (5-5) @ Missouri (5-5), 7:30 p.m. The Orange scheduling is just absurd. Three of the four OOC games were against bowl-eligible FBS teams. The fourth was against an FCS team, Stony Brook, that is 9-2. And now they play at Missouri, who is desperate for the win to get to bowl-eligibility. The Tigers are healthy now too. Syracuse has struggled on the road and has a more-winnable game looming against Temple next week. The Confidential is pulling for the Orange, but skeptical. Prediction: Missouri 28, Syracuse 24.
Idle: Pittsburgh.
The Confidential apologizes in advance for not picking your team. A lot of close games here. Feel free to share why we are wrong.
The Confidential 