ACC Football: A look around the conference’s matchups this weekend

With Syracuse on its bye week, let’s take a look around the rest of the conference to see what’s at stake for the Orange and the ACC as a whole.

Here is a look into the rest of the matchups, not many in conference battles, but most of the league is in action:

Final: Clemson 24, California 10

Don’t worry, I know you fell asleep before this one went final, but I stayed up until the end for you, This may not be as talented a Clemson team that was making College Football Playoffs years ago, but man they are scrappy. They made Cal look uncomfortable for just about every drive outside of the first quarter and picked up a huge road conference win in the process. When Miami comes to Death Valley next weekend there is no doubt the Canes will be favored, but I am starting to think that LSU loss week 1 was more fluke than actual representation of how the Tigers will fare against good teams. The ‘Cuse will need to be on its A game when Dabo comes to town later in the season.

12 PM ESPN Wake Forest @ 16 Louisville

This is one of the better games to watch out for on Saturday within the conference. It felt like Miami was going to destroy Wake Forest last Friday, but Gio Lopez and the rest of the Demon Deacons kept the game close and put a bit of a scare into the Hurricanes in the second half. Louisville has one heck of an offense, and has shown that by scoring at least 38 points in each of their first three games. If Wake Forest can get a few stops early, I think the Demon Deacons can go back to back weeks keeping a top conference opponent focused for all 60 minutes.

In terms of how this impacts Syracuse, the Orange do not face Wake Forest, but invite Louisville to the Dome on October 17th. It will be interesting to see some of the defensive schemes Wake Forest uses to try and prepare for the high profile offense down in Kentucky, and possibly the ‘Cuse can use some of those to their advantage as well.

12 PM ACCNX Bucknell @ Pittsburgh

Not much to be said here. Basically a bye week for the Panthers who will start 4-0 for just the second time since 2000.

12 PM ACCN Virginia Tech @ Boston College

Weird one in Chestnut Hill. James Franklin has the Hokies looking impressive so far, and by impressive, I mean dominant. Normally, a trip to face a Boston College team that may be 2-1 but has looked incredibly underwhelming once again would seem like a relatively easy way to open ACC play for Virginia Tech. However, ta Nor’easter is expected to move through the Massachusetts area, potentially bringing cold temperatures, heavy rain and strong winds. Those conditions could play right into Boston College’s hands and create the type of game the Eagles would like to play in. Because of that, I’m officially putting the Hokies on HIGH ALERT upset watch.

As for what this means for Syracuse, the Orange will have plenty of motivation when they travel to face Boston College in late November after a brutal performance against the Eagles last season. This matchup could provide a good indication of just how high BC’s ceiling is, or how low its floor can be. With Syracuse now fighting to become bowl eligible, Boston College is undoubtedly a team the Orange will have circled as a game they want to win.

3 PM ACCN Central Arkansas @ Florida State

Syracuse does not play the ‘Noles this season, but Mike Norvell better hope he can win this one…

3:30 PM ACCNX William and Mary @ Duke

William and Mary is a decent FCS squad, but an FCS squad at that. Walker Eget has looked solid so far and Nate Sheppard is a mad man for the Blue Devils. Another team Syracuse does not play this season.

6 PM ACCN Deleware @ Virginia

Virginia is the next ACC opponent on Syracuse’s schedule after a tough loss to West Virginia last week. I’d expect the Cavaliers to come out looking to bounce back in a big way. One thing to keep an eye on, though, is how healthy Virginia can stay over the next two weeks. The Cavs will travel to Tallahassee in Week 5 before facing Syracuse in Week 6, making this stretch an important one for the Orange to monitor.

6:30 PM CW Central Michigan @ Miami

Malachi Toney is -350 to find the back of the endzone. Mark Fletcher Jr. is -500. After a scare last week, the easy schedule for Miami continues.

7:30 PM ESPNU Appalachian State @ NC State

CJ Bailey had some soul searching to do after that disaster last Saturday in Nashville. Appalachian State is not necessarily your standard BYE game. The Mountaineers are gritty, and with Syracuse scheduled to face NC State in mid-November, the Orange would love nothing more than the program getting buried this season.

9:00 PM ACCN Missouri State @ 22 SMU

Expect points, and a lot of them. Especially from the ‘Stangs. Syracuse is going to need to find a way to slow down Kevin Jennings on Halloween night in the Dome. This is not the game film they are going to want to watch to try and get a look on how to do that.

10:30 PM ESPN Georgia Tech @ Stanford

Two 1-2 squads will meet in this one. Stanford is already 0-2 in ACC play, while Georgia Tech has yet to play a conference game but hasn’t exactly looked impressive through the first three weeks.

Side note: I’m not a huge fan of having one team play its third conference game against a team that hasn’t played one yet. I understand that conference schedules are set well in advance, but it still feels a little odd to me.

With that being said, a long trip across the country combined with a late-night kickoff gives this game the feel of a potential Stanford upset. Both of these are teams Syracuse would like to finish ahead of in the ACC standings, but the Orange will not face either team this season.

Outside of the six conference matchups outside of the conference, which of these games will you be tuned into Saturday? What are you keeping your eye on in these ones?