By Trey McCurry.
By Trey McCurry
The ACC has 11 of its 12 members in action this week with only Duke having the weekend off. The action kicks off on Thursday night as #6 Florida State travels to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech. On Saturday, two games involve ranked teams – #9 Clemson hosts Maryland and #4 Notre Dame travels to Boston College. Other action includes Miami (FL) heading to Virginia, Georgia Tech facing North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest traveling to in-state foe NC State.
Boston College 2-7 (1-5)
Last Week: 28-14 loss at Wake Forest
This Week: Saturday, November 10 vs. #4 Notre Dame (8:00PM on ABC)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)
Notes: WR Alex Amidon ranks fifth nationally in receiving yards per game (119.2), 10th in receptions (7.44), and has 1,073 receiving yards on the season. LB Nick Clancy ranks third nationally in tackles per game (11.89) while fellow LB Kevin Pierre-Louis ranks 24th with 9.71 tackles per game. After recording an INT in the past two games, DB Spenser Rostiano is averaging 0.43 INTs per contest, good for 25th in the nation. As a team, the Eagles are tops nationally in yards per punt return (25.0).
Duke 6-4 (3-3)
Last Week: 56-20 loss to #9 Clemson
This Week: Open Date
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 @ Georgia Tech (TBA)
Notes: The Blue Devils eclipsed the 300-point (307) mark against Clemson, becoming just the 10th team in school history with 300 or more points. QB Sean Renfree’s 77-yard pass completion to WR Jamison Crowder against the Tigers was Duke’s longest offensive play of the season. Crowder finished the game with seven receptions for 167 yards, tied for the 19th-most receiving yards in a single game in Blue Devil history. Duke’s defense caused four turnovers (3 INTs & a FR) for the second straight week and third time this season.
Florida State 8-1 (5-1) #10 in BCS, #8 in AP & #6 in USA Today
Last Week: Open Date
This Week: Thursday, November 8 @ Virginia Tech (7:30PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 @ Maryland (TBA)
Notes: The Seminoles have scored 29 rushing TDs this season, just 6 scores from tying the all-time FSU record for rushing TDs in a season. Florida State ranks among the nation’s top five in five major defensive categories, including first in total defense (227.1 ypg) and third in scoring defense (12.0 ppg). QB EJ Manuel is second in the nation with a 174.03 passing efficiency rating. Lou Groza semifinalists PK Dustin Hopkins ranks fifth in FBS in scoring at 11.44 points per game and is just 10 points shy of the NCAA career scoring mark.
Georgia Tech 4-5 (3-3)
Last Week: 33-13 win at Maryland
This Week: Saturday, November 10 @ North Carolina (12:30PM on ACC Network)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 vs. Duke (TBA)
Notes: The Yellow Jackets rank fourth nationally in rushing at 318.2 yards per game following their 370-yard showing against a Maryland team that entered the game ranked fourth nationally in rushing defense. Eleven Yellow Jackets had at least one rushing attempt in the game and QB Tevin Washington scored a TD to move with one of the ACC career record for QBs. Washington is tied for ninth nationally in scoring at 10.67 points per game. The Georgia Tech defense has recorded at least one interception in eight consecutive games, and the team’s 10 INTs are tied for third in the ACC.
Maryland 4-5 (2-3)
Last Week: 33-13 loss to Georgia Tech
This Week: Saturday, November 10 @ #8 Clemson (3:30PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 vs. #6 Florida State (TBA)
Notes: For the first time since 1973, the Terps have had three different players start a game at QB (Perry Hills, Caleb Rowe, and Shawn Petty). WR Stefon Diggs holds the Maryland freshman record for TD receptions (6) and yards (721). Diggs 721 yards ranks 11th on the single-season receiving yards list by a Terp and his 174.9 all-purpose yards per game currently ranks first all-time among ACC freshman. LB Demetrius Hartsfield, the ACC’s active leader in career tackles, tore his ACL against Georgia Tech and is lost for the year.
Miami (FL) 5-4 (4-2)
Last Week: 30-12 win over Virginia Tech
This Week: Saturday, November 10 @ Virginia (12:00PM on ABC)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 vs. South Florida (TBA)
Notes: The Hurricanes are converting 85.7 percent of their red zone opportunities (30 of 35) and have converted 14 consecutive red zone trips (9 TDs) in ACC play. Miami (FL) has scored in less than two minutes in 17 of their 38 scoring drives this season, including seven that have needed less than 60 seconds, and 13 of the 17 coming in ACC play. RBs Mike James (7) and Duke Johnson (8) have accounted for 14 of Miami’s 29 TDs this season and 1,032 of their 1,171 rushing yards. The Canes have forced 18 turnovers in 2012, three more than in 2011.
NC State 5-4 (2-3)
Last Week: 33-6 loss to Virginia
This Week: Saturday, November 10 vs. Wake Forest (3:00PM on RSN)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 @ #8 Clemson (TBA)
Notes: QB Mike Glennon 294.7 yards passing per game and 20 TD passes rank second in the ACC behind Clemson QB Tajh Boyd. WR Bryan Underwood did not catch a TD pass against Virginia, snapping his consecutive-game TD streak at eight (a NC State record and one shy of the ACC mark). The Wolfpack defense leads the ACC in QB sacks per game (2.78) led by DE Darryl Cato-Bishop (4.5) and DT T.Y. McGill (4). NC State ranks ninth nationally in tackles for loss with 7.44 per game, led by L Rickey Dowdy’s 1.11 TFL per game.
North Carolina 6-3 (3-2)
Last Week: Open Date
This Week: Saturday, November 10 vs. Georgia Tech (12:30PM on ACC Network)
Up Next: Thursday, November 15 @ Virginia (7:30PM on ESPN)
Notes: TB Gionvani Bernard leads the Tar Heel offense in 2012. Bernard ranks first nationally in yards per punt return (20.75) and third nationally in all-purpose yards (214/game) and scoring (12.86/game). He has 1,498 all-purpose yards in 2012, already the ninth most in school history. Defensively, UNC leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally in tackles for lost yardage at 7.89 per game. DE Kareem Martin leads the Heels with 15 tackles for loss on the season, including 10 solo stops.
Virginia 3-6 (1-4)
Last Week: 33-6 win at NC State
This Week: Saturday, November 10 vs. Miami (FL) (12:00PM on ABC)
Up Next: Thursday, November 15 vs. North Carolina (7:30PM on ESPN)
Notes: The Cavaliers won at NC State last weekend for the first time since 1999 as the defense played a huge role in the upset win. Virginia allowed 216 yards of total offense to the Wolfpack and has now held their last three opponents to 235 or fewer yards. The Cavaliers forced five turnovers against NC State, after entering the game with only four turnovers created this season. Virginia was also able to get to the QB as they recorded six sacks (four in the second quarter) after entering the contest with 7 total sacks in 2012.
Virginia Tech 4-5 (2-3)
Last Week: 30-12 loss at Miami (FL)
This Week: Thursday, November 8 vs. #7 Florida State (7:30PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 @ Boston College (TBA)
Notes: The Hokies are making their 26th (19-6) appearance on ESPN Thursday Night Football this week and are hosting a game for the 11th consecutive season. Virginia Tech, who has won their last seven home games overall, is 11-3 at Lane Stadium on ESPN Thursday Night Football. Since joining the ACC in 2004, the Hokies are 25-3 in league games in November. QB Logan Thomas, 9-1 at home as a starter, is one of six FBS QBs to currently lead his team in both rushing (422 yards) and passing (2,109 yards).
Wake Forest 5-4 (3-4)
Last Week: 28-14 win over Boston College
This Week: Saturday, November 10 @ NC State (3:00PM on RSN)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 @ #4 Notre Dame (3:30PM on NBC)
Notes: QB Tanner Price completed 39-of-57 passes for 293 yards with three TDs against BC. The completions and attempts were both career-highs and also highs by an ACC QB this season. Price is now fifth in Wake history with 39 career TD passes. WR Michael Campanaro hauled in 16 passes against the Eagles, tying the ACC record for most receptions in a single game, and is the third Deacon to catch three TDs in a game. Wake had three INTs against BC, the most since recording four against Florida State last season.
Future ACC Teams:
Notre Dame 9-0 #4 in BCS, #4 in AP, & #4 in USA Today
Last Week: 29-26 (3OT) win over Pittsburgh
This Week: Saturday, November 10 @ Boston College (8:00PM on ABC)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 vs. Wake Forest (3:30PM on NBC)
Notes: The Irish look to end a three-game losing streak to BC when they (Notre Dame) are a top-10 team. Notre Dame is 9-0 for the first time since 1993 and the 16th time in school history. The Irish defense ranks in the top-20 among FBS schools in eight different categories. Notre Dame is 5-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less this year, one win away from tying the school record. LB Stephon Tuitt has 10 sacks to rank fifth in sacks in FBS while LB Manti Teo has seven total takeaways, tied for third among all FBS players.
Pittsburgh 4-5 (1-3 Big East)
Last Week: 29-26 (3OT) loss at #4 Notre Dame
This Week: Friday, November 9 @ Connecticut (8:00PM on ESPN2)
Up Next: Open Date
Notes: The Panthers held a 20-6 fourth-quarter lead against the Irish but was unable to hold off Notre Dame in a triple OT loss. Pittsburgh has now played four consecutive games without committing a turnover. QB Tino Sunseri has thrown for 14 TDs and just two INTs, the fewest of any Big East starter this season. RB Ray Graham rushed for 172 yards and a TD against the Irish, just the second rushing TD allowed by Notre Dame this season. Graham leads all active Big East players with 33 career TDs and 29 career rushing TDs.
Syracuse 4-5 (3-2 Big East)
Last Week: 35-24 loss at Cincinnati
This Week: Saturday, November 10 vs. #9 Louisville (12:00PM on ABC)
Up Next: Saturday, November 17 @ Missouri (7:00PM on ESPNU)
Notes: Orange QB Ryan Nassib moved into ninth place in Big East history in career passing yards (8,214) and has thrown for a school-record 2,773 yards this season. Nassib has 723 career completions, leaving him 12 shy of the Big East record of 735. RB Jerome Smith rushed for 116 yards and a TD against the Bearcats, his third straight 100-yard game. The Orange have three 500-yard receivers in a season for the first time (Marcus Sales – 722, Alec Lemon – 569, and Jarrod West – 523).