CLEMSON – Each week The Clemson Insider takes a deep look into the Atlantic Coast Conference’s weekend matchups.
This Saturday the Clemson Tigers are finally back at Memorial Stadium to play host to No. 12 Notre Dame at noon.
Here is what else is on slate this weekend in the ACC.
Thursday
Wake Forest (4-4, 1-4 ACC) at Duke (5-3, 2-2 ACC) 7:30 p.m.; ESPN
Latest Line: Duke -8
What to watch for: Since 2000 the Demon Deacons boast a record of 32-24 against UNC, NC State, and Duke. Duke head coach Mike Elko and Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson spent 12 seasons together at a combination of four different institutions. The Blue Devils are the only ACC school averaging 25 points per game. Wake Forest has been one of the best teams in the country in tackles-for-loss, ranking 41st nationally.
Friday
Boston College (5-3, 2-2 ACC) at Syracuse (4-4, 0-4 ACC) 7:30 p.m.; ESPN2
Latest Line: Syracuse -2.5
What to watch for: Since 2015 the road team has won seven of the eight matchups. Boston College is riding a four-game win streak, their first since starting 4-0 in 2021. Syracuse has dropped their last four games after starting the season 4-0. BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos leads the country in rushing yards by a quarterback with 673, which ranks 39th among all rushers in the nation.
Saturday
Campbell (4-4, 3-3 CAA) at No. 25 North Carolina (6-2, 3-2 ACC) Noon; ACCN
Latest Line: N/A
What to watch for: Campbell and North Carolina will be meeting for the first ever time in football Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill. UNC has dropped its last two meetings after starting the season 6-0. The Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye leads the ACC with 2,559 passing yards entering the week.
No. 12 Notre Dame (7-2) at Clemson (4-4) Noon; ABC
Latest Line: ND -3
What to watch for: Clemson and Notre Dame meet for the eighth time overall and the third time in Death Valley, the first since a memorable top-15 battle in 2015, which saw Clemson hold on to defeat the Irish 24-22 in a torrential downpour from the remnants of Hurricane Joaquin. Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman became the sixth FBS player to throw for over 15,000 yards in a career in the victory over Pitt last weekend.
Georgia Tech (4-4, 3-2 ACC) at Virginia (2-6, 1-3 ACC) 2 p.m.; The CW
Latest Line: Virginia -2
What to watch for: Virginia holds a slight 22-21-1 edge in the all-time series over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech’s quarterback, Haynes King, is only the second ACC player since 2000 with 2,100 passing yards, 450 rushing yards, and 20 touchdown passes throughout the team’s first eight games, the other was Louisville great, Lamar Jackson. Virginia is coming off a 29-26 overtime loss on the road at Miami, snapping the Cavaliers’ two-game winning streak.
No. 4 Florida State (8-0, 6-0 ACC) at Pitt (2-6, 1-3 ACC) 3:30 p.m.; ESPN
Latest Line: FSU – 21
What to watch for: This is only the third ACC game between Pitt and Florida State. The ACC series is tied at one win apiece. Florida State enters the game as one of eight unbeaten teams remaining in FBS this season at 8-0 overall and can clinch a spot in the 2023 ACC Football Championship Game with a win. Over the past three seasons (2020-22), Pitt is 10-1 in November, with the lone loss coming at No. 4 Clemson in 2020.
Virginia Tech (4-4, 3-1 ACC) at No. 15 Louisville (7-1, 4-1 ACC) 3:30 p.m.; ACCN
Latest Line: Louisville -9.5
What to watch for: Louisville enters the contest having won nine straight home games, the fifth-longest streak currently in FBS, the fifth-longest in school history, and the program’s longest since 2015. Virginia Tech holds a 6-2 advantage over Louisville all time and will meet for the 10th time this Saturday.
Miami (6-2, 2-2 ACC) at NC State (5-3, 2-2 ACC) 8 p.m.; ACCN
Latest Line: Miami -5
What to watch for: NC State sits 2-2 in league play after a 24-17 win at home over Clemson last weekend. The Wolfpack have won 19 of its last 22 games in Carter-Finley Stadium. The Miami defense ranks eighth nationally in all of FBS in both sacks per game (3.5), tackles-for-loss per game (7.9), and rushing yards allowed per game (86.9). With a win on Saturday, Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren will become the winningest head football coach in NC State history.
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