Collegiate Times

While Virginia Tech is on a bye week, there is still plenty of college football action for Hokie Nation to follow this weekend. With the Hokies loss last weekend to Georgia Tech, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division became a lot less predictable. The Hokies now need a loss from Georgia Tech, at the very least, to propel themselves into the drivers seat in the Coastal Division.

No. 12 Georgia Tech (6-1, 4-1 ACC) vs. University of Virginia (3-3, 2-0 ACC)

Georgia Tech heads to Charlottesville this week to claim the top spot in the Coastal Division.

After defeating the then-division leading Hokies last week, one unlikely team stands in the way of Georgia Tech controlling its own destiny on the road to the Orange Bowl: UVa.

The Cavaliers have spent the past three weeks disproving their poor performance in their first three games, with three straight victories over North Carolina, Indiana and Maryland, evening their record at 3-3 and earning the top spot in the Coastal Division for now.

Looking like a different team as of late, the Cavs have won their past three matchups with tough defense and efficient offense. They’ve limited their past three opponents to 19 points total and quarterback Jameel Sewell has been very efficient in those games.

Sewell is 46 of 77 and has thrown for 581 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in his past three games. An ankle injury, which he suffered in the third quarter of last week’s game, however, leaves him questionable against the Jackets.

Georgia Tech’s offense will surely test the Cavs, but Virginia’s 3-4 defensive scheme may be better suited to stop an option attack that baffled Tech in the second half. The Jackets’ rush offense is ranked second nationally and is coming off a game in which quarterback Josh Nesbitt and company torched the Hokies for 309 yards on the ground.

If the Cavs are to stand a chance against Georgia Tech and help the Hokies in giving the Jackets their second conference loss, they’ll need their quarterback healthy and ready to go in addition to another great performance by their defense.

Virginia does have history on its side, as the Jackets have not won a game in Charlottesville since 1990.

Clemson (3-3, 2-2 ACC) vs. No. 10 Miami (FL) (5-1, 2-1 ACC) on ABC

While Georgia Tech has Virginia Tech’s number if the Coastal Division is to be decided by a tiebreaker at the end of the season, another one conference loss team in the division has Georgia Tech’s number.

Miami, the highest ranked team in the ACC, faces off against Clemson this weekend. Miami is coming off of three straight wins itself, including a win in late September over then-No. 8 Oklahoma.
Hurricanes’ quarterback Jacory Harris has been doing what he’s had to do to win in those games. Harris has thrown for 1,518 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and in his last performance, went 20 for 26, throwing for 293 yards and a score in the ’Canes 27-7 win over Central Florida.

Clemson heads south with a pretty good team themselves.
The Tigers are ranked 11th in total defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing just 270.2 yards per game this season. They are also ranked second in the ACC in stopping the pass.
Clemson boasts several defensive stars including safety DeAndre McDaniel and defensive end Da’Quan Bowers.

McDaniel has racked up five interceptions this year to lead the conference and also leads the team in tackles with 46.

Bowers has eight tackles for loss, three sacks and 34 tackles coming off the end this year and his unit will need that pressure this week against the mobile Harris.
Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller will also be an X-factor in the game. Spiller has rushed for 466 yards, three touchdowns and has 12, 10-plus yard rushes this season. His play will be crucial for the Tigers to control the pace of the game on the road.