Collegiate Times

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No. 16 Miami at Clemson (Noon, ESPN2/ESPN3)

This game represents the conference opener for two teams with a lot of questions remaining. Miami is coming off a dominating 31-3 Thursday night victory over Pittsburgh. That road victory was a big rebound for the Canes after losing at Ohio State in their previous game. However, quarterback Jacory Harris has thrown six interceptions over his past two games.

Clemson has only beaten North Texas and Presbyterian.

Predicted winner: Miami

Florida State at Virginia (Noon, ACC Network)

The Seminoles (3-1, 1-0) enter this game coming off a 31-0 blasting of Wake Forest. However, they still have a lot to prove after their 47-17 week two loss at Oklahoma.

And with all of the excitement about UVa’s turnaround with new coach Mike London, let’s remember it still has not posted a victory over an FBS school. Don’t be surprised if the Cavaliers get embarrassed in front of their home crowd.

Predicted winner: Florida State

Virginia Tech at No. 23 North Carolina State (3:30 p.m., ABC)

Is North Carolina State, the lone undefeated ACC team, really that good?

Its offense, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, has been dominant. Wilson has 11 touchdowns on the season with just a single interception.

Yet, the Wolfpack was just 5-7 last year and the Hokies dispatched of it 38-10. Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is the 15th most efficient passer in the nation but is leading an offense kicking way too many field goals.

If the Hokies are going to win this game, they are going to have to get the ball into the endzone.

Predicted winner: Virginia Tech

East Carolina at North Carolina (3:30 p.m., ESPN3)

An embattled North Carolina team, still without 12 players and seven starters, found a way to come back from a 10-0 first quarter deficit and beat Rutgers last Saturday. Its 17-13 victory, if nothing else, helped the ACC’s cause in its battle with the Big East to avoid being the worst BCS conference.

East Carolina lost to Virginia Tech 49-27 in its last game. This matchup should be a shootout with ECU and North Carolina allowing 41.7 points per game and 24.3 points per game, respectively.

Predicted winner: East Carolina

Duke at Maryland (6 p.m., ESPN3)

What a compelling matchup. You have a 1-3 Duke team that couldn’t stop a high school team from scoring touchdowns and a 3-1 Maryland squad that has already eclipsed its two victories of 2009.

I really don’t know what else to say about this one.

Predicted winner: Maryland

Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (7 p.m., ESPNU)

The Yellow Jackets have been nothing but mediocre this season, and they certainly don’t look like defending conference champs. I know they are missing some early departures to the NFL but still are not the preseason No. 16 team.

Although their running game has been fantastic, to say quarterback Joshua Nesbitt has been ineffective while throwing the ball would be an understatement. He is averaging 79 yards per game, completing just 32.6 percent of his passes.

However, Wake Forest has been a disaster on defense and hasn’t even kept it close with the two respectable teams it has played this year. The Demon Deacons lost 68-24 to then-No. 19 Stanford and 31-0 to Florida State.

Predicted winner: Georgia Tech

Notre Dame at Boston College (8 p.m., ABC)

Brian Kelly has had far from a storybook beginning to his career with the Fighting Irish.

His 1-3 team has got to be craving a win and a little bit of respect after a 37-14 loss to then-No. 16 Stanford. After losing quarterback Jimmy Clausen, passing hasn’t even been an issue for the Fighting Irish. Junior Dayne Crist has filled the role nicely, completing 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,155 yards so far.

Boston College wishes it could have half the consistency at the quarterback position. After benching starter Dave Shinskie in the second half against Virginia Tech, the Eagles are still undecided about who will start for them this week. There is an ongoing competition between sophomore Mike Marscovetra and freshman Chase Rettig. Watching the Eagles get shutout at home when the Hokies came to visit does not make a victory over Notre Dame seem likely.

Predicted winner: Notre Dame

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 30 issue of the Collegiate Times.