Friedlander: 5 questions to ponder before kickoff of Week 3 in ACC football
The Backyard Brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia, and the showdown between former ACC neighbors Virginia and Maryland aren’t just a chance to renew old acquaintances and rekindle dormant rivalries.
For the Panthers and Cavaliers, the games against familiar foes also represent an opportunity to distance themselves from the disappointment of a more recent past. Both teams are off to promising 2-0 starts and can match their win totals from last season with a victory.
It won’t be easy. But at least both will be at home.
The rivalry games are the highlight of a Week 3 schedule in which all 12 teams that are in action will be playing nonconference opponents. It’s the only week in which no conference games will be played.
Among the most meaningful matchups are 2 more head-to-head showdowns against the SEC – Boston College at Missouri and Ole Miss at Wake Forest; several in-state battles – North Carolina vs. NC Central, Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion and Cal vs. San Diego State; along with Florida State’s attempt to avoid an 0-3 start against coach Mike Norvell’s former team, Memphis.
There’s a lot going on and a lot to digest.
Before the coin gets tossed, here are 5 questions to think about and discuss before kickoff of Week 3 in the ACC:
5. Can Virginia Tech figure out how to win at ODU?
The Hokies probably should have taken the hint in 2018 when they went to Norfolk and got spanked 49-35 by in-state rival Old Dominion. But no, they scheduled a return game in 2022. And again, they got beat by the Monarchs 20-17 in Brent Pry’s debut. While Tech has won all 3 meetings in Blacksburg, Norfolk has become a house of horrors. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try (or in this case try) again. The Hokies are a 15-point favorite. But that sounds generous considering they’ve already lost on the road this season at Vanderbilt and ODU gave South Carolina fits before losing a close game in its opener. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm. If it’s not, Tech will have 3 more shots at beating ODU on the road. They’re scheduled to return to Norfolk in 2027, ’29 and ’31.
4. Shouldn’t Duke vs. UConn be played at Cameron Indoor Stadium?
Obviously, this matchup would make for a better and more nationally relevant game if it was basketball, not football. But we’ll have to wait until March to have a shot at that possibility. In the meantime, there will be plenty at stake next door at Wallace Wade Stadium. Especially for Manny Diaz’s 2-0 team. The Blue Devils did everything they could to lose at Northwestern last week. But they found a way to survive in double overtime. Now quarterback Maalik Murphy and his teammates have a chance to build on the momentum from their 2 late touchdowns and the close victory against a Huskies team that was beaten 50-7 by Maryland in its only FBS game so far.
3. Can Wake Forest hold Ole Miss below the over/under?
The number is 64.5, according to ESPNBet sportsbook. That’s for both teams combined. But while the Deacons have the potential to do a little scoring of their own with Hank Bachmeier now firmly established as their starting quarterback and Demond Claiborne providing an effective ground threat, there’s a real possibility the 5th-ranked Rebels could hit the over all by themselves.
They lead the country in scoring at 64 points per game.
They put 76 on Furman in their opener and 52 last week against Middle Tennessee State. With Lane Kiffin trying to push Jaxson Dart for the Heisman Trophy and Wake’s best defender, Jasheen Davis, “questionable” because of injury, the sky could be the limit on the number of points Ole Miss scores in Winston-Salem.
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2. Can Boston College stay ranked for more than 1 week?
Hopefully, Georgia Tech enjoyed being ranked last week for the first time since 2015. Because it didn’t last long. The Yellow Jackets were immediately knocked out of the polls after losing at Syracuse. Now it’s BC’s turn to celebrate its return to the rankings. Bill O’Brien’s Eagles check in at No. 24 – 1 spot below where Tech was – after an impressive opening win at Florida State and last week’s demolition of FCS Duquesne. But now comes the hard part. Staying there.
It won’t be easy with a trip to No. 6 Missouri. Dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos and his big, physical offensive line will get their toughest test to date against a Tigers defense that hasn’t allowed a point in its first 2 games. BC’s defense will be tested too. Mizzou’s Brady Cook and Luther Burden III form one of the nation’s best QB-WR combos.
1. Can Mike Norvell right Florida State’s ship against his former team?
Saturday’s game against Memphis was already an interesting matchup because of Norvell’s connection to the Tigers. He coached them from 2016-19. But it has since taken on even more intrigue because of the events of the past few weeks.
One of these teams is undefeated and ranked (at least in the coaches poll), with a realistic shot at getting into the College Football Playoff. The other is Norvell’s Seminoles.
Florida State has had last week off to reset, recover and try to fix the problems that helped produce its stunning 0-2 start. This is a hugely important game for the Seminoles. Not in the context of the ACC championship or the Playoff. Those goals are already out the window. But for keeping an already fractured season from heading even farther off the rails.
I don’t feel good about the Hokies going to ODU. The slow starting offense is supposed to run thru Drones but in actuality it’s Tuten that is getting things going. But with Tuten wearing a blue jersey this week in practice and the OC Bowen’s scratching play calling in the first half of games 1 and 2, it doesn’t feel great right now. Elliott’s hot seat cools off with a uva win. The ACC needs Pitt to win.
Oh so close BC. VT wins but still looks like a shell of the last year’s team despite the returning starters. lol fsu. The Backyard Brawl lived up to the hype as it always does. Proves your point in the rivalry article. Good win for the ACC.