Friedlander: 5 questions to ponder before kickoff of Week 9 in ACC football
How much can things change in 9 weeks?
Plenty.
Who could have imagined at the start of the season that on Week 9 of the ACC schedule, the week in which blue bloods Florida State and Miami play their rivalry game, the most consequential matchup to the league standings would be between newcomer SMU and basketball school Duke?
But here we are.
The 1-6 Seminoles have imploded, while the Mustangs are ranked 22nd and the surprising Blue Devils are 6-1 for the first time since 2015 and have a chance to win 10 games for just the 2nd time in program history.
It’s a lot to grasp. So while we let the reality of how much things have changed sink in, here are 5 questions to think about and consider before kickoff of this week’s action in ACC football.
5. Will Miami take Florida State seriously?
Mario Cristobal and his players have been saying all the right things leading up to their rivalry game. The question is, do they believe what they’re saying? It definitely would be helpful, because even though the Seminoles are a hot mess right now – especially on offense – it is a rivalry game. And it’s not as if the Hurricanes have been blowing away the opposition since the start of the conference season. In theory, this game shouldn’t be close. Miami is a 20.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel sportsbook, for a reason. But FSU was a double-digit favorite last year, too. And it had to hold on for dear life to escape with a 27-20 win. So the Hurricanes might not want to get too overconfident.
4. What chance does Florida State have of at least beating the spread?
It’s a long shot, to be sure. We’re talking about a team that ranks dead last in the ACC in scoring at 15 points per game, has yet to post a 300-yard performance and ranks 126th out of 133 FBS teams with a minus-10 turnover margin. And it’s playing an opponent that boasts a Heisman-caliber quarterback (Cam Ward) and has the 2nd-highest-scoring offense in the nation at 48.3 points per game. To keep things respectable, the Seminoles will have to follow a similar script to the one they wrote in a 16-point loss to Clemson. Extend drives by converting third downs. Keep Ward in the pocket and don’t let him create plays with his legs. Force the Hurricanes to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. And most of all, hope quarterback Brock Glenn doesn’t turn the ball over. All of which is easier said than done.
3. Can Duke rely as heavily on its defense against SMU as it did last week against Florida State?
The Blue Devils have the top-ranked defense in the ACC, allowing only 17.3 points and 306.7 yards per game. Duke’s D was so dominant against the Seminoles that coach Manny Diaz and offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer only marginally tried to score after converting 3 turnovers into an early lead. They felt it was better to play it safe and punt than risk making mistakes. The strategy worked. Duke won 23-16 to earn bowl eligibility and its first victory against FSU. It’s going to take a different game plan to beat SMU. Containing quarterback Kevin Jennings and slowing a diverse, high-powered offense that averages 40.7 points will still be key. But Duke will need a much more aggressive approach and better execution in the passing and running game to have any shot at upsetting the 22nd-ranked Mustangs.
2. Does it matter who plays quarterback for Georgia Tech against Virginia Tech?
The short answer is probably not. It certainly wouldn’t hurt the Yellow Jackets’ chances if they get starter Haynes King back after missing last week’s game against Notre Dame with a shoulder injury. He’s completed 71% of his passes for 1,568 yards and is the team’s 2nd-leading rusher while combining for 16 touchdowns through the air and on the ground. But his backup Zach Pyron is hardly chopped liver. He completed his first 9 passes against the Irish and finished 20-of-36 for 269 yards. The matchup will ultimately decide Saturday’s game will likely be a Yellow Jackets offensive line that has allowed the fewest sacks in the ACC (3 in 8 games) against Antwaun Ryland-Powell and a Hokies defense whose 24 sacks are tied with Duke for the league lead.
1. Was 1 week long enough for North Carolina to regroup from another loss and an actual real-life heartbreak?
The Tar Heels’ open date couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. It would have been bad enough trying to bounce back from a 4th consecutive loss, one in which they gave up the winning touchdown to Georgia Tech on a 68-yard run with less than a minute remaining. But that wasn’t even close to the worst thing that happened to them 2 Saturdays ago. Shortly after the game, Mack Brown and his players were informed that teammate Tylee Craft had lost his battle with cancer.
It was a crushing emotional blow. One that required time to mourn and cry. The last thing they needed was to be thrown right back out onto the field to try and play a game. One week off still might not be enough time. It will help that Saturday’s game is at Virginia, which knows a little about dealing with tragedy. But it won’t be easy.
I think Duke gets exposed. Pitt is legit. It’s over for NC State. Hokies are hitting their stride but need to park to have any chance at home against Clemson in two weeks.
And it would be a great weekend if FSU beats Miami. lol