Weakend of Non-Conference Opponents

In a weekend that looks like something you would see the first week of September instead of Mid-October, there are four non-conference games against weak opponents... Five years ago, who would have thought the the Wolfpack would be the cream puff team on ECU's non-conference schedule? Let's See if the Wolfpack can pull off an upset in Greenville (Man it hurts to write that.)

When Miami, BC and Va Tech joined the conference, did anyone think the UVa - Marland game would be more improtant for the league standings than the Miami-FSU game? Then again, who thought the Deacs would be the defending ACC Football Champions...

Last week 6-0... Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead.

Noon

Army @ Georgia Tech
Atlanta, Ga.
TV: R/LF (XM 191)
GameTracker
The Jackets look build on their big win against Miami. Ga. Tech 35 - 15

Central Michigan @ Clemson
Clemson, S.C.
TV: ESPNU (XM 190)
GameTracker
Clemson had a week off to prepare for the 4-3 Chippewas. Central Michigan is on a three game winning streak and has won ten straight games in the month of October. Before you get too excited about the game, keep in mind it is homecoming at Death Valley (the Duke game is in Durham) and Clemson has the ACC’s top defense. Look for Clemson’s two game losing streak to come to an end. Clemson 35 – 14.

1:00 PM

Wake Forest @ Navy
Annapolis, Md.
TV: CSTV (XM 192)
GameTracker
When did the military academies join the ACC? Wake gets a taste of its own medicine when they have to face Navy’s unique offense. This should be a fun game to watch if you love option and misdirection offenses. Navy had trouble stopping Duke… I think the Deacs will give them more trouble. Wake 42 – 17

3:30 PM

Miami @ Florida State
Tallahassee, Fla.
TV: ABC (XM 190/193)
GameTracker
ACC ISP Sports Radio Network
Wow! This game isn’t appealing as it once was. Should we call this the Underachiever’s Bowl? This one will come down to the team that makes the fewest mistakes. Last week, it was good to see that Chuck Amato coached defenses have not forgotten how to come up with the big penalties that give their opponent a chance to win. The ‘Canes will make fewer mistakes. Miami 28 - 17

4:30 PM

NC State @ East Carolina
Greenville, NC
TV: CSTV (XM 192)
GameTracker
It will be interesting to see how the Wolfpack responds to a week off. I would say things can’t get much worse, but I’m afraid State would end up losing another starter to an injury. This will be a good test to see how Tom O’Brien coached teams do in rivalry games. As I recall, Chuck Amato’s teams tended to come out flat whenever the Pack played a rival not named Florida State. ECU is giving up a lot of points, but so was Louisville. ECU 28 - 17

8:00 PM

Virginia @ Maryland
8:00 PM
College Park, Md.
TV: ESPN2 (XM 191)
GameTracker
No one in their right mind would have thought this would be an important game at the start of the season. The Terps need this one to stay in the Atlantic Division race, while the ‘Hoos need this one to stay in the Coastal Division lead. Virginia was very unimpressive in their last 2 games… One doesn’t usually see an ACC divisional leader squeak the likes ofMiddle Tennessee and UConn. Those games are most often blowouts. There is no logic in how they’re doing it, but Virginia keeps on finding a way to win… I think Groh has them winning ugly just to tick off the Groh must go crowd. I don’t know why, but I’ll take UVa 22 – 21.