Week 8 Predictions

No game preview article this week for a number of reasons: A change in my work schedule, release of Batman: Arkham City, couldn't think of a witty title for this week's opponent; all the usual reasons. There should be a lot of good games in the ACC, as well as all throughout the NCAA, but the Gobblers and Eagles won't be one of them. There will be a very brief analysis at the end.

Gimme Games
VT over Boston College

Upset Watch
Clemson over UNC
Florida State over Maryland

50/50 Games
Miami over Georgia Tech
NC State over UVA
Wake Forest over Duke

This might be the first week all season that I actually feel unsure about the majority of my picks. Part of that have to do with the individual matchups, and part of that is this is the ACC; anything can, and usually does, happen.

Mathematically speaking, the Coastal Division is a two team race right now with Techs in the lead, but UNC and Miami have an outside chance if they win out. Miami has a chance to help themselves today if they beat the Jackets, but that loss to the Hokies could come back to haunt them at the end of November. The truth is however that Miami is not consistent enough to really be a threat with the two early losses.

For UNC to keep their divisional hopes alive, they'd need to knock off the best team in the conference, in one of the hardest places to win in Death Valley. Then they would have to win the rest of their games, which includes a win in another tough place to win on a Thursday night in Lane Stadium. They've done it before, when they didn't even have anything to gain from it, so we'll see where they stand in a month.

FSU shouldn't have any problems against Maryland, but the Terps showed last week that they can at least try to outscore a tough opponent in a shootout. The Noles would need a lot of help besides just winning their own games to return to Charlotte, and that is looking less and less likely each week that Clemson continues to roll.

The only real threat to the Tigers right now is Wake Forest (still can't believe I'm saying that). After losing their first conference game last week, the Deacs still control their own destiny if they win out. They need to make sure they put last week behind them and take care of Duke if they want to continue to be in the race. That game might have the highest point total of any game in the conference this. Very similar to last week's Clemson/Maryland matchup.

This week the Hokies need to continue to be consistent on offense, as well as try to stay/get healthy on defense. Last year with a much less effective defense, the Gobblers got a shutout up in Chestnut Hill. I'm not sure they'll be able to get the goose egg again, but that's mainly due to the injuries and projected amount of time the backups will be in the game today. Without Montel Harris however, the Eagles won't be able to score enough to keep up with the Hokies.

David Wilson needs just under 100 yards to reach 1000 on the season, so look for that to happen today. If there is anybody who can try to turn the tide for the Eagles it is superstar linebacker Luke Kuechly. He is the anchor of that defense, but we'll see how much he can do against a very hot and balanced offense. The Lieutenant should be able to continue his rise to being a name brand QB, and Jarrett Boykin will look to build off of last week after having one of his best games as a Hokie.

Score Prediction: Gobblers 45   Eagles 6


H-O-K-I-E-S HOKIES!!!

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