Okay! We’re back for another week of ACC football! Miami fans can exhale after going 4-0 in non-conference play, with three of the games being against challenging teams (the Gators defense is really good,
their offense is the problem). Perfect time for a bye with the game at FSU coming next week. I don’t love the second bye the week after FSU, but whatever. I guess I’ll trade that for eight home games and not leaving the state of Florida until November.
Week 5 bye teams: Miami, Clemson, UNC, SMU
Let’s do some rooting.
#8 FSU @ Virginia – 9/26 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN
The Seminoles open conference play with a Friday night matchup in Charlottesville. I may have put down a small bet on them with the spread. I know I know, betting on a rival is tough. But hey, I’m all about the money. If FSU is legit, they’ll handle the Cavaliers by at least two touchdowns. I wouldn’t mind seeing Virginia put up three or four touchdowns and show some holes in the Seminoles’ defense. FSU 41 Virginia 27. Now that is a win-win. Let’s go FSU.
#16 Georgia Tech @ Wake Forest – 9/27 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN
The Yellow Jackets get another nice TV slot with a noon matchup on ESPN. It’s good for your team to come on immediately following College GameDay. It takes sports bars a while to switch all their TVs. Free advertising for Brent Key’s squad. I may also have GT in a three-team money-line parlay the Saturday. I don’t know if they win by three scores, but I can’t see them slipping up in Winston-Salem. But I can’t let my personal gambling strategies affect my ACC Rooting Guide! Wait, yes I can. There are no rules here. Let’s go Georgia Tech.
Matchup of the week
Louisville @ Pittsburgh – 9/27 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN2
Both the Cardinals and Panthers are coming into this matchup fresh off their first bye. Louisville would love to take care of business here, as they host Virginia next weekend, then have a bye before their trip to Miami. Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm would love to have a 5-0 squad with extra rest going into their biggest game of the season. Tomorrow is the first game of a challenging six-game stretch for Pitt. They need to win their home games because their final three matchups of the year are vs Notre Dame, at Georgia Tech, and vs Miami. Yikes. Let’s go Louisville.
Duke @ Syracuse – 9/27 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – ACCN
This matchup is much more interesting than I thought it would be thanks to last weekend. Syracuse looked great in their win at Clemson. Will they able to look great again with backup quarterback Rickie Collins? I’m skeptical. Steve Angeli was getting better with each game before his injury. I feel bad for that guy. Meanwhile, Duke got back on track with a solid win over NC State. The Blue Devils look awesome on offense, not so much on defense. That might not matter tomorrow in Western New York. Let’s go Duke.
Cal @ Boston College – 9/27 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – ACCN
This is definitely the “get back” matchup of the week. BC is coming off a bye after their ten-point loss at previously winless Stanford. On the other side, Cal is flying 2,700 miles after losing 34-0 as a 14-point favorite at San Diego State. Sheesh. That’s a worse loss than BC’s for sure. I just have to point out how comical it is that a matchup between Cal and Boston College is a conference game for the ACC in the year 2025. This is also your monthly reminder to rewatch the Miami at Cal game from last season. Such a fun watch. Let’s go Boston College.
Virginia Tech @ NC State – 9/27 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – CW
This is a big mismatch on paper. NC State’s defense isn’t good, but they still deserve to be the double-digit favorite they are over Va Tech. I could see the Wolfpack blowing the Hokies off the field before halftime, or I could see it being a tie game midway through the fourth quarter when I check the game on my phone (I won’t be watching live). I still like NC State quarterback CJ Bailey and I think he’ll have a big bounce back game after his four-turnover game at Duke. Let’s go NC State.
San Jose State @ Stanford – 9/27 at 7:30 PM EST, TV – ACCN
The Cardinal must be thrilled to be back on west coast time after their 28-point loss at Virginia last Saturday. They better enjoy it while they can, because after their bye next week, they’re at SMU, vs, FSU, at Miami, vs Pitt, at UNC before their second bye. That is A LOT of travel. Two cross country trips?! Damn. Stanford’s schedule makes me appreciate Miami not having to play outside the state of Florida until November even more. I wonder how many empty seats there will be at Hard Rock for the Stanford game. Oooh, maybe I can get a cheap ticket. Let’s go San Jose State.
See you next week!
