Wake Forest Football

It wasn't pretty.  As a fan, it was downright frustrating.  

The offense could do nothing right. The defense alternated between good drives and bad ones.  Some fans were fed up enough to head for the exits.

But the great thing about football is that one play can change an entire game.

In fact, one play can alter the course of two seasons.

There's an unofficial list of things a quarterback should never do in a football game.  Somewhere on that list is a bit about throwing out patterns when in the red zone.

They work occasionally, but there are certainly safer ways to score points—especially when your team already has three short rushing touchdowns.

Too bad someone forgot to tell that to Jordan Steffy and the Maryland Terrapins.

Steffy threw an ill-fated red-zone out ball late in the third quarter on Saturday, which Alphonso Smith intercepted and returned 100 yards for a touchdown. 

Instead of a 31-3 Maryland lead that would have emptied the stadium, the score was 24-10—and the shift in momentum carried into the final period.

Maryland's offense didn't come close to scoring again, Wake struck for two touchdowns—including one with three seconds left in regulation—and the Deacons flat out stole a huge ACC game 31-24 in overtime.

Wake didn't deserve to win this one.  They turned the ball over four times and failed on two fourth-down conversions.  They were beaten on both sides of the ball for 43:50 of a 60-minute game (plus overtime).

Quite simply, they looked like the squad that represented Wake Forest before the 2006 season.

In 2006, a blocked field goal on the last play of the game against Duke gave Wake a win it didn't deserve.  Now, the Deacons have a chance to build on another fortunate victory—and an open date next weekend—to salvage a floundering season.

If they can get healthy and work out their turnover issues, they just might be able to do it.

Maryland, on the other hand, has real problems.  The Terps were unimpressive in their two victories against Villanova and FIU.  After two tough defeats, they now have to face Rutgers on the road before digging into the meat of their conference schedule.

This is a team that needed a win today, both for confidence and ACC positioning. They let a prime opportunity slip away.

If the Terps don't address their problems, not only will they not compete for a conference title—they'll struggle to make a bowl game.

On College GameDay Final, Rece Davis said Smith's interception met the textbook definition of a "Pontiac Game-Changing Performance."

If Wake has its way, it will be a Season-Saving one too.

Another week of football down, some new surprises, and the nation's longest losing streak over.  What does the ACC have for an encore this week?  Let's take a look.

Thursday, September 20

(20) Texas A+M (-3) at Miami

Miami did not rebound against FIU the way I expected them to and still show signs of struggling.  Texas A+M has played well so far this season and will be looking for a road OOC victory before starting their Big 12 campaign next season.  

I fear this spread might be a result of Miami's name and not their performance.  I have seen little from Miami to show that they will keep this game that close.  Stephen McGee and Javorskie Lane will cause Miami's defense a lot more problems than Kyle Wright and Javarris James will cause the defense of the Aggies.

Texas A+M is still a dangerous team while Miami is still looking to get back on top.

Prediction:  Texas A+M 31-Miami 13

Saturday, September 22

North Carolina (+14) at (23) South Florida

Usually you would think that South Florida would have a letdown after such a good win over Auburn.  Two problems with that line of thought.  The first is that South Florida had an open date last week, so they are really preparing for this game more off of that than off the victory.   More importantly is that UNC really isn't that good.  I was disappointed in their turnovers and defensive struggles last week.  I didn't think much of Virginia's offense, so UNC allowing them six scoring drives, whether it be caused by turnover or not, is disconcerting.

Matt Grothe is the best QB UNC will face all season (lucky for them they don't play BC).  South Florida will be looking to defend their ranking and their defense will probably keep TJ Yates from having the kind of success he had against UVA.  I look for an amped South Florida crowd to propel the Bulls to an easy victory.

Prediction:  South Florida 28-UNC 10

(15) Clemson (-7.5) at North Carolina State

This is a good test for Clemson.  After beating FSU, they had two weeks playing weak opposition.  Then again, NC State might still be considered weak opposition.  These games tend to be close, but I really don't think much of NC State at all.

I expect Clemson to struggle in the first half as they play a defense with a semblance of a pulse.  Cullen Harper will miss some early passes, but find his groove.  For NC State, forcing Harper to make mistakes will be their best chance at victory.

Harrison Beck looked shaky even last week against Wofford, though Andre Brown ran well against the Terriers.  Clemson's run defense looked very good against Florida State, and if they shut down Brown, NC State will struggle to move the ball at all.

As Harper struggles early, NC State will sense it has a chance, but the two-headed monster of Davis and Spiller will lead the Tigers to victory.

Prediction:  Clemson 27-NC State 14

Georgia Tech (-3) at Virginia

Taylor Bennett, welcome to ACC football.  In reality, Bennett didn't play poorly.  Tashard Choice leaving the game was a bigger problem, though he struggled before he left.  Teh Jackets have to feel stunned at how last week went.  They don't often allow 500 yards to the opposition, and the 100 yards in penalties did not help much either.

Virginia's consecutive conference wins over Duke and North Carolina means that this game takes on added significance.  Georgia Tech cannot afford to lose this game and pick up that second ACC loss so early.  Virginia is fortunate not to have to play Boston College, Clemson, or Florida State this year.  If they can steal this one, and certain results play out between other teams, it would not be unthinkable to see Virginia competing for a division title late in the season.

Okay, back to reality.  Georgia Tech will not be happy this week.  Jameel Sewell is not Matt Ryan.  UVA's defense will not give the Jackets the same trouble that Boston College's did.  Tashard Choice will have a big day if healthy, and UVA will not be able to keep up with the Jackets.

Prediction:  Georgia Tech 34-Virginia 16

Army (+29) at (14) Boston College

Speaking of letdowns, Boston College will have to ensure that they are up for Army after three straight ACC games and such a emotional victory over Georgia Tech last week.  Army gets its second straight ACC opponent, after giving Wake quite a bit to handle last week.

Matt Ryan should do what he pleases on Army's helpless secondary, and Boston College will force a bunch of turnovers against the Black Knights.  There, quite simply, will be no letdown for the Eagles this week.  The biggest quetion about this one is whether the Eagles will score enough to cover.

Prediction:  Boston College 42-Army 14

Duke (+11.5) at Navy

So Duke finally gets off the schnide.  Navy loses a game that it probably shouldn't have to Ball State.  Yet the Blue Devils are still double digit underdogs.  Some teams can't get no respect.

Duke really did deserve to win last week.  It was no fluke.  They played well early and did enough late to hold on to the victory.  It will be interesting to see how they handle going from playing a team that passed fifty times to one that will most surely run fifty times.

Having seen Navy play live against Rutgers this year and give Greg Schiano's defense trouble, I see no reason while they won't give Duke the same headaches.  This will be a case of Duke having no answer for the option offense.  Even if Duke's offense is on, they will not be able to outscore Navy.

Prediction:  Navy 35-Duke 17

William and Mary (No Line) at (17) Virginia Tech

The Hokies had a pretty easy win against Ohio last week, though they took way too long to get going.  Tyrod Taylor played well in his first game, and if he gets the start again, will be able to add to his growing experience.

This should be a good game for Virginia Tech to try and get back on track before ACC season starts.  Branden Ore will definitely help out this week and Tech will cruise throughout and move to 3-1.

Prediction:  Virginia Tech 35-William and Mary 7

Maryland (+3) at Wake Forest

Maryland hung with West Virginia for a half last week before getting picked apart by White, Slaton, and company in the second.  Wake will try and run as the Mountaineers did, except they really can't.

Wake was very unimpressive last week against Army.  Their defense and special teams saved a brutally ineffective off-day by the offense.  Riley Skinner may play for the Deacons, which would be of some assistance.  Josh Adams is quickly becoming the go-to back, and this will be his first game action against an ACC opponent.

Whoever the QB is, he will have to do a much better job of getting the ball to Kenny Moore.  After two great games to start the season, Moore was ineffective on offense (not on his own accord), though he got on the scoresheet by returning a punt for a touchdown. 

The key to this game will probably be Maryland QB Jordan Steffy.  If he plays well, Maryland will be able to overcome Wake, because the Terps receivers will get open, particularly Heyward-Bey.  If he struggles, Wake will be able to focus on Lattimore and Ball.  I don't see this being quite the scorefest that these two put on last year, as the game does not have the same implications.  Either way, this one should go down to the wire.

Prediction:  Wake Forest 21-Maryland 20 

Last Week: 5-5

Season: 10-9-1

For good or for bad, my We Are Marshall moment came just last year.

Now certainly this moment does not match up to the rise of Marshall after the horrific tragedy that befell them.

Even then, a group of young men that not many people paid attention to took the campus, and part of the country, by storm. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Golf powerhouse, consistent success in basketball, great field hockey program, pretty good everything. Except football. Bad football. Sometimes, very bad football.

I came to Wake in 2003 with no idea about the football program. However, very few students seemed to care whether we won or lost, so I took an immediate interest and became a huge fan. My first three seasons at school ended with a combined 13-21 record and gave me more headaches and heartbreak then I care to share.

Every year I had optimism about our team's chances. Optimism is relative, however.

At Ohio State, every year there is optimism that the Buckeyes will win the national title. At Wake Forest, optimism is hoping to sweep our non-conference opponents and beat Duke and one other ACC team to become bowl eligible. I wanted to go to a bowl game as a student, even if it was in Boise. The genius media department came out with the slogan for the season.

It was "The Time is Now." I remember joking with friends before the opener about exactly what that meant. Was it the time to fire the coach? The time to go 5-7 again? Turns out the media department knew something we didn't.

In the first game of the season against Syracuse, an ad came on the scoreboard during a timeout. The ad hyped the ACC's new agreement with the Orange Bowl, where the ACC Champion would play after the season, followed by the inevitable sarcastic "See you there" comments from the students.

From there the story became known: lose the starting QB in the season opener and then beat Duke by one on your average block of a 28 yard FG on the final play of the game. Wins followed at UConn (24-13), at Ole Miss (27-3), and against Liberty (34-14). A 5-0 start and a home date with Clemson had Winston-Salem more excited for one game than it usually got for an entire season.

You all know what happened from there. All I have to say on the matter is damn Gaines Adams. Damn. Thoughts of a 6-0 start quickly turned into fears of a 5-7 finish. How would Jim Grobe get his players off the mat after this knockout punch.

Something strange happened after that.

The Deacons started winning again. NC State and UNC were taken out the next two weeks. A primetime home showdown with Boston College was next. First in the division and an inside track to the ACC title game was at stake. All day Saturday, I had a different feeling.

For the first time I felt like I was at a big time college football game. The game was sold out and the stands were filled with fans of the Deacs, and not wearing Clemson Orange, NC State Red, or Tar Heel Blue. I thought to myself in the stands before the game, 'I could get used to feeling like this.'

We won the game and improved to 8-1 with three regular season games left. All of a sudden, a win versus either FSU or VTech and then a win at Maryland would send Little Old Wake Forest to the ACC Championship Game, where Georgia Tech would presumably to be the opponent.

Now, the Georgia Tech game was great, and so was the Orange Bowl, despite the loss.

Three moments really meant more than any other and still send shivers through my body, all of which happened before we even got to that point.

The first was after the BC game. We had won, everyone was going crazy, and the place to be was on the Quad where kids were throwing their body weight in toilet paper into the trees (I know, real original). Just sitting back and watching the festivities was unreal. If for only ten minutes, I felt like a fan of the Floridas, Michigans, and Texases of the world. I felt like I was at a school where football mattered, where for a few hours on Saturday every student was more concerned with the result than trying to figure out at what point was it better to head back to the parking lot and resume tailgating (a definite staple of Wake Forest football). It was a wonderful experience.

The next week at Florida State, Wake played the best game in school history. Even though the Seminoles struggled in 2006, they were still Florida State and it was still at their building.

The 30-0 win was incredible (and historic), but there was one moment that really stuck out.

A bunch of friends and I were out at a sports bar and the whole game the place was going crazy with Deacon fans cheering on their team. Interestingly enough, I was at the same establishment during the 2005 Wake-FSU game, and I was one of four people who paid a bit of attention to the screen.

In the second half, a camera focused on the crowd showed a sign saying nothing but "Wake Forest is for Real." The Wake fans at the bar literally stood as one and started clapping and cheering. People were high-fiving the strangers next to them as we realized indeed that Wake Forest was for real. No one walks into Doak Campbell Stadium and wins a game like that.

It was a once in a lifetime result.

The proof of that happened two weeks later, when Florida struggled throughout and escaped Tallahassee with a much closer than expected outcome.

When the Deacons clinched the ACC Atlantic Division Thanksgiving weekend at Maryland, I was lucky enough to be there with friends and family. Celebrating this landmark win with those close to me was a feeling that cannot be repeated. As Wake fans celebrated as one, and we made our plans for Jacksonville, it dawned on me that the events of the previous three months had actually happened, that the ACC Title game did not include Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech, or Clemson. Just Little Old Wake Forest.

It always feels great to root for a team that wins. My father went to University of Texas, and watching the Rose Bowl victory over USC was great, but not totally unexpected. In a way, it is never unexpected when a powerhouse wins. USC, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, etc...these teams are supposed to win. They almost always have the talent to. With all due respect to those teams and their fans, I don't want them.

I'm proud to cheer for Wake Forest. I am proud to be one of the comparative few that bleed Old Gold and Black. It will be tough for anything that Wake ever does to top last year. I mean, Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl? Are you kidding me? And for all the years it could have happened, I was lucky that it was my senior year in college, the best time it could ever happen.

The Bleacher Report opener about sharing the Marshall moment dictates about the We are Marshall Moment: "Maybe it made you cry. Maybe it made you stand up and cheer. If nothing else, we're betting it certainly made you feel. And hey, that's why we watch, isn't it?" Well, I am man enough to admit there were some tears of joy (and maybe a couple of sadness when it was all over), I certainly stood up and cheered, and I still do feel. And yes, that's exactly what I watch. Go Deacs.

After last week's 5-4-1 record against the spread, including a near perfect call of Maryland-FIU, here is how I see the 10 games involving ACC teams to play out this week.

Thursday, September 13

(4) West Virginia (-16.5) at Maryland

West Virginia's slow start last week against Marshall gives me pause, if only because this is another road game, and Maryland is a better team than Marshall.  Predictably, Maryland was never in danger of losing last week, but still never looked that great doing it.  Also, don't underestimate the fact that Maryland QB Josh Portis, academically ineligible for this season, played the role of Pat White in practice this week.  While clearly not the same, at least the Terps got some practice against a quarterback of a similar style.

The home Thursday night crowd will keep Maryland in the game, but West Virginia is too talented to lose this one.  White and Slaton will prove to be too much for the Terps, though I see Maryland covering the spread, but not seriously contending for the victory.

Prediction: West Virginia 41-Maryland 27

Saturday, September 15

Virginia (+3.5) at North Carolina

An interesting game for all the wrong reasons.  UVA looked pretty lackluster in beating Duke, and UNC was unable to overcome an underrated ECU team, and allowed over 400 yards passing in the process.  This game is crucial for the bowl chances of both of these teams, and the spread shows that even Vegas thinks this one is a tossup. 

Looking at last week's games, Virginia struggled to pass and run well on hapless Duke, whereas UNC was incompetent against the pass but defended the run quite nicely.  TJ Yates put up a very good game for UNC, going over 300 yards and 3 touchdown passes, but UNC could not get much going on the ground either.

If UNC can make this a passing game, it should give them the advantage that they need to win.  If UNC wins the turnover battle, they should win the game; however another -2 performance like last week could turn the game in UVA's favor.

Prediction:  UNC 27-Virginia 16 

Furman (No Line) at (20) Clemson

Much like last week, I see Clemson's rushing attack being everything in this game.  A healthy dose of Spiller and Davis will provide a wide margin of victory, though Clemson fans should be concerned a little bit about the defensive letdown last week.  No matter how big the early lead, letting up 26 to La-Monroe is far from encouraging.

Prediction:  Clemson 52-Furman 10

Ohio (+20.5) at (18) Virginia Tech

After what would have to be one of the worst defensive performances by the Hokies in a decade, they get a chance to play an inferior opponent with a first-start freshman quarterback.  While Ohio is 2-0, both have been against inferior competition and not in dominating fashion.

The spread seems a little high for Tyrod Taylor's first start, but the strong rushing of Branden Ore should provide the comfort Taylor needs to be effective.  I would also expect the defense to be pretty fired up after last week, with Ohio QB Brad Bower being the unfortunate victim.

Prediction:  Virginia Tech 31-Ohio 7

Army (+21) at Wake Forest

As previously noted in my last article, Army is a sight for the sore eyes of Deacon fans.  After watching Wake commit more killer turnovers in the past two weeks than all of last season combined, Wake should be able to get back to the ground this week.  Expect Wake RBs to have a field day on Army, with perhaps an increase in carries for Josh Adams, who ran hard against Nebraska last week.

Army is only averaging a touch over 250 yards of offense in their loss to Akron and their touchdown victory over 1AA Rhode Island, so the Wake defense should be able to clamp down.  Wake will end the three game losing streak this weekend before looking ahead to Maryland.

Prediction:  Wake Forest 38-Army 14

Florida International (+33.5) at Miami

Well, I doubt anything will top last year's festivities.  I must first off say that granted while FIU is certainly not going to be contending for a conference title anytime soon, but an OOC slate that includes Penn State, Maryland, Miami,Kansas, and Arkansas?   Can't they at least throw a MAC team in there or something?

Back to the game at end, Kyle Wright gets the start for the Canes this weekend after the collective stinker last week.  Randy Shannon is a nice guy, but I'm not so sure we don't see a little running up of the score tihs week to prove a point.

Prediction:  Miami 52-Florida International 13

Wofford (No Line) at North Carolina State

Is there a less interesting game in the ACC all season than this one?  Honestly, even Wolfpack fans can't get up for this one, except that they might actually win.

Prediction:  North Carolina State 38-Wofford 10

Duke (+16.5) at Northwestern

Get used to reading this:  Duke is not going to win this season, except for the UNC game they probably will not cover a spread this season (though I will say they do always get a random cover or two, such as Miami and Wake Forest last season).  Northwestern will win going away.

Prediction:  Northwestern 35-Duke 10

Florida State (-4) at Colorado

This game is very interesting.  Florida State did not play that well last week, and Colorado is inconsistent to the point where it becomes very difficult to pick any of their games.  For the Noles, the defense really needs to get itself together after having two pretty sub-par games in a row.

Fortunately for Florida State, Colorado's offense is not putting up a lot of yards at the moment, and the loss to Arizona State last week was not pretty.  FSU should get out of Boulder with the win, but I'm not sure much would surprise me in this game.

Prediction:  Florida State 27-Colorado 13

(21) Boston College (+7) at (15) Georgia Tech

The lone conference game of the week is a potential ACC title game preview.  BC finishes their opening stretch of 3 conference games to open the season against the ACC team that through two weeks has looked the most impressive.

The BC rush defense has been excellent so far this season, but will have their hands full with Tashard Choice.  This will also be Taylor Bennett's introduction into ACC football against a defense that has forced a lot of turnovers this season.

GTech will also have to worry about facing Matt Ryan, who is looking every bit the favorite for the All-ACC's 1st team QB spot.  

Despite the matchups being slightly favoring BC, John Tenuta's defense will be well-prepared to face BC, and I think Taylor Bennett will indeed pass his first test, despite his lack of having to throw the ball in the first two weeks of the season

I see a very close GTech victory with the home crowd support, but I do see BC covering the spread and as of right now, I predict we will see these two teams meeting in December for a spot in the Orange Bowl.

Prediction:  Georgia Tech 23-Boston College 21 

Last Week:   5-4-1

Season: 5-4-1 

I gave Appalachian State far too much credit. The Michigan Wolverines really are awful.

For the second week in a row, Michigan had no idea how to stop a team that lined up with four receivers and stretched the field vertically. The Wolverine pass rush was nonexistent, and the Wolverine secondary was painfully slow.

But everybody knew the Wolverines defense would struggle against the Ducks. That’s why the offense’s performance against Oregon was such a dismal sight to behold.

An offense with Chad Henne, Mike Hart, and Mario Manningam shouldn’t ever be held to seven points at home against one of the Pac 10’s worst defensive teams.

Worst of all was the lack of heart shown by everyone on the Wolverines save their appropriately named running back. In a game they needed to win to make the world forget about the Appalachian State disaster, they showed no fight whatsoever.

They moved the ball pretty well early until Henne made an awful decision to throw into coverage, resulting in an interception. After Oregon took the lead, Travis Minor fumbled the ball back to the Ducks. With the defense desperately needing a stop, there were the Wolverines bamboozled by a Statue-of-Liberty play, then falling over themselves on a faked Statue-of-Liberty play.

With Dennis Dixon making plays instead of mistakes, the Ducks can outscore any team in the Pac 10. Their secondary is one of the best in the West, and their front seven held very tough against a strong Michigan running game.

Clearly the game was a showcase of two teams moving in opposite directions.

For anyone who’s followed the South Florida Bulls, their victory at Auburn isn’t a surprise. The Bulls are simply designed to play SEC-style football.

Their defense is small and fast, but hits hard and tackles exceptionally well. Their secondary is one of the best in the nation. Their quarterback makes plays whenever the team needs one. And most importantly, the team perseveres in tough times.

Even with Delbert Alvarado missing field goals left and right, and even with the Bulls failing to take command of a game in which they forced five turnovers, USF didn’t crawl into a hole and wither.

The Bulls kept giving themselves more chances to win.

The Bulls showed faith in Alvarado, and he forced overtime with a 19-yard field goal with under a minute left. The Bulls had faith in their defense, and they held Auburn to a field goal in overtime. And the Bulls showed faith in their quarterback, and Matt Groethe found Jesse Hester for a 14-yard game-winning touchdown.

Beating a team like Auburn isn’t about playing better football. Beating Auburn is about surviving torture.

Auburn plays tough, plays physical, controls the special teams, makes tons of mistakes, forces you to make even worse mistakes, then breaks off a random big play to break your back.

South Florida lived through the torture of four missed field goals, and the torture of being given five turnovers and being unable to do anything with them.

Through it all, the Bulls showed the mental toughness to keep playing the game with maximum focus. That fortitude will serve them well when the Big East season gets under way.

The Big East has had the horses at the top the last couple of seasons, but now they have the middle class rising up as well. South Florida's win at Auburn and Cincinnati's trouncing of Oregon State really speak well for the conference's depth. The Big East has grown by leaps and bounds in three years, and now, with five well established teams (possibly six if Pittsburgh comes around), the conference might actually be entering one of the best periods in its history.

Paul Johnson is clearly one of the best coaches in America. Thursday night against Rutgers, he made little changes all game long, from running more dive plays out of the triple-option when Rutgers' ends were staying wide to throwing the ball more when the Rutgers linebackers were playing slow to stop the option.

Of course Navy doesn't have the athletes to beat a team like Rutgers, and it doesn't help when their QB is throwing interceptions in the end zone. But that doesn't mean Johnson didn't make all the correct adjustments to put his team in the best positions to win the game.

The Cardiac Cats are back in Northwestern. Before his tragic death, Randy Walker was legendary for fourth quarter comebacks and exciting wins. Pat Fitzgerald followed that blueprint on Saturday when his Wildcats had to come back from 14 down at the half to upend Nevada. The game was won when C.J Bacher found a diving Ross Lane in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown strike with 21 seconds left.

Wake Forest is still as annoying as it was last year, but the Deacons just aren't getting the lucky bounces they got during their run to an ACC Championship.

Oklahoma's offensive line looks scary. They run people over and don't give up any pressure on Sam Bradford. It's easy for a young quarterback to develop when he doesn't have anyone in his face.

I know a lot of Ohio State's offensive players graduated last year, but geez!

After a tough home loss to Alabama, Vanderbilt still needs five wins to get to a bowl. Yes, I'm still counting.

Buffalo showed that they aren't the most inept team in the nation by trouncing Temple on the road 42-7. Can the MAC trade the Owls for Appalachian State?

Colorado State, BYU, UNLV, and TCU, were all game in facing California, UCLA, Wisconsin, and Texas. Is the Mountain West that much worse than the Big 10?

Great win for the Washington Huskies over Boise State. It's a shame their schedule is so tough. The Huskies are playing so well right now...and still might not make a bowl.

Was there a more fun game to watch this weekend than Texas A&M vs. Fresno State going to triple overtime?

Oregon's talent level has never been questioned the last few years. Their heart has. Beating a Michigan team that's down in the dumps is impressive, but can they keep up their intensity for 10 more games? And will they keep up that intensity against teams that have the players to frustrate the Ducks' game plan? That much is yet to be seen.

South Carolina's defense runs fast and hits hard. Forget their linebackers—the South Carolina cornerbacks put on a clinic of how to tackle. Steve Spurrier has molded his squad into a power team that wins by running up the gut and playing excellent defense. Versatility like that is what makes him one of the best coaches in the game.

Will Notre Dame score an offensive touchdown this year?

ECU proved they can play in the ACC by beating North Carolina. Not a bad first couple of weeks for the Pirates.

Maryland only beat FIU 26-10? Running up the score isn't something I condone, but any team can accidentally put up 40 against the Panthers. As it was, Maryland was only leading 16-7 going into the 4th quarter.

Challenge to readers: Rank these conferences in order—Big 10, ACC, Mountain West, WAC. Right now, I have the Big 10, the ACC, the Mountain West, and the WAC, in that order...but the conferences aren't far apart at all.

How can anybody be high on Hawaii after they struggled to beat a bad Louisiana Tech team? They haven't played anybody of note and their defense looks terrible.

Virginia Tech can take solace in the fact that they wont be the only team destroyed in Death Valley this year.

Somebody predicted that Florida Atlantic would beat Oklahoma State. Yeah, that was (shakes head disappointedly), that was Lee Corso. What a crazy old man.

Unlike Mr.Corso, I know enough about college football to give a logical top 25:


Top 25

1) LSU
2) USC
3) Oklahoma
4) Florida
5) West Virginia
6) Louisville
7) Cal
8) Wisconsin
9) Texas
10) Nebraska
11) Arkansas
12) Rutgers
13) Ohio State
14) UCLA
15) Georgia Tech
16) Oregon
17) Penn State
18) Virginia Tech
19) South Carolina
20) South Florida
21) Tennessee
22) Clemson
23) Boston College
24) Georgia
25) TCU

Conference Games

Boston College, Clemson, and Virginia have shined early in ACC play. Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and North Carolina have yet to play any conference games.

 

Duke 13 @ Virginia 24

Duke continued to prove that they're the joke of the ACC, losing their second game of the season and first in conference play.

Sadly, however, the Wahoos weren't much better.

It was a battle of two sloppy teams, with Virginia outgaining Duke 324 yards to 229. Cedric Peerman led the way for Virginia with 137 yards.

The one bright spot for Duke was that they did record a safety.

Duke preps this week for Northwestern, which should be a good game between two bad teams. Virginia looks to up their ACC record to 2-0 as they take on North Carolina.

 

NC State 17 @ #25 Boston College 37

Boston College spoiled Tom O'Brien's return to the Heights by routing the Wolfpack on Saturday afternoon.

Unlike last week, this win came on the strength of the Eagle's running game.

Matt Ryan only threw for 142 yards, accompanied by a TD and INT. Andre Callender, on the other hand, had a huge game—158 yards and two TDs, capped by a 69-yard scoring dash while the game was out of reach.

The Eagles' run defense continued to shine; through two weeks they've only given up 58 total yards. Wolfpack QB Harrison Beck threw for over 300 yards but also tossed five INTs.

BC looks ahead to a tough test vs. Georgia Tech, while NC State looks ahead to play Wofford, which may be their first win.

 

Nonconference Games

The ACC looked weak against nonconference powers Oklahoma, Nebraska, and LSU. The conference needs to get better in order to compete in the national spotlight.

 

#16 Nebraska 20 @ Wake Forest 17

The Huskers were too much for the Demon Deacons in this defensive struggle.
The loss drops the defending ACC champs to 0-2 on the season.

Wake QB Brett Hodges threw for 140 yards and two INTs filling in for Riley Skinner. The Deacons did finally get the ground game going, as Kenneth Moore ran for 116 yards.

Wake won the time-of-possession battle and outgained Nebraska, but the stats—and a brief third quarter lead—didn't translate into victory.

Another close loss leaves the Deacons looking ahead to what should be an easy win vs. Army next week.

 

Miami 13 @ #5 Oklahoma 51

The Hurricanes were absolutely dominated in this one—they were outgained 139 to 411, and outscored 30-3 in the second half.

Miami will be tested next week...by their tempers, as they battle 0-2 FIU a year after the 2006 brawl.

 

UAB 24 @ Florida State 34

Even though the Seminoles only won by 10, this one wasn't as close as the scoreboard showed.

FSU outgained UAB by almost 200 yards; they put up 529 themselves. Weatherford threw for three TDS and over 330 yards. The 'Noles controlled the clock and the game.

FSU takes on the Colorado Buffaloes next week in an ACC-Big 12 bout they should win.

North Carolina 31 @ East Carolina 34

The Tar Heels proved they're still a step away from competing in the ACC by losing to C-USA opponent East Carolina.

The telling stat in this game was UNC giving up over 400 yards through the air to ECU QB Pat Pinkney. Brandon Tate did look exceptional for the Heels, however, with over 100 receiving yards and two TDs.

Next week UNC battles UVA in an ACC Coastal bout.

 

Maryland 26 @ Florida International 10

The Terps picked up a nice nonconference win by beating FIU by 16 on Saturday.

A safety helped Maryland go up 16-0 at the end of the first quarter. They didn't score again until the fourth, but they didn't need to.

Keon Lattimore had 111 yards and two TDs for the Terps in the victory.

Next week, Maryland represents the ACC in the national spotlight as they take on #3 West Virginia.



#9 Virginia Tech 7 @ #2 LSU 48

The Hokies were embarrassed on Saturday night as the SEC continued their domination of the ACC.

LSU jumped all over VT, going ahead 24-0 at the half and then outscoring Frank Beamer's team 24-7 down the stretch.

The Hokies gave up 598 yards to the Tigers and managed only 149 of their own. This game was a real statement by LSU—and a wake-up call for VT.

Next week the Hokies gear up to play Ohio, which should be a very easy victory at home.

 

Early Picks for Week 3

West Virginia over Maryland 48-21

Virginia over North Carolina 35-10

Clemson over Furman 63-0

Virginia Tech over Ohio 31-3

Wake Forest over Army 51-17

Miami over FIU 34-9

NC State over Wofford 30-7

Boston College over Georgia Tech 24-21

Northwestern over Duke 17-12

Florida State over Colorado 35-28

In a game that both teams tried to lose, Nebraska escaped Winston-Salem with a 20-17 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon.

Marlon Lucky's third-quarter touchdown run proved to be the difference, as neither team scored in the fourth.

Wake had their opportunities to tie or take the lead late, but a crucial end zone interception cost the Deacons for a second consecutive week.

Nebraska nearly gave the game away on the preceding drive, as they turned the ball over deep in their own territory.  On their next series, Nebraska gave Wake Forest another chance to tie or take the lead after failing to convert a 4th-and-2.

I question Bill Callahan's decision to go for it at the Deacon 35 instead of pinning Wake deep with a punt, but it worked out for the Cornhuskers.  

In addition to the turnovers, both teams suffered several dropped passes and overthrown receivers. Wake WR Kevin Marion set the tone early by dropping what would have been a 65-yard touchdown. The drive ended with a punt.

Neither the Huskers nor the Deacons were able to maintain consistency on either side of the ball. Though Wake held the Nebraska offense in check early, a Nebraska touchdown shortly before halftime changed the course of the game.

When Wake's defense held Nebraska for the final quarter-and-change, the offense was unable to put up any points—often costing themselves with penalties and the aforementioned turnovers.  

Wake also fell victim to some curious officiating decisions. On the Deacons' final two offensive plays, Nebraska could have been called for illegal contact and pass interference, respectively.

The ESPN game announcers were in agreement with Deacon fans on the injustice of the no-calls.

That said, it would be foolish to blame the loss on the refs. Nebraska won this game because Wake Forest made one more big mistake than the Huskers.

Looking ahead, Nebraska got the 2-0 start they expected, but I saw little from the Huskers to make me believe they can win against  USC next week. Sam Keller was far too inconsistent, and Lucky was held under 100 yards.

USC will likely be able to handle Lucky, and I don't see Keller winning the game with his arm.

Wake, meanwhile, will be thrilled to face Army next week after starting against two quality opponents.

In the event that Riley Skinner isn't fully recovered from his separated shoulder, backup QB Brett Hodges will be able to get another game under his belt before the matchup with Maryland two weeks from now. Wake will also get to see if redshirt freshman Josh Adams can continue his strong running.

As far as bright spots for the Deacons on Saturday—Kenny Moore had another good game, following up his 15-catch performance against BC with a 100-yard rushing day against Nebraska.

Still, Wake Forest will look back on this loss as one they could have had, and Nebraska will feel pretty lucky about getting out of Winston-Salem unscathed.

One week and two conference matchups are behind us, and two more ACC matchups—plus a clash between two Top-10 teams—are on the slate this weekend...

 

Saturday, September 8

(17) Nebraska (-6.5) at Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons come into their home opener after losing at Boston College last week. Nebraska comes off of a huge win over Nevada.

The key to this game is Marlon Lucky. The Nebraska RB ran for 230 yards and three touchdowns against Nevada. If the Cornhuskers can get him going against a stout Wake Forest run defense, Sam Keller will be able to work successfully against a secondary that allowed over 400 yards last week. 

If the Deacons are able to shut down Lucky, though, the Huskers would have to rely on Keller to win the game—not as certain.

The Deacons will be looking to rebound in Brett Hodge's first career start. Hodge played well in relief last week, but starting can be a different animal. He'll need tons of a help from a running game that gained trace yardage last week.

My heart wants to pick the Deacons, but my head and my eyes didn't see enough against Boston College.

Prediction: Nebraska 31-Wake Forest 21

Miami (+10.5) at (6) Oklahoma

Randy Shannon won his coaching debut against Marshall last week, but few teams in the country matched the impressive effort that Oklahoma put forth against North Texas.

If this game were played in the Orange Bowl, I think Miami would stand a chance to win; in a hostile Norman I'm not so sure. 

Miami will struggle against an aggressive Oklahoma defense. Kirby Freeman had a subpar game against Marshall, completing only 9 of 21 passes. If he has a repeat performance against the Sooners, Miami will quickly regret scheduling this one. 

Miami's defense will also need to have an answer for DeMarco Murray, who had quite the memorable introduction to college football against North Texas.

Miami might keep it close for a half, but Oklahoma will pull away in the second half and win handily.

Prediction:  Oklahoma 35-Miami 13

Duke (+16.5) at Virginia

These two teams are bad, to put it nicely. 

We all know Duke is Duke, but the egg Virginia laid against a good but not spectacular Wyoming team adds further heat to the seat of Al Groh.

It was widely agreed that Duke's best chance to win a game this season was against UConn last week—and that game wasn't even close. I'd have no problem throwing some money down on Duke going 0-12 again.

That said, Virginia's offense was so poor last week I'm not sure they can put up 17 points to cover the spread. Expect the defense to provide some scoring to help the Wahoos cover and start their ACC season 1-0.

Prediction:  Virginia 20-Duke 0

Louisiana-Monroe (+23) at Clemson

Clemson proved against Florida State that there's no more confusing, inconsistent team in college football: World beaters one half, can't get out of their own way the next.

Somehow, I don't see much of a letdown this week, as the Warhawks won't be able to stop James Davis or C.J. Spiller. You or I could probably lead Clemson to a home victory this week, as the two stud RBs will combine for around 350 yards and four or five touchdowns.

Prediction: Clemson 45 Louisiana-Monroe 7

Samford (No Line) at (21) Georgia Tech

After the thorough humiliation laid on Notre Dame last week, Georgia Tech returns home to find an opponent whose offense probably can't produce less than what we saw from the Fighting Irish.

Tashard Choice will have his way with the Samford defense, and John Tenuta's defense will have little problem shutting down Samford's offense.

Prediction:  Georgia Tech 38-Samford 3

North Carolina State (+13.5) at (25) Boston College

How will Boston College fans react when Tom O'Brien returns to lead the Wolfpack against his old team? 

My two cents: Why would the BC fans care? 

Coach Jags led his team to a win over the defending ACC champs,  while NC State lost at home to Central Florida. If I were a fan of the Eagles, I would be comfortable with how things turned out.

NC State is turning to Harrison Beck at QB to jump-start the offense this week, but will have to cope with the season-ending loss of RB Toney Baker, who has been very solid on an otherwise poor NC State squad.

Matt Ryan should have some fun this weekend against a secondary that will not offer a ton of resistance. Beck will have his troubles with an aggressive Boston College defense, and the Eagles will get redemption for their close loss in Raleigh a year ago.

The only question is whether or not Tom O'Brien will try to get his old job back when this one's over.

Prediction: Boston College 31-NC State 10

UAB (+34) at Florida State

Looking at this line, I was amazed that Florida State could be favored by 34 points over anybody right now—but UAB did get hammered in East Lansing last weekend, so I suppose it's possible.

Florida State has significant problems on offense. Their QB situation is a mess, the offensive line had massive troubles against Clemson, and the receivers didn't help matters by dropping passes. 

I think it has become apparent that the only way FSU is going to win big games this year is with the help of the defense.

Mickey Andrews' defense will own UAB this weekend, but I'm not sure FSU is going to score quite enough to cover the spread.  

Prediction:  Florida State 27-UAB 6 

North Carolina (+3.5) at East Carolina

It could be argued that ECU showed more in defeat than UNC did in victory last week. 

The Pirates played very well in Blacksburg-especially the defense, which really only allowed ten points. The offense moved the ball at times, and will find it easier this week.

Butch Davis won his debut against James Madison, so I guess that's good news.  The play of T.J. Yates has to be encouraging to Tar Heel fans, despite the fact that the run game was subpar against the Dukes.

This should be a very competitive game, one that could well be decided in the final moments. As trite as it sounds, the team that can run the ball more effectively and not turn it over will prevail.

ECU ran the ball better against VTech than UNC did against JMU, so I'll give them the edge.

Prediction:  East Carolina 21-UNC 16

Maryland (-23.5) at Florida International

There are two ways of seeing at this game. 

The first is by looking at FIU, who lost by 59 at Penn State last week. The other is by looking at Maryland, who has made a habit of looking poor against inferior opposition—including both last week against Villanova and last year against this FIU team (a 14-10 Maryland victory).

While Maryland should win this one, it will be tough for them not to look ahead to their next four games (West Virginia, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Georgia Tech). Jordan Steffy will have to be sharp in the next month, and it has to start against a poor FIU team.

Maryland will handle FIU but fail to cover the spread, as they often have done in these early-season encounters.

Prediction: Maryland 27-FIU 10

(9) Virginia Tech (+13.5) at (2) LSU

The NCAA game of the week to be sure—and a spread that doubled after VTech's struggle with ECU and LSU's easy victory over Mississippi State.

Baton Rouge will be rocking—and Sean Glennon will have never seen anything like it.  With two great defenses, the game should remain pretty low-scoring, which means that either team will have an opportunity to win in the second half.

There's no shortage of talent on both sides of the ball for both teams: Flynn v. Glennon; Hester v. Ore; Doucet v. Hyman/Morgan/Royal. Both defenses will be looking to make the big play to turn the game.

I think 13.5 is way too large a spread for this game. VTech's defense will give the Hokies a chance to win the game late, and it will be up to Glennon to get the job done.

In a mild upset, I see VTech stealing the game late in the fourth quarter due to a key turnover, or possibly even a blocked kick, and Glennon making one more play than Flynn.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 13-LSU 10

Regardless of the results, it should be a fine week of football in the ACC. Obviously all eyes will be on Baton Rouge, but don't forget Winston-Salem, Norman, and Chesnut Hill.

All three matchups will be interesting, if not exciting games to watch. 

(Winning team in Bold; all times Eastern)

East Carolina at #9 Virginia Tech, 12 PM (ESPN)

ESPN College GameDay will be in Blacksburg to cover what promises to be an emotional afternoon, as the Hokies begin a season dedicated to those who were lost in the April shootings. 

The matchup isn't as important as the context.  Frank Beamer said this will be a game the players remember for the rest of their lives. Surely the memory will be more symbolic than anything else, because Tech should dominate.
 

Colorado State vs. Colorado (in Denver), 12 PM

This rivalry isn’t as significant as it was when both teams were better, but the “Rocky Mountain Showdown” means everything to college football fans in Colorado. 

Dan Hawkins' "D-I" football squad should rebound from a 2-10 2006 campaign with his son Cody starting at QB.  CSU running back Kyle Bell may or may not be fully recovered from a knee injury.  Given CU’s domination of the head-to-head series (57-19-2), I’m going to go with the Buffaloes.
 

Marshall at Miami, 12 PM (ESPNU)

Junior QB Kirby Freeman won the starting job over Kyle Wright, and will get to showcase his arm (and mobility) against an inferior Marshall squad. 

Marshall may keep the game competitive thanks to standout running back Ahmad Bradshaw, but chalk up the first win of the Randy Shannon era.
 

Washington State at #7 Wisconsin, 3:30 PM (ABC)

After flying relatively under the radar in 2006, the Badgers will have a target on their chests in 2007.

Wisconsin returns 16 starters from a 12-1 team—including Freshman Offensive Player of the Year P.J. Hill, who returns a little leaner than last year and is poised for another 1,500-yard season.

Washington State quarterback Alex Brink will test his arm against the tough Wisconsin secondary as the Cougars try to keep pace with the Badgers...but Wisconsin wins by a few touchdowns.
 

Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, 3:30 PM (NBC)

Charlie Weis won't say who his starting quarterback will be in the season opener, but whoever it is will have to deal with linebacker Philip Wheeler and a swarm of Yellow Jacket defenders. 

The Reggie Ball Experiment is finally over at Tech, as Taylor Bennett takes over the reins at quarterback.  Conventional wisdom would have the more experienced Yellow Jackets winning this game, but I’ll pick Notre Dame at home in a mild upset.
 

Wake Forest at #24 Boston College, 3:30 PM (ABC)

Wake went 11-3 and won the ACC Championship in 2006, but is getting no national respect in 2007.

The departures of several players on defense, including Josh Gattis and Jon Abbate, and an improving conference may hinder the Demon Deacons in their quest for a repeat. 

BC features the preseason Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Matt Ryan. In fact, this matchup is the only ACC game of the week featuring two good quarterbacks (Riley Skinner of Wake Forest is no slouch). 

In a bout of evenly-talented squads, BC gets the nod on home-field advantage and wins in a close one.
 

Illinois vs. Missouri (in St. Louis), 3:30 PM (ESPN2)

The “Arch Rivalry” game features an experienced Mizzou team, picked to win the Big 12 North, and an Illinois team looking to rebound from a 2-10 2006. 

The numbers say it won’t be close, but Ron Zook has brought in two great crops of recruits—including sophomore quarterback Juice Williams and freshman wide receiver Arrelious Benn—and the Illini are ready for a breakout season.  Still, quarterback Chase Daniel, running back Tony Temple, and receivers Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker should lead Missouri’s high-powered offense to victory.
 

Oklahoma State at #14 Georgia, 6:45 PM (ESPN2)

In one of the better games of the week, quarterback Bobby Reid leads the OK State Cowboys into Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs. 

Reid and All-American wide receiver Adarius Bowman have proven to be a deadly combination through the air. With Georgia's top cornerback out due to eligibility issues, the Dawgs could be in trouble. 

Georgia will counter with improved sophomore quarterback Matt Stafford and a stable of running backs that includes Thomas Brown and redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno.  With my Upset Special Pick of the Week, Oklahoma State wins in a close one.
 

#25 Florida State at Clemson, Monday 8:00 PM (ESPN)

Bobby Bowden still leads the Bowden Bowl five games to three, but Tommy has won in three of the last four years. 

The speedy C.J. Spiller and powerful James Davis are a dangerous backfield duo, and should cause some problems for the FSU D.  In his junior season, Drew Weatherford will have to make some strides to prove he belongs as a starter for this program. 

On the other sideline, former LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has arrived to help the sputtering Seminole offense. Florida State has all the tools it needs to return to the top of the ACC, but the team has to be consistent. 

While Clemson has two studs at running back and a decent offensive line, they have a number of holes—most visibly at quarterback. Besides, Bobby can’t let his son win three games in a row, right?

Florida State wins by a touchdown.

Game of the Week

#19 Tennessee at #12 Cal, 8:00 PM (ABC)

Cal was blown out 35-18 at Tennessee last year, and would like to return the hospitality this weekend. 

The Cal defensive backs, torched by Erik Ainge and Robert Meachem in 2006, are a year older. So is Cal QB Nate Longshore, who threw for over 3,000 yards as a sophomore.

The game will serve as a showcase for Cal wide receiver/punt returner DeSean Jackson, who has the potential to be a better game-breaker than Ted Ginn was a year ago.  Ainge is poised for a great senior year, but will need help from the run game and his defensive front. 

Cal should get its revenge as it opens up the aerial attack early and often.
 

Irrelevant Game of the Week

Connecticut at Duke, 2:00 PM

Duke has lost its last 20 games, with a 0-12 record last year and a 1-11 record in 2005.  With a win, the Blue Devils can break the streak and be on pace to go 12-0...before, of course, they lose the rest of their games.

 
D3 Game of the Week

The #7 UW-La Crosse Eagles travel to Abilene, Texas to face the #11 Hardin-Simmons Cowboys—conceivably a better matchup than Louisville-Murray State, which produced a 73-10 result. 

You mean D3 teams actually play tough out-of-conference schedules? And they have a much-desired playoff system? 

At least somebody is doing something right.

1. Virginia Tech Hokies
 
Projected Record: 11-1 (8-0)
Loss: at LSU (9/8)

Key Players: LB Vince Hall, LB Xavier Adibi, RB Branden Ore, WR Eddie Royal, WR Josh Morgan , T Duane Brown, CB Brandon Flowers, CB Macho Harris, DE Chris Ellis, QB Sean Glennon, DT Carlton Powell
 
Newcomer: OL Aaron Brown, redshirt freshman

Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech Hokies have all the pieces in place for a championship season: a strong run game, excellent special teams, and a stingy defense that was best in the nation in 2006 in both passing yards (128.2) and points (11.0) per game.

Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall could both be first-team All-Americans. The only question marks for the Hokies are the progression of junior quarterback Sean Glennon (or sophomore Ike Whitaker if Glennon can’t cut it) and a relatively young offensive line.

Tech will be tested early with a Week Two trip to LSU’s “Death Valley”—one of the most hostile environments in the country—to face a Tigers team that may be the best in the nation.

Final verdict: Ball-control offense combined with a stout D is a recipe for success. Look for the Hokies to be in the BCS Championship picture come December.

Newcomer: LB Anthony Barnes

Like several ACC teams, Georgia Tech will rely on a ground-oriented attack in 2007.

Senior Tashard Choice, a transfer from Oklahoma, led the ACC in rushing yards last year and looks to get even better with four of five O-linemen returning in front of him in 2007.

While Calvin Johnson’s departure certainly hurts the passing game, James Johnson more than adequately fills the role as Tech’s top receiver. QB Taylor Bennett is less experienced than some of his peers, but has performed well in his short time in the limelight.

 
Final verdict: The dream season of 2006 has passed. Wake Forest will be competitive—and could have one of the best offenses in the ACC—but I don’t see an Orange Bowl appearance again this year.