3 games to watch in the ACC: Ranked teams take to the road

An ACC team has joined the top 25 in each of the last two weeks, bringing the grand total of ranked teams in the conference up to four. All four are on the road this week, and we could see some upsets come Saturday. Here's a closer look at three of the ranked ACC teams playing this weekend.

No. 25 Pittsburgh at Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 24, 12:00 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Pittsburgh has been a middle-of-the-road team for a while now. In fact, the Panthers have finished 6-6 in every season since 2011, making them about as close as you can get to the definition of average. Pat Narduzzi was hired to change that, and the first-year head coach is off to a good start: Pittsburgh is 5-1 and in the top 25 for the first time since 2010. This week, though, the Panthers could be dealing with a trap game.

Pitt will be on the road to take on Syracuse. After starting out 3-0, the Orange have lost three in a row and are desperate for a win. Tyler Boyd (who set Pittsburgh's career receptions record last week) could have a field day against an inexperienced Orange secondary. Freshman quarterback Eric Dungey has played well for Syracuse to this point, but will have to beat a defense that's in the top 15 in opponents' completion percentage, passer rating, and sacks.

Syracuse may be coming in as the underdog, but the Orange have already won a recruiting battle against the Panthers. Five-star UCLA transfer Chris Clark, who had narrowed his options down to Syracuse and Pittsburgh, chose the Orange last week. Clark will be at the game Saturday, which had been dubbed the "Clark Bowl" before Clark committed and ruined the fun for everyone.

No. 6 Clemson at Miami
Saturday, Oct. 24, 12:00 p.m. ET (ABC)

Clemson fans aren't used to being in the limelight of the ACC. The Tigers have been in the shadow of Florida State for a while now, and even when they have been winning, the country has watched with a sense of caution. Dabo Swinney has kept his team from a disappointing loss up to this point in the season, but this week offers an opportunity for a classic "Clemsoning."

The Tigers are in Miami this weekend to take on the Hurricanes, who sit at 4-2. If there's one thing we know Miami can do, it's pass the ball. Brad Kaaya leads the ACC in passing yards, averaging almost 300 yards per game. The problem is that when Miami isn't scoring through the air, it isn't able to do much of anything offensively. The Hurricanes are 103rd in the country in rushing yards per game. Clemson is 12th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game, so Miami could run into some trouble. But, if the Hurricanes can keep passing the ball like they have been and add a second dimension to their offense, Clemson will have a lot to deal with.

No. 23 Duke at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Duke has been in unfamiliar territory over the past few years. A win this week would make the Blue Devils bowl-eligible for the fourth straight season; before this stretch, they hadn't played in a bowl game since 1994. The one team standing in their way is Virginia Tech. The Hokies haven't lived up to high preseason expectations and are looking at a 3-4 record, but have reason to be optimistic with the return of Michael Brewer on the horizon.

Brewer broke his collarbone in the Hokies' season opener against Ohio State and hasn’t made a start since. Virginia Tech’s offense hasn't been the same either - the Hokies are 119th in points per game this season. Brewer is listed as the starter for this week's game against Duke, so Virginia Tech's offense could start doing what we thought it would be doing before the season started.

Brewer will have to outplay a Duke defense which has been one of the best in the country. The Blue Devils are only allowing 9.3 points per game, second in the nation to Michigan. The game will come down to how well Brewer can step in after such a long break and run the offense. If there are growing pains, Duke will surely take advantage.