3 games to watch in the ACC: Clemson aims for revenge against Florida State
This is it. Nov. 7 is Christmas for ACC football fans, and it's been circled on their calendars since the schedule was first announced. This week turns out to have even more big games than we thought it would, and for at least a part of Saturday, the college football world will be focused on the ACC.
No. 5 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Nov. 7, 12 p.m. ET (ABC)
The first rankings of the College Football Playoff selection committee were kind to the Irish, who jumped up to No. 5 while being ranked only eighth in the AP Poll. The higher ranking only makes for higher stakes, though, and Notre Dame will continue a tough stretch of its schedule when it travels to Pitt this weekend. The Panthers are hungry for redemption after falling to North Carolina last week, and a win against the Irish would be the perfect confidence booster to take into their final run for the ACC championship game.
To do it, Pitt will have to jump on Notre Dame's biggest weakness: the red-zone offense. The Irish haven't been so lucky when close to the goal line this year, converting on only 79 percent of its red-zone opportunities. That's the worst precentage of any top-25 team. Unfortunately, the red zone is also one of the biggest weaknesses of the Pittsburgh defense. The Panthers' opponents are 17-for-17 inside the 20-yard line. That's 100 percent efficiency, and worst in the country, if you hadn't guessed.
This game will be decided by whether or not Pitt can avoid breaking when it bends. Regardless, it should be a good one to watch. Pitt has won three of its last six meetings with the Irish, and Notre Dame's wins were by a combined 12 points. Maybe a Pittsburgh upset wouldn't be as surprising as everyone thinks.
Duke at North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 7, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Duke and North Carolina seem to play each other in big games every year, it's just usually in February instead of November. The biggest rivalry in college basketball will be extended to the football field Saturday, with ACC title game hopes on the line.
There's no need to talk anymore about Duke's controversial loss to Miami last weekend, the point is the Blue Devils now have ground to make up. Luckily, the team Duke needs to catch is next on the schedule. The Tar Heels are in the driver's seat in the ACC Coastal division, and are looking to end Duke's chances at taking the division crown for the second straight year. A chance at redemption against a rival combined with a frustrating loss last week means the Blue Devils are going to leave it all on the field in Chapel Hill.
On paper, North Carolina is the better team. The Tar Heels are in the top 25 in both points for and points against per game, but Duke isn't too far behind statistically. The Blue Devils have won two of the last three meetings between these teams, and will need to make it three of four to make it an even race in the Coastal again.
No. 16 Florida State at No. 1 Clemson
Saturday, Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN2)
This is the biggest game of the ACC season. We've known it since September, and the hype has been warranted. Either Florida State or Clemson has represented the Atlantic division in the ACC Championship game since 2009, and it seems pretty clear that trend will continue in 2015.
Florida State is in pursuit of its fourth straight ACC championship game appearance, but this year the Seminoles are playing from behind. Jimbo Fisher may have lost his shot at making it back to the College Football Playoff, but getting a win against Clemson will get his team's season back on track. Dalvin Cook rested against Syracuse last week to make sure he's ready for this game, and he'll be a key to Florida State pulling off the upset. Clemson is 14th in the country against the run and Cook will need to be on his game to do damage.
Clemson is no stranger to playing from behind in the Atlantic, but it must feel good to be ahead of Florida State for a change. The College Football Playoff selection committee is on the Clemson bandwagon, voting the Tigers No. 1 in its first rankings. Dabo Swinney can send his team to its first ACC title game since 2011 with a statement win Saturday. Clemson would have a two-game lead over Florida State with only two ACC games left on both of their schedules.
The winner of this game has won the last six Atlantic division titles and the last four ACC championships. If that statistic doesn't tell you how important this game is, nothing will.