3 games to watch in the ACC: North Carolina closing in on Coastal title

This week is probably goind to be a letdown. But hey, when you pack Florida State-Clemson and North Carolina-Duke into one week, that is bound to happen. There's still a division in the ACC to be won, though, and depending on how things play out, it could be decided this week.

Pittsburgh at Duke
Saturday, Nov. 14, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNN)

After North Carolina asserted its dominance last week, both Pitt and Duke are in dire need of a win as they work from behind in the Coastal division. Duke is two games back after the Tar Heels dismantled the Blue Devils last week, while Pitt's loss to Notre Dame wasn't technically an ACC game, so the Panthers remain only a game back. The winner of Saturday's game could still be in the hunt for a trip to the ACC title game, while the loser's hopes will be all but gone.

Big playmakers have been driving the offenses for both of these teams. Thomas Sirk leads the Blue Devils in both passing and rushing, while Pitt's Qadree Ollison has quietly been chipping away at a 1,000-yard season on the ground. Pitt's passing offense, however, is lacking. The Panthers are 94th in the country in passing yards per game, and the Duke secondary has been one of the better pass defenses in the country.

Neither of the teams control their own fate in the ACC, but a good final stretch of the year could prove they have taken the next step to becoming contenders in the conference. Winning out would give Pitt its best finish since 2009, while three wins plus a bowl win would give Duke its second double-digit win season in team history.

Saturday's game is the toughest test left on either team's schedule, and the perfect way to start the final push.

Miami at No. 23 North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 14 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

A big opportuniry for the Tar Heels this weekend. With a win and a loss from Pittsburgh this weekend, North Carolina clinches the Coastal division and would set up a date with Clemson in the ACC Championship game two weeks before the end of the regular season. Miami still technically isn't out of the Coastal division race either, but will be with a loss this week.

Sure, it's only two games, but Miami has earned two wins to start out the post-Al Golden era. To make it three in a row, the Hurricanes are going to have to beat the top team in the division.

The biggest hole for the Hurricanes is the running game, where they rank 115th in the country. The Tar Heels' defense is one of the best in the country, and could very easily attack that weakness and force Miami to move the ball one-dimensionally.

North Carolina's offense has been clicking on all cylinders, if the 66 points scored last week weren't enough of an indicator. Marquise Williams has thrown for over 2,100 yards and has a QBR of 80.6 on the season while Elijah Hood is on pace for 1,000 yards rushing.

The Tar Heels are trying to get into the ACC Championship after climbing into the College Football Playoff rankings.

NC State at No. 16 Florida State
Saturday, Nov. 14, 12:30 p.m. ET

Florida State is in an unfamiliar position right now. For the first time in four years, it won't be playing in the ACC Championship game. Jimbo Fisher hasn’t lost the Atlantic division since 2011, which means almost none of the players on the team know what it's like to not be playing for it all. In college football you have to move on, though, and the Seminoles will try and rebound this week against bowl-eligible NC State.

The Wolfpack haven't really beaten anyone that impressive this season, they've just won the games they were supposed to win (when you play a very easy non-conference schedule, becoming bowl eligible isn't all that difficult). The Wolfpack are only 2-3 in conference play, and in all honesty, Saturday's game shouldn't be that tough of a win for Florida State as long as the Seminoles stay focused.

The key for NC State will be to see how its running game responds with leading rusher Matt Dayes out for the rest of the season with a foot injury. The running back on the other side, Dalvin Cook, has already racked up more than 1,200 yards despite missing time with injuries. The team who steps up and stops the run will have the best shot at coming out with the win.