ACC Football: Week Four Staff Predictions

We are at the quarter pole already in the college football season and there are more exciting match-ups to come in the ACC this weekend. #5 Clemson gets it all started this evening against Georgia Tech, but that is not the only interesting match-up on the slate. Who do we see winning all of this weekend’s match-ups?

Justin Cates, Jeff Greenberg, and Mike McDaniel provide their picks below to all the Week Four ACC games to come.
 

#5 Clemson (3-0) Vs. Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0 ACC), 7:30 PM ET Thursday, ESPN

Line: Clemson -9.5

Cates: Clemson should prevail here but I would expect a solid effort from GT at home on a Thursday night. GT covers.

Greenberg:  Clemson’s offense looked better last weekend, albeit against a different caliber of competition that Georgia Tech. I think Clemson wins this game but I don’t think they cover on the road.

McDaniel:  Weird things seem to happen down at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. I do not expect an upset because Clemson is much better across the board, but I do believe the Yellow Jackets would cover the spread in defeat.
 

East Carolina (2-1) Vs. Virginia Tech (2-1, 1-0 ACC), 12:30 PM ET Saturday, ACC Network Extra

Line: Virginia Tech -12.5

Cates:  Similar match-up to Thursday’s, maybe more even. The Hokies should win at home with an improved offense, but ECU always gives Tech fits and will cover.

Greenberg:  Will The Hokies use last week’s win as momentum or will it make them overconfident? They better concentrate on a dangerous Pirate team. I think they will and they will win, but they won’t cover.

McDaniel:  Hokies win and cover. East Carolina always plays Virginia Tech tough, and the Pirates are going for their third straight win against the Hokies. This year though, Tech has a much better team, and should win by a couple touchdowns if they take care of the football.

 

Duke (1-2, 0-1 ACC) Vs. Notre Dame (1-2), 3:30 PM ET Saturday, NBC

Line: ND -21.0

Cates:   I think ND will roll and cover here. Duke has a talented, but still growing young quarterback and is in rebuild mode it would appear.

Greenberg:  Duke is in big trouble right now. ND will win and cover.

McDaniel:  Notre Dame wins big, but 21 is a lot of points to cover.
 

#13 Florida State (2-1, 0-1 ACC) Vs. South Florida (3-0), 12:00 PM ET Saturday, ABC

Line: FSU -5.0

Cates:  FSU will win. The ‘Noles will get back on track in this game.

Greenberg:  Florida State isn’t playing Lamar Jackson this week, which helps the defense. The offense better come in prepared. FSU will win and cover by a point.

McDaniel:  Florida State is not as bad as we saw last weekend against Louisville. They’ll prove it on Saturday. ‘Noles win by 17.

 

Central Michigan (3-0) Vs. Virginia (0-3), 12:30 PM ET Saturday, ACC Network Extra

Line: Central Michigan -3.5

Cates:  The ‘Hoos showed signs of life last week, but haven’t pulled through with a W. I think Central Michigan pulls out another road P5 win.

Greenberg:  UVA is in complete rebuild mode. This is a game they can win, or they can lose too. I think they lose and CMU covers too.

McDaniel:  Virginia is a bad football team right now, but they should hang around in this one. I’ll take Central Michigan by a touchdown.

 

Wagner (2-0) Vs. Boston College (1-2, 0-2 ACC), 1:00 PM ET Saturday, ACC Network Extra

Line: No Line

Cates:  BC should win and might even show some offense.

Greenberg:  BC wins and needs to find their offense.

McDaniel: If BC doesn’t win this game, Steve Addazio will be looking for work by Sunday. For his sake, I’ll take the Eagles.
 

Syracuse (1-2, 0-1 ACC) Vs. Connecticut (2-1), 1:00 PM ET Saturday, CBS Sports Network

Line: UCONN -3.0

Cates:  UConn barely beat UVA at home last week, and I think Syracuse is better than both. ‘Cuse wins.

Greenberg:  Syracuse is better than UVA. I think the Orange win this game.

McDaniel: Syracuse wins in an upset.

 

Pittsburgh (2-1) Vs. North Carolina (2-1), 3:30 PM ET Saturday, ESPNU

Line: UNC -7.0

Cates:  I think Carolina should win with Pitt’s poor secondary play. Should be a good game.

Greenberg:  UNC’s offense could have a big day, however it’s the defense that will determine their fate in this game. They need to limit drives to field goals and Pitt needs to convert drives to keep pace. UNC will win at home in a push.

McDaniel:  Mitch Trubisky will light up the Pitt secondary, but the Panthers’ running game should keep them in the game against the Tar Heels. I like the ‘Heels at home to survive in a shootout by a touchdown. Push.

 

Wake Forest (3-0, 1-0 ACC) Vs. Indiana (2-0), 3:30 PM ET Saturday, Big Ten Network

Line: Indiana -7.0

Cates:  Can Wake Forest keep it rolling? The load falls to John Wolford at QB with Kendall Hinton out for Wake. I think the Hoosiers win.

Greenberg:  WFU QB situation just got turned on its head which will make things tough on the road. But their defense will help pull off the upset.

McDaniel:  The ‘Deacs are 3-0 because of their rushing attack and a strong defense to date. I like Wake in an upset, despite being without Kendall Hinton under center.
 

#3 Louisville (3-0, 2-0 ACC) Vs. Marshall (1-1), 8:00 PM ET Saturday, CBS Sports Network

Line: Louisville -26.5

Cates: Cardinals by a lot. Every week now becomes a Lamar Jackson watch party.

Greenberg:  Louisville will win and cover. Can’t see it any other way until I see something different in a game.

McDaniel:  Cards win big, but I like Marshall to find a way to cover….barely.

 
 

Follow us on Twitter @jeffgberg, @MikeMcDanielACC, and @BestCates and follow @InsideTheACC for more Atlantic Coast Conference coverage.