ACC Football: Week Ten Staff Picks

Another exciting week of ACC football action is ahead, with seven conference games across the slate this weekend. Mike, Justin, and Jeff are back with their weekend picks for all of the exciting football action.
 
#7 Louisville (7-1, 5-1 ACC) Vs. Boston College (4-4, 1-4 ACC), 12:00 PM ET Saturday, ESPN2

Line: Louisville -25.0

Cates: When will these outrageous point spreads end? Louisville will win but expecting them to cruise by three or four touchdowns every weekend is simply unreasonable.

Greenberg: Louisville is due for a big performance. They will win this game but Boston College has a good defense and will keep the spread under to cover.

McDaniel: Love the Cards to win an cover here. This could mirror what Virginia Tech did to BC earlier in the season.
 

Georgia Tech (5-3, 2-3 ACC) @ #21 North Carolina (6-2, 4-1 ACC), 12:30 PM ET Saturday, ACC Network

Line: UNC -10.0

Cates: Georgia Tech is still searching for a quality victory this season, but it won’t come at Carolina. UNC will be very motivated to stay in the Coastal Division race and it will result in a W.

Greenberg: Perfect weather. Home game after much needed rest. All point to UNC’s favor, but covering that spread will prove difficult even in a Tar Heel victory.

McDaniel: Tar Heels win and cover in this one. I’m having a hard time seeing Georgia Tech’s defense slow down that North Carolina passing attack.
 

Pittsburgh (5-3, 2-2 ACC) Vs. Miami (4-4, 1-3 ACC), 12:30 PM ET Saturday, ACC Network

Line: Miami -4.0

Cates: Miami has formally derailed and Pitt is coming off a strong showing against the Hokies. I like Pitt to win in a very minor upset.

Greenberg: Who knows? Pitt gets over the hump and wins this game.

McDaniel: Pittsburgh is simply the better football team at this point in time, and they’ll prove it in a win on Saturday. Miami’s offensive line will struggle mightily against the Pitt pass rush, rendering Brad Kaaya’s favorable match-up against that Panthers secondary moot.
 

Virginia (2-6, 1-3 ACC) Vs. Wake Forest (5-3, 2-2 ACC), 3:00 PM ET Saturday, ACC Network

Line: Wake -3.0

Cates: Virginia continues to improve. Wake can almost taste bowl eligibility, but they have to buckle down after the loss to Army. I think the Demon Deacons get it done this week.

Greenberg: Which team will show up on either side? I’m going with Bronco’s guys with the upset over Wake Forest.

McDaniel: Wake Forest will win this match-up to become bowl eligible in a low-energy game.
 

Syracuse (4-4, 2-2 ACC) Vs. #2 Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC), 3:30 PM ET Saturday, ABC/ESPN2

Line: Clemson -27.0

Cates: This is Clemson’s time of year. They really took off down the stretch last season and I expect this game to be the start of that trend again with a Tiger victory. The Orange will hang around for a while though.

Greenberg: Syracuse will score enough points to cover the spread but will not win in Clemson.

McDaniel: I love this line for Syracuse. They’ll lose, don’t get me wrong, but they will likely cover even if this game gets ugly.
 

#19 Virginia Tech (6-2, 4-1 ACC) Vs. Duke (3-5, 0-4 ACC), 3:30 PM ET Saturday, ESPNU

Line: VT -10.5

Cates: The Hokies should show up in this one as Bud Foster has a strong track record of tormenting young quarterbacks. Tech wins, but I won’t be shocked if it stays close.

Greenberg: Duke is desperate for a win. That will allow them to cover but the Hokies will win and take another step closer to winning the Coastal division.

McDaniel: Hokies will win this one, but something about Wallace Wade Stadium sucks the life out of opponents. Duke will cover.
 

#22 Florida State (5-3, 2-3 ACC) Vs. NC State (4-4, 1-3 ACC), 7:00 PM ET Saturday, ESPNU

Line: FSU -6.0

Cates: Florida State looked quite good against Clemson and I think that will carry over, as will State’s miserable showing against Boston College. Seminoles win comfortably.

Greenberg: This game will determine which team has given up and which team wants to keep fighting. My guess is it will end up being the Seminoles who fight longer and cover in a win on the road.

McDaniel: NC State has completely mailed it in on the rest of the season and on their coach, Dave Doeren. What a difference a month makes. Florida State, big.

 
 
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