UNC at Notre Dame. Carolina’s going to South Bend about a four touchdown underdog. Hey I’ve got to get one right. My pick is the Irish. (no kidding)Boston College at Wake Forest. Both are 7-1 overall. Both are 3-1 in the Atlantic Division. Wake Forest has had a great season to date. They’ve suffered one injury after another, but yet they find ways to win. That is great coaching. The Deacons were picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division, but here they are playing this weekend’s ACC headliner, with a chance to take control in their division. BC is very solid. To be honest, they should be undefeated, because State was really lucky to beat them. Oh yeah, B.C. coach Tom O’Brien has been linked to the UNC job. Don’t think he’ll be worrying about that on Saturday. It’s not often that I really care who wins a game. I hope Wake Forest wins this one but my pick is Boston College.Virginia Tech at Miami. One of the things that ACC expansion was all about was Miami’s big-time football program. So it is somewhat amusing that ever since they joined the ACC, the Canes have really struggled to meet expectations, and right now they rank behind Boston College and Va. Tech among the leagues new entries. Va. Tech goes to the Orange Bowl a much improved football team and a slight favorite over the Hurricanes. Miami seems to be in disarray. Their coach and program are under heavy fire and it was two years ago that Va. Tech came into the Orange Bowl and beat the Canes for the ACC Title. However on Saturday, I’m banking on Miami to show some pride and pull it out. My pick is Miami.Maryland at Clemson. Wow, how about Maryland at 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic? I don’t think anybody thought the Terps would be this good, especially the way they struggled in their early-season games, but they’re an example of a team improving as the season progresses. Despite getting blown out at Va. Tech, many still think Clemson’s the best team in the ACC. They can run the ball all right and teams have run the ball on Maryland. However, Will Proctor needs to make some things happen in the passing game to keep things honest. Only a fool would pick Maryland at Death Valley. Clemson coming in the big favorite and that will be my pick, the Tigers.Georgia Tech at N.C. State. Ga. Tech comes into Carter-Finley in first place in the Coastal Division with the tie-breakers against everybody. Reggie Ball is okay at quarterback and he can make some plays, but he can also look bad at times. But he does have the great Calvin Johnson to bail him out, and Tech’s defense is expected to give State and Daniel Evans some problems. You never know about State. They are so inconsistent. The Pack has lost three straight games by a total of 15 points and really they have nobody to blame but themselves. The Wolfpack has made some killer mistakes and thing is, they keep making them. State is in desperate straights. They need to make something happen and they have talent to do that but time is running out. After the losing season in 2004, Chuck Amato said it wouldn’t happen again. Saturday night at Carter-Finley will be rowdy. These seem to be the kind of games State wins. Ones they shouldn’t. I’ll try it one more time. My pick is State.Navy at Duke. Duke may be setting its sights on Carolina to end the nation's longest losing streak. And speaking of Carolina, Navy head coach Paul Johnson is considered a strong candidate for that job. I personally think UNC could do worse, but that’s for another day. Duke almost upset Navy a season ago. Duke will play hard, but the methodical Midshipmen will hold them off again. I will go with Navy.There you go. As the season moves into the November stretch run, Triangle teams are a combined 4-20. Good thing basketball season is almost here.
There’s a reason that I don’t bet on games. I’m not very good at getting at doing it, and that’s just picking them straight-up.
Last week I went 2-4, but I will tell you I had a lot of fun doing it. I do take grief from Pam Saulsby, who is clobbering everybody in Jeff’s Friday night 11 p.m. picks. Frankly, I don’t know how she does it and I don’t think she does either.
Anyway, I’m ready for another go.
