The Pack, Heels and Devils – All to Lose

I have a pretty good record for last week, going five up and one down. The only game I missed was Virginia Tech’s win over Florida State. Somehow I just keep thinking Florida State is going to suddenly become the Noles of old. It’s not going to happen is it?

I’ve got to get it into my thick skull that the Seminoles of yesteryear aren’t coming back anytime soon. I’m kicking myself over that one.

Oh, the Pack is on a roll. Four straight wins. They are 5-5 for the season – one win away from being bowl-eligible. If they manage to win their last two and go 7-5 with six straight wins, that would be huge for first-year coach Tom O’Brien’s program. There’s still some ball to be played before that, though.

Wake Forest was in the thick of the Atlantic Division race until they lost by a point at Virginia and then last week just got hammered at Clemson. The Deacons seem to be heading in the opposite direction from the Wolfpack.

It will be interesting to see if State has a letdown after the emotional win over Carolina. Now, N.C. State can certainly go to Winston-Salem and beat the Deacons. I’m expecting, though, Wake Forest is going to bounce back. They are too experienced and well coached not to do that.

State is hot and playing well, but they’re still just 5-5. I look for Wake Forest to throw some cold water on those bowl hopes.

I think the Heels are spent and will have a hard time winning this game. Georgia Tech has been a disappointment after a promising beginning, but they’re better than Carolina. Their defense certainly has the ability to confuse T.J. Yates, who throws more interceptions than touchdowns. And if Jamelle Eugene can run on UNC, so can Tashard Choice.

Carolina won’t beat Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Before the season, I asked why in the world does Duke want to schedule Notre Dame in South Bend? That’s crazy. Now it looks like genius. The 1-9 Devils sure have a chance against what is becoming maybe the worst Notre Dame team ever, the 1-9 Fighting Irish. I think I could form a pick-up team and have a chance against the Irish.

Can Duke win this game? Yeah, why not? But will they win this game? I’m thinking it’s really hard to pick Duke. Sure they can win, but they do seem to be regressing.

It’s a great opportunity for a Duke team that really needs to beat somebody. I’d like to see them win, but I can’t pick the Devils. I mean, can you ever pick Duke?

This is the ACC headliner. The winner goes to the ACC championship game. Boston College has lost two straight while the Tigers have won four straight. I think Clemson is a better team. In fact, Boston College lucked out at Virginia Tech, so they should be coming off three straight losses. Of course there’s always the Tommy Bowden mess-it-up factor. It seems to happen every year.

Boston College has won two straight in overtime against the Tigers. Clemson is due.

The battered Terps are coming off the upset of Boston College while Florida State is thanking their lucky stars there is a Maryland or they would be in the Atlantic Division basement.

Florida State at home against Maryland. Doggone it, I think I have to pick Florida State. They’re better than Maryland, especially at home, aren’t they? I don’t know any more, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt one more time.

Even though the famous Seminole war chant is now more annoying than intimidating, I guess I’m going with the Noles again.

This is for the Big Ten title. It usually is, isn’t it? Here’s an interesting note, though. For the first time since 1959, both of these teams stumble into this game coming off losses.

Michigan, of course, had that slow start, the stunning loss to Appalachian State, and a drubbing by Oregon followed that. The Wolverines then won eight straight before losing last week to Wisconsin.

Ohio State lost at home last week to Illinois, which ended Ohio State’s Big Ten record of 20 straight league wins.

Michigan is at home, but they’re hurt. Running back Mike Hart has missed three of the last four games, and quarterback Chad Henne has a bad shoulder.

The Buckeyes are just mad. Ohio State has beaten Michigan three straight, and I expect they will again.

Oh it will be tough in Ann Arbor, but I go with the Buckeyes.