It looked like all the attention in the ACC in Week 12 would be focused on how the Virginia team handled playing a game less than a week after three players died and two others were injured in a shooting by a former member of the football program. The university announced on Wednesday that Saturday’s game against Coastal Carolina will not be played.
When it comes to the games being played, the contest between surprising Duke and defending ACC champion Pittsburgh could be the most compelling contest.
Clemson moved up one spot to No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings while North Carolina went from 15th to 13th so there won’t be any ACC representation in the playoff field this season.
Clemson moved up three spots to No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll while North Carolina is now at No. 13 and Florida State comes in 20th.
According to the college football playoff odds, Clemson (+5000) is eighth in the odds to win the national title.
Let’s check the latest NCAAF picks, stats, injury reports and NCAAF predictions. We’ve plenty of NCAAF expert picks for you to consider.
Game of the Week
Duke vs Pittsburgh
- Game, time (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, Noon ET (ACC Network)
- Line: Pittsburgh -7½
Pittsburgh won’t be repeating as ACC champions as the Panthers (6-4, 3-3) are tied for third in the Coastal Division.
Duke (7-3, 4-2) has been the most surprising team in the ACC. A win would give the Blue Devils their most conference wins in a season since 2015.
The Blue Devils gave up more yards than any other FBS program a season ago. The yards per game fell from 517.6 yards to 382.8.
The Panthers have the most sacks in the ACC with Calijah Kancey tied for the ACC lead with seven sacks. Defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre, who has 5.5 sacks, is questionable.
Pittsburgh has covered against the college football predictions in the last six meetings with Duke.
Rest of the Schedule
Louisiana vs Florida State
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, Noon ET (ESPN3)
- Line: Florida State -24
Florida State wrapped up ACC play with a 5-3 mark, the first winning mark in conference play since 2016.
Quarterback Jordan Travis has passed for 2,414 yards with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. Seven different receivers had at least 10 catches for the Seminoles (7-3).
A player to watch for Louisiana (5-5) is safety Bralen Trahan, who has four interceptions and 62 tackles.
Virginia Tech vs Liberty
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, Noon ET (ESPN+)
- Line: Liberty -10
This has not been a season to remember for the Hokies who are tied for last in the ACC Coastal Division. The Hokies averaged 441 yards per game just two seasons ago. That number has dropped to 313 this season. Now Virginia Tech (2-8) is an underdog against a Liberty team in its fifth season playing at the FBS level.
Boston College vs Notre Dame
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Line: Notre Dame -21
Boston College is hoping to keep Notre Dame from finishing the regular season 4-0 against ACC teams.
It won’t be easy as Boston College (3-7) is second to last in the ACC in total offense. No FBS team has run for fewer yards than the Eagles and the passing game hasn’t been good enough to compensate for a lack of a running offense. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec is questionable for the game.
Notre Dame (7-3) followed up a huge win over Clemson by barely beating a mediocre Navy team.
The Fighting Irish have won eight games in a row against the Eagles.
Miami vs Clemson
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Line: Clemson -19½
When the season began, this was looked at as a possible ACC title game preview. Clemson (9-1, 5-0) has done its part, winning the Atlantic Division. However, Miami (5-5, 3-3) has been one of the most disappointing teams in the country.
A lack of consistency has been an issue for both quarterbacks. Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei is fifth and Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke seventh among ACC starting quarterbacks in passing efficiency. Van Dyke has missed two of the last three games and he is questionable for the game. Running back Donald Chaney is expected to play while leading rusher Henry Parrish is questionable.
Miami is third in the ACC with 34 sacks. The Hurricanes are -12 in turnover margin in the five losses compared to +9 in the five wins.
Miami is 1-6 against the college football odds in the last seven meetings with Clemson and 1-8 against the spread in the last nine games this season.
NC State vs Louisville
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
- Line: Louisville -4
Malik Cunningham just missed passing for 3,000 yards while rushing for more than 1,000 yards during a brilliant junior season for Louisville (6-4, 3-4). Things have been more challenging in 2022 as he has thrown for 1,552 yards with eight TD passes. He has run for 11 scores. Cunningham is questionable with a shoulder injury.
If Cunningham can’t go, both teams will be without their starting QBs as North Carolina State’s Devin Leary is out for the rest of the season. Freshman MJ Morris helped the Wolfpack beat Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. However, North Carolina State is coming off a loss to Boston College.
Something to consider for those who bet online. The total has gone under in four of the last six games in the series.
Coastal Carolina vs Virginia
- Date, Game (TV): Game called off.
Some things are bigger than football.
Virginia made the decision not to proceed with Saturday’s game after the murders of receiver Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr. and linebacker D’Sean Perry.
There are no words to describe this tremendous loss to our UVA Football family. Lavel, Devin, D’Sean – you will all be dearly missed and we will never forget the impact you had on our team and community. pic.twitter.com/xdiq9KCU17
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) November 15, 2022
It is hard to imagine the emotions that the Virginia players will be experiencing if they were asked to take the field on Saturday.
Georgia Tech vs North Carolina
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, 5:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
- Line: North Carolina -21½
North Carolina (9-1, 6-0) has already clinched the ACC Coastal Division title and a spot in the ACC title game. The Tar Heels aren’t done as they go after their second 10-win season in the last 25 years.
Quarterback Drake Maye is second nationally with 3,412 passing yards and his 34 touchdown passes are tied for the national lead. Receiver Josh Downs is closing in on 1,000 yards despite missing two games.
Georgia Tech is in the middle of the pack in the ACC in most defensive categories so this could be another big game for the Tar Heels.
Ayinde Eley and Charlie Thomas can both go over 100 tackles on Saturday for Georgia Tech.
The total has gone over in each of the last five games between Georgia Tech and UNC in Chapel Hill.
Syracuse vs Wake Forest
- Date, Game (TV): Saturday, Nov. 19th, 8 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
- Line: Wake Forest -10
Syracuse was the talk of the ACC just a few weeks ago, but a four-game losing streak changed the chatter surrounding the team.
Syracuse (6-4, 3-3) should be able to move the ball against the 12th-ranked defense in the ACC. Will the Orange be able to slow down quarterback Sam Hartman and a Wake Forest offense that is second in the conference in passing efficiency?
Wake Forest (6-4, 2-4) has dropped the last three games and that includes losing the last two games by a total of 11 points.
The total has gone under in six of the last seven Syracuse games and in five of the last six contests played by Wake Forest.
