(Thursday, Sep. 3) North Carolina vs South Carolina, 6pmET, ESPN, at Charlotte
Doesn't get much better to kickoff the season with a border war ACC-SEC game on national TV. Carolina's offense should be very good. Marquise Williams, QB UNC, is fantastic. UNC returns their entire O-Line. They should put up points. The question is can new UNC D-Coord., Gene Chizik's troops stop or slow down the Cocks? The Tar Holes carry an all-time series lead over the Cocks, 34-18-4. Of course, these 2 met many times as members of the ACC. USCe has won 5 of the last 6 going back to 1988 and most recently won the last 2 in '07 and '13. Most have been low scoring affairs. Since 1967, USCe is actually 11-5 in the series. This should be a good one that goes down to the wire. I like UNC's offense to be the difference late in a packed raucous 50-50 split Panthers Stadium. Go ACC!
(Thursday, Sep. 3) Elon at Wake Forest, 7pmET, ESPN-3
The Phoenix went 1-11 and 0-8 in the CAA at the D1AA level last year. This should be a blowout yawner for Wake. Very few eyes will pay attention to this game. Just don't blow it, Wake. You likely don't have many opportunities to register a W this fall, so enjoy the moment while you can.
(Thursday, Sep. 3) Alcorn State at Georgia Tech, 7:30pmET, Regional Sports Networks (RSN) and ESPN-3
Alcorn State has a 6'6" QB (John Gibbs) who is a very talented junior. ASU is coming off a strong season where they were hailed the best HBU team in the nation a year ago. The Jackets defense will need to defend the pass and get to the QB which I believe it will. All eyes will be on Tech's new faces at the running back and wide receiver positions offensively. I expect a lot of rust to show for Tech, but the Jackets should pour it on while getting some turnovers defensively. Eventually should wind up being a blowout. A late score or two by ASU against Tech's backup defenders is likely to happen.
(Thursday, Sep. 3) Duke at Tulane, 9:30pmET, CBS Sports Net
Duke has a lot of holes to replace on offense. Gone in particular are QB Boone and outstanding WR Crowder. This is a huge game for the Green Wave at home on national TV. I smell an upset. Well, maybe not. But, it will not surprise me at all if it happens...and, I expect this game to be very close in the 4th quarter. Good game to watch for Tech fans who can as both of these teams are on Tech's schedule...and right around the corner in fact in games 2 and 4.
(Friday, Sep. 4) Rhode Island at Syracuse, 7pmET, ESPN-3
Watch out, Orange. You barely slipped by Villanova at home in this same spot a year ago, 27-26. The difference though is that Nova is a solid D1AA team who this year is a candidate to win it all. The Rams of Rhode Island however are coming off an awful 1-11 season. What a great time of year to be in upstate New York. Wait. This game is indoors. OK. Enjoy it Orange. You might not have too many wins on the schedule this season.
Wofford at Clemson, 12:30pmET, ACC Network and ESPN-3
Watch out, Tigers! That Wofford spread option is tricky. They picked GT apart and made a lot of Jackets nervous in Tech's opener on Grant Field a year ago. I can't see Wofford coming close to slowing down Watson and the Clemson offense however. This game likely stays closer than Clemson fans would like through the first third of the game before Clemson pours it on and winds up winning something like 55-14.
Youngstown State at Pittsburgh, 1pmET, ESPN-3
With 2 potential first round draft picks at RB and WR along with returning starting QB and a defensive guru now at HC, significant improvement is expected in Pat Narduzzi first campaign as HC in the Iron City. The last time these 2 teams met YSU upset the Panthers 31-17 to open the 2012 season. I have a feeling this time the Panthers will roll though. Maybe not as big as they did to open last year over Delaware 62-0 where they yielded about 60 yards of total offense to the Blue Hens, but should be a comfortable win at home to start the Narduzzi era.
Maine at Boston College, 1pmET, ESPN-3
The Eagles must replace stud QB Tyler Murphy. BC has one of the most underrated HC's in the ACC in Steve Addazio in my opinion. BC leads this series all time, 5-3. BC defeated the Black Bears 40-10 in Chestnut Hill last year and we can expect more of the same even without Murphy. Maine is coming off a lackluster 5-6 season.
Doesn't get much better to kickoff the season with a border war ACC-SEC game on national TV. Carolina's offense should be very good. Marquise Williams, QB UNC, is fantastic. UNC returns their entire O-Line. They should put up points. The question is can new UNC D-Coord., Gene Chizik's troops stop or slow down the Cocks? The Tar Holes carry an all-time series lead over the Cocks, 34-18-4. Of course, these 2 met many times as members of the ACC. USCe has won 5 of the last 6 going back to 1988 and most recently won the last 2 in '07 and '13. Most have been low scoring affairs. Since 1967, USCe is actually 11-5 in the series. This should be a good one that goes down to the wire. I like UNC's offense to be the difference late in a packed raucous 50-50 split Panthers Stadium. Go ACC!
(Thursday, Sep. 3) Elon at Wake Forest, 7pmET, ESPN-3
The Phoenix went 1-11 and 0-8 in the CAA at the D1AA level last year. This should be a blowout yawner for Wake. Very few eyes will pay attention to this game. Just don't blow it, Wake. You likely don't have many opportunities to register a W this fall, so enjoy the moment while you can.
(Thursday, Sep. 3) Alcorn State at Georgia Tech, 7:30pmET, Regional Sports Networks (RSN) and ESPN-3
Alcorn State has a 6'6" QB (John Gibbs) who is a very talented junior. ASU is coming off a strong season where they were hailed the best HBU team in the nation a year ago. The Jackets defense will need to defend the pass and get to the QB which I believe it will. All eyes will be on Tech's new faces at the running back and wide receiver positions offensively. I expect a lot of rust to show for Tech, but the Jackets should pour it on while getting some turnovers defensively. Eventually should wind up being a blowout. A late score or two by ASU against Tech's backup defenders is likely to happen.
(Thursday, Sep. 3) Duke at Tulane, 9:30pmET, CBS Sports Net
Duke has a lot of holes to replace on offense. Gone in particular are QB Boone and outstanding WR Crowder. This is a huge game for the Green Wave at home on national TV. I smell an upset. Well, maybe not. But, it will not surprise me at all if it happens...and, I expect this game to be very close in the 4th quarter. Good game to watch for Tech fans who can as both of these teams are on Tech's schedule...and right around the corner in fact in games 2 and 4.
(Friday, Sep. 4) Rhode Island at Syracuse, 7pmET, ESPN-3
Watch out, Orange. You barely slipped by Villanova at home in this same spot a year ago, 27-26. The difference though is that Nova is a solid D1AA team who this year is a candidate to win it all. The Rams of Rhode Island however are coming off an awful 1-11 season. What a great time of year to be in upstate New York. Wait. This game is indoors. OK. Enjoy it Orange. You might not have too many wins on the schedule this season.
Wofford at Clemson, 12:30pmET, ACC Network and ESPN-3
Watch out, Tigers! That Wofford spread option is tricky. They picked GT apart and made a lot of Jackets nervous in Tech's opener on Grant Field a year ago. I can't see Wofford coming close to slowing down Watson and the Clemson offense however. This game likely stays closer than Clemson fans would like through the first third of the game before Clemson pours it on and winds up winning something like 55-14.
Youngstown State at Pittsburgh, 1pmET, ESPN-3
With 2 potential first round draft picks at RB and WR along with returning starting QB and a defensive guru now at HC, significant improvement is expected in Pat Narduzzi first campaign as HC in the Iron City. The last time these 2 teams met YSU upset the Panthers 31-17 to open the 2012 season. I have a feeling this time the Panthers will roll though. Maybe not as big as they did to open last year over Delaware 62-0 where they yielded about 60 yards of total offense to the Blue Hens, but should be a comfortable win at home to start the Narduzzi era.
Maine at Boston College, 1pmET, ESPN-3
The Eagles must replace stud QB Tyler Murphy. BC has one of the most underrated HC's in the ACC in Steve Addazio in my opinion. BC leads this series all time, 5-3. BC defeated the Black Bears 40-10 in Chestnut Hill last year and we can expect more of the same even without Murphy. Maine is coming off a lackluster 5-6 season.
