Some pivotal conference mathups this week, particularly concerning the ACC.
Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
Both of these teams are 2 games behind VT, and GT is out of it unless VT loses its last 3 games. Miami needs VT to lose one as well as beat VT in order to win the Coastal and go to the ACCCG.
South Florida at Louisville
Although USF has two conference loses, they are still in the running to take the Big East, but they need Pitt to lose one more, as well as take them out next week. Louisville is out of it.
No. 24 Kansas State at No. 17 Missouri
KSU took too long to get it going, but Mizzou is still in the race to win the B12N. Nebraska has one loss, and if Mizzou can hold off KSU, they would have to hope that Nebraska loses 2 more games, because they own the tie-breaker. NU plays Kansas this week, TAMU next, and Colorado after that, so Mizzou may have to hope a slip up happens in those games.
Penn State at No. 9 Ohio State
Yes, PSU is STILL in the race to win the B10, but they need to take care of some business and hope for a little magic. First, they need to beat OSU, get by Indiana, and then beat their rival MSU. Plus, they need Wisconsin to lose once (which would put them in a tie), and Iowa to lose twice. Thats a lot to ask for. OSU needs to win out (which includes playing Iowa) and hope Wisconsin loses in the next 3 games.
Wake Forest at North Carolina State
WF is long out of the race, but NSCU is certainly still in it, as it owns the tie-breaker in the Atlantic over FSU. Maryland is also in the running, and they still have yet to play NCSU or FSU, which makes these coming weeks crucial in the ACC Atlantic division.
No. 20 Virginia Tech at North Carolina
VT controls their own destiny, and simply need to win out. UNC, GT, and Miami are all nipping at their heals. However, a loss here puts the Miami game (if they win) into a much bigger spotlight, and puts added pressure on UNC to win out as well. VT has not lost since they collapsed to JMU at home in the 2nd game of the year, even without Ryan Williams in the back field. Yates is coming off maybe his best game of the year.
Maryland at Virginia
Maryland needs to continue to win and set up potential big time matchups with FSU and NCSU in the coming weeks.
San Diego State at No. 3 TCU
Is this a "trap game"? SDSU has been quietly winning, even if they did get hosed by BYU replay booth. TCU DESTROYED #5 Uta last week IN SLC. Now, they get to travel back home and try to keep the hope alive of sneaking into a possible NCG birth. I am sure SDSU would like nothing more than to play spolier here by beating the Frogs, which would surely put them into the top 25 and better yet, put them in a tie with Utah and TCU for the MWCC, and set up a huge game with Utah next week.
No. 21 Nevada at Fresno State
FSU has always been regarded as tough cookie in the WAC and could very well spoil the matchup between BSU and Nevada in two weeks. IN fact, if FSU wins, that puts their matchup with BSU next week into a whole new light. Most expect BSU to roll through the rest of the way, but these two teams may need to prove that they are worthy of a possible upset. That starts this weekend.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 23 South Carolina at No. 22 Florida
The last time SC went to the Swamp, it lost by 50 points. IN fact, SC has NEVER WON @ Florida, but they are going to have to if they want to win the SECW this year, and most likely play Auburn in the SECCG. Florida finally looked good on offense last week, after getting some key players on offense back and healthy. Meanwhile, Lattimore has been nothing short of outstanding for Spurrier, and he makes that offense go. Both defenses should be fired up, and Brantley will have to face won of the best secondary's in the country.
Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
Both of these teams are 2 games behind VT, and GT is out of it unless VT loses its last 3 games. Miami needs VT to lose one as well as beat VT in order to win the Coastal and go to the ACCCG.
South Florida at Louisville
Although USF has two conference loses, they are still in the running to take the Big East, but they need Pitt to lose one more, as well as take them out next week. Louisville is out of it.
No. 24 Kansas State at No. 17 Missouri
KSU took too long to get it going, but Mizzou is still in the race to win the B12N. Nebraska has one loss, and if Mizzou can hold off KSU, they would have to hope that Nebraska loses 2 more games, because they own the tie-breaker. NU plays Kansas this week, TAMU next, and Colorado after that, so Mizzou may have to hope a slip up happens in those games.
Penn State at No. 9 Ohio State
Yes, PSU is STILL in the race to win the B10, but they need to take care of some business and hope for a little magic. First, they need to beat OSU, get by Indiana, and then beat their rival MSU. Plus, they need Wisconsin to lose once (which would put them in a tie), and Iowa to lose twice. Thats a lot to ask for. OSU needs to win out (which includes playing Iowa) and hope Wisconsin loses in the next 3 games.
Wake Forest at North Carolina State
WF is long out of the race, but NSCU is certainly still in it, as it owns the tie-breaker in the Atlantic over FSU. Maryland is also in the running, and they still have yet to play NCSU or FSU, which makes these coming weeks crucial in the ACC Atlantic division.
No. 20 Virginia Tech at North Carolina
VT controls their own destiny, and simply need to win out. UNC, GT, and Miami are all nipping at their heals. However, a loss here puts the Miami game (if they win) into a much bigger spotlight, and puts added pressure on UNC to win out as well. VT has not lost since they collapsed to JMU at home in the 2nd game of the year, even without Ryan Williams in the back field. Yates is coming off maybe his best game of the year.
Maryland at Virginia
Maryland needs to continue to win and set up potential big time matchups with FSU and NCSU in the coming weeks.
San Diego State at No. 3 TCU
Is this a "trap game"? SDSU has been quietly winning, even if they did get hosed by BYU replay booth. TCU DESTROYED #5 Uta last week IN SLC. Now, they get to travel back home and try to keep the hope alive of sneaking into a possible NCG birth. I am sure SDSU would like nothing more than to play spolier here by beating the Frogs, which would surely put them into the top 25 and better yet, put them in a tie with Utah and TCU for the MWCC, and set up a huge game with Utah next week.
No. 21 Nevada at Fresno State
FSU has always been regarded as tough cookie in the WAC and could very well spoil the matchup between BSU and Nevada in two weeks. IN fact, if FSU wins, that puts their matchup with BSU next week into a whole new light. Most expect BSU to roll through the rest of the way, but these two teams may need to prove that they are worthy of a possible upset. That starts this weekend.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 23 South Carolina at No. 22 Florida
The last time SC went to the Swamp, it lost by 50 points. IN fact, SC has NEVER WON @ Florida, but they are going to have to if they want to win the SECW this year, and most likely play Auburn in the SECCG. Florida finally looked good on offense last week, after getting some key players on offense back and healthy. Meanwhile, Lattimore has been nothing short of outstanding for Spurrier, and he makes that offense go. Both defenses should be fired up, and Brantley will have to face won of the best secondary's in the country.
