Olympic Fan
09-08-2016, 12:54 PM
Two conference games and 10 non-conference games on tap.
It kicks off Friday with Louisville at Syracuse (8 pm, ESPN2) -- interesting little mini-controversy going on over the chain-gangs. Dino Babers is trying to run an up-tempo offense at Syracuse and that means getting plays off as fast as possible. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino noted earlier this week that on several occasions, Syracuse ran plays before the chains were set after first downs. He claimed that he checked with the ACC office and found that was technically illegal -- the chains had to be set before the next play was run. But it turns out he was wrong -- that's NOT the rule ,... and the conference didn't say so. Amazing back-and-forth over the issue during Wednesday's ACC teleconference. Probably doesn't matter -- Louisville is a lot better. Still, something to watch.
Wake at Duke (3:30 p.m., ESPNU) is the other conference game. We've got other places to talk about that one.
I think the ACC, which did pretty well last week (10-2 overall and 2-1 vs. P5), has five significant non-conference games this week:
Penn State at Pitt (noon, ESPN) -- renewal of a classic rivalry that hasn't been played since 2000
North Carolina at Illinois (7:30 pm, BTN) --I'll be watching to see if Tubinsky can play up to the hype ... he didn't against Georgia.
Virginia Tech-Tennessee in Bristol, Tn. (8 p.m., ABC) -- set in the middle of the speedway, the game is projected to draw the largest crowd in football history -- upwards to 150,000 fans.
Virginia at Oregon (10:30 p.m., ESPN) -- Bronco Mendanhall almost certain to go 0-2 to start his run in Charlottesville
That's all vs. P5 opponents, but I'd also add:
N.C. State at East Carolina (noon, ESPNU) -- ECU has won five straight vs. ACC foes and Greenville might have the best atmosphere for football in North Carolina.
Five non-conference gimmies:
Boston College at UMass (noon, NESN)
Troy at Clemson (12:30 pm, ACC Network)
Charleston Southern at Florida State (12:30 pm, RSN)
Mercer at Georgia Tech (3 pm., ACC Network Extra)
Florida Atlantic at Miami (6 pm ACC Network Extra)
It kicks off Friday with Louisville at Syracuse (8 pm, ESPN2) -- interesting little mini-controversy going on over the chain-gangs. Dino Babers is trying to run an up-tempo offense at Syracuse and that means getting plays off as fast as possible. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino noted earlier this week that on several occasions, Syracuse ran plays before the chains were set after first downs. He claimed that he checked with the ACC office and found that was technically illegal -- the chains had to be set before the next play was run. But it turns out he was wrong -- that's NOT the rule ,... and the conference didn't say so. Amazing back-and-forth over the issue during Wednesday's ACC teleconference. Probably doesn't matter -- Louisville is a lot better. Still, something to watch.
Wake at Duke (3:30 p.m., ESPNU) is the other conference game. We've got other places to talk about that one.
I think the ACC, which did pretty well last week (10-2 overall and 2-1 vs. P5), has five significant non-conference games this week:
Penn State at Pitt (noon, ESPN) -- renewal of a classic rivalry that hasn't been played since 2000
North Carolina at Illinois (7:30 pm, BTN) --I'll be watching to see if Tubinsky can play up to the hype ... he didn't against Georgia.
Virginia Tech-Tennessee in Bristol, Tn. (8 p.m., ABC) -- set in the middle of the speedway, the game is projected to draw the largest crowd in football history -- upwards to 150,000 fans.
Virginia at Oregon (10:30 p.m., ESPN) -- Bronco Mendanhall almost certain to go 0-2 to start his run in Charlottesville
That's all vs. P5 opponents, but I'd also add:
N.C. State at East Carolina (noon, ESPNU) -- ECU has won five straight vs. ACC foes and Greenville might have the best atmosphere for football in North Carolina.
Five non-conference gimmies:
Boston College at UMass (noon, NESN)
Troy at Clemson (12:30 pm, ACC Network)
Charleston Southern at Florida State (12:30 pm, RSN)
Mercer at Georgia Tech (3 pm., ACC Network Extra)
Florida Atlantic at Miami (6 pm ACC Network Extra)