Crazy circumstances in the ACC tonight. You wont find too many matchups this weekend pitting two desperate teams as the outfits hitting the field tonight from Florida State and North Carolina.
Everyone knows what’s going on in Tallahassee. It’s a debacle. Has the feel of all the angst that came out of Happy Valley from 2000-2004. Paterno survived that, but southern football fans are way less patient. If and when this season craters any further, this could be the sideshow dramas to end all sideshow dramas. Well, until Lane Kiffin opens his mouth again. The Noles sit at 2-4. They’re finally getting solid QB play for the first time in years, thanks to Christian Ponder. But, man, that defense stinks. Among the worst statistically, the Noles have proved vulnerable against just about everybody they have played this year. A loss tonight and you have to begin pondering life without a bowl game, Seminole fans. Welcome to Michigan 2008.
Of course, is the situation really any better in Chapel Hill? Sure, the Heels are looking good at 4-2, but two of those wins have come to FCS schools. A trendy pick to win the league, the Heels are a loss away from slipping into panic mode. Remember, because of 2 FCS wins, the Heels need to get to seven wins just to reach a bowl game. A loss tonight makes that chase more difficult, let alone competing for the league crown. Offesively, the Heels stink. They returned a lot of personnel from last year, but nothing is clicking. As bad as FSU is statistically on D, the Heels match those numbers on offense.
We’ll find out tonight what happens when rickety offense squares off against a seive-like defense. Uh, something has got to give, right?
Bizarrely, both teams can jump right back into the thick of the ACC race should they pull out a win tonight. The Noles have three league losses, but only one was to a divisional foe. That was BC, who already has two league losses. The Noles can still swipe tiebreakers from everyone else in the Atlantic Division. The Heels, meanwhile, lost to Georgia Tech earlier in the year, but with games ahead agains Va Tech and Miami, they still will have say in how the Coastal Division shakes out.
The winner tonight begins to turn the corner on a disappointing season. The loser faces a lot of question marks, talk radio drama and the possibility of a losing season. The question becomes who takes this clash of desperate ACC teams?
My cash is on UNC tonight. I cant wow with super duper analysis. I dont have that one killer stat or angle that will make you take notice. Simply, I am taking the team playing at home with the better defense. I trust Defense more than I trust Offense. I trust the home team, which despite its flaws this season, still is playing confident and not fighting the negative tides of all negative tides that’s washing ashore in Talahassee. Honestly, I dont think Bobby Bowden has control of this thing right now. And, I doubt he’s coming up with any answers. This will get worse before it gets better.
The Pick: UNC -2………In the end, I know Butch Davis’ club will be prepared, focused and ready to battle four quarters. You cant say that right now about Florida State unless you’ve slipped some ‘Nole peyote under your tongue. Sometimes, its as simple as that when making a call on these games.
Phenomenal picture.
Phenomenal picture.