Both No. 8 Florida State and No. 25 Maryland have been impressive this season, but neither has faced an especially tough schedule yet. Maryland’s best win was against a floundering West Virginia program (albeit one that went on to beat a top-25 Oklahoma State team the next week), and Florida State’s best win is probably at Pittsburgh, although that’s debatable. And both teams struggled with teams they arguably should have beaten handily — Maryland (4-0) at Connecticut, and Florida State (4-0) at Boston College.
This will be the first significant test for each.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston is going to see much more pressure from the Maryland defense, and the Terps’ offense — which has not been as good as it was earlier in the year in the last few games — will have a hard time against a talented FSU defense, too. It will likely come down to which offense can execute better and right now, Florida State’s offense is just better. Also, the Seminoles are almost certainly annoyed with a closer-than-expected win last week. Maryland’s banged-up secondary was good two weeks ago, but this is a different task entirely.
Prediction: Florida State, 29-17.
When: 3:30 p.m.Where: Sun Life Stadium
Breakdown: This game was a fun one last year, and it should be again. Miami has to be feeling good about itself — in the two weeks since it beat Florida, it has dispatched of inferior opponents relatively easily. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, is still smarting from a loss at home to Virginia Tech. This feels like a losable game for the Hurricanes. Barely.
Prediction: Georgia Tech, 38-37.
When: 3:30 p.m.Where: Carrier Dome
Breakdown: Syracuse was one of two new ACC members this year, along with Pitt. The Panthers were welcomed to the ACC by a visit from Florida State, and Syracuse will get a similar welcome when the Tigers come to town on Saturday. Syracuse is playing a lot better since Terrel Hunt took over the starting quarterback job, but it likely still won’t be enough to keep pace with Clemson’s high-scoring offense.
Prediction: Clemson, 43-24.
When: 12:30 p.m.Where: Lane Stadium
Breakdown: North Carolina's season is falling apart at the seams after an embarrassing 55-31 home loss to East Carolina last week, while the Hokies look to be finally hitting their stride. The Tar Heels should play the way one would expect a desperate team to play, but Virginia Tech’s defense should be too much for an inconsistent UNC offense.
Prediction: Virginia Tech, 30-20.
When: 3:30 pm.Where: Groves Stadium
Breakdown: N.C. State hasn’t won a game in Winston-Salem for awhile, this is true. But the Wolfpack also hasn’t played a Wake Forest team that is quite this bad, either. It won’t be a walk in the park for N.C. State in its first road game under first-year head coach Dave Doeren — probably more like a few miles of light jogging.
Prediction: N.C. State, 31-20.
When: NoonWhere: Scott Stadium
Breakdown: Ball State’s high-powered offense will take its show on the road for its only game this year against a BCS-conference team. The Cardinals have upset some BCS foes in the past, and Virginia has been offensively-challenged this year. The Cavaliers are going to have to find some offense, but their defense is good enough to control Ball State.
Prediction: Virginia, 22-21.
When: 1 p.m.Where: Alumni Stadium
Breakdown: Boston College showed some moxie, if nothing else, in a 48-34 home loss to No. 8 Florida State last week. The Eagles are an improved team, and one more win this year would give them one more win than they had all of last season. Oh, and Army is not very good.
Prediction: Boston College, 51-23.
Week 5: 6-2 (3-1 ACC)Overall: 41-8 (7-3 ACC)
