Louisville-NC State division game tops ACC's Week 9 schedule

Updated Oct. 28, 2021 2:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 9:

GAME OF THE WEEK

Louisville at North Carolina State.

N.C. State is unbeaten at home and has won two of the last three meetings with Scott Satterfield's Cardinals (4-3, 2-2), who are trying to stay in the division race led by No. 13 Wake Forest (which hosts Duke on Saturday).

BEST MATCHUP

Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong against BYU’s pass defense. Armstrong is second in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by throwing for 402.5 yards per game, including a

LONG SHOT

Florida State is a 9 1/2-point underdog on

The six-time reigning league champion Tigers (4-3, 3-2) are sputtering offensively as they try to push their series win streak to six games. Last year's meeting was

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett

Additionally, he’s thrown for 21 touchdowns with one interception after throwing for 13 TDs and nine picks in each of the previous two seasons. That has Pickett rising boards as an NFL draft prospect and Heisman Trophy candidate for the Coastal Division leader.

IMPACT PLAYER

North Carolina receiver Josh Downs is having quite a first year as the Tar Heels’ go-to threat. Downs is fifth in FBS in receiving yards (119.6 per game), third in catches (8.6), and tied for fifth in TD catches (eight). He has hauled in at least one TD in every game and is averaging 35.4 yards on those scoring catches. The Tar Heels step out of ACC play this weekend at No. 11 Notre Dame.

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