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ACC Football: Three impact Coastal Division games in week 3
Which ACC Football Coastal Division games are the biggest of the week?
As we approach week three, the season starts to amp up again. Week one was amazing. Week two was supposed to be a dud, but surprised.
Week three is set up to be another awesome week.
Though not as crazy as week one, week three does see four top 25 matchups. This includes the top three teams on the road against ranked opponents.
Two of those games are intra-conference games. #1 Alabama will travel to take on #19 Ole Miss.
Ole Miss has won the last two matchups against the Rolling Tide and is looking to make it three in a row. Meanwhile in the ACC, #2 FSU travels to take on #10 Louisville. Louisville only knows how to put points on the board.
There is also #3 Ohio State at # 14 Oklahoma and #12 Michigan State at # 18 Notre Dame.
Both home teams can’t afford to lose. Both road teams need a signature win before conference season starts.
Also only three top 25 teams play FCS opponents this week.
In addition to the four games mentioned, seven other top 25 teams play power five opponents, with four of those teams playing true road games as well.
One last thing before we delve into this week’s action of Coastal games. The ACC Coastal Division continues to get no respect in college football. The Coastal is the only power five division to not have at least two teams ranked in the top 25 once this season.
The Coastal needs some big wins. Thankfully there happen to be such wins on the docket. So let’s get started with what could be this season’s Iowa.
Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State (Saturday Sept 17th @ 3:30 pm)
Pittsburgh is coming off a huge win against it’s in-state rival Penn State. Oklahoma State is coming off a devastating loss to Central Michigan.
Will the Panthers be able to give the Cowboys a second loss in a row?
Things going for the Panthers: James Connor. The running back has rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns this season. He has also been a weapon in the passing game as well. He currently has seven receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys defense can also be passed on.
Central Michigan’s quarterback threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma State last week in the upset win.
Things going against the Panthers: Oklahoma State losing to Central Michigan. Forget the fact that the final play should’ve never happened. This does not help Pitt’s case.
Oklahoma State should be ranked and should be angry. They should also be prepared for a team trying to get the upset. Any surprise factor Pitt might have gotten went out the window with the Hail Lateral.
The Cowboys defense, though weak against the pass last week, was strong against the run. In two games, the Cowboys defense has allowed 154 yards on 72 attempts. That’s a little over two yards a carry.
Not good news for the Panther’s best player.
The Cowboys’ weakness is also the Panthers’ weakness. Nate Peterman is only averaging 133 yards a game. Additionally he threw for only 91 yards against Penn State, Pitt’s only power five opponent so far this season.
Is Pitt really this season’s Iowa?
If they are they will have to prove it on the road. This was supposed to be another opportunity for the ACC Coastal to beat a ranked team. The Coastal is 0-3 in such games so far this season. Now it is just a chance to add a good road win to the Panther’s resume. If the defense can keep the Cowboys out of the end zone and Conner can get Pitt to an early lead the Panthers have a chance. If not it may just be another shoulda win on the long list of misses by Coastal teams.
Miami at Appalachian St (Saturday Sept 17th @ 12 pm)
Miami is doing what few teams do, travel to play a non-power five opponent. App St is also very capable of pulling an upset, just ask Tennessee.
Can Miami get out of Boone, NC with a third straight win?
Things going for the Hurricanes: The running game. Miami has rushed for 652 yards this season, good for sixth in the nation. Their 8.7 yards per carry is good for second in the nation. The Canes have two strong backs in Mark Walton and Joseph Yearby. The two have combined to score eight touchdowns this season. In their loss to Tennessee, App allowed the Volunteers to rush for 127 yards. They allowed 110 of those to one player.
Things going against the Hurricanes: The passing game. Brad Kaaya has not looked like a first round draft pick. In two games this season he has only thrown for 326 yards. He has failed to throw for over 200 yards in either contest.
Against FAU he had two interceptions. In two games this season App St has only allowed 361 yards and held Tennessee to under 200 yards passing. They have also forced two interceptions this season.
Miami has not played a power five team this season and that will continue this week. However the Mountaineers are no pushover team.
App St. might have a chance if this game were in Miami, let alone Boone.
In what will be the biggest game in Boone history, don’t be surprised if the Canes walk out with a loss.
Boston College at Virginia Tech (Saturday Sept 17th @ 3:30 pm)
Boston College and Virginia Tech are 1-1. Both schools have wins against FCS opponets. Both schools have losses to power five teams in neutral locations. Which one can get the big win this week?
Things going for the Hokies: Jerod Evans and Travon McMillian. The two have combined for 656 yards and six touchdowns. They are the strength of this team’s offense. They led the Hokies to their 14-0 lead over the Volunteers last week.
Things going against the Hokies: Boston Colleges Defense. The BC defense is tenth overall in yards allowed. They are allowing less than 200 total yards per game and less than 50 rushing yards. That’s not good for McMillian, who without a 69 yard run against Tennessee, would only have 97 yards on the season. Virginia Tech has also fumbled the ball nine times. Against a defense like the Eagles, that is not good.
The Boston College defense being good is no surprise. They were amazing last year. The biggest difference is their offense is semi competent as well. If not for a late score by Georgia Tech in Ireland, the Eagles would be 2-0. The Hokies have not looked sharp all season.
The nine fumbles aside, the last three quarters of the Tennessee game was horrible. If Boston College can score some points, their defense is strong enough to get the win on the road.
One to keep an eye on: James Madison at North Carolina (Saturday Sept 17th @ 3:30 pm)
Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back T.J. Logan (8) carries the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the 3rd quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Is this game a super matchup? No. Is this website called Keeping it Heel? Yes it is.
So the game makes the docket. This will be UNC’s first home game of the season.
It will also be James Madison’s first road game of the season. James Madison is currently ranked eighth in the FCS polls.
UNC is not ranked in any poll, dropping out after appearing in the AP Preseason Top 25.
Can the Dukes continue the current FCS trend of close games and upsets? Will the Heels introduce James Madison to life outside of FCS? Can TJ Logan continue his tear of 100 yard all-purpose games? Those answers and more in UNC’s home opener.
The rest of the ACC features Duke at Northwestern and Virginia at UConn. The four teams are a combined 2-6. Both wins came at home against FCS opponents. Two of the losses both came at home to FCS opponents.
The other game is Georgia Tech hosting Vanderbilt. Can the ACC go 3-0 in these games? The answer will have an impact on the Coastal this season.
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