ACC GROUP PREDICTIONS

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ELON @ WAKE FOREST

SCOTT: Wake Forest wins their tune-up game against Elon.

TJ: Definitely a Wake win. Should see the third and fourth stringers in this game.

NC State @ UConn

SCOTT: NC State goes into Storrs and gets the victory. Jim Mora, Jr. is doing a good job with the Huskies, but they are not ready to beat NC State.

TJ: I think this game will be closer than some think. NC State is replacing long-time starting quarterback Devin Leary and UConn was a decent team in 2022 and they return 17 starters. NC State wins, but it will not be a blowout.

Louisville @ Georgia Tech

SCOTT: Two very similar teams but Louisville just has too much talent for Georgia Tech. Brent Key is rebuilding the Yellow Jackets program, but they are still a year or two away from being competitive. I like Louisville here.

TJ: New Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm brings a pass-heavy attack to Louisville. They will showcase that new offense and quarterback Jack Plummer will have over 300 yards in the Cardinals’ first win under Brohm.

Miami (OH) @ Miami (FL)

SCOTT: Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will play in this game and the Canes will roll over the Redhawks.

TJ: Won’t be much competition here as Da U returns 19 starters from last year’s squad. Miami (FL) crushes Miami (OH).

Virginia -v- Tennessee (Nashville, TN)

SCOTT: Tennessee and that Josh Heupel offense are just too fast, too talented, and too much for Virginia to handle. The Cavaliers will also be replacing long-time quarterback Brennan Armstrong. Those kinds of growing pains will get the Cavs down early. Vols win.

TJ: The Big Orange will crush Virginia in what will appear to be a home game for Tennessee but is a neutral site game in Nashville. Emotions will be high for Virginia as this is their first game since three players were shot and killed in November, but the Vols offense is just too much. Big win for Tennessee.

Northern Illinois @ Boston College

SCOTT: Boston College gets the win in their home opener against a lower-tier MAC school that won only three games in 2022.

TJ: Eagles starting QB Emmett Morehead is now in year two in OC Steve Shimko’s system and will lead BC over Northern Illinois big.

Wofford @ Pitt

SCOTT: Pitt wipes the floor with FCS Wofford, this game is not going to be close.

TJ: Pitt wins easily against Wofford as QB Phil Jurkovec gets his first win as a Panther.

Colgate @ Syracuse

SCOTT: Syracuse wins big over FCS Colgate.

TJ: Not much of a game here, Syracuse wins easily.

South Carolina -v- North Carolina (Charlotte, NC)

SCOTT: North Carolina is going to win this ballgame. I have way more confidence in Drake Maye than I do in Spencer Rattler.

TJ: Both teams are without their top receiver for this game and that will hurt Spencer Rattler more than Drake Maye. I feel North Carolina is going to win this game.

Old Dominion @ Virginia Tech

SCOTT: Virginia Tech will get the W here. Old Dominion is one of the lesser teams in the Sun Belt, no trouble for the Hokies.

TJ: While Virginia Tech has not been good the past few years, I do not see them losing to ODU. The Monarchs return only 7 starters from a very bad 3-9 team. The Hokies win big.

LSU -v- Florida State (Orlando, FL)

SCOTT: This will be a tight game, but Florida State will get the win. LSU is going to be without star defensive lineman Maason Smith and the Seminoles will prevail.

TJ: I’ve been saying this for weeks, Florida State will win this game and go undefeated while this will be the only loss for LSU prior to the playoffs. I love what Mike Norvell has done with this team and this is the year of the Noles.

Clemson @ Duke

SCOTT: Clemson will get the win, but this game will be closer than most people think. Duke head coach Mike Elko has the Blue Devils believing they can win but there is just too much talent on the Clemson sideline.

TJ: I feel Duke’s 9-4 season last year was due in large part to their schedule. They did not play Florida State nor Clemson in 2022 but will play both in 2023. The Clemson offense is switching to Garrett Riley’s version of the Air Raid, but I don’t see Cade Klubnik having any issues against Duke. The game will be close at the half but then Clemson pulls away in the second half.