Philadelphia, PA (Best E Casino) - BOSTON COLLEGE: Quarterback Chris Crane threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to get past North Carolina in Chapel Hill this past weekend, falling in a 45-24 decision. The Eagles failed to establish any kind of running game against the Tar Heels, gaining just 40 yards on 21 carries. Crane hurt the cause as well, with three interceptions. Senior CB Kevin Akins recorded his first career TD, advancing a fumble 13 yards for a score in the first quarter. It was BC's second defensive score of the season. The loss dropped BC to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in league play, a game behind both Florida State (3-1) and Maryland (3-1) in the Atlantic Division standings. The Eagles will try to rebound this week, as they welcome the struggling Clemson Tigers to Chestnut Hill.
CLEMSON: The Tigers sat idle this past week and really needed the rest, as they have dropped three straight games to fall to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. Interim head coach Dabo Swinney needs to find a way to get his team back on track, as Clemson hasn't won a game since September 20th (54-0 over South Carolina State). The hope is that the Tigers will have quarterback Cullen Harper healthy enough to start this week against Boston College. Harper had surgery on his left shoulder (non-throwing) on October 19th, but isn't expected to miss any time. One player who will not be ready this week or any week the rest of the way is offensive guard Barry Humphries, who suffered a torn ACL in practice last Thursday.
DUKE: David Cutcliffe's first season in Durham continues to be an impressive one, as the Blue Devils picked up their fourth win of the season, moving to 4-3 overall with a 10-7 defensive gem at Vanderbilt this past weekend. Offensively, Duke was led by QB Thaddeus Lewis, who completed 21-of-36 passes, for 222 yards and one touchdown. Veteran wideout Eron Riley was once again the main recipient downfield, hauling in nine balls, for 83 yards. The defense did the rest, holding the Commodores, who were ranked at one point this year, to a mere 291 yards of total offense. The Blue Devils, who are just 1-2 in- conference, will jump back into league play this week, as they make the short trip to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest.
FLORIDA STATE: The Seminoles posted their fourth straight win and won for the sixth time in seven tries this season, with a 30-20 victory over Virginia Tech this past weekend. Bobby Bowden's team spotted the Hokies the first 10 points in the game, but buckled down the rest of the way and moved to 3-1 in ACC action and sit tied with Maryland atop the Atlantic Division standings. FSU has owned Virginia Tech of late, winning 13 of the last 14 outings against the Hokies. This past weekend, QB Christian Ponder led the way by completing 11- of-19 passes, for 159 yards and one TD. The ground game, which had been so effective coming into the contest, managed a mere 89 yards on 38 carries against a strong Hokie front. Placekicker Graham Gano hit three more field goals and has run his string to an FSU-record 13 straight, including his fourth straight game with a 50+ yarder. The 'Noles will attempt to stay atop the standings when they travel to Atlanta this week for a showdown with Georgia Tech.
GEORGIA TECH: The Yellow Jackets let one slip away against the resilient Virginia Cavaliers this past weekend and as a result of a 24-17 loss, Tech's four-game win streak came to an end. With a victory, Tech would have been sitting atop the Coastal Division standings with at least a game and a half lead, instead of its current position, a half game behind the Cavaliers. The Yellow Jackets got 70 yards rushing and a touchdown from tailback Jonathan Dwyer, but it wasn't enough, as the team received very little in terms of offensive balance, throwing for a mere 103 yards, compared to Virginia's 126 yards rushing and 270 passing. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt struggled in the passing game, completing less than half his attempts (7-of-15) for a mere 103 yards, with one INT. The Yellow Jackets must shake off the loss to Virginia in a hurry, as they welcome the Atlantic Division leading Florida State Seminoles to Bobby Dodd Stadium this weekend.
MARYLAND: The Terrapins posted their second straight win and sixth of the season with last weekend's 27-24 thriller against NC State. Ralph Friedgen's Terps are tied with Florida State atop the Atlantic Division standings with a 3-1 league ledger. With three wins over top-25 foes this year, Maryland finally finds itself in the top-25, giving the team its first national ranking since 2006. It wasn't pretty this past weekend, as the Terrapins had to battle the elements as well as the Wolfpack. Still, a 20-yard field goal by Obi Egekeze with six seconds remaining provided the difference in the game. It was another supreme rushing effort for UM's Da'Rel Scott, who rumbled for 163 yards and a touchdown. With the win over NC State, Maryland is now bowl eligible for the sixth time in Friedgen's eight years in College Park. Maryland will enjoy a well-earned bye week and will get back to work on November 6th at Virginia Tech.
MIAMI-FLORIDA: After dropping three of the first five games of the season, the Hurricanes have finally found some consistency and have won three in a row, including a 16-10 decision over Wake Forest this past weekend. At 5-3 overall and 2-2 in league play, Randy Shannon's team is now just one game behind Coastal division-leading Virginia (3-1). Against the Demon Deacons, the Hurricanes got three field goals from Matt Bosher and a one-yard TD run from QB Robert Marve to earn the victory. Bosher has solidified UM's kicking game this year, as the sophomore has hit 12-of-13 attempts, with two 50+ field goals to his credit, including a career-long 52-yarder against the Demon Deacons. The defense did the rest, despite allowing 195 yards on the ground. Wake's offense was one-dimensional, earning a mere 57 yards passing. The Hurricanes could take a big step in the right direction this week, as they travel to Charlottesville to take on division-leading Virginia.
NORTH CAROLINA: It was the Hakeem Nicks' show in Chapel Hill this past weekend, as the talented wideout hauled in three second-quarter TD passes and added a fourth TD on a run in the fourth quarter, leading the Tar Heels to a rousing 45-24 drubbing of Boston College. Nicks is now second in UNC history in receiving yardage with 2,400 (Corey Holliday ranks first with 2,447) and is third in TD catches (16) and overall receptions (160). With the win, Butch Davis' team moved to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play and moved back into the top-25 this week. The 45 points rolled up on the Eagles were the most scored by UNC under Davis, as UNC posted its second win over a ranked foe this year. With six wins, the Tar Heels are now bowl eligible for the first time since 2004. North Carolina will sit idle this weekend and won't return to the gridiron until a November 8th showdown with Georgia Tech.
NC STATE: The Wolfpack's woes continued this past weekend, as the team dropped its fourth straight affair, this time a 27-24 heartbreaker against Maryland. With the loss to the Terrapins, Tom Obrien's Wolfpack are now a mere 2-6 overall and are the only winless team in league play, sitting in the basement of the Atlantic Division at 0-4. NC State got a solid effort from its young QB, as redshirt freshman Russell Wilson went 18-for-26 for 187 yards and two touchdowns. However, it was not enough to post the upset win in College Park. NC State is idle this week and will look for its first ACC win of the season on November 8th at Duke.
VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers kept their winning ways going this past weekend with a 24-17 come-from-behind decision at Georgia Tech. With the victory, Al Groh's team moved to 5-3 overall, shaking off a brutal 1-3 start to the 2008 campaign. It was once again tailback Cedric Peerman leading the charge, as the veteran RB rushed for 118 yards and the game-winning TD , as the Cavs won their fourth straight game. Quarterback Marc Verica continued his strong play of late, throwing for a career-high 270 yards and two TDs. With the win, the team moved into sole possession of first place in the Coastal Division standings (3-1). It marked the second straight victory over a ranked foe, as the team knocked off then 18th-ranked North Carolina two weeks ago. The Cavaliers welcome the Miami Hurricanes to Charlottesville this week for a key Coastal Division matchup.
VIRGINIA TECH: Despite a solid effort on both sides of the football last weekend, the Hokies could not overcome Florida State on the road, dropping a 30-20 decision in Tallahassee. The drought continued for Virginia Tech in this series, as the team has not won in Tallahassee since 1974 (six straight games). It certainly didn't help that the Hokies lost their top two signal- callers to injury, with Tyrod Taylor going down early with an ankle injury and Sean Glennon joining Taylor on the sidelines with a left fibula injury in the third quarter. That left Tech with senior Cory Holt serving under center, certainly not a recipe for success, as Tech dropped its second straight game. Both Taylor and Glennon will have some extra time to heal up, as Virginia Tech is idle this week and won't get back on the field until a November 6th showdown with Maryland in Blacksburg.
WAKE FOREST: After beginning the year with three straight wins, the Demon Deacons are struggling to tread water, dropping two straight and three of their last four, including a 16-10 setback to Miami this past weekend. With the loss, Jim Grobe's team fell to 2-2 in league play, still within striking distance of the Atlantic Division lead, just one game behind both Florida State and Maryland (3-1). In the loss to Miami, Wake finally found its ground game, rushing for 195 yards in the setback. However, the passing game was non- existent, amassing a mere 57 yards. QB Riley Skinner didn't have many opportunities in that regard, completing just 3-of-8 passes in the game. Tailback Josh Adams was the most productive player on the offensive side of the ball for Wake, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and churning out 111 yards on 21 carries. The Demon Deacons will attempt to get back in the win column this week, as the team plays host to the surprising Duke Blue Devils.
