With how even most of the conference is, the middle of the standings have been cluttered with teams attempting to gain position game by game. With Duke playing out of conference and Florida State off this weekend, it leaves the middle tier of teams an opportunity to gain a leg up. Almost all of the games this weekend are tough to call, and wins by the road teams would help them out a lot. As for the homes teams, they have an opportunity to gain momentum with winnable home games. To be successful in the conference you need to win your home games and look to steal a couple of road ones a long the way. With how tough it is to win on the road, teams can not throw away opportunities at home.
Saturday
Wake Forest at Clemson 12:00 – The Tigers have been playing well at home, but Wake always puts up a fight in their games. Clemson’s scoring has been inconsistent as of late, someone will go for 20 in one game and then 3 the next. They can not underestimate C.J. Harris and Travis McKie for the Demon Deacons.
Virginia Tech at Maryland 2:30 – Still not sure what to make about the Hokies, they have been playing poorly in the conference but still have good players. Maryland is on a 3 game losing streak and needs this win to keep pace in the conference. The Terps can’t underestimate Virginia Tech, and the Hokies need to put up points if they want to keep pace with Maryland.
Virginia at North Carolina St 8:00 – Virginia picked up a win last night over BC, it was close until the last 4 minutes when BC went cold from the field. North Carolina State missed a big opportunity last night at North Carolina, they looked unprepared for the game and the Tar Heels cruised past them. If Virginia picks up this road win, they are back in the Top-4 and ease doubters after their lose to Virginia Tech. For the Wolfpack, going 0-2 this week would hurt them in the standings and hurt how competitive they are with the upper half of the conference.
Sunday
Miami at Boston College 1:00 – The Eagles where competitive with Virginia for most of the game, but they fell apart at the end of the game. Miami has picked up steam lately and could get to 3-3 with this win. After the slow start from having to play North Carolina and Virginia in their first two games, the Canes would find themselves back in the mix with this road win. All is not lost for the Eagles who have been playing well at home and staying competitive with every team they have been playing.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina 6:00 – I thought that North Carolina would struggle last night in their first game without Dexter Strickland, instead they cruised to an easy win over an in-state rival. Georgia Tech is turnover prone and lacks a secondary scoring threat. This could be worse then their 70-38 lose to Virginia, a good chance for the younger North Carolina players to get some minutes and experience.
Everyone this weekend has a great opportunity to strengthen their position in the standings. Maryland and Miami can get back to 500 with wins, and Virginia Tech can continue to get themselves out of the hole they dug early on for themselves. North Carolina gets a great opportunity to continue to figure their team out without Dexter Strickland. North Carolina St and Virginia play in the biggest game of the weekend and one that holds a lot of weight in the standings. Neither team can afford a lose and the winner would hold a strong tie breaker for later in the season.
