Picks at the wire: Week 9

A Thursday night game --- and an intriguing looking one at that --- gets the picks at the wire out earlier than usual.

* Florida State at N.C. State (Thursday, 7:30, ESPN): Seminoles 35-27. This has a chance to be one of the best games in the ACC all season. The Seminoles have played well since their pummeling at Oklahoma, though Christian Ponder was sluggish against Boston College heading into the bye. The Wolfpack have their chance to not only secure bowl eligibility, but also legitimize themselves as the frontrunner in the Atlantic Division. Russell Wilson, like Ponder coming off a subpar outing, has the goods to keep State in the game. As for the defense, well, this will tell a lot about that unit.

* Clemson at Boston College (Noon, ACC Network/Raycom): Tigers 27-9. Clemson had its way with Boston College a year ago in Death Valley, and that was actually against an Eagles team that usually had a semblance of offense. The Tigers have pieced together consecutive strong performances, and could have a chance to slip back into the Atlantic Division race. Look for Clemson to keep the possibility of a November run alive with an easy victory.

* Miami at Virginia (Noon, ESPN): Hurricanes 38-13. Virginia hasn't won an ACC game in more than a year. That accomplishment will have to wait another week. Miami should roll and extend its winning streak to three.

* Duke at Navy (3:30, CBS College Sports): Midshipmen 35-20. Navy is coming off a thrashing of Notre Dame and ranks ninth in the country in rushing. Duke yields more than 200 yards a game on the ground. This surely will not end well for the Blue Devils, who will become bowl ineligible with their next loss.

* William and Mary at North Carolina (3:30, ESPN3.com): Tar Heels 31-14. The next three weeks will be brutal for North Carolina. But Butch Davis' team should enter November at 5-3. The Tribe obviously have the Tar Heels' attention --- they did beat Virginia last year --- so don't look for a repeat from Jimmye Laycock's team. It could be interesting for a while, though.

* Wake Forest at Maryland (3:30, ESPNU): Terrapins 34-24. Wake Forest could start as many as five freshmen on a unit that ranks in triple digits in pass efficiency defense (105th), scoring defense (112th), rushing defense (113th) and total defense (117th). Maryland is playing for bowl eligibility, and has a penchant for collecting close victories (4-0 in games in which there was a one-possession differential in the fourth quarter). This could be a blowout, but bank on the Terps pull off a typically tight win if they can't create some separation.

Week 8: 4-1 (3-1 ACC)
Season record: 47-16 (16-7 ACC)
Preseason picks record: 45-18 (14-9 ACC)
Preseason picks changed in Week 8: Florida State-N.C. State

Comments

[G]

If FSU wins, the Atlantic Division race is probably over for all practical purposes. If NCSU wins, it is likely that the division becomes a 3 or 4 way race won't be decided until the last 2 weeks of the season.

[ngaterp]

Regardless of who wins between FSU and NCST, they both have to play the Terps in College Park when it could be nasty weather. We just need to keep getting better and winning.