Carolina vs. Carolina and More

I was once described by my fifth-grade teacher, the illustrious Mrs. Martin in Rocky Mount, as a student of rather average potential – and unfortunately that has been true for most of my life. It is especially true in trying to pick football games. It seems like most weeks I go 3 up and 3 down, and that’s exactly what I did last week.

I missed – along with about everybody else – on the Carolina win over Miami. I also didn’t think for a minute that Virginia Tech would go to Clemson and pummel the Tigers like they did, and I’ve had trouble gauging East Carolina this entire season.

You saw the good side and the bad side of the young Tar Heels against Miami. Carolina couldn’t play any better in jumping to the 27-0 lead. Then they had to hold on for dear life before upsetting the Hurricanes 33-27. You saw what they can do when they’re clicking and then you saw the other side of youth and inexperience.

I do like the way Carolina’s coming along, but can they upset South Carolina?

When Steve Spurrier coached at Duke in the late ‘80s, he owned UNC. Beat them three straight years. Rubbed it in their faces in Kenan Stadium in 1989 as Duke clinched an ACC co-championship.

(Here’s a fact that has to rankle all Carolina fans. Duke has won or shared more ACC football championships than Carolina has. Of course Duke won almost all of theirs in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but they did win one in ’89. The Tar Heels last title was 1980. But that’s for another day.)

Spurrier brings a South Carolina team into Chapel Hill that is ranked seventh in the country. Are they really that good? I’m thinking they’re not, not by a long shot. The Gamecocks defense is carrying the “old ball coaches” offense.

But that defense is tough and they’re good. They can and probably will make it a long afternoon for T.J Yates and company.

Would I be surprised if North Carolina wins? I really wouldn’t to be honest.

Do I think the Tar Heels will win? No I don’t.

Steve Spurrier will want to win this game badly.

The Blue Devils, bless their hearts, are trying as hard as they can, but they just can’t quite get it done. You had to admire the way they came back last week against Wake Forest.

Down 34-9 the Blue Devils had pulled to within 34-29 late in the fourth quarter and had the ball around mid-field, but threw four straight errant passes. That’s just Duke. They had everything pointing to a huge comeback, but things like that just don’t happen at Duke. Wake’s Kenny Moore then busts one 53 yards and that was that, a moral victory maybe, but a loss on the scoreboard nonetheless.

Virginia Tech comes into Durham fresh off the win at Clemson. The Hokies are still somewhat offensively challenged, but you love that defense, although star linebacker Vince Hall won’t play because of a broken wrist.

Who wants to bet there won’t be more Virginia Tech fans at Wade Stadium than Duke fans?

I do think Duke will keep trying, but unfortunately that won’t be enough Saturday.

I’m watching the Florida-LSU game last Saturday and I see that ECU is down 28-14 to Central Florida. Next time I look, the Pirates are pouring it on. They are explosive and they have a great player in the do-everything back, Chris Johnson. Rob Kass is also settling in at quarterback.

However, ECU is banged up on the defensive side of the ball, especially at linebacker.

UTEP scores a lot of points, and ECU will have to do the same.

I think the Pirates will score more.

Connecticut walloped Duke in the season opener, and the Huskies are undefeated so far at 5-0, but their schedule hasn’t exactly been loaded with heavyweights. Virginia is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, but who knows how good they are. They have had some squeakers, like last week’s 23-21 win at Middle Tennessee.

Before the season, I thought Virginia would be good, and their record right now is. I’m not sure the team is as good the record.

However, I like them Saturday at home against UConn. More talent than the Huskies.

Boston College is the best in the ACC at the moment, and it would be a big embarrassment for them to go into South Bend and lose to a bad Notre Dame team. At least the Irish do have a win now.

BC, though, better show up. The young Irish won’t roll over, and there’s always the Notre Dame mystique. Mystique does seem to work better with better players, though.

Boston College has plenty of those. Notre Dame doesn’t.

Georgia Tech has fallen to 3-3 overall, and they are but 1-3 in the ACC. Miami is coming off the loss to Carolina. So it’s two desperate teams.

Miami is the slight favorite coming in, but I’m not big on Miami. I believe Tech is a better team. I think they’ll run the ball, and their defensive schemes will confuse the Canes.

I’m going with Georgia Tech.

For the season, I am 21 right and 15 wrong.