The ACC Bowl Matchups are set. They range from outstanding viewer television to nightmare matchups. Let’s take a look…
Belk
Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium
Dec. 27, 6:30 pm, ESPN
ACC No. 5 vs. Big East No. 3
Projection: Duke vs. Cincinnati
The Belk Bowl wanted a local school in the worst way. They got a Duke team and fanbase that should thrilled to be in this game. Cincinnati is a credible team. This won’t be easy for Duke. QB Sean Renfree is going to light things up for the Blue Devils to win.
Russell Athletic
Orlando, FL Florida Citrus Bowl
Dec. 28, 5:30 pm, ESPN
Big East No. 2 vs. ACC No. 3
Projection: Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech
I called this matchup correctly, and I expect this to be an entertaining game. Rutgers like Cincinnati is very credible very solid team. Is this best Virginia Tech is? Is this what they are a 6-6 team. I don’t think they’ve played their best game yet.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City
Nashville, TN LP Field
Dec. 31, 12:00 pm, ESPN
SEC No. 7 vs. ACC No. 6
Projection: Vanderbilt vs. NC State
Remember the Tennessee team that ran NC state out of the Georgia Dome? Vanderbilt beat that Tennessee team 41-18. This a home game for Vanderbilt. If good NC State shows up, they can compete in this game, if bad NC State makes an appearance it will get ugly.
Hyundai Sun
El Paso, TX Sun Bowl
Dec. 31, 2:00 pm, CBS
ACC No. 4 vs. Pac-12 No. 4
Projection: Georgia Tech vs USC
This is an awful matchup for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets porous defense facing a team with that type of skill position talent. USC was in the pre-season top 5, but of course Lane Kiffin coached down a team that 9 year girl scout could have won 9 games with. The Jackets defiantly have the coaching edge. One tip for Paul Johnson blitz blitz and blitz some more like you did against FSU. It’s risky, but it’s your only chance. It would be a great win if the Jackets could get it.
Chick-fil-A
Atlanta, GA Georgia Dome
Dec. 31, 7:30 pm, ESPN
ACC No. 2 vs. SEC No. 5
Projection: Clemson vs LSU
Clemson has an unbelievable opportunity here. LSU is one of the SEC heavyweights. Clemson blew their most recent shot at national respect against South Carolina, but here’s another one. You beat LSU people will notice. Clemson knows the measuring stick of where they want to be. This is the 3rd SEC team of the year they will play. This game is actually better than most of the BCS games.
Discover Orange
January 1st, 8:30 pm, ESPN
Miami Gardens, FL Sun Life Stadium
ACC No. 1 vs. BCS At-Large
Projection: Florida State vs. Northern Illinois
Look I understand this isn’t a great opponent for FSU, but the Noles need to treat this game with the utmost respect. They need to prepare for this as if Alabama is the opponent. That’s my one concern for Florida State, they’ve played down to their competition several times this year after dominating games early. It ended up costing them the NC State game, and it nearly cost them the Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech games. If Florida State were to lose this Orange Bowl it would be humiliating for the proud program, and that’s a fact. Get ready, prepare, blow them out early and don’t mess around. Maybe you can’t announce FSU is back with a win, but a loss would be simply devastating.
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