ACC Football 2020, Week 8 (10/24/20)

Here’s your overview of scores with commentary for this week’s ACC football action...

Saturday, Oct. 24th, 2020

Early Games

#23 NC State Wolfpack 21 at #14 UNC Tar Heels 48

The Wolfpack forgot to play offense in the first quarter, then forgot to play defense in the third. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels looked like a top 10 team again, outgaining NC State by 186 yards and winning the turnover battle 4-0.

Next up for NC State: bye

Next up for UNC: at Virginia

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Syracuse Orange 21 at #1 Clemson Tigers 47

Raise your hand if you thought Syracuse would stay with Clemson better than NC State stayed with UNC or Florida State stayed with Louisville. Now put your hands down, you liars! The Orange had a 61-yard run and an 83-yard pass play, but Clemson took the ball away from them four times.

Next up for Clemson: Boston College

Next up for Syracuse: Wake Forest

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Florida State Seminoles 16 at Louisville Cardinals 48

Louisville jumped all over FSU early en route to hanging 569 yards of offense on the Seminoles. Meanwhile, FSU went for it on fourth down five times and only made it once.

Next up for Florida St: bye

Next up for Louisville: Virginia Tech

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Mid-Afternoon Games

#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 45 at Pittsburgh Panthers 3

The Irish had a quarterback (Ian Book) with a QBR of 95.4; the Panthers played three quarterbacks but none of them could crack 21 on the QBR scale. Neither team was able to run much against the other’s defense.

Next up for Notre Dame: at Georgia Tech

Next up for Pitt: bye

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# Virginia Tech Hokies 16 at Wake Forest Demon Deacons 23

Turnovers (three) and penalties (10 for 112 yards) plagued Virginia Tech, but I won’t take anything away from Wake Forest, who had a great defensive game plan to slow down Khalil Herbert.

Next up for Virginia Tech: at Louisville

Next up for Wake Forest: at Syracuse

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# Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 27 at Boston College Eagles 48

Going into this game, BC had 331 yards rushing on the season (five games), but the Eagles ran for 264 yards in this game. BC also won the turnover battle, 3-0.

Next up for Georgia Tech: Notre Dame

Next up for Boston College: at Clemson

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Prime Time Game

Virginia Cavaliers 14 at #11 Miami Hurricanes 19

It’s hard to call this a defensive struggle when the teams combined for over 800 yards of offense, but neither team was able to keep their punter off the field in this low-scoring game.

Next up for UVA: UNC

Next up for Miami: bye

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For coverage of which teams helped the ACC football cause by losing, check out my post “Biggest Losers Week 8, 2020” on ACC Football Rx. It won’t make your favorite team any better, but it will make you feel better about your team - especially this week! - or no money back.