Greetings, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) fans. This is a big national weekend for ACC football. The national is going to be watching two top five teams in #3 Louisville and #5 Clemson on Saturday night prime time television in Death Valley. My buddy, @TalkinACCSports (Jeffrey Fann) wrote about three reasons why Clemson will defeat Louisville and three reasons why Clemson will lose. He nails it on Lamar Jackson, by the way – this is a baller 😉
However, there’s another game that has my eye Saturday – and that’s Wake Forest at North Carolina State University (and Wake’s next opponent is Syracuse). For the first time in ten years, Wake Forest has started 4-0. This is really big for the Wake Forest football program, the fans, the donors, the students, and friends of the University. I mentioned to @TalkinACCSports (Jeffrey Fann) on our podcast that I really thought Wake Forest could start out the season 6-0, which would put the Demon Deacons in a bowl game – and then the rest of the season, Wake Forest would be playing for a bigger bowl.
Make no mistake about it, Wake Forest Football Coach, Dave Clawson, will find his name mentioned by a few people in the press for ACC coach of the year if he gets his Demons to a bowl game (Wake Forest certainly has the advantage in the coaching matchup vs. the Wolfpack). Wake Forest is not one of the easier FBS jobs – and it would be a major achievement for Wake Forest to get there this year. It would show the entire Wake Forest community that there are positive times ahead for the Demon Deacon football program.
And let’s look at the other side of the coin here… North Carolina State University needs to win this game vs. Wake Forest. Yes, I know it’s early to call this a must win game, Wolfpack fans – well, here we are – it is. Let’s take a look at the Wolfpack football schedule. The Wolfpack need to be 6-6 to get to a bowl game – and I’m having a hard time finding six wins if North Carolina State doesn’t defeat Wake Forest. I originally predicted a 6-6 season for the Wolfpack – and one of those wins was vs. East Carolina, so that one is already off the board.
North Carolina State University’s remaining schedule, after Wake Forest, includes games vs. Notre Dame, Clemson, Louisville, Boston College, Florida State, Syracuse, Miami, and North Carolina (and I’m having a hard time finding four wins in that group there if NC State doesn’t defeat Wake Forest – in fact, I’ll be real – getting three in that group will be hard even if the Wolfpack defeats Wake Forest). I call this a tenure game for Wolfpack head football coach, Dave Doeren, who has a 6-18 career record vs. the entire ACC over three years (that’s awful) – I think this game is that important for him and his future at North Carolina State University. The Wolfpack cannot lose the game because there will be no bowl if they do lose and Doeren’s coaching seat will be massively hot next year.
So, as the Hokies are on a bye week this week – I’ll watching this game out of the corner of my eye 😉
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