Is West Virginia-North Carolina State the best under-the-radar game of Week 3 | answered by @MattZemek

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ACC Question of the Week : Is West Virginia-North Carolina State the best under-the-radar game of Week 3?

A subtext is always attached to the term “under-the-radar.” If a game is “under” the radar, most people aren’t paying close attention to it, which therefore means the game is not generating high levels of publicity, which means neither team is a national drawing card or a magnet for media attention. Fans generally don’t like that — not, at least, in relationship to positive publicity. Negative publicity? Oh, by all means put THAT under the radar, but not the praise.

It is reasonable to call West Virginia-North Carolina State an “under-the-radar” game. This is not the North Carolina State team we saw last season, the one with Bradley Chubb, Jaylen Samuels, and several other noteworthy playmakers on both sides of the ball. The 2017 Wolfpack had the talent to win big. This year’s team doesn’t have as much muscle or firepower. West Virginia has what one could reasonably call a “puncher’s chance” in the Big 12, but few would rate the Mountaineers on the same plane as Oklahoma. Some might put WVU on par with TCU, but probably not most… at least not until West Virginia shows it can play defense against high-level offenses. This is definitely an under-the-radar game, and it rates as a very intriguing one.

Let me engage in a moment of total transparency: This is an ACC blog. If I stepped up and said, “Well now, this is NOT the best under-the-radar game of Week 3,” an ACC readership might revolt, and this site might get fewer pageviews. Is this REALLY the best under-the-radar game of Week 3? I need to be objective and yet acknowledge the quality of this game at the same time. I hope you will understand.

If I felt this game would define N.C. State’s season, I probably would identify it as the best under-the-radar game of Week 3. However, I don’t think I can say that. N.C. State’s season will ride on the games against Florida State, Louisville, and Boston College. A win here would certainly improve the outlook for the team and boost the Pack’s confidence, but a loss is not a crusher. If I wanted a game which feels more like a season-shaper for the ACC teams involved, an even better under-the-radar game is Florida State-Syracuse.

Think about how huge this game is: Florida State had to squeak by Samford. I know the game was played on very short rest, which is not to be ignored, but still: SAMFORD. AT HOME. The Willie Taggart era was not supposed to burst into full magnificence in Week 1, but even then, this is a shaky start. How good will Florida State’s season become? That question will get a very direct answer against the Orange, who — having seen how weak FSU is — should expect to win this game. It’s a big moment for Dino Babers to grab a win against a big-name program which is stuck in a rebuilding cycle this year. If Syracuse wants to move up in the ACC pecking order, this is a vital moment to seize.

So, WVU-NCSU is NOT the best under-the-radar game in Week 3… but I do indeed think an ACC game fits the bill. See how much of a politician I am? Honest… but still able to keep the discussion focused on the ACC after all. 🙂

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