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ACC QUESTION of the WEEK : What are the 3 most intriguing ACC conference football games of 2019?
On a list of five or 10, more gridiron gatherings would be recognized as the most intriguing ACC football contests of 2019. Yet, the rules say three, so if that is the case, these are the three to see:
1 — Clemson at Syracuse, September 14
No ACC team has played Clemson tougher the past two years than Syracuse. Other ACC teams have bothered Clemson at times, but none have pushed or tested the Tigers the way Syracuse has. With this year’s meeting being indoors in New York State, the Orange — though not expected to win — will certainly have a puncher’s chance. Syracuse will get Clemson one week after Dabo Swinney’s team faces Texas A&M. Clemson will be favored to win this game, just as it will be favored to win every game. Yet, if A&M can at least soften up the Tigers before their long commute, Syracuse could once again give Clemson a 60-minute fight.
One thing which could also happen: Clemson could get mad and thump Syracuse by 35.
Nevertheless, Syracuse has done more than enough to make this game interesting in a preseason context.
2 — Virginia Tech at Miami, October 5
3 — Virginia at Miami, October 11
The ACC Coastal could be complicated and crazy until the final few weeks of the season… or one team could break from the pack before the third weekend of October. If Miami wins these two home games, the Hurricanes could take a one-game lead over both Virginia Tech and Virginia in the loss column. The Canes could take a two-game lead over both teams when one factors in the reality of a head-to-head tiebreaker. When one also realizes that the Hokies and Cavaliers would have to play each other later in the season, Miami would essentially take a three-game lead over the VT-UVA loser.
Unless you think that Georgia Tech and North Carolina — under new coaches — or Duke or Pittsburgh can keep pace in the ACC Coastal, this two-game sequence pitting the Virginia schools against Miami figures to be the most important week of the 2019 ACC Coastal season.
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