The return of ACC football in North Carolina is finally here! The best news of all is that all four teams in the triangle (yes, I am including Wake Forest in these “triangle” prediction pieces too it’s not going to hurt anyone so move along) is that you don’t have to wait until Saturday. N.C. State, North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest all have their season opener either Thursday or Friday night.
What a great way to start off the weekend. Let’s not wait any longer and get right to the predictions for these week 1 games.
South Florida @ NC State (Thursday Sept. 2nd – 7:30 pm)
Things kick off in Raleigh, where Carter Finley Stadium will be packed, pun intended, with fans decked out in red head to toe.
On paper the Pack is loaded with talent, and heavily favored in this one, but most eyes will be on QB Devin Leary to see what he can do as he finally has a chance to call this team his own. Luckily for Leary, NCSU will most likely rely on RBs Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr. to pound the Bulls with their explosive ground game until Leary gets comfortable in his new role. Then expect Leary to spread the ball around to the Packs talented pool or WRs.
However, don’t count the Bulls out before kickoff. The Bulls have named Cade Fortin as their starter, who is all too familiar with the Wolfpack. Fortin comes into USF as a transfer, who last year played at…yup, you guessed it, UNC. Fortin has the ability to beat defenses not only with his arm but also his feet. In the end though, I think the experience of NC State and the rowdiness of the crowd make this one too much to overcome for the Bulls.
Prediction: South Florida 17, NC State 40
#10 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech (Friday Sept. 3rd – 6:00 pm)
The Tar Heels are going to have all they can handle in this one. Week 1 jitters, on the road, hostile environment, 65k jumping to “Enter Sandman” as the sun goes down over the mountains in Blacksburg, yeah this one won’t be easy. So how do the Tar Heels get a win on the road to open their season, you ask? Look no further than, QB Sam Howell. I know, I know the Sam Howell hype train left the station a month ago but he has the ability to put this team on his back and carry them, potentially pretty far. Howell will need to spread the ball around to the likes of Downs, Corrales, Brown and Walston.
But Howell isn’t the only QB playing in this game. The Hokies QB Braxton Burmeister is pretty good as well and possess a lot of the same qualities that Howell does, makes good reads, accurate passer and can scramble when needed.
So we have established that the QBs in this game know how to play ball but what is going to win this game is defense. Which team can get more turnovers or force a much needed three-and-out. For those answers I look to the Fox brothers of UNC, Tomon (LB) and Tomari (DL). Both can get to the opposing quarterback and stuff the run in the backfield. I look for the Fox brothers and company to give UNC just enough of an edge to pull this one out.
Prediction: North Carolina 28, Virginia Tech 23
Duke @ Charlotte (Friday Sept. 3rd – 7:00 pm)
This one is by far the hardest of the bunch to predict. Charlotte only played five games last year, winning just two of them, so it was hard to get a grasp as to who the 49ers were. The good news for the 49ers is that a lot of players return, so there should be unity on both sides of the ball. However, the exact same can be said for Duke. So on that front, these two teams are evenly matched, not very good with a lot of returning players.
Next item to consider, is home field advantage, which I guess Charlotte will have and advantage but I don’t think it will be a huge factor.
Lastly and probably most important, is who will be the X-factor in this contest. That I have going to Duke RB Mateo Durant. Durant is explosive and instantly flip the momentum of a game. Durant will put the offense on his back and led the Blue Devils to victory.
Prediction: Duke 38, Charlotte 31
Old Dominion @ Wake Forest (Friday Sept. 3rd – 7:00 pm)
If this game occurred about five or six years ago when ODU had one of their best seasons ever, then this would be an intriguing matchup but as you know we are in 2021, not 2016, so this one is going to be lopsided.
Wake just has too many weapons on offense (QB Sam Hartman, RB Christian Beal-Smith, WR Jaquarii Roberson and yes even kicker Nick Sciba) for the Monarchs to handle. Conversely on the opposite side of the ball, I believe that the Deacs defense can stifle the ODU offense. Wake LB Ryan Smenda Jr and DB Nick Anderson will be flying all over the field making tackles left and right. Season opening game, on a Friday night under the lights in prime time? Yeah, expect Wake to win and win big
Prediction: Old Dominion 10, Wake Forest 44
Somehow I managed to have all four points of the triangle winning their season opener, bold, but let’s just see how right I am.
Follow me on Twitter at @SJWoolard for more ACC content and Week 2 predictions next week.
