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Thursday, September 17, 2009

This week's games: 9-17-09

Mark Berman takes a look at ACC and local teams.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

GEORGIA TECH AT MIAMI

7:30 p.m. today | ESPN

Storyline: The No. 14 Yellow Jackets (2-0, 1-0) visit No. 20 Miami (1-0, 1-0) in a big Coastal Division showdown.

Georgia Tech fended off Clemson 30-27 last Thursday. Up 24-0, the Jackets surrendered 27 straight points. They were outscored 14-0 in the third quarter.

"We've got to fix our third-quarter woes there a little bit and make sure that we stay focused for the whole game," coach Paul Johnson said.

Jacory Harris threw for 386 yards in Miami's win over Florida State.

"We've got to keep the guys in front of us and eliminate big plays," Johnson said. "Clemson ... hit us with four or five big plays."

Josh Nesbitt completed just three of 14 passes with two interceptions against Clemson.

"We need to throw the ball better," Johnson said.

The option-oriented Jackets beat Miami 41-23 last year.

"Georgia Tech the other night started off by running four different plays where there's four different option responsibilities," coach Randy Shannon said. "You tell [UM] guys they have to take care of their responsibilities and don't take chances. ... They've learned their lesson, I think, from last year."

FLORIDA STATE AT BYU

7 p.m. Saturday | Versus

Storyline: Coach Bobby Bowden said FSU has been burned by the long pass this year. Now the Seminoles must take on stellar QB Max Hall and the No. 7 Cougars.

"We're going to face a passer that's superior to anybody we've played so far," Bowden said.

The Seminoles (1-1) are coming off a 19-9 win over I-AA Jacksonville State in which they trailed 9-7 until the final minute. They lost three fumbles on the rainy night and finished with 78 yards rushing.

"We're going to have to improve our line blocking and our running game," Bowden said.

BYU (2-0) opened eyes with its upset of Oklahoma two weeks ago.

"We used to be in the elite," Bowden said. "We want to get back up there. ... This game is going to tell us how close we're getting."

BOSTON COLLEGE AT CLEMSON

Noon Saturday | WDBJ

Storyline: After routs of Northeastern and Kent State, the Eagles get their first test.

"To say that the pace is going to pick up is an understatement," coach Frank Spaziani said. "Though we have a feel for our team, there's a lot of unknowns."

Coach Dabo Swinney said Clemson (1-1, 0-1) needs to be "more cerebral."

"We've got to be students of the game Monday through Friday," he said. "We've got to play a little bit smarter, a little bit more technical, [with] a little bit more precision."

DUKE AT KANSAS

Noon Saturday | Versus

Storyline: The Blue Devils (1-1) will have a tough time with QB Todd Reesing of No. 22 Kansas (2-0).

"He's a wizard with the ball," coach David Cutcliffe said. "He has great hands, and so it matters not what position he's in to throw the ball. He can be dead on the run, he can be scrambling."

EAST CAROLINA AT UNC

Noon Saturday | ESPN2

Storyline: The No. 24 Tar Heels (2-0) ran for only 35 yards and allowed six sacks in last weekend's 12-10 win at UConn.

"One of the most difficult units to groom is an offensive line," coach Butch Davis said.

Patrick Pinckney of ECU (1-1) has completed just 28 of 66 passes this season.

MIDDLE TENN. ST. AT MARYLAND

3:30 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: The Blue Raiders (1-1) beat the Terps last year but lost 37-14 at Clemson two weeks ago.

Coach Ralph Friedgen, whose team needed OT to beat James Madison last weekend, said Maryland (1-1) has been giving up too many big plays. He said the Terps also must tackle better.

GARDNER-WEBB AT N.C. STATE

6 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: State hosts a I-AA foe for the second straight week.

ELON AT WAKE FOREST

6:30 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: Wake hosts the No. 11 team in the I-AA poll.

VMI AT JMU

6 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: VMI (1-0) will likely be overmatched against the No. 7 team in the I-AA poll.

"If we don't play our best, it'll be an embarrassing game," Keydets coach Sparky Woods said.

He is worried about JMU's offense.

"They do a great job of spreading you out across the field," Woods said. "They try to create space for those guys to run in and try to get you in one-on-one situations, and they just bet their guy cannot get tackled by your guy."

JMU coach Mickey Matthews said Maryland's offensive line had trouble blocking his defense last weekend.

BRIDGEWATER AT FERRUM

1 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: BC (2-0) is down to its third-string tailback because of season-ending injuries, but the No. 3 guy isn't bad. Thomas Tate ran for 192 yards against his former school, Shenandoah, last weekend.

BC couldn't stop Ferrum's option game in the Panthers' win last year.

"You have to get control of the tempo if you can and not position yourself to play catch-up against somebody that wants to sit on the ball," BC coach Mike Clark said. "I hate going against their offense."

The Panthers were off last weekend. Mike Vann had only three carries in the season-opening 24-21 loss at Emory & Henry because of a shoulder injury, but he will see more action Saturday. DE Zack Leonard and LB Jamar Moseley missed the loss with injuries but will play Saturday.

GREENSBORO AT W&L

1 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: The Generals (1-1) are 4-0 in their series with Greensboro (1-1).

New coach Randy Hunt's Greensboro team picked up 358 yards of offense last weekend but lost 31-14 to Emory & Henry. E&H returned two fumbles and an interception for TDs.

"Their offense is very misdirection-oriented," W&L coach Frank Miriello said. "I'm really concerned. ... We're totally outweighed."

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