Well, it’s here again, folks. College football is back and there’s a pretty good menu of ACC action to start out the 2021 season. Here’s everything you need for Week 1 of the ACC Football Schedule.
Enjoy the games, and get the COVID-19 vaccine if you’re able and haven’t done so already.
Broadcast Info And Spread
South Florida at NC State
- Thursday, Sept. 2
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
- Network: ACC Network
- Location: Raleigh, Carter-Finley Stadium
- Spread: NC State -18.5
- Over/Under: 59 points
No. 10 North Carolina at Virginia Tech
- Friday, Sept. 3
- Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
- Network: ESPN
- Location: Blacksburg, Lane Stadium
- Spread: North Carolina -5.5
- Over/Under: 64 points
Duke at Charlotte
- Friday, Sept. 3
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
- Network: CBS Sports Network
- Location: Charlotte, Jerry Richardson Stadium
- Spread: -6.5
- Over/Under: 60
Old Dominion at Wake Forest
- Friday, Sept. 3
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
- Network: ACC Network
- Location: Winston-Salem, Truist Field
- Spread: Wake Forest -31
- Over/Under: 63
Colgate at Boston College
- Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: 12:00 p.m.
- Network: ACC Network
- Location: Chestnut Hill, Alumni Stadium
- Spread: Boston College -46.5
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 14 Miami
- Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
- Network: ABC
- Location: Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Spread: Alabama -20
- Over/Under: 62
Syracuse at Ohio
- Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
- Network: CBS Sports Network
- Location: Athens, Peden Stadium
- Spread: Syracuse -2
- Over/Under: 56
No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 3 Clemson
- Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
- Network: ABC
- Location: Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
- Spread: Clemson -3
- Over/Under: 50.5
Northern Illinois at Georgia Tech
- Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
- Network: ACC Network
- Location: Atlanta, Boddy Dodd Stadium
- Spread: Georgia Tech -18.5
- Over/Under: 57.5
William & Mary at Virginia
- Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
- Network: ESPN 3
- Location: Charlottesville, Scott Stadium
- Spread: Virginia -33.5
- Over/Under: 49.5
No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State
- Sunday, Sept. 5
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
- Network: ABC
- Location: Tallahassee, Doak Campbell Stadium
- Spread: Notre Dame -7.5
- Over/Under: 55.5
Louisville vs. Ole Miss
- Monday, Sept. 6
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m.
- Network: ESPN
- Location: Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Spread: Louisville +7.5
- Over/Under: 75.5
Players To Keep An Eye On
Justyn Ross, Clemson WR
It’s been nearly two full years since Ross, once the crown jewel in Clemson’s receiving corp, took the field. Ross missed the entire 2020 season due to a spinal condition. At the time, some thought his football career may end; however, Ross is back for his fourth and final season with the Tigers.
Trevor Lawrence is gone. Travis Etienne is gone. Tee Higgins is gone. Ross remains, though, and he’ll have his eyes set on establish himself as the top wideout in the ACC, while working with a new quarterback: D.J.Uiagalelei.
His first game back will be a challenge, too: No. 5 Georgia in Charlotte. — Brian Geisinger
Devin Leary, NC State QB
NC State’s defense is the foundation for this season’s teams — with 10 starters back. For the team to raise and hit its ceiling, though, the offense must click at a high level. That possibility exists, and it depends largely on the right shoulder of Leary, a decorated QB prospect in NC State’s 2018 recruiting class.
After wrestling the quarterback position away from Bailey Hockman, Leary appeared in only four games last season before he suffered a leg injury during the win over Duke. The injury cost Leary the rest of the season. Prior to being sideline, though, Leary looked like the quarterback of the future for the Wolfpack: 66-of-110 pass attempts (60 percent) for 890 yards (8.1 yards per attempt), 8 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
Despite a rather unfortunate bump in the road, it’s now Leary’s time to lead NC State’s offense. If he plays at level that’s comparable to how he started the 2020 season, then NC State could have a special season. — BG
Braxton Burmeister, Virginia Tech QB
The last two meetings between the Hokies and Tar Heels have been shootouts, including the six-overtime classic at Lane Stadium in 2019.
Burmeister has his top three pass-catchers back — receivers Tayvion Robinson and Tre Turner and tight end James Mitchell — and without Khalil Herbert at running back, I’d expect the Hokies to lean on the passing game early and often. — Josh Graham
Upset Or Pick Of The Week
Brian Geisinger: Notre Dame -7.5 at FSU
- Florida State ain’t ready for this — call it a hunch.
Josh Graham: Wake Forest -30.5 points vs. Old Dominion.
- As we saw last week with UConn, who got drilled 45-0 at Fresno State, the early part of the season will not be kind to teams that opted out of last season. To compound that, Friday night will be former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne’s debut as ODU’s head coach. I don’t think the Demon Deacons will have trouble covering the 30 points with its fast-paced offense, especially since they have veteran quarterback Sam Hartman back to run it.
Quote Of The Week
Courtesy of Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney:
Dabo on getting vaccinated: “It’s like knowing it’s freezing cold outside. You go out dressed properly. You might still get cold but you did everything you could to mitigate it.”
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) August 31, 2021