Week 4: ACC, SEC throw down. The Hogs go to 'Bama and the Noles battle Clemson for ACC supremacy

Welcome back to Week 4 here at The Nitty Griddy, where, like Larry Scott, we're going to wait to expand until someone backs up a truck of cash into our living room. Onto the picks!

ACC-
Georgia Tech -6.5 vs. North Carolina
Maryland -9 vs. Temple
Boston College OFF vs. UMASS
Duke -10 vs. Tulane
Clemson -2.5 vs. Florida State
Virginia -3 vs. Southern Miss.
VA Tech -20.5 @ Marshall
Miami (FL) -14 vs. Kansas St.


Marcus Says...

Georgia Tech -6.5 vs. North Carolina
The Yellow Jackets and Tar Heels come into the game both 3-0 and with their sights set on an ACC Coastal Division crown. NC QB Bryn Renner comes into the game completing 81.7% of his passes, but also with 4 interceptions. RB Giovani Bernard has been a nice surprise as a true freshmen, scoring 4 TDs so far this year. Carolinas defense has been stout, giving up a modest 16.7 per contest, but they’ll be tested against a Georgia Tech offense that has put up just under 60 points a game. Now I’d love to gush about QB Tevin Washington and the Jackets here, but let’s face it, they haven’t exactly been playing the toughest competition. Along with Washington, GT rolls out a trio of backs who all have gotten it done. If Carolina can protect the ball, I like their chances against the spread.

Clemson -2.5 vs. Florida State
The Tigers and Noles come into this one after having very different weekends in Week 3. Coach Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers are riding high after knocking off defending champ Auburn and ending their 17 game winning streak. QB Tajh Boyd looked good, carving up the Tiger D for 386 yards and 4 TDs. FSU hosted #1 Oklahoma last week and fought hard even after losing QB E.J. Manuel to a shoulder injury in the 3rd quarter. The Noles fought hard but came up short against the Sooners, who certainly didn’t have their best day. Word out of Tallahassee is that Manuel sat our practice again today so Freshman Clint Trickett may need to be ready. Trickett played well in relief against OU. Clemson has all the momentum coming into this one and are playing at home. The Tigers cover here.


SEC-
Georgia -10 @ Ole Miss
Arkansas @ Alabama -12
FAU @ Auburn -33.5
Florida -20 @ Kentucky
La. Tech @ Miss. St. -20
Vanderbilt @ South Carolina -16
LSU -6.5 @ West Virginia



Kyle Says...

Arkansas @ Alabama -12
Arkansas brings its loaded offense into Tuscaloosa for a tussle Saturday. The Hogs put up gaudy numbers in their first three wins of the year, and the duo of QB Tyler Wilson and RB Ronnie Wingo, Jr., have over 1,000 yards of offense between them in three weeks spent primarily sitting by some point in the third quarter. That said, they haven’t seen anything like this Tide defense. Through three games they’ve allowed 18 points and ended half of all opposing drives in three and outs. Tide RB Trent Richardson is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and is being spelled effectively by Eddie Lacy. It almost doesn’t matter what Saban gets out of the passing game. Look for the Tide to roll in Tuscaloosa and cover, even on a large spread.

LSU -6.5 @ W. Virginia
Jarrett Lee has been holding his own as LSU’s quarterback, but the pressure this week will be on the Tigers’ defensive backfield against a Mountaineer passing game averaging 350-plus yards per game. They’ll get plenty of help from the front seven, though, as W. Va. has put up a nonexistent rushing game against some pretty inferior competition this season. Meanwhile, LSU’s offensive line has been busting big holes for a balanced rushing attack led by RBs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, who each have 200-plus rushing yards and a handful of touchdowns between them. West Virginia is going to have a tough time keeping their defense off the field if they can’t get a run game going, and will struggle to keep up with Les Miles’ stable attack. Look for LSU to cover.

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