10-1 UF at Vanderbilt 12:00pm
The Florida Gators have to get some of that swagger back. Maybe they had too much of it going into the Tennessee game. Gators were up 21-0 and just completely imploded giving up 38 unanswered. Vanderbilt is coming off an overtime win over Western Kentucky. If there was ever a chance for the Gators offense, under quarterback Austin Appleby to break open, this one is it. Vandy’s defense is not good. Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway should have a big game. Yes, he made some bonehead plays in the Tennessee game, but the Commodores are a step down in competition and Vanderbilt Stadium is far from a hostile environment.
10-1 Miami at Georgia Tech
It’s in Atlanta and Georgia Tech is always dangerous with their spread option offense. The Yellow Jackets went off against Vanderbilt rushing for 289 yards but couldn’t get anything going against Clemson. Miami’s defense might not be as strong as the Tigers but they’re good. It’s been a different Canes defense under new coordinator Manny Diaz. Canes head coach Mark Richt has brought a new attitude to the Canes. Miami is rested because of the bye and quarterback Brad Kaaya is the real deal. I’d be really surprised if the Yellow Jackets pull off the upset.
10-1 UCF at East Carolina 12:00pm
This is bigger than it looks like from the outside. UCF didn’t win a game all season last year. New head coach Scott Frost has changed the culture, let players be themselves. They’ve responded. The Knights are 2-2 and this is their AAC Conference opener. East Carolina is 2-2 and is a 3 point favorite. There is no secret to UCF’s game plan. Run it, run it and run it some more. The Knights are 5th in the country if rushing attempts. Maybe it’s because Frost has had uncertainty in his quarterbacks. He’s got a freshman that’s doing a nice job, but he’s still raw so why take a chance. The Pirates are just the opposite. ECU is 12th in the country in passing attempts. Look for this to be a close one.
10-1 FSU hosts North Carolina 3:30pm
You’d think coming off a 55-35 win over USF last Saturday would be a big thumbs up from Noles head coach Jimbo Fisher. Not so. Fisher told his team in the locker room that they let up. He wasn’t pleased. Running back Dalvin Cook finally got going as he ran for a career-high 267 yards and two touchdowns. FSU was supposed to be the Dalvin Cook show on offense and a tenacious defense. But the Noles gave up 450 yards to Willie Taggart’s Gulf Coast offense. Not good. Oh, UNC has a quarterback, Mitch Trubisky who threw for over 450 yards and five scores in a win over Pitt. Noles are favored by 12. Wouldn’t want to be around Fisher if UNC pulls this one out.
10-1 USF at Cincinnati 7:00pm
This one can’t come soon enough for Bulls head coach Willie Taggart. Taggart wanted to get on his bus on Monday and start driving to the Queen City. “We can’t wait to play again after last week.” Taggart said. The Bulls went up quick on the Noles but ended up losing by 20. If you’ve forgotten, USF was picked to win the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. This is a conference game. USF has an offense that rankes 9th in the country in scoring. USF is averaging 500 yards per game and they’re quarterback Quintin Flowers is a dual threat. The Bearcats are 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the AAC. Cincinnati was crushed by Houston but came back to beat Miami (Ohio) 27-20. Cincy has a redshirt freshman, Ross Trail that got his first start in the win over Miami but was, well a freshman. Trail was picked off twice and fumbled on a sack. Expect Taggart and his boys to rev up that bus and have an enjoyable ride back to Tampa. Hope you know I’m kidding. The Bulls are flying to and from Cincy.