Games of the Week

ACC: Virginia Tech (5-1) @ Wake Forest (4-1), that’s right, Wake Forest / Big Game all occurring in the same sentence! Wake has a chance to equal its best start since 2006, when the Demon Deacons won their first five games. They have won four in a row, including the head turning defeat of Florida State, 35-30 this past weekend. Big win for the Deacons! Their only loss this season is to Syracuse, 36-29, in OT. Wake Forest is in the Atlantic Division of the ACC and has already beaten 3 of the other 5 teams on that side of the Conference; Boston College 27-19, NC State 34-27, and Florida State. Va Tech is coming off a big win last Saturday, surviving a 38 to 35 battle with Miami. The Hokies only lost this season is a 23-3 defeat at the hands of Clemson. While Wake is playing great and their Head Coach Jim Grobe’s coaching skills may be the best kept secret in all of FBS… it will not be enough. Va Tech has not lost in Winston-Salem, WF’s home, since 1970, seven straight wins @ BB & T Field. The Deacons did beat Florida State, who clearly have as much or more talent then the Hokies. That said, the Seminoles were coming off 2 deflating losses, one to Oklahoma, 23-13 and the other to Clemson, 35-30 and seemed to lack focus in the Wake game. Va Tech will not, they will show up ready to play and should find a way. VA Tech 28 Wake 24

BIG 12: Oklahoma State (5-0) @ Texas (4-1) … Texas will be checking to make sure there is a”state” written after Oklahoma on their opponents jersey come Saturday, as in Oklahoma State and not just plain Oklahoma. Given the 55-17 whipping the Sooners put on the Horns, I think we all get Texas’ wanting to distance themselves from that Cotton Bowl debacle. I, for one, thought that Red River Rivalry game would be “a ton” closer, but 5 Texas turnovers later, not so much. This week is huge for Texas, their choice is simple, step up or get stepped on! No one in the Big 12 will take the pedal off the metal when it comes to sending a message to the Horns, although they most definitely would be unwilling to send that or any signal, via the Longhorn Network!

Texas has beaten Rice 34-9, BYU 17-16, UCLA 49-20, and Iowa State 37-14, before getting popped in the mouth by Sooners last weekend. Oklahoma State is off to a great start; beating Louisiana 61-34, Arizona 37-14, Tulsa 59-33, Texas A&M 30-29 and Kansas, last weekend, 70-28. The Cowboys are ranked 2nd in the country in Total Offense, averaging 577.4 Yards Per Game and 6.7 Yards Per Play. Texas counters with 388.4 Yards Per Game and 5.5 Yards Per Play, ranking their effort @ 69th best in the nation. On Defense, the Cowboys are giving up 438.0 YPG (Yards Per Game) and 5.7 YPP (Yards Per Play). Oklahoma State is currently ranked 103rd of 120 in scoring defense. Texas comes into the game with 24th best defense in the land, giving up 321.8 YPG and 4.7 YPP. Oklahoma State leads the nation in Offensive Scoring, 51.4 Points Per Game, while Texas is lighting up the score board to the tune of 30.8 PPG. The Longhorns are giving up 22.8 PPG and ranked 47th in the country, meanwhile, Oklahoma State is ranked 71st in the land and giving up 27.6 PPG. The Game is at Texas, the Horns are riled up, the fans are riled up too… It won’t matter, OSU’S QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon are going to ringtaw the Longhorn Nation right out of their carrel. OSU 38 Texas 28.