The first ACC Week 1 Review is in the book after a late night game between Louisville vs. Ole Miss pushed us into Tuesday morning. There were some huge upsets in Week one so let’s dive right in with the game of the week.

ACC Week 1 Review – Georgia 10 – 3 Clemson

In what we knew would be a tight affair and one I thought would go Clemsons way, Georgia showed up. We all knew The Bulldogs D was good but did we know they would be this good? Clemson was held to just two yards rushing and DJ Uiagalele was sacked a whopping seven times. Georgia put on one hell of a Defensive showing and probably won’t be matched again this year. DJ looked out of sorts, off timing and shaky as he was constantly harassed by The Dawgs pass rush. Of The TIgers pass catchers it was Ngata who led the team in yards with a 8-6-110 stat line. Ross was quiet and caught 4-26. The rushing stat is harsh as DJ finished with -26 rushing yards but none of the RBs could get anything going.

Georgia looked dominant and whilst they didn’t score a touchdown they never looked out of sorts. That was until JT Daniels was picked off in the third quarter to offer some hope to Clemson. They couldn’t rally and ended up kicking a FG meaning they would score points which meant they were safe from a shutout. The last time that happened was in 2003. Georgia spread the ball between all their receivers and nobody popped off the stat line. Zamir White led the way with a stoic 74 yards on the ground. One thing to take from this is baring the early interception pick 6, Clemson held Georgia to three points. They will need to get the run game going as a visit from South Carolina State on Saturday looms close already.

ACC Week 1 Review – USF 0 – 55 NC State

Run the damn ball. That’s what The Wolfpack did to the tune of 293 yards. Running Backs Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr. totalled 268 of those rushing yards. Person Jr. also had 43 yards and a score in the receiving game. NC State in all honesty had very little to do in this one. Dave Doeren’s side got everything right on the night. The Offence ran red hot and the Defence picked off a mixture of both USF Quarterbacks three times. Devin Leary looked good in his return after suffering a broken leg last year. Leary completed 17 of 26 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, a solid return. His only blemish mark was a poorly thrown pass that was hugely under thrown and picked off. If the pass had been on the money it was a surefire touchdown with the receiver in open space.

ACC Week 1 Review – North Carolina 10 – 17 Virginia State

Lane Stadium is a place to be feared and it proved it Friday night as VT pulled an upset beating the number ten seed North Carolina in a game that few saw coming. Lane stadium was buzzing from the off as The Hokies all touched the Hokie Stone on their way to the field. Sam Howell came into this game with aspirations of becoming the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft next year but after this performance that’s looking touch and go.

Braxton Burmeister was given the keys to the starters job by Justin Fuente and although wasn’t spectacular got the job efficiently done by rushing one score in and passing for another. The Hokies led 14-0 at the half and then they were backed up by the Defence in the second half. Howell was sacked six times and was picked off a further three times as VGT made The Tar Heels look average at best.

North Carolina by many were tipped to be the second horse in the ACC race behind Clemson. They face a huge uphill battle to continue to be ranked as a top ten team from here on out and realistically wont get back in after falling to VT in the opening week game. Howell looked shaky from the get go and wasn’t in command of his troops at all. Replacing the weapons Howell lost last year is a must and finding a slot guy to get open over the middle is now of utmost importance. Things will need to get right fast for NC as they face Georgia in week two. Virginia Tech faces Middle Tennessee.

ACC Week 1 Review – Colgate 0 – 51 Boston College

This should be short and sweet. BC swept past Colgate as Phil Jurkovec threw for three touchdowns and 303 yards in a little over three quarters. Big Phil proved to many why he should firmly now be on peoples draft radars as he looked calm and collected in the face of, lets face it, not much danger. He also had a good game on the ground as he added 61 yards with his legs. Key takeaways from this game have to be that the Offence is working and working well but the Defence needs to sharpen up. There were some alignment issues and missed calls. They need to clean these up before the big guns turn up from the ACC. It was the perfect get right game for BC as they travel to Massachusetts on Saturday.

ACC Week 1 Review – Notre Dame 41 – 38 Florida State

Overtime was needed for the former ACC Fighting Irish to overcome a rallying 17 point comeback from The Seminoles. Florida State even had a chance to win it in overtime but place kicker Ryan Fitzgerald’s 37-yard attempt missed left. This allowed ND to gain some yards on a few plays and set up the game winning field goal.

Jordan Travis may have sparked the start of the comeback before he had his helmet popped off but before this he had thrown three interceptions and put The Noles in a hole. He tried to get them out of said hole by throwing two touchdowns but when Milton replaced him he also looked good. One positive for FS was the run game as they averaged 5.5 yards per carry and totalled 264 yards. Jashaun Corbin had an 89-yard touchdown run and finished with 15 carries for 144 yards and a score. The Seminoles should bounce back against Jacksonville State in week two.

ACC Week 1 Review – Alabama 44 – 13 Miami

Where to start with Bama and Nick Saban. His team hasn’t lost since 2013 when scoring on their first drive and that streak continues. Alabama is a machine and easily covered the points spread in their demolition of Miami even with the King returning. New boy Bryce Young looks poised and ready to be the next great Saban QB already. The prospect is salivating as a neutral.

Even Ohio State transfer Jameson Williams had four receptions for 126 yards in his first game for the Tide showing great connection with young. Miami looked lost at times and they made too many errors to even hang close in this one. They sacked D’Eriq King four times, forced three turnovers and stuffed him on a goal-line stand. King was under pressure all night by the Bama D-Line and wasn’t allowed to settle. Miami Faces App State next in the Hurricanes’ home opener at Hard Rock.

ACC Week 1 Review – Massachusetts 7 – 51 Pitt

It only took 15 minutes for The Panthers to be up two scores and from there it was a bloodbath. Kenny Pickett threw for 272 yards and the two scores and ran the Offence with efficiency. It was the ground game that stole time from The Minute Men. Five different rushers found the endz one on a torrid day for Massachusetts. Pitt even used three Quarterbacks in this one as Pickett was pulled early in the third quarter and backups Patti and Beville chipped in with 99 yards throwing after his departure. Even though Pitt were now without two NFL draftees on the D-Line, Linebackers Phil Campbell III, Wendell Davis and John Petrishen showed they can get to the Quarterback. Pitt sacked Tyler Lytle four times and held UMASS to just 209 yards on Offence. Pitt travels to Tennessee next in what should be a good game.

ACC Week 1 Review – Syracuse 29 – 9 Ohio

The Orange got their season off to a flier against Ohio in a game that was as one sided in the first half as you’re likely to see all year for Cuse. Nine points in the first fifteen minutes was all it took for Syracuse to be out of sight. Jerome Buckner led all receivers with 102 yards on seven receptions for the Bobcats. It was Sean Tucker who sparkled for The Orange as he set a career high with 181 rushing yards and a touchdown. In his first game in charge of The Bobcats, Tim Albin’s side failed to find the end zone as all their points were from kicker Stephen Johnson. Syracuse welcomes Rutgers in their home opener in which they look to build on the week one win.

ACC Week 1 Review – Northern Illinois 22 – 21 Georgia Tech

In a game where GT were 19 point favourites Northern Illinois matched them play for play. They even withstood a fourth quarter resurgence to win the game. Georgia Tech was one of my dark horses for having a good season after last year’s disappointment but now I’m not so sure. The Huskies and Rocky Lombardi rallied back to score a short touchdown to cut GT’s lead to one. Overtime wasn’t an option for NI as they went for two and scored with 38 seconds left to win the game. The Yellow Jackets starting Quarterback Jeff Sims left the game before the half with an arm injury and was seen on the sideline with it in a sling so his status for week two is up in the air as of now. GT need to rally in week two against Kennesaw State in what should be a Win.

ACC Week 1 Review – William and Mary 0 – 43 Virginia

Virginia runs through Brennan Armstrong. It’s that simple for The Cavaliers. He didn’t even need to use his strong run game. This game was so one sided. Armstrong completed 20 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored twice on the ground ending the day with zero rushing yards. His first score was to Ra’Shaun Henry from five yards out. This catch means it was Henry’s fifth score in eight catches at Virginia. Virginia remains at home in week two to face Illinois who should offer some better competition. It won’t be till after this game we can really draw conclusions on Virginia but this was a nice warm up for The Cavaliers. Side note, William and Mary is a small school in Williamsburg, Virginia, so for them this was a huge derby.

ACC Week 1 Review – Duke 28 – 31 Charlotte

Any dad who takes their young son to a post game press conference and sits them on his knee whilst clearly holding back tears of joy is a hero to me. That is exactly what Will Healy did in his post match presser hot after his teams surprise victory over The Duke Blue Devils.

The 49ers were 6.5 point underdogs and they scored in every quarter to keep things close. Including four lead changes in the last quarter to get the win. It was a historic night for Duke’s Running Back Mataeo Durant, as he set a Duke school-record 255 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Duke will need to improve in the pass rush area of the Defence as they allowed Charlotte’s QB Chris Renolds to throw three touchdowns and amass 324 yards. Duke faces North Carolina A&T in week two.

ACC Week 1 Review – Old Dominion 10 – 42 Wake Forest

A 48 yard touchdown and a 99 yard kick return all but shut the door on a rusty Old Dominion team that was taking to the field for the first time in two years after not playing last year. This was almost a training game for The Demon Deacons as they ran away with the game. Sam Hartman looked good throwing for 188 yards and three touchdowns for Wake Forest. One of those going to Jaquarii Roberson for his fifth consecutive game with a TD. Wake face a much stiffer test in week two as they play a surging Virginia side in a game that will see one team record their first loss.

ACC Week 1 Review – Louisville – Ole Miss

At the time of writing thi game has yet to be played. With Ole Miss’ head coach Lane Kiffin not present due to Covid protocol, I think this game goes under the points total of 74.5. I’d love for The Cardinals to get the win, but i just feel the Rebels have to much and edge this one 34-31.

– Stocks @5yardrush