ACC Week 14 picks: Syracuse vs. Notre Dame & 3 more

The ACC finds itself in an odd situation, as its top-ranked team team in the 2020 standings is an imposter.

Normally an independent team in football, Notre Dame’s loose partnership with the ACC in a unique year has afforded it the opportunity to play a full schedule against quality competition and earn a top-four ranking that fellow independent, BYU, can't achieve with its 2020 schedule.

While the partnership is unique, it gives the ACC a tremendous opportunity to advance two “conference” teams to the College Football Playoff and share the revenue generated by the successful Irish program.

Let’s take a look at Notre Dame’s Week 14 matchup and a few other games across the ACC.

Syracuse vs. #2 Notre Dame

The Orange are a shell of the team that was ranked to start the 2019 season. With a 1-9 record (5-5 against the spread), Syracuse is the worst in the conference at basically every facet of the game. With major struggles on offense and defense, Syracuse once again finds itself as a significant underdog.

Notre Dame enters with a 9-0 record (5-4 ATS) needs to maintain course to keep its title hopes alive.

But Syracuse has shown some fight in two of its last three games. The Orange narrowly lost to North Carolina State and Boston College. In both, the Syracuse defense showed some resistance and will be called on again to keep the Notre Dame offense settling for field goals instead of touchdowns.

Off a big win against North Carolina and against such an unimposing opponent, a letdown seems inevitable for Notre Dame. The Irish are still without their top offensive lineman, and if they try to play conservatively with the run game, a rolling clock will help the underdog.

Pick: Syracuse +33.5

Boston College vs. Virginia

Virginia has clawed its way to a 4-4 record and is 6-2 ATS, with four straight wins ATS.

Dual-threat quarterback Brennan Armstrong is the team’s leading rusher, which is normally not a good sign, but his grit comes through when he puts his head down and picks up yards on the ground.

Virginia got an extra week to prepare for this game and Boston College starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec went down with an injury in the Eagles’ last game.

Pick: Virginia -6.5

#9 Miami vs. Duke

Miami will finally get back on the field, after a rash of COVID-19 cases in the program disrupted its November schedule. The Hurricanes will take on a Duke team that previously was scheduled to play Florida State this week.

The availability of Miami's players will certainly be a major issue to track leading up to the game, but assuming the Hurricanes are at full strength, they will have too much firepower for the Blue Devils, who only have one conference win.

Pick: Miami

#4 Clemson vs. Virginia Tech

Any doubts or questions about Trevor Lawrence’s effectiveness coming off a five-week break were answered in the first half last week against Pittsburgh, when he and his teammates eviscerated what was previously a competitive team.

Clemson will continue its march to the ACC Championship Game and a spot in the CFP. It is probably not wise to go against an angry Clemson team, but Virginia Tech ranks third in the nation at 5.9 yards per rush attempt.

As a three-score underdog, I like a team that can run the ball, run the clock, and has covered four straight games as a home underdog.

Pick: Virginia Tech +21.5

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