Welcome to day 3 of our little tournament.  A late run by the Big 12 came up short, as the PAC 12 prevailed 5-3-2.  We now move on to the bottom halves of the B1G and the ACC (as voted on by our contributors).  Lot of sneaky good match ups in this one as we try and crown the “champs”.

Nebraska vs UNC

Nebraska – Anthony Ventura

If you like nine-win seasons, with an over-hyped but historically good brand, then you’ll love the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Last year Nebraska went 9-4 with a bowl loss, but those four losses came to #11 Wisconsin, #6 Ohio State, #21 Tennessee, and an Iowa team who was hot at the time they played. Even two years ago, when they only had five wins, they somehow managed to get into a bowl and beat UCLA. Tommy Armstrong is no longer in Lincoln, not that he was that great, but he was a constant with this team. He had seemingly been there as long as Perry Ellis was at Kansas. They look to replace him with Tulane transfer Tanner Lee, who has emerged as the top QB going into this year. They did sign some high-profile recruits, including top WR target Tyjon Lindsay, who played at the national championship high school, Bishop Gorman. Maybe Lindsay and other new targets can emerge and give Lee some options to hit.  I think Nebraska pairs well with this UNC team though. Both teams lost their QB from the previous season, and both have shaky defenses. UNC lost top players Mitch Trubisky, Ryan Switzer and Elijah Hood to the draft and will need to find replacements fast. Neither team has a stellar offense, or a good defense really, so it will come down to whichever defense can get a big stop near the end of the half or end of the game. In a battle of defenses, I tend to lean with the Big Ten team. Cornhuskers over Tar Heels.

UNC – Luke Maiers

This season will be Larry Fedora’s sixth year as the North Carolina football coach, and he has made five (should have been six) bowl games in that time frame. Before he got there in 2011, the Tar Heels hadn’t finished first in ACC Coastal Division in the 2000s. He has done that twice in six seasons. Fedora has been a great coach since he arrived at UNC. He turned that program around, and they will have continued success this season. If they were to match-up with Nebraska for a game, give me the Heels. Nebraska is one of the more unreliable/unpredictable teams in the country. Plus, their fans are the absolute worst. They pushed Bo Pellini out of town because nine win seasons “weren’t good enough.” Wake up idiots, this isn’t the 90s. You play in a tough conference now, unlike the Big 12. UNC will win this game because the Cornhuskers will stomp on their own manhood and hand the win over. UNC is decent as well.

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Michigan State vs Pittsburgh

Michigan State – Chris Schnieder

Coming off a 3-9 season, Michigan State will have a lot doubters in 2017, but the Spartans are no strangers to the “chip on the shoulder” mentality and the feeling around East Lansing is that the Spartans are primed for a bounce back season. On offense, running back LJ Scott will lead the Spartans. The junior from Ohio is one of the best RBs in the Big Ten and is capable of busting a 70 yard run at any point. Alongside LJ Scott, Brian Lewerke looks to be the next great Quarterback to play for MSU, already drawing comparisons to Kirk Cousins. Against an inexperienced Pitt defense, the Spartans should have a field day. Defensively, Michigan State will be young, but they have a lot of talented guys just waiting to breakout such as Mike Panasiuk, Joe Bachie, and Justin Layne. While MSU’s defense is young, I think the Spartans have enough playmakers to keep Max Browne and Pitt in check. This one should be a hard fought win for the Green and White.

Pittsburgh – Frank Fanelli

Is it possible for the Pitt offense to be even more dangerous despite the loss of inspirational star RB James Conner and bombing QB Nathan Peterman? Probably not. After finishing tenth in the nation in scoring and averaging close to 450 yards per game, their offense is still going to be really, really good. USC transfer Max Browne is a talented veteran whose main problem is that he’s not Sam Darnold. There are options if he’s not great, but in this offense he’ll get plenty of time to work behind a good line. That could be the biggest issue with the attack…who’ll replace Dorian Johnson and Adam Bisnowaty on the left side? The receiving corps will help make the transition to Browne seamless. Jester Weah and Quadree Henderson, when he’s not cranking out massive runs out of the backfield, should be among the ACC’s deadliest receiving tandems. The running back situation is going to be figured out on the fly. There’s not a tough guy like Conner, but Henderson will get a little work to go along with all the options. Now their D? It was….. interesting. Defensive coordinator Josh Conklin and defensive-minded head coach Pat Narduzzi weren’t afraid to sell the house to get to the quarterback and leave the defensive backfield hung out to dry. The Panthers had the second-worst pass defense in the country, allowing 333 yards per game and 453 overall. There’s talent in the defensive backfield, and while there will still be problems, at least there’s going to be more of a rotation with a deeper pool of options to choose from around Jordan Whitehead at safety and Avonte Maddox at one corner. The defensive front has to replace pass rushing terror Ejuan Price. It should be a good front four with the return of end Dewayne Hendrix after missing almost all of last year and two other starters back. Pitt rides the play of Browne and beats MSU 35-28.

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Indiana vs Wake Forest

Indiana – Lilly Donahue

Indiana football has been consistently improving for the past four seasons. The Hoosiers head into the 2017 season with back-to-back bowl appearances under their belt, and bring with them a host of returning starters. QB Richard Lagow was a wildcard last year, with the arm strength to throw it a mile, but also an affinity for interceptions. He looks to return this season with a year under his belt, and will likely be more consistent. While IU has to replace a talented RB in Devine Redding, they will employ a committee of solid backs this year. The passing game will be one to watch with a healthy Simmie Cobbs joining talented receivers in Nick Westbrook and Ian Thomas. Former DC Tom Allen now holds the reigns as head coach, and will bring a strong Hoosier defense on the field, led by star LB Tegray Scales and a dangerous DB group. The returning strengths of IU outweigh their losses, and the Hoosiers will look to get revenge for last year’s loss to Wake Forest. If Lagow can limit his interceptions, (he threw a whopping 5 in last year’s matchup), the Hoosiers should be able to come out on top.

Wake Forest – Austin Montgomery

The Demon Deacons went 7-6 last year and won a bowl game. Wake Forest should continue to improve in Dave Clawson’s 4th year, and the first in which the opposing team does not have knowledge of their play script.  They return just about everyone on the offensive side of the ball. Wake Forest’s 7 offensive linemen combine for over 75 starts, and juniors Justin Herron, Phil Hayes, and Ryan Herron have All-ACC potential. They return their top two running backs, and return every receiver who caught a pass last year.  Experience and depth should make the Wake Forest offense more effective. The Wake Forest defensive was magnificent last year, ranking in the top 20 in scoring defense by allowing just 22.3 points per game.  The Deacons return passing rushing sensation Duke Ejiofor, who recorded 10.5 sacks last season to lead a defensive line that has some very nice depth. Wake Forest thrived in rushing the passer, ranking 11th in the country in sacks in the country. They also return sensational defensive back Jesse Bates, who may be the best safety in the country not named Derwin James.  Bates was second on the team in tackles totaling 108 stops and recorded 5 interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. The one weaknesses in Wake Forest’s defensive armor is their thin linebacker core and rush defense. Wake Forest went 0-4 when teams rushed for over 200 yards.  However, Indiana’s weak rushing attack should not even threaten that mark. Indiana rushers averaged a minimal 3.8 yards per carry last year. Look for Wake Forest to dominate the Hoosiers in the trenches. Wake Forest’s pressure should handicap the Indiana offense and the Wake Fores’st defense will be able to make some huge plays.  Wake Forest wins after a defensive touchdowns turns the momentum in their favor.

Wake Forest wins in a close one 20-10.

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Maryland vs Syracuse

Maryland – Brendan Smith

Syracuse – Brendan Smith

Who would win Maryland vs Syracuse?

• Syracuse (59%, 19 Votes)
• Maryland (41%, 13 Votes)

Total Voters: 32

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Illinois vs Boston College

Illinois – Seth Berland

Well, year one under coach Lovie Smith was an interesting one for the Illini. They did see some improvement and had some very explosive players (and games), but they were not nearly consistent enough for it to show up big in the win column.

Yes, BC had more wins than Illinois last year. But the match ups for Illinois play to their advantage; the biggest weakness on this team is the defense, but BC has just a horrible offense, so they won’t be able to do much damage against anyone. On the other end, the Illini have a dynamic rushing attack with last year’s top RBs Kendrick Foster (720 yards, 7 TDs) and Reggie Corbin (523 yards, 2 TDs), and while BC has a pretty strong defensive line, the Illini return 3 starters on the o-line. This may not be the most exciting match up to watch when Boston College is on offense, but on the other side, the Illini offense could put up enough big plays to pull off the “upset”.

Boston College – Ben Shumate

Boston College may well have been one of the worst teams to make a bowl game in 2016, especially from a Power 5 conference. But don’t tell that to Maryland, who somehow gave up 36 points to one of the weakest offenses in the FBS in last year’s Quick Lane Bowl, which ended in a surprisingly-entertaining BC win.

The good news for BC is that 17 starters will return from last year’s bowl team. The defense, which carried the team pretty much the whole season in 2016, ranks 42nd in returning production according to SB Nation’s Bill Connelly. And likewise, the offense ranks 53rd.

So an offense that couldn’t get much worse (127th in total offense, better than only Rutgers!) is bound to be better. There’s depth at receiver and lots of experience on the offensive line. Jon Hillman is healthy and was named to the Doak Walker watch list this summer. It’s always troubling when a team hasn’t named its starting quarterback, but they seem to have two capable(?) options in the returning Darius Wade and redshirt freshman Anthony Brown.

Whoever it ends up being won’t be asked to do a whole lot. The defense will return one of the best front 7’s in the country, outside of Clemson. That alone, and being led by a football guy like Steve Addazio, should get BC over the top against any team as mediocre as Illinois.

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Purdue vs Duke

Purdue – Cody Goggin

Never thought I’d be here defending Purdue, but here I am. Also, for any of those who know me, you know I’m always willing to dog on Duke. Purdue will be slinging the rock all over the place under the new direction of head coach Jeff Brohm. After crawling out of their shells for a few years, Duke football is back to being the ACC bottom feeders they truly are. The Blue Devils really have no promise for this season, or any in the future, especially as long as Cutcliffe is still there. Purdue slings it all over Duke and makes the ACC look silly, Purdue 42-17.

Duke – PJ Guippone

No one in Durham is talking about football right now. The Blue Devils are coming off one of their worst seasons under David Cutcliffe at a basketball school that just signed a five-star recruit they shouldn’t have even had a chance at until next season. That doesn’t necessarily lead to excitement around the football team on campus. Still, the motivation is within the team, which is trying to avoid missing another postseason after making four straight before last year. They have veterans on both the offensive and defensive lines, and a returning quarterback who was voted the most valuable player of the team last season. Cutcliffe also seems confident based on the positive comments he made after the team’s second scrimmage. At the end of the day though, they are playing Purdue.  And, Purdue is bad at football.  Blue Devils by a field goal.

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Rutgers vs Virginia

Rutgers – Brendan Smith

Virginia – Jacob Allen

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