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The top of the ACC is trash. Florida State is in a free fall.Clemson got blown out by Georgia.
Virginia Tech lost to Vanderbilt.N.C.
State lost to Tennessee by 40.Louisville is 2-0 against unworthy opponents (Jacksonville State and Austin Peay).
Pitt is 3-0 but with two lucky fourth-quarter comeback wins.North Carolina should’ve lost to Minnesota in Week 1. On top of that, the entire conference is 0-4 against ranked non-ACC foes. However, one team is starting to separate itself from the Atlantic Coast garbage heap. The most impressive ACC performance in the young season is Miami’s blowout win over Florida.
The Gators aren’t very good, but the Hurricanes embarrassed them in Gainesville behind 380 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Cam Ward. Ward is the top Heisman contender (+450, FanDuel), leading the FBS in Pro Football Focus’ passing grades (93.1) and touchdown passes (11), while ranking behind only Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart in yards per dropback (11.3). Miami can run the ball with Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez (47 percent success rate), the defense ranks second nationally in Havoc rate (23 percent), and the special teams are borderline elite. Still, Ward is the primary reason the Hurricanes lead all FBS teams in net EPA per play (+0.72). He does have an Achilles heel, however, and that’s Havoc.His adjusted completion percentage drops almost 20 points from a clean pocket to a pressured one, where he’s far more vulnerable to turnover-worthy plays. Luckily, Miami’s ACC schedule features defenses likely to finish around or below the national average in Havoc rate. The Hurricanes face two talented defensive fronts in Virginia Tech and Florida State, but both are vastly underperforming, and the games will be played at home.
Miami doesn’t play Clemson and its talented defensive front. The biggest challenge will be at Louisville, as Ward must handle stud defensive end Ashton Gillotte in a hostile environment.But the Hur...