CLEMSON – Every week The Clemson Insider takes an in-depth look into the weekly slate of games in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This week there is a ranked matchup between a new ACC member in No. 20 SMU and No. 18 Pittsburgh.
Duke heads to No. 5 Miami to try and knock off the Hurricanes, while the 11th-ranked Tigers are back at home to face off against Louisville and its explosive offense.
Saturday
Duke (6-2, 2-2 ACC) at No. 5 Miami (4-0, 8-0 ACC) Noon ET; ABC
Latest Line: MIA -20
Notes: Duke has won three of the last five meetings against Miami, including a 45-21 win in Miami Gardens, Florida, in the last meeting between the two teams in 2022. Duke is playing its second straight game against a ranked opponent, falling to No. 22 SMU in overtime last week. The Blue Devils last win over a ranked team came against No. 9 Clemson on September 4, 2023. Miami has been productive offensively and leads the country with 226 first downs and 46.8 points per game.
Stanford (2-6, 1-4 ACC) at NC State (4-4, 1-3 ACC) Noon ET; ACC Network
Latest Line: NCSU -10
Notes: Stanford’s trip to Raleigh, North Carolina, will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Stanford has logged four rushing touchdowns this season with each being scored by backup quarterback Justin Lamson. Four different members of the Cardinal have combined to throw 11 touchdown passes. NC State has logged three defensive touchdowns this season, which ranks third in the ACC. NC State has sold out its last 19 games at Carter-Finley Stadium, including this week’s game versus Stanford. It is the longest sellout streak in NC State history.
Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-1 ACC) at Syracuse (5-2, 2-2 ACC) Noon ET; The CW
Latest Line: VT -4
Notes: A Syracuse win would make the Orange bowl-eligible for the third straight season. The Orange have not played in three or more consecutive bowl games since 1995-99 when they made postseason trips for five straight years. VT’s Bhayshul Tuten ranks in the top 10 nationally in both rushing yards (950) and rushing touchdowns (12). Tuten looks to become the first Hokie since 2009 with 1,000 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in a season.
North Carolina (4-4, 1-3 ACC) at Florida State (1-7, 1-6 ACC) 3:30 pm ET; ACC Network
Latest Line: UNC -2.5
Notes: Florida State is playing its final ACC game of the season when it hosts North Carolina. The Seminoles will close the season with three non-conference games. North Carolina picked up its first ACC win of 2024 with a 41-14 victory at Virginia. The Tar Heels held Virginia to just seven rushing yards in the win. The Seminoles have won eight straight games in November after posting a perfect 4-0 record in November in both 2022 and 2023.
Louisville (5-3, 3-2 ACC) at No. 11 Clemson (6-1, 5-0 ACC) 7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN
Latest Line: CLEM -10.5
Notes: With three ACC games left, Clemson is eyeing its fourth undefeated conference slate in the past seven years. Louisville is 2-1 on the road this season and 2-0 in ACC games. The Cardinals are in the midst of a three-game road trip. The Cardinals’ three losses have all been by just one touchdown (7 points) to top-25 ranked teams (Notre Dame, SMU and Miami). In ACC games, Clemson is scoring a league-leading 45.0 points per game. The Tigers also boast the best defense in ACC play, allowing just 325.2 yards per game.
No. 18 Pitt (7-0, 3-0 ACC) at No. 20 SMU (7-1, 4-0 ACC) 8 p.m. ET; ACC Network
Latest Line: SMU -7.5
Notes: Pitt and SMU have previously met as ranked opponents in the 1983 Cotton Bowl. No. 4 SMU defeated No. 6 Pitt, 7-3, in Dan Marino’s final collegiate game. Each of the last two meetings between Pitt and SMU have come in bowl games. Most recently, the teams met in the 2012 BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama, with SMU winning 28-6. With a win, Pitt would move to 8-1 for the first time since the 1981 season. Pitt’s Desmond Reid leads the ACC and ranks third nationally in all-purpose yards, averaging 160.2 per game.