Gravley's Pig Pickin' Oct 12

Wake Forest @ NC State

According to Wolfpack defensive tackle Tank Tyler, after every practice the Pack breaks their team huddle with the chant of ACC champs and state champs. Chuck Amato still believes winning beating all of the in state schools on your schedule is a big deal...and it is. It's a good recruiting tool. Wake and State has always been an interesting game and so should the 100th meeting between the 2 schools on Saturday. NC State's defensive front has been stellar in their last 2 wins over BC and FSU. Wake is always a challenge for a run defense and I can't wait to see the match-up of Wake's run offense vs. State's run defense. Pack QB Daniel Evans has been a difference maker since he entered the 4th quarter against Southern Miss. He just flat knows football and where everyone is supposed to be in the offense. So often we incorrectly measure a QB for his arm strength but knowledge of the game and footwork are 2 key elements of a QB. Watch the footwork of Evans how he rarely throws a ball without his feet in the proper position to make the throw.

South Florida @ North Carolina

It's another post expansion ACC vs. Big East match-up and the Heels need this one BIG TIME. At some point they'll need a win over a Division 1 team for goodness sakes. The players are talking about needing to go 5-2 in their final 7 games to become bowl eligible. Beating South Florida is a must for that to happen. The Bulls average 153 yards rushing per game and I'm sure they'll be pawing at the dirt to go up against Carolina's rushing defense that's giving up 202 yards per game. Also, don't forget that South Florida lost to undefeated Rutgers 22-20 and we saw what the Scarlett Knights did at Kenan to open the season. Rutgers 21 Carolina 16.

Tulsa @ East Carolina

The Pirates face a major test with defending conference champ, Tulsa coming to town. The Golden Hurricane lost fewer lettermen than any team in Conference USA's western division and they have started the season 4-1. Included in that record are back to back wins over Southern Miss and Navy. East Carolina has played well in it's last 3 games posting a 2-1 record. To Pirate fans, Tulsa may not be as sexy as West Virginia and Virginia but a win here would REALLY go a long way toward the Pirates extending their season with a bowl bid.

Florida State @ Duke

Gosh...the Devils score more touchdowns at Alabama than they did the entire year!! That's progress. It'll be interesting to see how interested Florida State is in this game. They'll be playing in front of half the folks they are accustomed to having in the stands. The Noles will either play poorly and win by 10 or take out their frustrations on Duke and it could be ugly. As Bobby Bowden once told Lou Holtz after beating Holtz by about 40...It's not my job to stop my offense. You either need to work harder or recruit better. UGH...

Till next week,
Jeff Gravley