ACC football picks: Wake Forest vs. #3 Clemson & 3 more

The game of the year in the ACC takes place Saturday afternoon. Overall it’s a sad state of affairs for the ACC in 2019. Florida State already fired its coach, Syracuse completely failed to live up to its preseason ranking, Miami finds ways to lose games it shouldn’t and NC State has as many injuries as anybody. The conference has so little respect nationally that some pundits are foolishly theorizing that an undefeated Clemson team could be left out of the College Football Playoff because of such an easy schedule. All games listed are Saturday.

Wake Forest at #3 Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Clemson has rolled to a 10-0 record and 7-3 record against the spread and has done so in increasingly impressive fashion. In their last four ACC games, the Tigers are 4-0 ATS and have scored at least 45 points in five straight games. The offense that everyone knew would be lethal coming into the season has fulfilled the prophecy.

We must acknowledge Wake Forest has already exceeded preseason expectations and sits at 7-2 overall (and 4-4 against the spread). Wake Forest is a well-coached team that has shown the ability to score points in bunches. Its defense leaves plenty to be desired, but with a spread this high and the ACC Atlantic Division already locked up, that defense might get to spend the second half facing Clemson's third string.

Wake Forest averages 35.7 points per game, which makes it the most potent offense Clemson has faced this year. While it might feels foolish to back a team that lost this matchup 63-3 just a year ago, I’m siding with the Demon Deacons on Saturday. The Wake Forest offense is capable of scoring enough points to take advantage and cover.

Pick: Wake Forest +34

Virginia Tech (-6.5) at Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. ET

I’ve been against the Yellow Jackets all year with good results (they are just 2-7 ATS), but the public is overwhelmingly on Virginia Tech in this game, and the spread isn’t moving much. Georgia Tech’s young roster might be figuring out its new identity.

Pick: Georgia Tech +6.5

Syracuse at Duke (-10.5), 4 p.m. ET, ACC Network

The Orange are 0-5 ATS in their last five games, while the Blue Devils are just 1-4 in their last five. When bad teams play each other late in the year, I like to start the game with a 10.5-point lead.

Pick: Syracuse +10.5

Louisville (-4) at North Carolina State, 7:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network

Louisville as a road favorite, just a year removed from being the worst Power Five team in the country, is a scary proposition. But NC State has been decimated by injuries, and Louisville's players have bought into coach Scott Satterfield. The Louisville offense has showed more promise than NC State's.

Pick: Louisville -4

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