ESPN College Football

Everyone in the ACC but Boston College and Maryland are playing in some sort of rivalry game this week. Here’s a quick look ahead at the bragging rights games:

Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5)

Series record: Clemson (65-37-4)

Last meeting: Clemson, 31-14, 2008

Overview: Steve Spurrier has only had the edge once against the Tigers, and the Gamecocks are trying to avoid losing out in the regular season for the third straight time. Clemson, on the other hand, is on a six-game winning streak, coming off winning the Atlantic Division title, and has a defense that will take advantage of a mistake-prone offensive line.

Florida State (6-5) at Florida (11-0)

Series record: Florida (32-19-2)

Last meeting: Florida, 45-13, 2008

Overview: The disparity between these two programs can be seen everywhere from coaching, to defense, to quarterbacks and their records. An upset seems highly unlikely, given that Florida is riding a nation-leading 21-game winning streak, and the Seminoles are just happy to be bowl eligible. FSU is on a five-game losing streak against the Gators, and it doesn’t look like it will end in what could be Bobby Bowden’s final game.

North Carolina (8-3) at NC State (4-7)

Series record: North Carolina (63-29-6)

Last meeting: NC State, 41-10, 2008

Overview: The plotline in this game took a dramatic twist earlier today when Tom O’Brien announced that offensive coordinator Dana Bible has cancer. It will be an emotional season finale for the Pack, but will emotion be enough to overcome UNC’s stingy defense? For NC State, this is the closest thing they’ll have to a bowl game, and they’ll be playing with Bible in their hearts and minds. This marks the first time the teams have met to close out the regular season since 1998.

Wake Forest (4-7) at Duke (5-6)

Series record: Duke (53-34-2)

Last meeting: Wake Forest, 33-30 ot, 2008

Overview: Wake Forest has won nine straight against Duke, a streak that includes four games at Wallace Wade Stadium. The last three games have been close, with the Demon Deacons winning by a combined nine-point margin, and there’s no reason to think either team will dominate this weekend. Both defenses will be tested, as it is the first meeting in ACC history between two quarterbacks who each have thrown for over 9,000 career passing yards in Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis and Wake’s Riley Skinner.

Georgia (6-5) at Georgia Tech (10-1):

Series record: Georgia (59-39-5)

Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 45-42, 2008

Overview: The Jackets snapped a seven-game losing streak to Georgia with last year’s win in Athens, and the same players are back to win the state championship again. Georgia’s defense has struggled all season, but there is also a lack of confidence throughout the program, and the turnovers and penalties have piled up. Georgia Tech is the better team this year and should show it on the field Saturday.

Miami (8-3) at South Florida (7-3):

Series record: Miami (1-0-0)

Last meeting: Miami, 27-7, 2005

Overview: It’s hard to consider it a rivalry, considering their short history, but when two South Florida teams match up, anything can happen. Florida State already lost to the Bulls, and quarterback B.J. Daniels was a big reason why. Miami has the better offense, but South Florida is holding opponents to just 19.4 points per game.

Virginia Tech (8-3) at Virginia (3-8)

Series record: Virginia Tech (48-37-5)

Last meeting: Virginia Tech, 14-3, 2008

Overview: The Hokies own a five-game winning streak in the series, but even coach Frank Beamer admitted there was a little bit of luck involved in last year’s win. The players haven’t given up on coach Al Groh, and regardless of what his future is, this will be the final chance the seniors have to beat the Hokies, and odds are they won’t give in until the last snap. Ryan Williams should face a better defense than he did last week, but Virginia Tech is playing its best football and should be able to overcome the intangibles.