A look at things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Week 4:
GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 20 Georgia Tech’s visit to Duke figures to once again have significant ramifications in the Coastal Division race. Both teams are coming off close losses to ranked nonconference teams, with the Yellow Jackets falling at No. 6 Notre Dame and the Blue Devils out-mistaking No. 17 Northwestern. Duke knocked off Georgia Tech last year in Atlanta, and a defense that ranks 15th nationally against the run should provide a good test for Tech’s triple-option. Coach Paul Johnson says that because this is a divisional game, it ”counts like two.”
BEST MATCHUP: Syracuse’s run defense vs. LSU RB Leonard Fournette. The Orange’s best chance to shock the eighth-ranked Tigers rides with their run-stoppers. Syracuse ranks third nationally against the run, allowing an average of 46.7 yards. Fournette leads the nation in rushing, averaging 193.5 yards, and rolled up 228 in a rout of formerly ranked Auburn. Syracuse coach Scott Shafer calls Fournette the ”best running back I’ve seen in my 26 years” in coaching.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: North Carolina has made significant progress in its first year with defensive coordinator Gene Chizik. The Tar Heels in 2014 played 52 quarters and allowed points in all but four of them. This year North Carolina already has posted six scoreless quarters through just three games. Coach Larry Fedora says his players ”are feeling much more comfortable in the techniques that they’re having to play in this style of defense, and so they’re gaining confidence.”
LONG SHOT: Perhaps North Carolina State should be wary of its trip to Mobile to face 16-point underdog South Alabama. The Jaguars are coming off a win at San Diego State that they’ve called the biggest in their program’s brief history. So they should be amped for just their second visit from a major-conference program – they lost at home to Mississippi State last year. The Wolfpack have cruised to three straight double-figure wins against one of the country’s weaker schedules.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Keep an eye on Wake Forest freshman QB Kendall Hinton, who may make his first start against unbeaten Indiana. Hinton replaced injured starter John Wolford last week at Army and threw for 159 yards while rushing for 114 yards and both of the Demon Deacons’ touchdowns in a 17-14 victory.
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Compiled by AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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