sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Chocolate Day!
Today we celebrate and indulge in chocolate, the sweet treat that is made from the cocoa bean, which comes from the Theobroma cacao tree. The word "chocolate" itself comes from the Spanish, and it stems from the Aztec word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." The Aztecs pounded cacao beans and drank them without adding any sugar, and they thought that the beans came from the gods. Indeed, Theobroma means "food of the gods." Cocoa beans are about 50% "cocoa butter" and 50% "chocolate liquor." Hernando Cortés brought cocoa beans back to Spain, and a chocolate drink that included sugar became popular there right away. This seems to contradict the accounts that say chocolate wasn't introduced in Europe until 1550. The word "chocolate" first appeared in print, in England, in 1604.
SU News
Virginia Tech Football: Hokies open up as Road Favorites vs Syracuse (SI; Caudell)
After picking up a win yesterday vs Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech has a road test vs Syracuse. The Hokies have won three in a row and are still alive in the ACC Championship race. They would also clinch a second straight bowl game under Brent Pry if they can defeat the Orange, who are coming off of a blowout loss to Pittsburgh.
When the odds were released this morning, Virginia Tech opened up as a 3.5 point favorite according to Fanduel and the total is at 52.5 for now.
Syracuse owns the all time series lead over Virginia Tech 11-9. Last year though, it was the Hokies who won in dominating fashion, beating the Orange 38-10. However, Syracuse has won four of the last six games in this series between the two former Big East teams.
The big thing to watch this week is going to be the health of running back Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten was injured in the win over the Yellow Jackets yesterday and he is the best player on this Virginia Tech offense. If Tuten is unable to go, Malachi Thomas might be the leading ball carrier for the Hokies against Syracuse, but a lot is going to be put on quarterback Kyron Drones, as well as the Hokies' defense. Virginia Tech's defense did a good job against Georgia Tech yesterday and did not allow their running game to get going. Syracuse has a solid passing attack and could test the Hokies' secondary.
With a big home game on deck against Clemson next week, Virginia Tech can't afford to overlook Syracuse on the road.
Three Things Virginia Tech Must Fix Ahead Of It's Matchup With Syracuse (SI; McCuller)
1. 3rd Down Efficiency
The Hokies found themselves in an uphill battle yesterday, especially on third down where they converted just 13% of their third-down attempts. This weekend, the Hokies will go against Syracuse's offense, which is a very high-powered offense, if they want to win this game, they can’t be inefficient on those third-down attempts. Syracuse is putting up 30.9 points per game and 469.9 total yards a game which means, if Virginia Tech plays like they did this week on third down Syracuse could make them pay and win this game.
2. The Run Game
This week, the Virginia Tech rushing attack wasn’t as potent as in games past, which could be costly for them in this matchup. The Hokies are averaging 195 rushing yards a game, and yesterday only ended up with 99 rushing yards, when Georgia Tech schemed a good defense to stop them from running all over them. A big question for this game is whether star running back Bhayshul Tuten can even play in this game, as he was spotted in a walking boot after the game concluded. Tuten’s rushing streak of nine straight games with a touchdown ended, and he was held under 100 yards for his third game this season.
3. Passing game needs to be more consistent
This year we have seen the Hokies offense come out slow or struggle with throwing the football and that was no different yesterday. The Virginia Tech offense managed only 134 passing yards and averages 181.5 yards per game this season. This will likely need to improve, as we saw yesterday, teams will focus on stopping the run and force the Hokies to rely on the passing game. You also can’t rely on your defense to hold opponents to just six points and consistently provide your offense with great field position, especially against a potent offense like Syracuse’s.
Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse Prediction: Virginia Tech Predicted to Win in College Football Week 10 [2024] (dimers.com; Douglass)
Syracuse will take on Virginia Tech in college football action at JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, commencing at 12:00PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven college football model (see Dimers Pro for full access) predicts Virginia Tech as the most likely winner of the game.
"Our team has used the latest data to run 10,000 simulations of Saturday's Virginia Tech-Syracuse game," said Ryan Leaver from Dimers.
"By incorporating recent updates and various other inputs, we estimate that Virginia Tech is more likely to win, while Syracuse has a lower chance of victory."
Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse Game-Day Updates and Essential Details
Saturday's college football matchup between Syracuse and Virginia Tech at JMA Wireless Dome is scheduled to commence at 12:00PM ET.
- Who: Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse
- Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
- Time: 12:00PM ET/9:00AM PT
- Venue: JMA Wireless Dome
- Tickets: Get tickets for the game on Ticketmaster
Before making any Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse picks, be sure to check out the latest college football predictions and betting advice from Dimers Pro.
Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse Prediction: Who Will Win, Cover the Spread?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse 10,000 times as part of our college football predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model gives Virginia Tech a 56% chance of beating Syracuse. Our predicted final score has Virginia Tech winning 28-25.
According to our model, Syracuse (+3.5) has a 57% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 54 points has a 51% chance of staying under.
Syracuse football players say they won't let SU have a second-half slide this season (itlh; Adler)
In the 2022 season, Syracuse football started out 6-0 and was ranked No. 14 in the country, only to go 1-6 the rest of the way and finish at 7-6 overall.
The following year, in 2023, the Orange raced out to a 4-0 mark, but then it went 2-7 for the remainder of that campaign to finish with a 6-7 record. Granted, in both of those terms, the 'Cuse did make a bowl game, losing each time.
Syracuse football players in the current 2024 season say that they're adamant the team's slides in the second halves of recent years won't occur again this time around.
Entering week nine, the Orange was riding a three-game winning streak as it prepared to face No. 19 Pittsburgh on the road this past Thursday evening. The hope is that the 'Cuse would commence the second half of the 2024 season on a positive note, take care of business at the Panthers, and reside in the major top-25 polls following such an outcome.
Unfortunately, Pitt's defense manhandled Syracuse football, and the Panthers triumphed in a convincing fashion, 41-13. Orange senior quarterback Kyle McCord was intercepted five times, although several of those were tipped balls.
Pittsburgh notched three pick-sixes and scored 31 points off 'Cuse turnovers. So despite the Orange (5-2, 2-2 in the ACC) outgaining the Panthers in total yardage, 327-217, Pitt easily prevailed by four touchdowns.
Syracuse football players are laser-focused on avoiding second-half falterings in recent seasons.
As it became apparent last Thursday night that Pittsburgh would cruise by the 'Cuse, some Orange fans on social media understandably became concerned that, yet again, Syracuse football was headed toward a rough second half of a season.
Some fans even said that the Orange should just go ahead and cancel the rest of the 2024 term, which is absurd, but I do get fans' sentiments here.
In his post-game press conference, McCord credited the Panthers (7-0, 3-0 in the ACC) for having a good game plan and executing it well. But he was quick to point out that the 'Cuse can't do what it has done in other recent seasons, that is, trend in the wrong direction in the second half of the current term.
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Syracuse Football: 'It's about keeping your chin up right now,' Fran Brown says (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football, riding a three-game winning streak, entered hostile territory this past Thursday night when it traveled to long-time rival Pittsburgh in a prime-time collision on ESPN.
The Orange and the No. 19 Panthers were meeting for the 80th time on the field, and the 'Cuse program wanted to knock Pitt from the ranks of the unbeaten while securing a third triumph over an opponent that was ranked in the major top-25 polls at the time of the encounter.
That didn't happen. We all know the outcome. The Panthers' defense played at an ultra-high level, and the home team came away with a 41-13 beatdown of our beloved Syracuse football.
As first-year head coach Fran Brown said in his post-game press conference after the program's loss to Pittsburgh, stuff like this happens in the sport of football. "It's about keeping your chin up right now," Brown says, a point with which I adamantly agree.
The key is for Syracuse football to learn and grow from its setback to Pittsburgh.
Brown, in his post-game presser, said that he feels like he let down everyone associated with Syracuse University - his program, alumni, fans, SU faculty, and so on and so forth. He apologized for his team's performance.
This is what I admire about Fran Brown. His DART philosophy includes being accountable, and that's what he's doing. He says that he believes this Atlantic Coast Conference clash at Pitt was an affair that the Orange (5-2, 2-2 in the ACC) was supposed to win and should have won, but that the Panthers (7-0, 3-0 in the ACC) simply outplayed the 'Cuse.
The Syracuse football head coach added that he has to "do a much better job" of having his program ready to go and compete at a high level on a big, national stage - like a prime-time, ESPN broadcast on a Thursday evening.
Pittsburgh's swarming defense intercepted Orange senior quarterback Kyle McCord five times, including a trio of pick-sixes, and the Panthers in total scored 31 points stemming from Syracuse football turnovers. That proved too insurmountable for the 'Cuse to overcome, despite the Orange having a 327-217 edge over Pitt in total yards generated.
Understandably, after this latest loss, some fans lamented that the pair of defeats that Syracuse football has suffered to date in the 2024 season both occurred after the 'Cuse was coming off a bye week. Brown says that the team, before its meeting with Pittsburgh, practiced well during the bye week and was locked in, but in football, sometimes the game merely doesn't fall your way.
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Syracuse’s defense surrendered just 217 yards of total offense despite getting blown out by No. 19 Pittsburgh.
Syracuse’s defense shines despite defeat to No. 19 Pittsburgh (DO; Girshon)
There was a buzzing energy surrounding Syracuse’s defense pregame at Acrisure Stadium.
As the Orange prepared for their third matchup versus a ranked opponent, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported pregame star linebacker Marlowe Wax would return for his first game since sustaining an injury in Week 1. Already entering the game fresh off three straight wins and a bye week, SU’s chances of making a statement win received a significant boost.
Syracuse’s (5-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) defense had one of its best performances this season in Wax’s return, allowing just 217 yards to No. 19 Pittsburgh (7-0, 3-0 ACC). However, because of quarterback Kyle McCord’s career-worst five interceptions, including three pick-sixes, SU’s defensive outing didn’t matter in its blowout 41-13 loss.
“So if you would’ve told me that if they had two touchdowns on the offensive side of the football and under 200 yards and still have 40-something points … that’s just how it goes sometimes,” SU head coach Fran Brown said postgame.
The Orange’s defense immediately set the tone. After Pitt elected to receive the opening kickoff, SU’s notched an immediate three and out. On the Panthers’ first two plays, Syracuse displayed a look resembling previous defensive coordinator Rocky Long’s 3-3-5 defense.
Leading into the game, safety Alijah Clark praised first-year defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson for adjusting his scheme to fit the team’s strengths rather than just implementing a new system. With the defense’s man in the middle back in the mix, Robinson showed trust in his players. And they delivered.
On the first play, the Panthers gave running back Desmond Reid — who entered the game second in the ACC in all-purpose yards — an inside handoff. He was instantly met by Duce Chestnut and Derek McDonald, gaining just two yards. Quarterback Eli Holstein tried hitting Konata Mumpfield on a post route on the ensuing play, but the ball was nearly picked off by Clark, leading to third-and-8.
After showing the 3-3-5 formation on the first two plays, Robinson dialed up a blitz pre-snap with five players at the line of scrimmage. When the ball was snapped, though, Justin Barron and Chestnut dropped back into zone coverage. Because Holstein didn’t have any receivers open, he tried running. But Barron instantly met him at the line of scrimmage to force a punt.
Despite starting the game flawlessly defensively, Syracuse’s offense was anything but that. Following two shaky throws, McCord threw the first of his three pick-sixes, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead. Then, on SU’s next possession, McCord threw his second interception, giving Pitt possession on the Orange’s 44-yard line.
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(youtube.com; video; ACC DN)
The #19 Panthers blew out the Orange, 41-13, in a dominant defensive performance. The Pitt defense picked off Syracuse's Kyle McCord four times in the first half, returning three of the interceptions for touchdowns. At halftime, the Pitt defense had 127 return yards on interceptions while the Syracuse offense had 123 total yards, and the Pitt offense only had 83 total yards. The Pitt defense also had four sacks and nine tackles for loss. Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein was 11-15 for 108 yards and two touchdowns. While McCord was picked off five times in the game, he also completed 35 of 64 pass attempts for 321 yards.
Syracuse football keeps pursuing 4-star WR Winston Watkins, top-50 national prospect (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football coaches remain in pursuit of 2025 four-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. from Florida, according to a recruiting analyst.
The 5-foot-10, 172-pound Watkins, who was recently selected to the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl that will take place on January 11 of next year in San Antonio, received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff in late December of last year. He had previously given verbal commitments to Texas A&M and then Colorado.
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A top-50 national prospect and a top-10 wide receiver in the senior cycle per , Watkins did take an unofficial visit to the Hill in late March of this year. More recently, from late May to late June, he went on official visits to Indiana, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
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Time, TV channel set for Syracuse football’s game against Virginia Tech in JMA Dome (PS; Carlson)
The Syracuse football team’s game against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 2, will be played at Noon and broadcast on the CW channel.
The ACC initially chose not to designate a time or channel for any of its games last week, deciding to let the games play out and determine which ones would be critical for determining a league champion and potential College Football Playoff participants.
Syracuse’s blowout loss to Pittsburgh ended those possibilities for the Orange and earned its game against the Hokies an early kick on the lesser-watched channel. The game is Syracuse’s homecoming game.
A meeting between Louisville and Clemson earned the primetime spot on ESPN, while Pittsburgh and Southern Methodist will play at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network. Duke and Miami will play at Noon on ABC.
Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-1 ACC) has won three straight games and, after a poor start, gotten closer to resembling the ACC contender that most expected when the year began.
Syracuse (5-2, 2-2) will need to rebound off its worst offensive performance of the season, one in which quarterback Kyle McCord threw five interceptions.
Syracuse Recruiting Roundup: 10/28/24 (tinyurl; Kang)
After being away for all of October, Syracuse will return home on Saturday, one of three times SU will be at home in November.
We spoke with five recruits who will be making the trip to CNY next month to take in the JMA Wirless Dome game day atmosphere.
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natl
2
st
1
pos
Javion
Hilson
6.1
RATING
6'5"|230 lbs|WDE
Cocoa
Cocoa, FL
Class of 2025
undecided
One of the top prospects in the 2025 class is five-star Cocoa (FL) defensive lineman Javion Hilson. He will be in Central New York on Nov. 2 when Syracuse hosts Virginia Tech. The visit will come ahead of his announcement on Dec. 4.
READ THE JUICE ONLINE'S COVERAGE ON JAVION HILLSON
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natl
-
st
-
pos
Marcus
Ferrer
5.6
RATING
6'6"|290 lbs|OL
Osceola
Kissimmee, FL
Class of 2026
undecided
In May, Syracuse offered Kissimmee (FL) Osceola offensive lineman Marcus Ferrer. Ferrer will get a closer look at the Orange when he visits on Nov. 30 for SU's matchup against Miami.
READ THE JUICE ONLINE'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH MARCUS FERRER
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natl
-
st
-
pos
Gavin
White
N/A
RATING
6'3"|155 lbs|ATH
University Prep
Rochester, NY
Class of 2027
undecided
2027 ATH Gavin White will get a closer look at Syracuse when he visits on Nov. 2 for their matchup against Virginia Tech. White is a three position athlete at Rochester (NY) University Prep (QB, WR, FS).
READ THE JUICE ONLINE'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH GAVIN WHITE
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natl
-
st
-
pos
Nate
Caesar
N/A
RATING
5'10"|150 lbs|ATH
Fredericksburg Christian
Fredericksburg, VA
Class of 2028
undecided
2028 ATH Nate Caesar tells The Juice Online he will be on hand for SU's matchup against Connecticut on Nov. 23. The Fredericksburg (VA) Christian wide receiver/defensive back has been most in touch with Alex Kelly.
READ THE JUICE ONLINE'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH NATE CAESAR
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natl
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st
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pos
Brady
Scott
N/A
RATING
6'0"|195 lbs|ATH
Lawrence Academy
Groton, MA
Class of 2027
undecided
Groton (MA) Lawrence Academy ATH Brady Scott received his first offer from Syracuse earlier in October, and will check out the JMA W
READ THE JUICE ONLINE'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH BRADY SCOTT
Kyle McCord has rough game: How did he compare to Ohio State football's Will Howard? (dispatch.com; Staff)
Will Howard is Ohio State's starting quarterback in large part because last year's starter, Kyle McCord, entered the transfer portal and now plays for Syracuse.
McCord was 11-1 as a starter at Ohio State but wanted to be at a school that would guarantee him a starting job.
How did Howard's Week 9 game compare with McCord's?
Ohio State's Will Howard vs. Syracuse's Kyle McCord
In Syracuse's 41-13 loss to Pittsburgh, McCord completed 35 of 64 passes for 321yards, no touchdowns and five interceptions. Three of the five interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
He also ran nine times for minus-32 yards.
McCord and Syracuse are 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC.
In Ohio State's 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday, Howard completed 13 of 16 passes for 221 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran eight times for 14 yards.
McCord's season's stats:
220 for 346, 2,481 yards, 19 TDs, 11 INT; 33 carries, -44 yards, 2 TD
Howard's season stats:
134 for 181, 1,795 yards, 17 TDs, 4 INT; 41 carries, 91 yards, 5 TDs
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Were the expectations too high for this college football program in 2024? (Saturdayblitz.com; Hunter)
The Syracuse Orange are coming off a 41-13 loss to the hands of the No. 19 Pittsburgh Panthers this past Thursday night. The story of the game was not only how good the Pirates are, but how much work needs to be done with the Orange. Syracuse welcomed a new head coach in Fran Brown and top-portal prospect Kyle McCord prior to the season and expectations started to mount. Did the College Football community put too much stock in the Orange?
McCord, who was the quarterback for Ohio State last season, had one of the worst quarterback performances in recent memory. McCord tossed for 321 yards and threw three touchdowns, except those touchdowns were for the other team. Yes, McCord threw three pick-sixes and five overall interceptions in the lopsided loss.
Prior to the game, McCord was having a solid campaign by having tossed for 2,160 yards and 19 touchdowns along with six interceptions. However, one thing became crystal clear on Thursday night, the Orange relies heavily on the arm of McCord. If McCord plays a bad game, the Orange almost have no shot to be competitive.
It's fair to say that the matchup against Pittsburgh was the first real test the Orange have faced all season. The Orange have faced the likes of Stanford (2-5), NC State (4-4), and Holy Cross (3-5) just to name a few. However, against the Pirates, the Orange got completely exposed and manhandled from start to finish.
First and foremost, the Orange's offensive line is suspect to say the least. McCord had almost no time to scan the field before he saw defenders in his face. The Pirates defense garnered 4 sacks and held the Orange's rushing attack to an astonishing 0.2 yards per rush, respectively. How is that even possible? Overall, Syracuse's rushing game averages just 3.0 yards per carry for the season. There is a reason why McCord threw for a whopping 64 times on Thursday night.
Yes, McCord is the main reason the Orange were demolished against the Pirates, but he shouldn't be the only one to blame. If a team's offensive line is below average, the running game can't thrive and without a running game, opposing defense's don't have to fill the box and can put more bodies into pass coverage. It's even more alarming when the Orange had the football for 41:18 minutes compared to the Pirates having possession for only 18:47 minutes.
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Pitt Football on Instagram: "Shined bright under the lights ⭐️ Field Pass vs Syracuse "
1,929 likes, 10 comments - pitt_fb on October 27, 2024: "Shined bright under the lights ⭐️ Field Pass vs Syracuse ".
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ACC News
Pitt’s dominant win over unranked Syracuse bumps team up one spot on AP Top 25 poll (yahoo.com; Rehm)
Although Pitt had a dominant win over Syracuse on Thursday, the Panthers only moved up a spot in the AP Top 25 college football poll.
Pitt’s command over the game began in the first quarter and never ceased. Quarterback Eli Holstein completed 11-of-15 pass attempts for 108 yards and the defense forced five interceptions — three of which resulted in touchdowns — for a 41-13 win.
But, with most of the ranked teams in front of Pitt winning their games, the Panthers’ performance over unranked Syracuse didn’t do too much to change their ranking. They moved up to No. 18. Pitt has moved up the poll every week since it debuted at No. 22 on Oct. 6.
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Pitt is one of eight FBS teams to remain undefeated. The Panthers and Miami (No. 5) are the only two undefeated ACC teams. This is the first time Miami has broken the top 5 since 2017.
Pitt takes on SMU — who sits at No. 20 on the poll — in Dallas next week. It’s the team’s first ranked matchup since hosting Tennessee in 2022.
ACC Football Review: Oddities Dominate the Weekend (SI: Curtis)
Oddities ruled the weekend in the ACC.
--Reception deception: Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza had a receiving touchdown on a pass that he threw in the Bears’ 44-7 victory over Oregon State, but that oddity does not match the strange statistical line it produced.
Receiving stats for Mendoza for that game read as follows:
Receptions: 0. Receiving yards: 15. Receiving touchdowns: 1.
The final oddity is that the play was recorded as a 15-yard touchdown reception even though the play started at the 9-yard line.
Cal oddity footnote: Cal outscored its opponents by 28 points over its past five games combined, but went 1-4 in those five games.
--Idle Hands: Clemson did not play this weekend, but the Tigers saw their College Football Playoff chances take a hit anyway. Ranked No. 9 in the AP poll last week, Clemson dropped to a tie for No. 11 in the rankings released on Sunday.
While Clemson was relaxing and watching games on TV in their street clothes on Saturday, Notre Dame posted a big win over Navy and BYU stayed unbeaten with a win over UCF. The Irish and Cougars both jumped over Clemson, which was ranked ahead of Iowa State last week but somehow dropped into a tie for the 11th spot with the Cyclones this week even though Iowa State did not play this week either.
Of course, the AP poll is not the ranking used to select the 12 teams that will participate in the College Football Playoff, but the CFP rankings typically parallel the AP rankings closely.
The first CFP rankings will be released on Tuesday, November 5, after next week’s game. Clemson hosts Louisville on Saturday.
--Pick-Six Picnic: Pitt’s offense scored just one touchdown in the first half, yet the Panthers led Syracuse 31-0 at halftime. Orange quarterback Kyle McCord threw five interceptions in that game, and three of those picks were returned for Pitt touchdowns in the first half.
The FBS record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a game is four, set by Houston against Texas in 1987. But three of those Houston pick-sixes were in the second half, so Pitt holds the record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in the first half, if that counts for anything.
Pitt travels to SMU next week, and Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings threw three interceptions on Saturday, although none was returned for a touchdown.
--Turnover Tantrum: SMU committed six turnovers in its game against Duke, and the Blue Devils committed none. Yet SMU still won the game 28-27 in overtime despite that minus-6 turnover margin and even though Duke entered the game with a 6-1 record and was playing at home.
Duke scored 27 points, but it did not score a single point off the Mustangs’ six turnovers. And the Blue Devils should have won the game on the final play of the fourth quarter, but SMU’s Jahfari Harvey blocked Todd Pelino’s 30-yard field goal attempt on the final play of regulation to send the game into overtime.
“We should’ve lost that game five different times late," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. "We should have. And if we played it 100 times, we’re probably losing 99 of them the way the game unfolded. This just happened to be the one time”
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ACC Shocker! NEW Scenario Possible? SMU Clemson Miami Hold Serve | Pittsburgh Panthers (youtube; podcast; College Football Addiction)
The top of the ACC is unblemished right now -- what happens if things stay that way between Clemson, Miami, and SMU? I break it all down for you!
ACC Football: Which teams from the ACC can make the playoff? (youtube; podcast; Two Growls)
Whether you're a die-hard fan or new to the Atlantic Coast Conference, we've got you covered with the latest game highlights, in-depth analysis, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes coverage. From epic rivalries to emerging stars, we break down every moment that matters on the field.
ACC Power Rankings: How far should Syracuse football tumble after being blown out by Pittsburgh? (poll) (PS; $; Carlson)
The fascinating (and frustrating) possibilities created by the ACC’s unbalanced schedule remain in place for another week with four teams still unbeaten in conference play and the chance that three could end the year without a league loss.
Someone will get their first conference loss this week when Pittsburgh visits Southern Methodist, the second straight week the Panthers will be in one of the season’s biggest conference games.
With a win, the Mustangs would sustain the possibility of finishing without an ACC loss. They could be joined by both Clemson and Miami.
If that occurred, the ACC Championship Game participants would be decided by a tiebreaker that would go to at least the fifth criteria on the list — the combined winning percentage of conference opponents.
Syracuse, meanwhile, earned a demotion into the ACC’s middle class thanks to its loss to Pittsburgh. The best of that group could be determined by the game played on Saturday in the JMA Wireless Dome.
Here’s how I’d rank the ACC this week.
1. Miami
Record: 8-0 (4-0)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week’s result: Win 36-14 vs. Florida State
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Duke, Noon, ABC
Why No. 1? I’d downgraded Miami for its tight wins over Virginia Tech and Louisville but those teams have proven to be quality opponents over the last few weeks. This week against the Seminoles, Miami got back to crushing bad opponents the way an elite team should.
2. Clemson
Record: 6-1 (5-0)Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week’s result: Off
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Louisville, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 2? Clemson has crushed its competition since its season-opening loss to Georgia but it hasn’t beaten a single team with a winning record this season. The Tigers can change that this week.
3. Pittsburgh
Record: 7-0 (3-0)Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week’s result: Win 41-13 vs. Syracuse
This week’s schedule: Saturday at SMU, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 3? I’ve punished Pitt for its close calls early in the year but its competition for this spot had its own close call this week. Pitt’s margin of victory over Syracuse was a little flukey with 21 points being scored by its defense but the Panthers have now won games thanks to their offense, defense and special teams. That’s the type of balance a good team shows.
4. Southern Methodist
Record: 7-1 (4-0)Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week’s result: Win 28-27 in overtime at Duke
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 4? SMU’s win at Louisville is better than anything Pittsburgh has done this season but when the teams are this close, recent performance rules. The Mustangs already have one loss (against unbeaten BYU) and were fortunate to survive six turnovers against Duke. They’ll battle determine the No. 3 spot on the field this week.
5. Louisville
Record: 5-3 (3-2)Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week’s result: Win 31-27 at Boston College
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Clemson, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 5? Despite its College Football Playoff aspirations being extinguished early in the year the Cardinals showed heart by coming back from a 20-point deficit on the road on a cold night against Boston College. Louisville has played well against a gauntlet of a schedule with all of its losses coming in one-possession games against Top 25 opponents.
6. Virginia Tech
Record: 5-3 (3-1)Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week’s result: Win 21-6 vs. Georgia Tech
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Syracuse, noon, CW
Why No. 6? The Hokies have won three straight and played well against Miami during the game before that. Virginia Tech is pretty balanced, standing as one of four teams in the top half of the ACC in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The others are Pittsburgh, SMU and Miami.
7. Syracuse
Record: 5-2 (2-2)Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week’s result: Loss 41-13 at Pittsburgh
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech, Noon, CW
Why No. 7? There are a number of teams you could put here. While the Orange has the worst loss (Stanford) it is also the only team this far down the list with multiple wins over FBS programs with winning records (Ohio, Georgia Tech and UNLV).
Pittsburgh was the first opponent this season to find a way to take away the quick passes that have made Syracuse’s offense so consistent. We’ll see if Jeff Nixon and Kyle McCord can come up with another solution.
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ACC Football Power Rankings Week 9: Virginia Tech & Pittsburgh Rise, Virginia Tumbles (fightinggobbler.com; Roche)
Don't look now, but when Week 10 kicks off next weekend for the ACC, we are going to be in the month of November. That's right we are entering the final month of the regular season and there is still so much that needs to be settled on the field.
It was another eye-opening week in terms of results with some close games, some blowouts, and some wild finishes. The last game of the weekend was the best one when SMU blocked a potential game-winning field goal at Duke and then won in overtime when Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils went for a two-point conversion after a touchdown and extra point in the first OT would have sent the game to a second extra session.
Miami continued Florida State's downward spiral in 2024, Pittsburgh sent a statement on Thursday night against Syracuse, and Louisville staged a big second-half comeback on Friday night to win at Boston College. Saturday, Virginia Tech picked up an ugly win over Georgia Tech, Wake Forest held off Stanford, Virginia was smoked at home by North Carolina and California won a non-conference game over Oregon State. After another weekend of results, here are the latest ACC Power Rankings at the end of October.
ACC Football Power Rankings After Week 9
| Rank | Team | Record | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Clemson | 6-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Miami | 8-0 | 2 |
| 3. | Pittsburgh | 7-0 | 4 |
| 4. | SMU | 7-1 | 3 |
| 5. | Virginia Tech | 5-3 | 7 |
| 6. | Duke | 6-2 | 6 |
| 7. | Louisville | 5-3 | 9 |
| 8. | Syracuse | 5-2 | 5 |
| 9. | Georgia Tech | 5-4 | 8 |
| 10. | Boston College | 4-4 | 10 |
| 11. | NC State | 4-4 | 12 |
| 12. | California | 4-4 | 13 |
| 13. | North Carolina | 4-4 | 15 |
| 14. | Wake Forest | 4-4 | 14 |
| 15. | Virginia | 4-4 | 11 |
| 16. | Stanford | 2-6 | 16 |
| 17. | Florida State | 1-7 | 17 |
ACC power rankings: Miami, Clemson continue to lead the way after Week 9 (usatoday.com; Meyer)
The ACC will head into November with a clearly defined upper tier of teams.
No. 5 Miami continued its undefeated run with a 36-14 blowout of rival Florida State, which fell to 1-7 and guaranteed itself a losing season. With No. 8 Clemson idle, the league’s two other ranked teams, No. 17 Pitt and No. 20 SMU, both picked up victories, defeating Syracuse and Duke, respectively.
Beyond that top four, though, things got a little more complicated after last week’s results.
Here’s how the ACC’s 17 teams stack up after Week 9 of the 2024 college football season:
ACC football power rankings
1. Miami (8-0, 4-0 ACC)
- Last week: 1
- This week: vs. Duke
2. Clemson (6-1, 5-0)
- Last week: 2
- This week: vs. Louisville
3. Pitt (7-0, 3-0)
- Last week: 3
- This week: at No. 20 SMU
4. SMU (7-1, 4-0)
- Last week: 4
- This week: vs. No. 17 Pitt
5. Syracuse (5-2, 2-2)
- Last week: 5
- This week: vs. Virginia Tech
6. Duke (6-2, 2-2)
- Last week: 6
- This week: at No. 5 Miami
7. Louisville (5-3, 3-2)
- Last week: 7
- This week: at No. 8 Clemson
8. Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-2)
- Last week: 10
- This week: at Syracuse
...
ACC football Power Rankings entering Week 10 (usatoday.com; Lenix)
It’s almost November, and it’s time to start separating the contenders from the pretenders in the ACC. Week 9 featured eight matchups within the conference. It was a mixture of hard-fought battles, which featured an overtime thriller, and blowouts with three teams winning by more than 25 points.
All three teams that were ranked held their ground this week. Road teams won four games, with three being decided by four points or less. Four teams remain undefeated in conference play, and one is still searching for its first conference win of 2024. The ACC already has four bowl-eligible teams, and four more are one win away. So, these conference games down the stretch have bigger meanings.
Week 10 will have six conference games. However, all four of the teams that are undefeated within the ACC will be in action, including a matchup between two of them in primetime on the ACC Network. The road to Charlotte and the conference title is coming to an end soon, which makes every game even more important. Here’s where the teams in the ACC rank at the moment.
17 Florida State (1-7, 1-6 ACC)
Week 9 result: 36-14 loss to MiamiAnalysis: It was a spirited effort defensively for FSU against Maimi. However, they lost their fourth straight game and further cemented themselves as the worst teams in the conference.
16 California (4-4, 0-4 ACC)
Week 9 result: 44-7 win over Oregon StateAnalysis: Yes, California lost to Florida State. However, they still have four conference games, and they at least have four wins on the year. They have a good shot at getting their first conference win against Wake Forest next week.
15 Stanford (2-6, 1-4 ACC)
Week 9 result: 27-24 loss to Wake ForestAnalysis: Stanford hasn’t won a conference game in over a month, which was also their last win overall. The Cardinal are desperate for any win, not just one within the ACC.
14 Boston College (4-4, 1-3 ACC)
Week 9 result: 31-27 loss to LouisvilleAnalysis: The Eagles have lost three consecutive ACC games, and their lone win within the conference was against Florida State, the worst team. With Syracuse and SMU up next and Pittsburgh to finish the season, it’s going to be hard to get another conference win for Boston College.
13 North Carolina (4-4, 1-3 ACC)
Week 9 result: 41-14 win over VirginiaAnalysis: The Tar Heels finally ended a four game losing streak and got their first ACC win of 2024 on Saturday. They don’t play any juggernaut in their final final four conference matchups. So, it’ll he interesting to see how they finish.
12 NC State (4-4, 1-3 ACC)
Week 9 result: Bye WeekAnalysis: The Wolfpack have had a week off after getting their first ACC win against California. They will host Stanford next Saturday, which gives them a golden opportunity to get another conference victory.
11 Virginia (4-4, 2-3 ACC)
Week 9 result: 41-14 loss to North CarolinaAnalysis: The Cavaliers have lost three straight conference games, and with Pittsburgh and SMU coming up, their best shot for another ACC win might not happen until their season finale against Virginia Tech.
10 Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2 ACC)
Week 9 result: 27-24 win over StanfordAnalysis: The Demon Deacons have won two of their last three ACC games, and they host California next week, which hasn’t won within the conference yet. So, they could continue their momentum.
9 Georgia Tech (5-4, 3-3 ACC)
Week 9 result: 21-6 loss to Virginia TechAnalysis: It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a year for the Yellow Jackets, which is exactly why they have a .500 record. With Miami up next, their next real hope at an ACC win will be against NC State.
8 Louisville (5-3, 3-2 ACC)
Week 9 result: 31-27 win over Boston CollegeAnalysis: Louisville is a tough loss to SMU away from being a serious contender within the ACC. They’ll have their biggest test at Clemson next week with a chance to shake things up among the top teams in the conference.
7 Duke (6-2, 2-2 ACC)
Week 9 result: 28-27 loss to SMUAnalysis: The sizzle from the 5-0 start by the Blue Devils is gone with two losses in their last three games, both within the ACC. They travel to Miami next week. So, it doesn’t get any easier.
6 Syracuse (5-2, 2-2 ACC)
Week 9 result: 41-13 loss to PittsburghAnalysis: The Orange host a sneaky Virginia Tech team next week before traveling to play Boston College. Both games are winnable, but they could be looking at a conference skid if they aren’t careful.
...
Thursday Results 2024 Oct 24 (RX; HM)
Thursday Results 2024 Oct 24
We expected a high-scoring battle between two very good quarterbacks. What we got was a battle between the Kyle McCord and the Panther's defense...
This game was all about interceptions - five of them - by the Orange. The Panther's offense just had to hold onto the ball long enough to punt!
| How each possession ended | Cuse | Pitt |
| Pitt: punt | ||
| Cuse: int ret for TD | 0 | 7 |
| Cuse: int | ||
| Pitt: FG | 0 | 10 |
| Cuse: int ret for TD | 0 | 17 |
| Cuse: downs | ||
| Pitt: TD | 0 | 24 |
| Cuse: punt | ||
| Pitt: punt | ||
| Cuse: punt | ||
| Pitt: punt | ||
| Cuse: int ret for TD | 0 | 31 |
| Cuse: end of half | ||
| Cuse: TD | 6 | 31 |
| Pitt: punt | ||
| Cuse: int | ||
| Pitt: TD | 6 | 38 |
| Cuse: punt | ||
| Pitt: FG | 6 | 41 |
| Cuse: TD | 13 | 41 |
| Pitt: punt | ||
| Cuse: missed FG | ||
| Pitt: end of game |
Basically, the majority of the game was Syracuse offense vs Pitt defense... and the defense won, outscoring Syracuse 21-13 by themselves (the Pitt offense also chipped in 20 points).
Final score:
| Syracuse | 13 |
| at Pitt | 41 |
NEXT for Pitt: a visit to Dallas to play SMU! For Syracuse, they go home and get ready for Virginia Tech next week...
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Saturday Results 2024 Week 9 (RX; HM)
Saturday Results 2024 Week 9
ACC Scores
Noon Games
Georgia Tech 6, Virginia Tech 21The Battle of the Techs had belonged to the Yellow Jackets in recent years, but the Hokies defense gave notice that they are back.
N Carolina 41, Virginia 14
Is it just me, or does it seem like the underdog usually wins this series lately?
Mid-day Game
Wake Forest 27, Stanford 24Props to the Cardinal for hanging tough and battling back to tie late. Props to Wake for gutting out a tough win on the road.
Oregon State 7, California 44
Former Pac-12 buddies got together for old times sake, but it wasn't like 2023, as the Bears dominated the Beavers.
Evening Games
Florida State 14, Miami 36The Canes remain undefeated and in the ACC title race. The Noles are eliminated from bowl eligibility and assured of a losing record.
SMU 28, Duke 27 OT
...
Other
A brand-name hotel is proposed on Wegmans-owned parcel near Micron site (PS; $; Doran)
A new hotel is being proposed behind the Great Northern Wegmans store on a parcel of land owned by Wegmans.
Wegmans has entered into an agreement to sell a piece of that parcel to a hotel, said Evelyn Ingram, speaking for Wegmans.
The sale is contingent on approvals for the new hotel by the town of Clay.
The town is currently considering a proposal that calls for the construction of a Home 2 Suites by Hilton on the property, which is near the Route 31 Wegmans.
It would be a four-story hotel and have 103 rooms, said Mark Territo, commissioner of planning and development for the town of Clay.
The town this summer approved a request by Wegmans to change the zoning on the parcel from recreational to regional commercial. Wegmans said at the time it wanted the zone change so the property could be developed.
