Adelson: The Louisville defense has been extremely impressive, coming into the game ranked No. 3 in the nation in total defense, No. 1 in rush defense, No. 9 in scoring defense and tied for fifth in turnovers gained. On the road, with a freshman starting quarterback and a shaky offensive line, the Cards will once again rely on its stout defense to be the difference in a game that will not feature much offense. Louisville 20, Syracuse 17

Fortuna: Points will be hard to come by in this game, but the Orange's offense is due for a break or two after having little to show for high-yardage efforts in consecutive losses to Maryland and Notre Dame. Louisville's defense has been ridiculously strong through five weeks, but its offense, surprisingly enough, has left much to be desired, especially up front. Scott Shafer's defense made life difficult for a much better Cardinals team in 2012, and it forced five Notre Dame turnovers in last week's loss in Jersey. Expect another defensive score in this game as Louisville falls victim to the tricky Friday night Carrier Dome tilt that has stopped so many better teams in recent years. Syracuse 20, Louisville 14

Hale: Ugly mistakes have been the undoing of this once-promising season for Virginia Tech, but there’s some optimism amid so many self-inflicted wounds. The Hokies aren’t being dramatically outplayed even in their losses. They just need to stop shooting themselves in the foot. And what better way to fix those problems than taking on a defense that has surrendered nearly 150 points and nearly 1,800 yards in the past three weeks. Michael Brewer has tossed multiple interceptions in four straight games, but UNC’s D has been unbelievably friendly to opposing QBs. Brewer just needs to know when to be aggressive and when to settle for less. Defensive tackle Luther Maddy is out for Tech, but the Heels’ ground game is among the worst in the ACC. Big plays have burned the Hokies on D, but only Wake Forest has fewer plays of 20-plus yards this year than North Carolina among ACC teams. Virginia Tech isn’t as good as it looked against Ohio State, but this is a matchup in which the Hokies should thrive. Virginia Tech 24, North Carolina 21

Shanker: North Carolina has allowed 120 points the past two weeks and more than 800 yards through the air. While there is still no excuse for those numbers, it did come against quarterbacks Shane Carden and Deshaun Watson. The Tar Heels won't see a quarterback on that level Saturday. In fact, Virginia Tech's Michael Brewer has repeatedly taken the air out of the sails of his own team with untimely interceptions. The UNC offense isn't exactly clicking either, but it should be able to take advantage of a few Virginia Tech miscues. If the Heels' secondary is in the right position, it could pick off a few passes. The Hokies' rushing attack is hurting without Shai McKenie (torn ACL), too. It won't be a pretty win, but that's the least of UNC's concerns right now. UNC 28, Virginia Tech 20

Adelson: Miami has won five in a row in the series, thanks in part to its superior speed. In the last five wins, the Canes have averaged 35.8 points as the Jackets have had a hard time slowing down Miami's playmakers. That will be the case again Saturday, as Brad Kaaya has shown tremendous growth and the Miami run game picks up steam against the worst rush defense in the ACC. Meanwhile, Miami's speed on defense has helped it slow down the triple-option threat. Denzel Perryman, who looked like a man possessed last week, will be a big reason why the Canes slow down Justin Thomas. Miami 35, Georgia Tech 28

Fortuna: The Hurricanes' defense looked like it might have turned a corner in last week's win over Duke, but that means little when facing the dreaded triple-option. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a bye, and there is something to be said for a team that continually gets itself out of trouble. The win at Virginia Tech was huge, and Justin Thomas is turning into an efficient passer who can keep the Canes' defense off-balance. Brad Kaaya is getting better, but Miami's offense has room for growth, which will be difficult to realize with a banged-up offensive line facing the fresh legs of an opportunistic Georgia Tech defense. Georgia Tech 27, Miami 17

Wake Forest at Florida State: Most of us understand it's a major rebuilding job for Dave Clawson, which makes Wake Forest's defensive effort all the more impressive. However, Florida State should roll the Demon Deacons and have their starters out by the third quarter. Florida State 55, Wake Forest 7

Pitt at Virginia: The Pitt bandwagon has been abandoned, but the Cavaliers are serious contenders in the Coastal. The defense is among the conference's best, and the offense is showing signs of improvements. Virginia 23, Pitt 13

NC State at Clemson: Deshaun Watson was fantastic in his first start, and he could already be the conference's second best QB. Jacoby Brissett has a case, too, but he'll face a stingier defense than Watson. Clemson 38, NC State 35