2016 College Football Picks and Predictions: ACC Championship Game Free Pick

2016 College Football Picks and Predictions: ACC Championship Game Free Pick: A pair of Top 25 teams will face off when the 23rd-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies take on the third-ranked Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship Game. The Hokies will be trying to steal a spot in the major bowl game by upsetting the Tigers, but Clemson will be trying to lock up a return trip to the College Football Playoff after finishing as the runner-up last season.

The game will feature two of the conference’s best defenses, and it will also feature two of the ACC’s best quarterbacks. Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Virginia Tech’s Jerod Evans are both dual-threat weapons, and Watson could even make a late push for the Heisman Trophy with a big performance. Overall, the Tigers have an edge on the offensive side of the ball, ranking fifth in the country and passing and 16th in scoring. The Tigers are also a 10.5-point favorite over the Hokies.

2016 College Football Picks and Predictions: ACC Championship Game Free Pick

Virginia Tech Wins If:

As dynamic as Evans can be at quarterback, the Hokies need to control the clock and the pace of the game if they want to win this one. Outscoring Clemson in a shootout is tough to do, but the Hokies could make things interesting if they keep the game lower scoring and win time of possession. Defensively, Virginia Tech has to take advantage of a Clemson offense that has been plagued by turnovers. If Virginia Tech wins the turnover battle and wins time of possession, Evans could make enough plays to steal a win against a Clemson team that has been in a lot of close games this season.

Clemson Wins If:

With Watson under center, Wayne Gallman in the backfield in the backfield and Mike Williams leading a loaded receiving corps, the Clemson offense has been borderline unstoppable at times. In fact, Clemson’s offense is often its own worst enemy. Turnovers have been an issue for Watson and company all year, killing drives and giving opponents easy scoring chances. If the Tigers can avoid sloppy play on offense, they are going to put points on the board and make it very difficult for the Hokies to keep pace. Defensively, Clemson needs to keep tabs on Evans, forcing him to extend drives from the pocket instead of with his legs. If the Tigers make this a battle of offenses, they have too many weapons to lose.

Bottom Line:

Clemson has played down to a number of opponents this year, and when they fell to Pittsburgh, it seemed like the upset was only a matter of time. That being said, this is still the same team that beat Louisville and beat Florida State and Auburn on the road. Virginia Tech’s resume doesn’t even compare when it comes to quality wins, and the Hokies’ losses are even more egregious than Clemson’s one-point defeat to the Panthers. The Tigers appeared plenty focused in their 56-7 dismantling of in-state rival South Carolina, and when they play their best, the Tigers are as good as any team in the country. With the ACC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line, I expect Clemson to bring its “A” game, and Clemson’s best is going to be way too much for Virginia Tech to handle.

Prediction: Clemson Tigers (-10.5) Cover the Spread