Boston College at Wake Forest: Reserve quarterback Chris Crane, who was 17- of- 26 for 142 yards, filled in for the injured Matt Ryan to run for two scores and threw for another in the rain. Tailback LV Whitworth ran for 84 yards and Andre Callender had 81 yards rushing. Ryan has thrown for 1,661 and nine scores. Six Eagles have at least 10 catches, led by Kevin Challenger, who has 32 catches for 343 yards. Top rusher Kevin Harris is out for three to five weeks, so Kenneth Moore and De’Angelo Bryant will take most of the carries. The BC defense has allowed only 28 yards per game rushing per game, the last four games and has improved from No.60 to No. 10. In last year’s game, BC cost Wake a shot at a bowl game with a win. Ryan is 9-1 in his last 10 starts throwing the ball to all his receivers. BC safeties Jamie Silva and Ryan Glasper will be crucial in this game.

Wake has won 7- of- 8 games for the first time since 1979. They swept UNC, N C State and Duke for the first time since 1987. Wake quarterback Riley Skinner threw a 39-yard scoring pass to receiver Ken Moore. Linebacker Jon Abbate picked of a pass in the end zone. Skinner has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 1001 yards with five touchdowns and one pick. Wake’s schedule turns tough with BC, FSU, Virginia Tech and Maryland. Wake’s line pass protects as well as run blocks. They ran three receiver reverses in the NC State win. They run the spread and the power- I with equal success. Wake won two of three in the series.

Clemson at Maryland: Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach was 12- of- 20 for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the win over FSU. Maryland gained only 92 yards on the ground. Defensive end Jeremy Navarre blocked Gary Cismesia’s field goal to seal the win. Maryland’s offense is ranked No. 97 but is still finding ways to win. Terp running backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball will give Clemson’s defense some problems.

Clemson is 4-0 at home winning by a combined score of 188-20. The Tigers should be able to run on the Terp defense. If FSU was able to run on Maryland, Clemson certainly will.

Virginia at Florida State: Cav tailback Jason Snelling ran 17 yards for his second score with 1:31 left to play to beat N C State. Snelling ran 20 times for 99 yards. Cav freshman quarterback Jameel Sewell has completed 60% of his passes for 934 yards and six touchdowns. The Cavs have won two games in a row over North Carolina and N C State. The Virginia defense is ranked No. 23 nationally, allowing only 285 total yards.

Florida State: Quarterback Xavier Lee was 22- of -36 for 286 yards and two scores. He added 50 yards rushing. Drew Weatherford did not play due to a tendon injury in his right ankle. The Noles ran for 172 yards on 34 carries. Tailback Antone Smith ran for 83 yards on 14 carries. Chris Davis caught eight passes for 132 yards and one score. FSU allowed 103 yards rushing in the first half and only minus-11 yards in the second half. FSU receivers dropped several passes including Greg Carr who dropped one at the Maryland 3 on the final drive forcing FSU to settle for a field goal attempt. FSU is 4-4 for the first time since 1976. Linebacker Buster Davis has held the defense together. He faces power back Snelling and a shifty Sewell.

Georgia Tech at N C State: The Yellow Jackets are close to going to the ACC title game. Tech leads Miami, VT and Virginia by a game with three to play and own the head to head tiebreaker. Tech scored 17 consecutive points in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jacket defense sacked quarterback Kyle Wright six times, three of those by linebacker Philip Wheeler. Receiver Calvin Johnson caught five passes for 68 yards. Running back Tashard Choice ran 26 times for 107 yards. Tech has a favorable schedule with UNC, N C State and Duke left. Last week, Reggie Ball started 3- of- 16 before completing 8- of- 11. Linebackers KaMicheal Hall and Wheeler have combined for 111 tackles.

N C State: The Wolfpack has lost three straight ACC games after beating BC and FSU. Will the slide cost Chuck Amato his job or did the basketball search persuade athletic officials from firing him? Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was allegedly seen recently in Raleigh in the athletic directors office. He has also purchased a house in the area. State should be able to run on the Tech defense with Andre Brown and Toney Baker that allowed a ton of yards to Clemson and Miami.

Virginia Tech at Miami: The Canes committed four turnovers and converted 3- of- 12 third downs in the loss to Tech. They rushed for only 71 yards. Wright was 20- of -31 for 246 yards. Tight end Greg Olsen caught five passes for 91 yards. Tailback Javarrius James ran 19 times for 113 yards. Last year, the Cane offensive line controlled the Hokie defensive line. Miami has to beware of receiver Eddie Royal being a long play threat after the Hokies run Ore consistently.

Virginia Tech tailback Branden Ore leads the ACC in rushing averaging 117 yards per game. The Hokies returned to more of a power running game, solid defense and excellent special teams against Clemson.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.