ACC football predictions for Week 12: Our experts pick the winner of every game

Sammy Batten, Carter Karels, Alexis Cubit, Jim Rice, David Thompson, Scott Keepfer and Todd Shanesy, The Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read
2

Heading into Week 12, we already know who will be playing in the ACC football championship on Dec. 3 in Charlotte with Clemson and UNC having clinched the Atlantic and Coastal divisions, respectively.

There are still some storylines yet to shake out, with Miami one win shy of bowl eligibility, Florida State climbing up the national rankings, NC State potentially developing its quarterback of the future and Wake Forest looking to stop a three-game skid.

After the tragic shooting deaths of three Virginia football players Sunday night, the Cavaliers have canceled their game against Coastal Carolina.

Here's a look at our expert panel of USA TODAY Sports Network reporters' picks for this week's ACC football games.

Saturday's games

Louisiana at No. 20 Florida State (noon, RSN/ESPN3)

The picks: Florida State 7, Louisiana 0

The line: Florida State by 24

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: Florida State

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Florida State

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Florida State

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Florida State

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Florida State

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Florida State

NOLES PREPARED:Florida State football: Heavy-favorites Seminoles can't overlook Louisiana

Virginia Tech at Liberty (noon, ESPN+)

The picks: Liberty 6, Virginia Tech 1

The line: Liberty by 9.5

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: Liberty

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Liberty

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Virginia Tech

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Liberty

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Liberty

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Liberty

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Liberty

Duke at Pitt (noon, ACC Network)

The picks: Pitt 4, Duke 3

The line: Pitt by 7.5

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: Pitt

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Pitt

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Duke

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Duke

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Pitt

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Pitt

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Duke

Boston College at No. 19 Notre Dame (2:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock)

The picks: Notre Dame 7, Boston College 0

The line: Notre Dame by 21

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: Notre Dame

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Notre Dame

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Notre Dame

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Notre Dame

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Notre Dame

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Notre Dame

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Notre Dame

BLITZED:Tommy Rees says Notre Dame won't shrink from the blitz next time: 'We would welcome that'

Miami at No. 9 Clemson (3:30 p.m., ESPN)

The picks: Clemson 7, Miami 0

The line: Clemson by 19.5

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: Clemson

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Clemson

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Clemson

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Clemson

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Clemson

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Clemson

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Clemson

BIDING TIME:Clemson football saved freshman receiver Cole Turner for last four games of season

No. 25 NC State at Louisville (3:30 p.m., ACC Network)

The picks: Louisville 6, NC State 1

The line: Louisville by 4

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: NC State

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Louisville

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Louisville

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Louisville

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Louisville

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Louisville

MAILBAG:Is Tim Beck on chopping block and the future at QB for NC State football are answered

Georgia Tech at No. 11 UNC (5:30 p.m., ESPN2)

The picks: UNC 7, Georgia Tech 0

The line: UNC by 20.5

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: UNC

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: UNC

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: UNC

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: UNC

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: UNC

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: UNC

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: UNC

HISTORY FOR HEELS:North Carolina football is chasing big championships — and big history — over next 3 weeks

Syracuse at Wake Forest (8 p.m., ACC Network)

The picks: Wake Forest 6, Syracuse 1

The line: Wake by 10

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: Syracuse

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: Wake Forest

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: Wake Forest

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: Wake Forest

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: Wake Forest

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: Wake Forest

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: Wake Forest

Week 11 prediction results

Total: 37-12 = 76%

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: 6-1

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: 6-1

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: 6-1

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: 6-1

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: 4-3

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: 5-2

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: 4-3

Season results

Total: 464-180 = 72%

  • Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer: 69-23

  • Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat: 69-23

  • Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal: 66-26

  • Jim Rice, Greenville News: 70-22

  • David Thompson, Fayetteville Observer: 62-30

  • Scott Keepfer, Greenville News: 64-28

  • Todd Shanesy, Greenville News: 64-28

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: ACC football predictions for Week 12: Picking the winner of every game