This week is about stacking your own win and nudging a couple of leaderboard threats toward the two-loss lane. Here’s the streamlined, do-this-now guide for Week 7 (Saturday, Oct. 11).
1) Handle Your Business
Clemson at Boston College — 7:30 p.m. ET (ACCN)
Non-negotiable. A road win moves Clemson to 2–2 in the ACC and keeps the 6–2 finish in play. BC hasn’t been a factor in the top-two race; take care of business.
2) The One Scoreboard That Really Matters
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech — 3:30 p.m. ET (ACCN)
Root Hokies. Clemson already lost head-to-head to Georgia Tech; the cleanest math is to push the Jackets toward two league losses. A VT upset dials back GT’s top-two trajectory and reduces multi-team tiebreak risks.
3) Bonus Tilt That Helps the Table
Pitt at Florida State — Noon ET (ESPN)
Pull for Pitt. Florida State has work to do in league play; another loss keeps them from re-entering the top-two scrum you’re trying to navigate. The more teams clustered with two-plus losses behind you, the better.
4) Who’s Off (and why that’s good)
A handful of contenders aren’t playing league games this week: Duke, Miami, Virginia, North Carolina, Syracuse, Louisville. Fewer moving pieces means fewer chances for someone else to stack wins while you’re on the BC road trip. It also sets up a leverage-heavy slate next Saturday when several collide.
The Quick Checklist
- Beat Boston College (7:30 p.m., ACCN).
- Root Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech (3:30 p.m., ACCN).
- Root Pitt over Florida State (Noon, ESPN).
- Note the byes for Duke, Miami, Virginia, UNC, Syracuse, Louisville—no one gains ground on you this week.
If Clemson checks those boxes, the Tigers exit the weekend with a stabilized record, a direct hit on their toughest tiebreak problem (Georgia Tech), and fewer threats gaining ground while you’re on the road.