Mark Schlabach (ESPN) – Miami vs. Cincinnati
Brad Edwards (ESPN) – Miami vs. UCF
Scout.com/CollegeFootballNews.com – Miami vs. Rutgers
Jerry Palm – Miami vs. UCF
ESPN ACC Blog – Georgia Tech
SBNation – Georgia Tech vs. UCF
The projections for the American Athletic Conference remain almost the same after week four. UCF leads the way for the second straight week, appearing in four projections. Cincinnati continues to appear in a lone projection and Rutgers returns after a one week hiatus.
UCF (3-0) remains the American Athletic Conference favorite despite having week four off. The Knights continue to climb in the USA Today Coaches Poll as well; they received 35 votes this week which places them two spots outside of the top 25. UCF welcomes 13th-ranked South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC) to a sold-out Bright House Networks Stadium Saturday for its final non-conference game of the year.
Cincinnati (3-1) secured its first shutout since 2007 in its 14-0 win over Miami (Ohio) (0-3). The Bearcats are idle this weekend before heading to USF to open up their American Athletic Conference schedule October 5th.
Rutgers (3-1) returns to the projections after a one-week absence thanks in part to a 28-24 victory over the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks. Rutgers scored the final 21 points of the game to overcome an early deficit in the win. The Scarlet Knights have the weekend off before opening up their American slate when they travel to SMU (1-2).
Georgia Tech (3-0, 2-0 ACC) and Miami (3-0) are the only two teams to represent the ACC in this week’s projections. The Hurricanes appeared in four projections while Georgia Tech was the ESPN’s ACC Bloggers and SBNation’s picks to head to Orlando.
Miami will hit the road for the first time this season, as it makes the trip up I-75 to face in-state rival USF (0-3). The Hurricanes are coming off of a 77-7 win over FCS-foe Savannah State. Miami set a school record for points in the win.
Georgia Tech improved to 3-0 with a 28-20 win over ACC-rival North Carolina (1-2, 0-1 ACC). The Yellow Jackets have been decisive in their wins so far this season, ranking in the top 15 for both points for and against. Georgia Tech has a short week ahead as it welcomes in ACC Coastal Division-foe Virginia Tech (3-1) on Thursday night.
North Carolina, Virginia Tech and NC State (2-1, 0-1 ACC) all fail to appear in a projection this week. The Wolfpack fell midweek to Clemson (3-0, 1-0 ACC), 26-14. NC State welcomes its final non-conference foe of the year this weekend in Central Michigan (1-3, 0-1 MAC).
Virginia Tech needed three overtimes to put away Marshall (2-2) last weekend. Logan Thomas accounted for three touchdowns in the win, including the decisive touchdown run in overtime. The Hokies head to Atlanta this Thursday to open ACC play against Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels return home this weekend to face in-state rival East Carolina (2-1, 1-0 CUSA).
