The games don’t seem to mean as much this week.

And not because both division races have been decided and the ACC Championship Game matchup is set.

A pall has been cast over the Week 12 schedule by the shootings that left 3 Virginia players dead and another critically wounded.

The Cavaliers have canceled what was supposed to be their Senior Day game against Coastal Carolina. The rest of the league will pay tribute to Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry with a moment of silence, video board graphics and by wearing “UVA Strong” decals on their helmets.

There still will be a lot on the line in terms of national rankings, bowl placement and winning seasons. Even though the results don’t seem quite as important anymore.

Let’s check out what’s at stake (along with a few predictions).

Miami at Clemson

The 9th-ranked Tigers are going to need a lot of help from others. But to have any shot at sneaking into the College Football Playoff, they’re going to have to win out.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, need 1 more victory to become bowl eligible.

Saturday’s game was supposed to be among the marquee matchups of the season, with each team picked as the preseason favorite to win its divisions. While Clemson has held up its end of the bargain, Miami has fallen woefully short of expectations in its 1st season under coach Mario Cristobal.

This is at least a glimmer of hope for the Hurricanes, thanks to the debut performance of freshman quarterback Jacurri Brown last week. But this isn’t Georgia Tech. It’s Clemson. At Death Valley, where the Tigers have won an ACC-record 39 straight.

Prediction: Clemson 34, Miami 10

Georgia Tech at North Carolina

Like Clemson, the 13th-ranked Tar Heels have to keep winning to stay on the periphery of contention for the playoff and a possible New Year’s 6 bowl bid.

On an individual basis, redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye will be looking to enhance his rapidly improving Heisman Trophy chances by putting up more big numbers on both the stat sheet and the scoreboard. Maye’s 34 touchdown passes through 10 games are just 6 shy of Jameis Winston’s ACC freshman record and 8 behind the overall league mark of 42 set last year by Pitt’s Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett.

As for the Yellow Jackets, a victory would help interim coach Brent Key make a strong case for staying on the job on a permanent basis. They also can qualify for the postseason by winning their final 2 regular-season games.

That’s unlikely, since next week’s regular-season finale is against No. 1 Georgia. The Yellow jackets figure to have just as much trouble stopping a Tar Heels offense that leads the ACC in virtually every category. But remember, they beat UNC in Atlanta a year ago and this year’s Tar Heels have a tendency to make every game close.

Prediction: UNC 42, Georgia Tech 24

Duke at Pittsburgh

The Blue Devils will be looking to enhance Mike Elko’s already-strong resume for ACC Coach of the Year honors and give him the most wins for a first-year Duke coach since Fred Goldsmith won 8 during 1994.

Duke can extend its road winning streak to 3 straight, something it hasn’t done since winning at Georgia Tech, Pitt and Syracuse during 2014. That also happens to be the most recent time it has beaten the Panthers.

Pitt, on the other hand, is trying to fashion a strong finish to what generally has been a disappointing season. It took a step in that direction last week by beating Virginia to wrap up bowl eligibility.

Led by Outland Trophy semifinalist Calijah Kancey, the Panthers top the nation with 37 sacks. They also lead the ACC in rushing, thanks to the efforts of Doak Walker Award candidate Israel Abanikanda – who also is tied for the national lead with 18 touchdowns.

Prediction: Pitt 23, Duke 20

Syracuse at Wake Forest

Even though there’s nothing tangible on the line, this game contains more subplots than an entire season of the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Most of them involve the Orange.

Syracuse has secured bowl eligibility to end a 4-year postseason drought. But it has been more than a month since its most recent victory. Dino Babers’ team has lost 4 straight since a 6-0 start that was assumed to have saved his job. Babers could find himself right back on the hot seat, though, if the Orange finishes the season with 6 consecutive losses.

That’s a real possibility, considering the offense hasn’t scored a touchdown over the past 8 quarters.

The Deacons also have fallen on hard times. They’ve lost 3 straight to see their New Year’s 6 hopes go up in smoke. They still can salvage a 10-win season if they can win out. And they should be plenty motivated to send Sam Hartman and a senior class that helped produce an Atlantic Division championship last year out in style in their final home game.

Prediction: Wake Forest 34, Syracuse 27

NC State at Louisville

Another divisional clash in which both teams are coming off a loss. The winner will set itself up to earn a higher place in the ACC’s bowl pecking order.

For the Wolfpack, it’s also a chance for freshman quarterback MJ Morris to regain some confidence after a disastrous performance against Boston College last week. He’ll face a difficult test against a Cardinals defense that ranks 2nd nationally with 36 sacks and 27 takeaways (14 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries).

Louisville can clinch a winning record with a victory, but its chances could hinge on the health of banged-up quarterback Malik Cunningham. He’s listed as day-to-day after getting knocked out of last week’s loss at then-No. 12 Clemson just before halftime.

Prediction: Louisville 20, NC State 13

Louisiana at Florida State

The No. 20 Seminoles will try to stay hot heading into next week’s rivalry showdown against Florida by winning for the 2nd time this season against a team from Louisiana. They began the year with a dramatic win against LSU on Labor Day weekend.

FSU has outscored its opponents by an average of 34 points in wins against Georgia Tech, Miami and Syracuse since breaking out of a midseason 3-game losing streak. Quarterback Jordan Travis has thrown 3 touchdown passes during each of those victories and running back Trey Benson has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in all 3 games.

Defensively, the Seminoles have allowed only 2 field goals over the past 2 weeks while holding Syracuse to 65 yards through the air and 160 overall during a 38-3 rout last Saturday.

Prediction: FSU 48, Louisiana 17

Boston College at Notre Dame

The Eagles are the only thing standing in the Irish’s way of their 4th straight season sweep of ACC opponents. No. 18 Notre Dame has beaten UNC, Syracuse and Clemson to improve its winning streak against the conference to 27.

Even though BC has been eliminated from bowl contention, this game has huge postseason implications for the Irish and the ACC. Even with 3 losses, Notre Dame potentially could beat out a 2nd ACC team for a New Year’s 6 spot if it wins the remainder of its games based on its head-to-head results against both the Tar Heels and Tigers.

A win for the Eagles, meanwhile, could serve as a springboard that builds momentum for 2023. It also would firmly establish redshirt freshman quarterback Emmett Morehead as a star of the future. Morehead led last week’s comeback victory at NC State by throwing the winning touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining.

Prediction: Notre Dame 34, BC 20

Virginia Tech at Liberty

The Hokies have lost 7 straight and with next week’s Commonwealth Cup game against Virginia in doubt, this could be their last chance at getting back into the win column during 2022. It’s also an opportunity for them to save face against an in-state nonconference opponent after losing earlier in the season at Old Dominion.

Not a lot has gone right for Tech this season. It ranks last in the ACC in total offense at 313 yards per game, turnover margin at minus-8 and both red-zone offense and defense. The Hokies are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league at just less than 19 ppg and the most penalized with 77.

The Flames are 8-2 with wins against Arkansas and BYU and are a 9.5-point favorite on their home field against the Hokies.

Prediction: Liberty 21, Virginia Tech 10