There was a lot of shifting around at the top of the ACC this week. The Clemson Tigers survived their version of murderer's row and improved to 5-0. Virginia Tech also showed that they are not invincible, and still have a lot to prove. Please feel free to comment and give your opinions. Shortly we'll do our best to pick our mid-season All-ACC awards and teams.
Death Valley should be rockin' for the rest of the season.
1. Clemson (5-0) Last Week 2
Result: W (23-2) at Virginia Tech
This Week: vs. Boston College
The Tigers are for real, and the Clemson faithful are going to be hearing a lot of Tiger Rag in Death Valley this season. This marks the third consecutive week in which Clemson has defeated a formidable team. They should win their next three games, which would set up an October 29 matchup between two 8-0 teams in Clemson and Georgia Tech. The Clemson fans were cheering 'We Want Bama' after their win over Virginia Tech on Saturday night. While I would be careful what I wished for if I were a Clemson fan, they should still be very proud of their team, and I fully expect them to be playing the Coastal champion in Charlotte on December 3.
2. Georgia Tech (5-0) Last Week 3
Result: W (45-35) at N.C. State
This Week: vs. Maryland
This game was not nearly as close as the score reflects. The Wolfpack scored two touchdowns in the final 34 seconds to make the final margin only 10 points. Orwin Smith led the way for the Yellow Jackets. He finished the day with 74 yards on just nine carries, and three touchdowns. They will be facing a Maryland defense that allows over 4 yards per rush, so the Yellow Jackets should be able to run wild and get the win.
3. Florida State (2-2) Last Week 4
Result: BYE
This Week: at Wake Forest
Florida State moved up by virtue of how impressive Clemson looked on Saturday night. Florida State was very competitive in their game at Death Valley, and Virginia Tech just looked anemic. Wake Forest will be Florida State's toughest challenge for the next month. Florida State opens up as a 9 point favorite, but I would not bet against the Deacs with the way they are playing. Look for the atmosphere at BB&T to be electric, and this game to come down to the wire.
4. Virginia Tech (4-1) Last Week 1
Result: L (23-3) vs. Clemson
This Week: vs. Miami
The Hokies took a pretty big drop in my rankings this week. They have finished eating all of their cupcakes and now they are getting into the meat of their schedule. Virginia Tech could very easily lose at least three and maybe four of their remaining seven games. It is imperative that David Wilson continues to play well in order to control possession. Logan Thomas is going to have to improve, because just four touchdowns to fives interceptions through five games is not going to cut it.
5. North Carolina (4-1) Last Week 5
Result: W (35-20) at East Carolina
This Week: vs. Louisville
North Carolina was impressive in their win against East Carolina. Brynn Renner had four touchdown passes and Giovani Bernard continues to be a stud. North Carolina is just a solid and well balanced football team. They will be in every game, and are capable of beating any team remaining their schedule on any given Saturday. It will be interesting what happens with regards to their hearing with the NCAA, but until then, it appears that the Tar Heels are going to be a very difficult matchup.
6. Wake Forest (3-1) Last Week 6
Result: W (27-19) at Boston College
This Week: vs. Florida State
This was a huge win for the Deacs. They took care of business, and got a nice road win. It takes the Deacs half way to bowl eligibility, and with games remaining against Maryland, Duke, and Vanderbilt, it means there is a great chance that the Deacs will be bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. The Deacs face their toughest test so far this season as they take on the Seminoles, but given Florida State's offensive struggles, the Deacs should be able to keep it close and maybe even find a way to win late.
7. Miami (2-2) Last Week 7
Result: W (45-14) vs. Bethune-Cook This Week: at Virginia Tech That close loss against Kansas State now looks more impressive. Being down 7-0 after the first quarter to Bethune-Cook is not impressive. When we watched that Labor Day matchup between the Hurricanes and Maryland, we thought it would be a preview of two of the top teams in the ACC, but the further along in the season we go, the more it looks like that was a game between two below average football teams. The Hurricanes could easily lose their next three games and fall to 2-5. This is definitely not the career that Jacory Harris envisioned when he signed his national letter intent to join 'The U.' Style over substance
8. Maryland (2-2) Last Week 8
Result: W (28-3) vs. Towson This Week: at Georgia Tech After a solid win against Towson, it's back to reality for Maryland. Much like Miami, Maryland could easily lose their next three games and fall to 2-5. In any marketing plan, publicity only does but so much if the product is not very good. That's what I'm starting to think about this Maryland program. I love their eccentric uniforms and the fact that Randy Edsall announces the uniforms on his Twitter account, but they are going to need to start winning games if they want to be taken seriously. Oregon has similar uniform styles, but they are competing for national championships. This team will be fortunate to make a bowl. 9. Virginia (3-2) Last Week 9
Result: W (21-20) vs. Idaho This Week: BYE 10. Duke (3-2) Last Week 11
Result: W (31-27) at FIU This Week: BYE This was an impressive road win for the Blue Devils. I'm rewarding them by moving them up a spot this week. Sean Renfree has been very efficient for Duke so far this season. He completes a very high percentage of his passes, and has only turned the ball over twice this season. They have a difficult schedule the rest of the way, but they are no longer the doormats of the ACC. If they had beaten Richmond, they would have a a legitimate shot at bowl eligibility, but as it is I do not believe that is going to happen. 'I just hope that you miss me a little when I'm gone...'
11. N.C. State (2-3) Last Week 10
Result: L (45-35) vs. Georgia Tech This Week: vs. Central Michigan Well at least this loss won't look that ugly to those who only saw the final score on the bottom line. But those who were at Carter-Finley this past Saturday know the ugly truth: the Wolfpack are a very bad team. They have yet to beat a FBS opponent. Several weeks ago i questioned why they would schedule two FCS opponents when only one counts towards bowl eligibility. I think they realized that might be the only way they can win games. State has a fairly easy schedule moving forward, but they aren't good enough to take advantage. 12. Boston College (1-4) Last Week 12
Result: L (27-19) vs. Wake Forest This Week: at Clemson Well at least Boston sports fans have the Red Sox. I'm kidding, but Boston area football fans are very thankful that Tom Brady and not Chase Rettig is the quarterback of the New England Patriots. He is turnover prone, and is very inaccurate. This team can't possibly when games when he gives the ball to the other team and can only complete 1 out of 2 passes. Overall, this team is just undisciplined. Several times against Wake this weekend they had idiotic personal foul penalties. Several times they had late hits out of bounds and one time their cornerback slapped Kenny Okoro in the helmet. I give Kenny great credit for restraining himself and allowing the other team to shoot themselves in the foot. Our friends at BCI thought this team would go 9-3. Right now, I gotta say I don't like their chances for that to happen. It's quite possible this team loses 10 games.