#goacc Power Rankings Week 3

1. Clemson (2-0) Last Week 1
Result: (W 52-13 vs. South Carolina State)
This Week: BYE

This game against South Carolina State was really nothing more than a glorified scrimmage. In fact, they would probably get much more competition from their scout team. Clemson fans must have been thrilled to watch Georgia rebound very nicely and defeat Clemson's arch rival South Carolina. That game for Georgia really helped to legitimize Clemson's win over the Bulldogs. If Georgia can beat LSU in two weeks it becomes even more legitimate.

2. Florida State (1-0, 1-0) Last Week 2
Result: BYE
This Week: vs. Nevada

Not much else to say other than #Pray4Nevada. Nevada gave up 58 points to UCLA last weekend. I would anticipate the legend of Famous Jameis to continue. I don't mean to give away a spoiler to next week's hash tag, but it will probably be #Pray4BethuneCookman. I will say, Florida State's trip to take on Boston College on September 28th all of a sudden has me very intrigued.

3. Miami (2-0) Last Week 3
Result: (W 21-16 vs. Florida)
This Week: BYE

Pretty good decision by Al Golden and his staff to invite 115 recruits and 350 high school coaches to this game. It was the second consecutive week that an ACC opponent took down a marque SEC opponent, and this win added legitimacy to the league and added to the notion that "The U" was "back."  The Hurricanes are now ranked 15th in the nation and are ranked for the first time since 2010. Miami was fortunate to win the game, however, as they managed to accumulate just 212 yards of total offense. Florida also only scored 10 points on six red zone trips. You have to think if Florida gets even average red zone results that they emerge victorious. Nevertheless, Miami won and I give them credit. Miami also starts the season with 4 straight non-conference games and won't begin their ACC season until October 5th when they take on Georgia Tech.

4. Georgia Tech (1-0) Last Week 4
Result: BYE
This Week: at Duke

Georgia Tech was off this week so they didn't have the opportunity to beat anyone 70-0. Next week they take on the Blue Devils in what will be their first of four consecutive contests against ACC Coastal opponents. After Georgia Tech's game at Miami on October 5th we'll probably know who the Coastal champion will be. In other news I just realized Georgia Tech scheduled two FCS opponents this season. Were they forced t because they assumed the ACC would have 9 ACC games? Either way, it just frustrates me to no end when that happens. I know Alabama does it, but they are not on the fringe of bowl eligibility like Georgia Tech has been for the past several seasons.

5. North Carolina (1-1) Last Week 5
Result: (W 40-20 vs. Middle Tennessee)
This Week: BYE

The Tar Heels rebounded from their opening night loss at South Carolina with a beat down of Middle Tennessee. This game was even more of a blowout than the score indicates as Middle Tennessee scored a garbage time touchdown with 25 seconds remaining. Bryn Renner had an excellent game with a QBR of 87.9 and the Heels were equal opportunity in terms of their tailbacks as a trio of tailbacks each had 10 carries and over 40 rushing yards. Carolina is off this week and will have two weeks to prepare for the Georgia Tech triple-option in another game that will go a long way in determining who represents the Coastal in the ACC Championship.

6. Maryland (2-0) Last Week 6
Result (W 47-10 vs. Old Dominion)
This Week: at Connecticut

I think it's fair to say that Maryland is going to be a fun one to watch this season. So far this season they're averaging 45 points/game and Stefon Diggs already has 277 receiving yards and two touchdowns. C.J. Brown is averaging 275 passing yards and 65 rushing yards per game to go along with his nine total touchdowns. I really think this team is going to be undefeated headed into their October 5th game at Florida State. I feel very confident in saying that Maryland is going bowling this season.

7. Virginia Tech (1-1) Last Week 8
Result: (W 45-3 vs. Western Carolina)
This Week: at East Carolina

Virginia Tech rebounded from their 25 point loss to Alabama to beat Western Carolina 45-3, but Virginia Tech fans must still be worried about Logan Thomas. He had a QBR of just 61.9 this week and only completed 54.8% of his passing attempts for just 6.5 yards/attempt. The Hokies start the season with 4 non-conference games, which is probably a blessing for this team, but I'm struggling to see how they're going to score enough points to keep up with Georgia Tech in their first ACC game. This team is probably outside of the top 3 in the Coastal.

8. Pittsburgh (0-1, 0-1) Last Week 9
Result: BYE
This Week: vs. New Mexico

Nothing new to report fr Pitt this weekend as they were off this week as was Florida State, who is their only opponent so far this season. Pitt takes on New Mexico this week in what should be a fairly easy victory. After that they have matchups against Duke and Virginia; how they do in those two games will largely dictate whether or not this team clinches a bowl berth.

9. Boston College (2-0, 1-0 ACC) Last Week 14
Result: (W 24-10 vs. Wake Forest)
This Week: at USC

Well I apologize to the good #Dudes at BC Interruption for ranking you all 14th last week. Clearly I was wrong. There is a lot of energy and excitement surrounding this football program and it all comes from Head Coach Steve Addazio. Tailback Andre Williams was sensational as he bulldozed his way for 204 yards on a whopping 35 carries. Boston College has already matched their win total from last season and now they have their eyes squarely on bowl eligibility. Next week they travel to Los Angeles to take on Southern California who is a team in limbo coming off a 10-7 loss to Washington State. BC is about to enter a very difficult stretch in their schedule, but I wouldn't be stunned at all if they returned from their business trip to sunny Southern California 3-0.

10. Duke (2-0) Last Week 11
Result: (W 28-14 at Memphis)
This Week: vs. Georgia Tech

Duke won their game against Memphis, but lost quarterback Anthony Boone to a broken collarbone. According to Laura Keeley, Boone will not require surgery and is out indefinitely. This means Duke will turn to Brandon Connette at quarterback. If he has to come out, then it could mean they have to burn the redshirt of freshman Parker Boehme. This week will be the first true test for the Blue Devils and I believe Georgia Tech will expose them. Duke's game against Pittsburgh will be the first game to tell us about each of those teams.

11. Virginia (1-1) Last Week 12
Result: (L 59-10 vs. Oregon)
This Week: BYE

I'm really not sure what to do with this team. This team they lost by a whopping 7 touchdowns to Oregon and last week they beat a BYU team that just hung 40 points and nearly 700 yards on previously #15 Texas. I think they are much closer to the team that lost to Oregon than the one who somehow ended up with more points than BYU. David Watford continued his woeful ways when he threw 3 interceptions against Oregon, giving him a total of 4 on the young season. Virginia will dominate VMI after their bye week, but that trip up to Pittsburgh on September 28th won't be easy.

12. North Carolina State (2-0) Last Week 10
Result (W 23-21 vs. Richmond)
This Week: BYE

State escaped by the slimmest of margins on Saturday when Niklas Sade made a 48-yard field goal with just 33 seconds to go to take a 23-21 lead that would shortly turn into the final score. Quarterback Pete Thomas threw 2 interceptions and currently has 3 interceptions on the season compared to 0 touchdown passes. They have a nice assortment of running backs, but this team should be in for a very rude awakening when Clemson comes to town in 10 days. Their schedule, however, is still favorable so I certainly won't write them off from potentially making a bowl game.

13. Wake Forest (1-1, 0-1 ACC) Last Week 7
Result: (L 24-10 at Boston College)
This Week: vs. UL Monroe

I hate our option offense. I hate our option offense. I hate our option offense. Tanner Price is a fine passer, but we are completely reducing his effectiveness by forcing him to run/learn a new offense and also limiting the effectiveness of our best offensive threat, Michael Campanaro. As a Wake fan it makes me beyond frustrated that we aren't fully utilizing our talent and putting our talent in the best position to succeed. It's like we just decided to run this offense without even considering our personnel. We simply have no offensive identity right now. WakeJake and I were talking yesterday and we came up with the analogy of this is like what would happen if John Calipari had to take over Wisconsin this year (with their current roster) and he chose to still run the dribble-drive just because. Or if Bo Ryan took over Kentucky and decided they were still going to limit possessions and run that motion-swing offense. The option has to go and it has to go now. There was once a lot of optimism around this season's football program, but the option offense has us wondering how in the world we are going to move the ball down the field. UL Monroe is an absolute must-win game.

14. Syracuse (0-2) Last Week 13
Result: (L 48-27 at Northwestern)
This Week: vs. Wagner

Syracuse lost their matchup against Northwestern in this battle of two journalism powerhouses. Drew Allen was a turnover machine in this one; tossing four interceptions. Syracuse should win their next two games against Wagner and Tulane, respectively, but after that they begin ACC play against that other orange team-Clemson. I'm thinking Syracuse fans are already looking ahead to basketball season.