BSD Staff Week 8 ACC Power Rankings

It’s time once again for our weekly power rankings, and honestly this is getting more and more difficult every week.

How it works: Each writer gives a ranking and a brief description. All rankings are averaged and compiled into an overall ranking.

Composite ACC Power Rankings

1) Clemson (7-0, 5-0)

Average Ranking: 1

Highest Ranking: 1

Lowest Ranking: 1

Last week: 1 (No Change)

2) Wake Forest (6-1, 2-1)

Average Ranking: 2

Highest Ranking: 2

Lowest Ranking: 2

Last Week: 2 (No Change)

3) Pittsburgh (5-2, 2-1)

Average Ranking: 3.2

Highest Ranking: 3

Lowest Ranking: 4

Last Week: 4 (Up One Spot)

4) Virginia (5-2, 3-1)

Average Ranking: 3.8

Highest Ranking: 3

Lowest Ranking: 4

Last Week: 3 (Down One Spot)

5) Louisville (4-3, 2-2)

Average Ranking: 5.6

Highest Ranking: 5

Lowest Ranking: 6

Last Week: 6 (Up One Spot)

Tie-6) Duke (4-3, 2-2)

Average Ranking: 7.6

Highest Ranking: 5

Lowest Ranking: 11

Last Week: 5 (Down One Spot)

Tie-6) Virginia Tech (5-2, 2-2)

Average Ranking: 7.6

Highest Ranking: 5

Lowest Ranking: 11

Last Week: 11 (Up Five Spots)

8) Boston College (4-3, 2-2)

Average Ranking: 8.2

Highest Ranking: 7

Lowest Ranking: 10

Last Week: 12 (Up Four Spots)

9) Florida State (3-4, 2-3)

Average Ranking: 8.4

Highest Ranking: 8

Lowest Ranking: 9

Last Week: 8 (Down One Spot)

10) North Carolina (3-4, 2-2)

Average Ranking: 8.8

Highest Ranking: 7

Lowest Ranking: 10

Last Week: 7 (Down Three Spots)

11) North Carolina State (4-3, 1-2)

Average Ranking: 10

Highest Ranking: 7

Lowest Ranking: 12

Last Week: 10 (Down One Spot)

12) Miami (3-4, 1-3)

Average Ranking: 12

Highest Ranking: 11

Lowest Ranking: 13

Last Week: 9 (Down Three Spots)

13) Syracuse (3-4, 0-3)

Average Ranking: 13.2

Highest Ranking: 12

Lowest Ranking: 14

Last Week: 13 (No Change)

14) Georgia Tech (2-4, 1-2)

Average Ranking: 13.6

Highest Ranking: 13

Lowest Ranking: 14

Last Week: 14 (No Change)

Adam

1) Clemson: I don’t see this changing unless they lose 2 or 3 games in a row.

2) Wake Forest: 6-1! Gutsy win this week in the rain over FSU.

3) Pitt: Road win against Syracuse, only losses are UVA and Penn State.

4) UVA: They looked as good as advertised this weekend stomping Duke. I know they beat Pitt week 1 but that loss to Miami has them slightly under the Panthers for me.

5) Louisville: The Cardinals got beat pretty badly by Clemson but that’s to be expected. They are 4-3, but 2 of those losses are Notre Dame and Clemson. They’ve been improving steadily week to week all year, so let’s see how they do against UVA this week.

6) Duke: Losing to UVA isn’t that bad, but being down 48-7 after 1 play into the 4th quarter is.

7) UNC: Howell is probably one of the best QBs in the ACC already, but he can’t do everything. Losing in a game where your QB throws for 5 TDs is probably bad, but that game was a train wreck.

8) FSU: The Noles have a ton of talent, but the O-line and the coaching staff are just killing them.

9) Boston College: The defense isn’t great and they’re playing with a backup QB, but AJ Dillon is so good it doesn’t matter.

10) VT: They beat UNC, but no one deserved to win that game.

11) NC State: The offense is just a mess, blown out by BC and gave up 45 points to a backup QB.

12) Miami: Lost to GT after beating UVA, the Coastal confuses me.

13) Syracuse: Their O-Line doesn’t seem to be able to block anyone. Still winless in conference play.

14) Georgia Tech: I’m not going to overreact to 1 coastal win, they are still the worst team in the ACC.

Elijah

1) Clemson: People are freaking out about a game that they struggled in early but clearly the class of the ACC.

2) Wake Forest: Steps up for me to 2 after a gritty win against Florida State. A much needed bye to hopefully get healthy.

3) Virginia: Lost to Miami in a weird game but still has a scary defense

4) Pittsburgh: sneaky good possibly?

5) Virginia Tech: 6OT game victor, they earn this spot.

6) Louisville: have earned respect after a win against Wake and close half against Clemson

7) Boston College: 7-14 is basically all the same.

8) Florida State: lost a gritty game against the Deacs

9) NC State: solid but not spectacular

10) UNC: crushing loss to Virginia Tech but still has talent

11) Duke: Another tough loss

12) Miami: talent wise, should be in the top 3 but such a bizarre loss.

13) Syracuse: two losses in the two make it hard to trust and the fall of Dino is real

14) Georgia Tech: Huge win but still needs a ton more to be a legit ACC contender.

Samurai

1) Clemson: Obvious.

2) Wake Forest: Far and away the most likely Orange Bowl candidate assuming Clemson makes the playoff.

3) Pitt: Pitt or UVA are the most likely to take the Coastal but Pitt is trending up while UVA is trending down.

4) UVA: Still solid so far, in context of course.

5) Duke: When they’ve looked good they’ve looked really good. When they’ve looked less good...

6) Louisville: Because I don’t know who else to slot here, really.

7) NC State: Neck and neck with Louisville.

8) BC: Could be as high as 6. I dunno, it’s a cluster around this part of the conference.

9) FSU: Not only did they lose again, I don’t think their staff can capitalize on that raw talent I’ve mentioned so much.

10) UNC: The best of the rest, in my opinion.

11) Virginia Tech: I’m not fooled by the record.

12) Syracuse: Worst in the Atlantic.

13) Miami: Yes they lost to Georgia Tech, but the worst is still...

14) Georgia Tech: Yep.

Cam

1) Clemson: the fact that they’re not a top 3 team in the nation in the polls is laughable

2) Wake Forest: Win with a backup QB and the defense look the best it did all year for the most part? 6-1 baby

3) Pitt: Imagine if this defense was healthy! They’re still an insane defense not healthy!

4) UVA: Thanks for throttling Duke, but here comes the meat of your schedule

5) Virginia Tech: Ok like 5-8 I’ve got no clue but they beat UNC while others lost so by default you get to be here

6) Louisville: Can’t penalize them too much for losing to clemson but a spot they will drop

7) BC: Because sure? They can still run the ball?

8) FSU: Spend less time dancing, more time recruiting offensive linemen

9) UNC: What the hell is this team?

10) Duke: FRAUDS

11) Miami: Watch them come out and win the next game 30-6

12) NC State: They still can’t offense and that has caught up with the defense

13: Georgia Tech: Pressley Harvin III is a man among boys

14) Syracuse: There just isn’t a redeeming part of the team here... all aspects are just yuck. Alton Robinson deserves better

Edward

1) Clemson: The Tigers are getting no respect from the National Media. The ACC is down, yes, but the SEC bias is real folks.

2) Wake Forest: Bowl eligible at the second earliest date in school history (behind the 2006 ACC Championship season). This could be a special year.

3) Pitt: Only losses are to a Top 10 Notre Dame team and a Virginia team that is right outside the Top 25.

4) Virginia: The loss to Miami and loss of Bryce Hall for the year sets them back slightly. Still could be the favorite to win the Coastal Division firestorm.

5) Louisville: Still way ahead of scheduled on the rebuild. Satterfield has his team playing really well. Maybe the third best team in the Atlantic.

6) Duke: Hard to know what to make of the Blue Devils, as they look great at times and barely show up at others.

7) Virginia Tech: Quietly now sitting one win away from bowl eligibility. Would have never guessed this a few weeks ago, but they also have a legitimate shot at winning the Coastal.

8) North Carolina: Really bad loss in Blacksburg where they squandered numerous chances to win. Mack is back, but the rebuild may take another year or two.

9) Florida State: The offensive line is just plain bad, and the coaching staff continues to make questionable decisions. Willie Taggart may be in trouble in Tallahassee.

10) Boston College: I really don't know what to make of the Eagles, other than the fact that AJ Dillon is very, very good.

11) NC State: The quarterback situation may be only the tip of the iceberg for this team's problems. The Pack will likely be bowl eligible, but it could be a struggle getting there.

12) Miami: The Canes were showing some promise and then they lost to one win Georgia Tech, who has lost to FCS The Citadel. This team is very bad.

13) Georgia Tech: The Jackets actually picked up an ACC win on Saturday. They're still awful, but a conference win puts them no longer in last.

14) Syracuse: When you’re the only team without a conference win you’re automatically last in my book. This team is so disappointing after coming with high expectations.

How would you all rank the ACC? Comment below. If you’re a fan of another school, feel free to weigh in on your team’s ranking and season as well.