ACC Mid-Season Team Grades

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Read the entire ACC Mid-season Report here:

Boston College Eagles:  A-  Despite one of the most brutal off-seasons of any team in recent memory, the Boston College Eagles own a 4-2 record with big wins over Wake Forest and Florida State.  Picked by most of the media to finish last in the Atlantic division, the Eagles are proving doubters wrong and finding ways to win.  At 2-2 in conference play Boston College has as good a shot as anyone to win the division, and there doesn't seem to be too much danger left on the schedule besides a trip to South Bend for a meeting with the Fighting Irish.

Clemson Tigers:  C  After a valiant comeback against the Yellow Jackets fell short and a dominant performance the following week against Boston College, Clemson appeared to be a team on the rise.  Then the Tigers dropped two straight against TCU and a struggling Maryland team, causing concern and quieting the growing excitement in Clemson.  While the Tigers have been competitive in every game, the bottom line is they are too talented to be just 2-3 overall with their best win coming at home against a young and rebuilding Boston College team.

Duke Blue Devils:  A-  The only reason the Blue Devils aren't receiving an A+ here is that black eye they got on opening weekend.  Yes, Richmond is probably the best FCS team in the country, that doesn't excuse a team from a BCS conference losing to one from the Colonial Athletic Association.  However, since then Duke has gone 3-2 including a huge conference road win over NC State, their first in almost six years.  Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis is playing incredible football right now and if he and the Blue Devils can keep it up, who knows?  They might have just enough to go bowling for the first time in 15 years, but Duke still has to manage to win three more games to qualify.

Florida State Seminoles:  D+  Truthfully, Florida State fans wouldn't be lying if they argued they're only a few key plays away from a winning record, but the reality is they didn't make those plays and the only reason the Seminoles aren't receiving a failing grade is the impressive beat down they put on #7 (at the time) BYU in Provo.  The 'Noles were pre-season favorites in the Atlantic division but now find themselves 0-3 in conference play and if Christian Ponder doesn't get some help from the rest of the team soon, the nation's longest bowl streak is in very real danger.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:  B+  Georgia Tech has proved that their offense is capable of working effectively against ACC defenses and when executed correctly can be devastating.  They have not however, shown that they can consistently play solid defense and that could the difference in the Yellow Jackets ACC title hopes.  Last week Georgia Tech ran wild on Florida State in a shootout win, but face their toughest test of the year this Saturday when Virginia Tech comes to town.

Maryland Terrapins:  D  Maryland's year has not been pretty by any stretch of the imagination.  After getting thoroughly demolished by what we now know to be an overrated California team, it took overtime the following week for the Terps to get by JMU, at home

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