ACC Power Rankings After Week Seven: Three Teams Fight For Top Spot

It just wouldn't be an ACC football season if we didn't have tiebreakers and unbalanced division races. Georgia Tech's upset of Virginia Tech (I didn't think it would be an upset ) puts all three teams at a tie atop the Coastal Division.

Whoa! Not so fast my friend, as Virginia actually leads the division at 2-0! The Fighting Al Grohs got it done again this Saturday—beating Maryland—and they host Ga Tech this weekend.

With VT, Miami, and GT all with one loss, I couldn't really separate them in the rankings. You could make excuses for each one's loss to the other and varying margins of victories, but I do know home field held at all three. So here goes it...

1a. Virginia Tech

Hokies came up short in Atlanta and now have a bye week to regroup before hosting North Carolina in Blacksburg next Thursday. VT should be pumped for that one.

1b. Miami

Canes again show their maturity by going on the road and taking care of business against a team they should beat soundly in Central Florida.

1c. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets put themselves squarely in the mix for the Coastal Division. But another land mine awaits in Charlottesville, where they have not won since 1990.

4. Clemson

If you have ever seen the movie Sybil , it pretty much sums up this Clemson team.

5. Boston College

The Eagles pound their old coach for a third straight year and they suddenly have a QB in RB Montel Harris.

6. Virginia

Carruthers is getting his camel hair ready for the showdown between Ga Tech and his Coastal Division-leading Cavaliers. Search YouTube For UVA football if you miss the point.

7. North Carolina

The Tar Heels are this week's opponent for the train wreck that is FSU on Thursday night in Chapel Hill. UNC looks to climb out of the Coastal cellar, where they currently live at 0-2.

8. Wake Forest

We saw what happens on Saturday when lesser talent underperforms and good coaching cannot make up for it.

9. Florida State

I feel bad for Bobby, I really do. He should leave when he wants because he built FSU. But FSU's bowl streak is in serious jeopardy if they lose to UNC on Thursday, and I know Bobby does not want to go out like that.

10. Maryland

The Terps could not pull off the upset at home against Virginia, and at 2-5 it looks like a losing season for Ralph.

11. Duke

Duke has a real shot at their second ACC win hosting Maryland, which would bring their win total to four. You never know, the Blue Devils could sneak into one of the ACC's 47 bowl slots.

12. NC State

Two straight blowout losses—including one to Duke at home—gets you put at the bottom.


Let's look at the conference by team groupings. The ACC is its usual mess with three teams clearly at the top, followed by the two leaders in Atlantic, and then everyone else. I really think the ACC could get two BCS bids if two of these Coastal teams go undefeated the rest of the way.

Tier I

Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech

Tier II

Clemson, Boston College

Tier III

Virginia, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Florida State, Maryland, Duke, NC State


Top Story lines For Week Eight

Coastal leader Virginia takes on surging Georgia Tech. Can the Jackets finally sting the Cavs in Charlottesville where they have not won since 1990?

A resurgent Clemson team travels to Miami where the Tigers look to maintain the pace in the Atlantic Division. A loss could virtually eliminate Miami in the Coastal. Are the Hurricanes up to the challenge?

FSU travels to UNC for a Thursday night game with questions of infighting and potential coaching vacancies swirling in the air. With another loss, does the Seminoles' 27-year bowl streak come to an end?

Boston College travels to Notre Dame hoping to extend their six-game winning streak against the Irish and catch them moping after their eighth straight loss to USC. If ND loses this one, is Charlie Weis is definitely gone?

The ACC has three teams in the top 15. If Miami, GT, and VT all win out, does the ACC get two BCS bids for the first time?