College Football, Week Eight: Ranking the ACC

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Clemson Tigers took giant steps to locking down their respective divisions. Clemson's victory over Miami has set up each to control their own destiny. Win out in the ACC and it will be a Georgia Tech/Clemson ACC Championship game.

Wake Forest losing to Navy? That's not good for conference resume or the Deacs bowl chances.

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1) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-1, 5-1)—Position last week: second

In the rain, and the road coming off a emotional win over Virginia Tech, it would not have surprised me if the Jackets had struggled with Virginia. Paul Johnson would have of none of that. Overcoming some sloppy early play, the Yellow Jackets roll over the Cavaliers 34-9. Georgia Tech had over 350 yards rushing.

Anthony Allen and Jonathan Dwyer both had over 100 yards rushing, and the defense held Virginia to 198 total yards. The offense is playing well, the defense is playing well, and now the schedule really gets easier. Next week is Vanderbilt. An ACC Coastal Division title is there for the taking for Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson says Thanks Clemson!

2) Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2, 3-1)—Position last week: third

The Hokies are still licking their wounds after last week's loss to Georgia Tech. They get a reeling North Carolina team on Thursday night in Blacksburg. That's doesn't bode well for the Tar Heels.

3) Clemson Tigers (4-3, 3-2)—Position last week: sixth

The Tigers went down to Miami and pulled out head coach Dabo Swinney's first big ACC win. After the Maryland loss, the Tigers could have packed it in. Credit to Swinney for righting the ship quickly. C.J. Spiller was simply incredible for Clemson and the Canes had no answer for the all everything player.

Clemson has been down this road before. Win when they are not supposed to, lose when they are not supposed to, get in contention for the Atlantic and let it slip away. Clemson and Swinney have a real opportunity to separate themselves from the Tommy Bowden era Tiger teams. The Atlantic is Clemson's to lose.

4) Miami Hurricanes (5-2, 2-2)—Position last week: first

With the Coastal Division title within Miami's grasp and still an outside chance at the National Title game, the Hurricanes laid a big fat egg at home in losing to Clemson 40-37.

The Hurricanes were helpless to contain C.J. Spiller, and while the offense was fine the defense got burned time and time again giving up over 300 yards passing. The Canes now have to hope for a Georgia Tech loss to get back in the Coastal race.

5) Boston College Eagles (5-3, 3-2)—Position last week: fourth

The worst thing about BC losing to Notre Dame is that it keeps the Irish in line for an undeserved BCS bid. While WR Rich Gunnel had 179 yards receiving for the Eagles, star RB Montel Harris only had 38 yards on the ground. With Clemson's win over Miami the Eagles are on the outside looking in for the Atlantic Division title and have to hope for Tiger loss somewhere.

6) Florida State Seminoles (3-4, 1-3)—Position last week: ninth

Down 24-6 in the third quarter Florida State looked finished, done, stick a fork in them. Then FSU went to work in rallying for a season saving 30-27 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. Christian Ponder is playing quarterback as well anyone in the ACC. He threw for 395 yards and led the great comeback. The defense still looks shaky, but FSU is still in the Atlantic race, if barely. They get North Carolina State at home next.

7) Duke Blue Devils (4-3, 2-1)—Position last week: 10th

Break out the Blue Devils! It might be time for head coach David Cutcliffe to get a couple of ACC coach of the year votes. QB Thaddeus Lewis is just shredding apart defenses at the moment.

He threw for 371 yards against Maryland. The defense held Maryland to only 249 yards and 13 points. The Blue Devils inch closer to that first bowl bid since 1994. Duke goes on the road to face Virginia next Saturday, in a game where the loser will find it very difficult to make a bowl.

8) Virginia Cavaliers (3-4, 2-1)—Position last week: seventh

The Cavaliers could have really established themselves as a contender in the Coastal Division, but Georgia Tech ran all over the Cavs. No tremendous shame in that. The Yellow Jackets are a very good team, and Virginia is just not equipped to beat a team like that right now.

There are just not enough playmakers on offense. If the Cavs want to make a bowl, they better beat Duke next week.

9) North Carolina Tar Heels (4-3, 0-3)—Position last week: fifth

I wanted to believe the Tar Heels were close to being a real ACC force. I kept them my top five in my ACC rankings, because if they could just find a little offense this could be an eight or nine win team.

It's time to face facts, the defense is overrated and QB T.J Yates and the offense struggle to move the ball consistently. UNC fans have to be disappointed in coach Butch Davis and this team. They should be better.

They will start the ACC 0-4, because they aren't going to Blacksburg and winning a night game Thursday. It's just not going happen or could it? Nah... That would be truly shocking.

10) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-3, 2-2)—Position last week: eighth

The Deacs lost to Navy Saturday. Navy runs the triple option. Navy had 338 yards on the ground. How many yards will Georgia Tech run for when the Deacs play the Yellow Jackets, 500? Wake Forest has not played well the last two weeks. They got thumped by Clemson last week now this.

The end of the season provides a brutal finish for the Deacs. There's Miami, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and resurgent Duke squad left to play in that order. Wake Forest picked a bad time to start going in the wrong direction.

11) North Carolina State Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3)—Position last week: 11th

The Wolfpack only gave 17 points on defense to BYE Week, after giving up over 100 points the last two weeks. Seriously the Noles explosive offense might score 70 on this defense when they play Saturday.

12) Maryland Terrapins (2-6, 1-3)—Position last week: 12th

The Terrapins are still mathematically alive for a bowl bid after a 17-13 loss to Duke, but I don't see them making one without a miracle. The Terps are on BYE this week. The season can't end soon enough for Maryland.