Why The ACC Wants and Needs Georgia Tech Now

(Josh Nesbitt's Yellow Jackets are the ACC's unquestioned best team now.)

Jimmy Newman's kick never really had a chance—to be fair, dude's longest made attempt to date was 42 yards, and this one was 60. 

Jimmy Newman is Wake Forest's freshman kicker, and he tried, as the clock hit zeroe, to complete what would have been a huge upset Saturday, beating Miami at home and all but sealing the ACC Coastal for Georgia Tech.

The kick fell short, and Miami is still alive. But the game itself should confirm one thing: The ACC's money is all on one horse now, and that horse is Georgia Tech.

Just two weeks ago, the conference dreamed of two BCS bids, assuming Miami and Tech both won out. But Clemson's upset last week in south Florida put those dreams in the ICU, and Wake's near miss against the 'Canes probably seals them as gone.

So now the best the ACC can hope for is a good one-team BCS showing, and Georgia Tech is its best bet.

The defense has struggled, yes, but it's adjusted and improved noticeably as the season has worn on. It can't be denied that this unit is head and shoulders above where it was just one month ago.

The offense is the best in the nation at doing what it wants to do and dictating the flow of play to opposing defenses. And when it's in rhythm, it cuts like a hot knife through butter and makes big plays.

Simply put, this year, Georgia Tech is the best BCS representative the ACC has to offer.

Next year, that might be different.

But with November looming, John Swofford and Co. ought to be rooting hard for the Jackets to run the table. Otherwise, the ACC's showing in the Orange Bowl will be anybody's guess.