ACC Power Poll Week 10: Anyone Want To Take Charge of the Atlantic?
It was another typical wild and wacky week in the ACC.
Virginia Tech took a major step toward winning the Coastal Division by beating Georgia Tech on Thursday. The Hokies are starting to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the ACC.
In the Atlantic it seems as if nobody wants to take charge. A couple of upsets left the division completely up for grabs. NC State was the latest Atlantic Division leader to lose. Florida State couldn't take advantage either, as they got knocked off as well.
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Previous Rankings at All About Sports
No. 1 Virginia Tech Hokies 7-2 (5-0); Last Week: No. 1
The Hokies are the one ACC team that has played consistently over the last two months. Georgia Tech came to Blacksburg with a great game plan and jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. The Hokies didn't panic and made the plays late that you would expect from the ACC's best team.
I actually think you haven't seen Virginia Tech's best game. Ryan Williams is still getting healthy, and the defense gave up nearly 350 yards rushing to the Jackets. The Hokies play in Chapel Hill on the 13th against a very dangerous North Carolina team.
No. 2 Miami Hurricanes 6-3 (4-2); Last Week: No. 4
Is Miami really the second best team in the ACC? Got a better choice? They pulled out a win late against Maryland, 26-20, to keep their fading Coastal Division Title hopes alive. Freshman QB Stephen Morris settled in to throw the game-winning pass and had 286 yards passing.
Miami goes to Atlanta at high noon Saturday for a big matchup in the Coastal with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets .
No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels 6-3 (3-2); Last Week: No. 5
T.J Yates is the ACC's most improved offensive player, end of story. He shredded a quality Florida State defense for 439 passing yards and three touchdowns, as the Heels pulled out the 37-35 upset over Florida State. I know UNC fans wonder how the season would have gone had they had all those future pros on defense, but the Heels still have a shot at the Coastal Division.
They have a must-win game against Virginia Tech Saturday. If the Heels win that game they still need the Hokies to lose one ACC more game—but there would be a chance.
No.4 Clemson Tigers 5-4 (3-3); Last Week: No. 6
Clemson's 14-13 win over NC State was probably the gutsiest defensive performance in the ACC this year. QB Kyle Parker was at his erratic best. The offensive play-calling was confusing to say the least, but Kevin Steele's defense bailed out Clemson. They held NC State to 275 total yards and came up with big play after big play. That defense can keep them in a lot of games.
The offense has real issues, though, and they only have a few days to correct them before a visit to Florida St.
No. 5 NC State Wolfpack 6-3 (3-2); Last Week: No. 2
Hey Tom O'Brien, how about playing to win? On 4th-and-1 with around three minutes to go against Clemson at the Tiger 43, O'Brien punts. The Pack never see the ball again, and NC State loses 14-13.
As poorly as Clemson's offense played, NC State should have won this game by two or three TDs, but their own offense played poorly. The Pack couldn't convert on several red zone chances and blew a big opportunity to take charge of the Atlantic Division. A home game with Wake Forest up next week should be a layup. If NC State doesn't win the division, they'll know the Clemson game is where they blew it.
No. 6 Florida State Seminoles 6-3 (4-2); Last Week: No. 3
Before the Seminoles can get back to being the "Noles," they have to start finishing games off. In losing to UNC 37-35 in Tallahassee, Florida State let their second game in a row get away. I'm guessing FSU wants no more to do with teams from Tobacco Road. NC State won late the previous week. A defense that had played well most of the year gave up nearly 500 yards of offense.
The Noles do not control their own destiny in the Atlantic. They have to hope NC State loses a game, even if they win out. Clemson comes to Doak Campbell for a prime time game Saturday.
No. 7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 5-4 (3-3); Last Week: No. 7
Georgia Tech lost 28-21 Thursday night to Virginia Tech. You should never ever feel good about a loss. In addition to the loss, star QB Joshua Nesbitt broke his forearm and is likely out for the season. Georgia Tech was basically eliminated from the Coastal Division race.
There were a few positives. The defense played one of its best games of the season and looked comfortable in Al Groh's 3-4 defense. Backup QB Tevin Washington played pretty well in relief of Nesbitt. The Jackets face Miami next Saturday and can end the 'Canes' slim hopes of a Coastal Division Title.
No. 8 Maryland Terrapins 6-3 (3-2); Last Week: No. 8
Maryland is going to kick itself over their last game. They were 37 seconds from leaping up my power poll—which I am sure was their number one goal—and taking control of the Atlantic Division. Instead it just became a hard-fought, tough loss. The Terps gave up over 500 yards of offense to Miami but did have a chance to win the game.
Maryland can still win the Atlantic if they run the table. I am not kidding. It can start with a game at Virginia next week.
No. 9 Boston College Eagles 4-5 (2-4); Last Week: No. 10
Boston College is making a push for a bowl bid. The Eagles won their second game in a row with a 23-13 win over Wake Forest. Style points don't count at this point, just the wins. Montel Harris, BC's best offensive player, had 183 yards on the ground, and the defense came up with another strong performance.
The Eagles cannot afford a loss when they play at Duke Saturday.
No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers 4-5 (1-4); Last Week: No. 9
It looked like the Cavaliers were setting up to make a run at a bowl bid, but then they ran into a Duke Blue Devil that beat them 55-48. I would say, in an otherwise pretty positive season for new head coach Mike London, this is the first real setback. Keith Payne has quietly had a solid season at running back. He had 121 yards rushing in the loss.
The Cavs will have to win two of their final three games to get bowl eligible. It needs to start against another team trying to get to a bowl, Boston College.
No. 11 Duke Blue Devils 3-6 (1-4); Last Week: No. 11
This is what I really like about Duke Coach David Cutcliffe: He never lets the Blue Devils quit. After 1-6 start to the season, they've won two games in a row! Last week they beat a good Navy team, and this week they won a 55-48 shootout against Virginia. Desmond Clark had the game-winning run with 40 seconds left.
With Boston College coming to Durham, the Blue Devils have a chance to make it three in a row.
No. 12 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2-7 (1-6); Last Week: No. 12
What can you say about Wake Forest? They've lost close ones, and they've lost in blowouts. They lost this time to Boston College, 23-13. The season can't end soon enough for the Deacs.
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