ACC Power Poll Week 12: Virginia Tech Is Your Coastal Division Champion

Congratulations to Virginia Tech. They are the 2010 ACC Coastal Division Champions after going down to Miami and dismantling the Hurricanes.

NC State pulled out a gutty win over North Carolina to to stay in control of the Atlantic Division.

Florida State stayed in the Atlantic Division race by going on the road and winning at Maryland. 

Previous Rankings at All About Sports

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1) Virginia Tech Hokies  9-2 (7-0) Last Week - 1

 The Hokies are playing some mighty fine football right now.

That's nine wins in a row.

They went to Miami and won 31-17 in a surprisingly easy victory. Ryan Williams is finally recovered from his hamstring injury and had 142 yards rushing in the win.

The defense forced 6 turnovers.

Virginia Tech faces in-state rival Virginia in Blacksburg.

I'd be surprised if they don't roll in that one and cruise to the ACC Championship Game.

2) NC State Wolfpack  8-3 (5-2) Last Week - 3

NC State has now won four straight games over in-state rival North Carolina.

With the 29-25 win, the Wolfpack are in the driver's seat in the ACC Atlantic.

The Wolfpack made the late-game plays indicative of quality teams.

Trailing 19-10 WR Owen Spencer caught a deflected pass—Pack down 19-17. Then T.J Graham returned a punt for 87 yards and a score—Pack pull ahead 24-19. NC State makes a FG 27-19.

You get the picture.

Win next week at Maryland and they are headed to Charlotte. Tom O'Brien has done a heckuva job this season.

3) Florida State Seminoles 8-3 (6-2) Last Week - 4

No matter what happens in the Noles final game with Florida or in the NC State\Maryland game, the Florida State program is moving in the right direction.

If NC State loses then FSU will take the Atlantic Division Crown.

They went into a tough environment last week at Maryland and won 30-16. The game was far closer than the score indicates.

Florida State gets in-state rival Florida in Tallahassee.

I would say this is the Noles best shot at beating Florida in several years. These are not the Tim Tebow led Gators.  

4) Miami Hurricanes  7-4 (4-3) Last Week - 2

Miami can always see the corner they just can't seem to ever turn the corner.

I understand even if the Canes had beaten the Hokies they probably still wouldn't have won the Coastal Division, but that was a statement game.

Miami wilted at home and lost 31-17 in a discouraging performance. 

Saturday Miami will hook up with South Florida in a battle of the ACC vs Big East .

A win probably would ensure Miami one of ACC's better bowl games .

5) Maryland Terrapins 7-4 (4-3) Last Week - 5
 
 Maryland's surprising season won't end with an ACC Championship Game appearance.

The Terps went down 30-16 to Florida State and were officially eliminated from the ACC Atlantic Division race.

Danny O'Brien is a good looking young QB, but he made some critical mistakes including a redzone interception late in the 4th quarter as the Terps trailed 23-16.

The Terrapins will still have a say in who will win the ACC Atlantic division.

Florida State will be Maryland's biggest cheerleader Saturday when the Terps meet the NC State Wolfpack.

6) Clemson Tigers 6-5 (4-4) Last Week - 7

Now that's the kind of performance Clemson fans have been waiting for from Clemson QB Kyle Parker.

Parker completed 15 out of 17 passes for 194 yards 2 TDs and no interceptions. The Tigers got another dominant defensive effort in the 30-10 win over Wake Forest . The Deacs could only muster 205 yard of total offense.

When the Tigers play in-state rival South Carolina, it will be the defense that gives Clemson a shot to win the game. The offense has to do the rest to win it.
 
 7) North Carolina Tar Heels  6-5 (3-4) Last Week - 6

In a season of ups and downs the Heels could have had a huge UP, if they would have knocked off rival NC State.

Instead it was 29-25 loss that is the epitome of a season of what could have been.

QB T.J Yates had another huge game. He had a whopping 411 yards passing in defeat.

Now it's a tricky game for the Heels with a dangerous Duke Blue Devil team.

 8) Boston College Eagles 6-5 (4-4) Last Week - 8

Without anyone looking, Boston College has put together a nice little 4 game winning game streak.

The latest was 17-13 win over Virginia to get bowl eligible. Montel Harris leads the ACC in rushing with 1,243 yards rushing and had another 114 in the win.

The defense is ranked number one in the ACC.

It has been a nice recovery since a 2-5 start.

Boston College heads to Syracuse to face old Big East rival on November 28th.

 

9) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets  6-5 (4-4) Last Week - 9 

The Yellow Jackets beat Duke 30-20 in a performance that won't inspire much confidence in Georgia Tech fans heading into their rivalry game with UGA.

If are you passing over the middle against the Jackets, you are going to find an open receiver, guaranteed.

On the bright side Anthony Allen had over 150 yards rushing and reached 1000 yards on the ground for the season.

If the Jackets have any chance at Georgia, QB Tevin Washington will need the game of his life, and I would suggest double covering Georgia WR A.J. Green on every single play.

10) Virginia Cavaliers 4-7 (1-6) Last Week - 10

The Cavs 17-13 loss at Boston College extends their losing streak to 3 games. It seems Virginia just ran out of gas after their season best win over Miami a few weeks ago.

If there's been a big weakness on the Virginia team, it's been a rush defense that ranks 11th in the ACC and 106th in the nation.

Virginia can't go to a bowl nor can they stop Virginia Tech from winning the ACC Coastal, but if they could win against the Hokies that sure would be a nice way to finish the season.

11) Duke Blue Devils  3-8 (1-6) Last Week - 11

The final score—Georgia Tech 30 - Duke 20.

But the Blue Devils had their chances to spring the upset.

The passing game look sharp as QB Sean Renfree threw for 334 yards, but herein lies the problem that coach David Cutcliffe has—Duke is still learning how to win games.

That's the fourth game the Blue Devils have lost by 10 points or less.

Don't think they aren't capable of beating North Carolina next Saturday, because they are.

12) Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2-9 (1-7) Last Week - 12

Wake Forest lost 30-10 at home to Clemson.

What do I think about this? Um—I got nothing.

The Deacs haven't won since the second week of September.

In an inter-conference ACC\SEC pillow fight, the Deacs will head to Nashville to play 2-9 Vanderbilt.