Ranking the ACC After Week 13 of College Football Action

1. Georgia Tech (8-3, 5-3)—Last week: 3

Georgia Tech put on a clinic of option football last Thursday night against Miami. The Jackets ran for 472 yards against a very solid Miami defense. I said that right...472 yards of rushing, and it could have easily been well over 500 if coach Paul Johnson hadn't started pulling his starters early in the 4th quarter.

Now comes arch-rival, the Georgia Bulldogs. The Yellow Jackets have exceeded all expectations, and are only a Virginia Tech loss from being in the ACC Championship game, but beat UGA, and a good season becomes great.

They'll erect a statue of Paul Johnson in center of the Georgia Tech campus, if he can pull this win off. GT fans want this one bad, really bad.   

 

2. Boston College (8-3, 4-3)—Last week: 4                           

Boston College controlled their own destiny in getting to the ACC title game three games ago, but it would take an improbable three-game winning streak, with games at Florida State, at Wake Forest, and then Maryland at home. Now it doesn't look so improbable with a 24-21 against Wake Forest, following the win at Florida State.

With starting quarterback Chris Crane out with an injury and Wake Forest up 21-16, it was up to backup QB Dominique Davis to lead BC to victory, and that is exactly what he did.

Davis sneaked in for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:12 remaining. Beat the ACC's most unpredictable team in Maryland, and BC can start booking reservations to Tampa. Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski has quietly done a very good job this year, as opposed to Charlie Weis at another prominent Catholic school.

 

3. Florida State (8-3, 5-3)—Last week: 5

Several times this season, Florida State has looked a lot like the Florida State of the mid 90s. Tonight was one those nights in a 37-3 beatdown at Maryland. The Noles looked fast on defense, and efficient on offense.

Next week is the true litmus test, of where the Seminoles stand in the college football pecking order. They get their shot at the mighty Florida Gators. Win or keep it close, and the Noles will know they are headed in the right direction, get blown out, and they'll know just how far they are from college football's elite.

The Nole defense is fast, but are they fast enough and good enough to handle Florida running back Percy Harvin and quarterback Tim Tebow?

 

4. Miami (7-4, 4-3)—Last week: 1

Thursday was supposed to be the Hurricanes' announcement to the college football world that they were back. 41 points and 518 yards later, the Canes were left wondering what the heck happened to their defense in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.

Randy Shannon spent most of the night yelling at his defense for missed assignments and poor tackling, but they are young and talented, and nights like that will happen with very young teams.

Now if they just get rid of offensive coordinator Patrick Nix and name Jacory Harris the starting quarterback, the Hurricanes will be set for next year.

 

5. Virginia Tech (7-4, 4-3)—Last week: 7

The Hokies were lucky they were playing Duke on Saturday and not anyone else in the ACC Saturday, becuase they would have lost. Five turnovers in the first half, seven total points scored by the offense, and Virginia Tech might win the Coastal Division title, but they don't look like the best team in division. To Hokies fans style points dont't matter, and the rest of the ACC can blame themselves for not taking advantage of an offensively challenged Hokie team.

All Virginia Tech has to do is beat a Virginia team, that's struggling even worse on offense and the Hokies are headed to Tampa.

 

6. North Carolina (7-4, 3-4)—Last week: 2

Last week I said Florida State laid one of the biggest eggs of the season in losing at home to Boston College. This week North Carolina with, still a shot at the Coastal Division title laid a bigger one.

The Heels had six turnovers, scored 10 points, and had 203 yards of offense. The defense was no better; they gave up 466 yards and 41 points. I like NC State and the way they are playing, but UNC made the Pack look like Oklahoma today. Okay, maybe not quite Oklahoma, but the Pack looked impressive.

By the way, what did Mike Leach to do to make Bob Stoops and the Sooners so angry at the Texas Tech Red Raiders Saturday night?  

Anyways, with Duke up next an 8-4 finish is likely for the Tar Heels. A nice turnaround after last year's four-win season.

 

7. Clemson (6-5, 4-4)—Last week: 10

Interim Coach Dabo Swinney continues to make a case to be the Clemson Tigers' future head coach. A 13-3 win at Virginia, and the Tigers are one game from bowl eligibility. Arch rival South Carolina would love to keep the Tigers home for the holidays.

The Tigers might want to find their offense before next week, as they only had 56 yards rushing today and 192 yards of total offense. They'll need more if want that victory over the Gamecocks, and Steve Spurrier.

 

8. NC State (5-6, 3-4)—Last week: 11

NC State is playing some the best football in the ACC right now. Ever since a 41-10 loss to South Florida on Sept. 27, the Wolfpack have been making steady improvement.

After its 41-10 dismantling of in-state rival North Carolina, the Wolfpack can get bowl eligible if they can win at home against Miami next week.

When the month of November, started the Wolfpack had zero ACC wins. Now they have three. Miami better put that Georgia Tech loss behind them quickly, or they'll be NC State's fourth win in a row.

 

9. Maryland (7-4, 4-3)—Last week: 6                                      

What else did you expect from the Maryland Terrapins? A week after a solid victory over UNC, of course they wouldn't show up against the Seminoles tonight losing 37-3.

That's the story this year's Terrapins. Week after week, you just never know how the Terps are going to play. Would it surprise anyone if they go up to Boston College and win next week?               

         

10. Wake Forest (6-5, 4-4)—Last week: 8       

Since beating Clemson to stand 4-1, the Deacs have lost four of their last six games. There are some nice wins this season, such as victories over Florida State and Ole Miss, and with Vanderbilt and a probable bowl game upcoming, an eight-win season is still possibility. Four of their five losses have been by seven points or less, so it easily could have been a great season at Wake Forest rather than a decent one.

 

11. Virginia (5-6, 3-4)—Last week: 9            

Going into today's game with Clemson, Virginia could still win the Coastal Division or miss a bowl game altogether. After a 13-3 loss, UVA must go on the road against in-state rival Virginia Tech just to get into a Bowl game, with dreams of an ACC title history.

Quarterback Mark Verica who played so solidly during the Cavs five-game winning streak, threw three interceptions, and seems to be regressing.

Running back Cedric Peerman hasn't been heard from since his overtime fumble against Miami three games ago. These two have to play well for Virginia to have a shot of beating Virginia Tech next week.

 

12. Duke (4-7, 1-6)—Last week: 12

Duke's defense was magnificent against Virginia Tech. Duke's offense was not. In the first half, the Blue Devil defense came up with five turnovers, and the offense could only convert it into three points, and that was the game in a nutshell.

I understand that the starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was out, and Zack Asack the backup was pulled into duty, buy hey, Coach Cutcliffe, how about opening up the playbook and actually giving your team a shot to win the game when you had the chance in the first and second quarter?