Ranking the ACC After Week 14 of College Football Action

1. Georgia Tech (9-3, 5-3)—Last week: 1

With all do respect to BC and Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech played like a top 10 team the last 2 weeks. A wipeout of ranked Miami, then for 2008 so far, the ACC's signature win, a 45-42 victory over the country's preseason No. 1 team and current No. 11 team the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens no less.

As many figured Paul Johnson's option attack got better as the season went, and by end of year was one the most explosive offenses in the nation. Beating UGA means everything to Tech fans, and I expect when Johnson hits the Georgia Tech speaking circuit this off season he will be met with many standing ovations. Next up is a likely Chik-fil-A Bowl bid.   

2. Boston College (9-3, 5-3)—Last week: 2                          

Paul Johnson is the ACC's hottest coach, Butch Davis is turning around North Carolina, Frank Beamer and Bobby Bowden are the established winners, and Jeff Jagodzinski well he's the guy whose put Boston College in the ACC title game for the second year in a row.

Everyone sees what Matt Ryan is doing in Atlanta now, so last year was no surprise, but this year Jagodzinski did the ACC's most underrated coaching job. Quarterback Chris Crane was inconsistent throughout the season, but was managing to get victories, then he's goes out, and Dominique Davis takes over last week, and BC still takes care of business, in beating an always dangerous Maryland squad. Next weeks battle against Virginia Tech is going to be one physical slobber knocker game.

3. Virginia Tech (8-4, 5-3)—Last week: 5

I'm really not sold on Virginia Tech. They went 3-3 over their last six games, and didn't score more than 23 points in any of them. In their last two games against Duke and Virginia, who aren't exactly the 85 Bears when it's comes to defense, the Hokies have scored a mere 24 points. 7 of 14 against Duke came on and interception returned for touchdown.

All that said, Virginia Tech is in the ACC Title game, and that is all that matters. The defense is carrying the Hokies and Bud Foster has them looking like a vintage Virginia Tech defensive unit. If they can find a little offense the Hokies might themselves in the Orange Bowl.

4. Florida State (8-4, 5-3)—Last week: 3

Florida State was looking for the answer to how far they are from nation's elite programs, and they got their answer in a crushing 45-15 loss to Florida. Take heart Nole, fan Florida is rolling over everybody they play, and might drop 40 on Alabama next week, then go on to win the national title.

What this does mean though, is FSU is slowly starting to turn things around. They were one win from playing in the ACC Title game, but they are still a long way from competing for national  titles again. I expect them to be in the Gator Bowl which is a nice consolation prize, with a nine-win season a possibility.

5. Clemson (7-5, 4-4)—Last week: 7

Dabo Swinney might have just solidified himself a head coaching position at Clemson by pulling together a Clemson season that was headed towards disaster, a la Notre Dame or Auburn. If he isn't the number one choice, he's defiantly on the short list of candidates now.

Anytime you can beat a coaching legend like Steve Spurrier you've done well, and that was fine victory over South Carolina and yet another ACC win over a "mighty" SEC team. Running back James Davis has a had disappointing season, but had to feel good scoring 3 touchdowns today, as Clemson ran for 184 yards against a stout South Carolina defense. The Tigers now wait for their bowl destination.  

6. NC State (6-6, 4-4)—Last week: 8

NC State's development and improvement over the last month of the season has been great to watch. Tom O'Brian is finally getting his players to buy into his system, and to recover from a 2-6 start to get bowl eligible was one of the ACC's best second half turnarounds. A 38-28 victory over reeling Miami ended a 4-0 November for the Wolfpack. Is Russel Wilson already the ACC's best quarterback?

7. North Carolina (8-4, 4-4)—Last week: 6

An 8 - 4 regular season at North Carolina, is a nice turnaround from last year's 4 win season. That was not an impressive win over Duke today though, and coupled with last weeks no show against NC State, UNC limped home a little bit.

Still things are looking very much up for the Tar Heels. They should get a nice east coast bowl; Nashville, Orlando, or Charlotte look like good choices. If the Heels can hang on to Butch Davis, they'll be ACC contenders for years to come.

8. Wake Forest (7-5, 4-4)—Last week: 10

Wake Forest added the finishing touches on today's ACC/SEC head to head battles, by beating bowl-bound Vanderbilt, 23-10. For the record, the ACC went 3-1 against the SEC today, and, by my count, 6-4 against the SEC for the whole season. Can we please put to rest that the ACC is a weak conference, just because they don't have dominant national title contending team?

Back to Wake, it continually amazes me how Jim Grobe puts out winning season after season, at one of the smallest schools in Division 1 football. They are probably heading out West, but Deacs are bowling.

9. Miami (7-5, 4-4)—Last week: 4 

Maybe Miami just ran into the ACC's 2 hottest teams the last two weeks in Georgia Tech and NC State, or maybe there are real issues going on in Cane land. The two-quarterback combo of Robert Marve and Jacory Harris threw two interceptions a piece, and the defense got torched for the second week in a row, to the tune of 38 points and 439 total yards.

They will go to a bowl, but there is a lot of talent at Miami, and 7-5 is kind of record that got Larry Coker fired. Randy Shannon's seat isn't hot, but it might be getting a little warm.

10. Maryland (7-5, 4-4)—Last week: 9               

Maryland's roller coaster season ended on a down note, losing to Boston College, 28-21, today. In addition, after starting the season 6-2 the Terps dropped 3 of their last 4. Ralph Friedgen is one the ACC's best coaching tacticians, but seriously needs to hit the recruiting trail to get Maryland to that next level. Outside of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Terps lack the game breaking ability at the skill positions, that is going to be necessary in the soon to be very rugged ACC. Maryland could be invited to any of the ACC's out west bowls, or the Congressional Bowl in Washington DC, which would be good for that bowl's ticket sales.

11. Virginia (5-7, 3-5)—Last week: 11            

Early in the year, Virginia looked like one of the worst teams in Division 1, starting the season 1-3, with a lone win over Richmond. During the middle part of the year, they looked like one of the ACC's best squads, in winning 5 games in a row, and getting to their record to 5-3. The last month of season, the Cavs looked terrible again, lost 4 in row, couldn't score consistently and cost themselves a bowl game. I don't understand what happened to quarterback Marc Verica, who one month ago appeared to be one the ACC's better passers. Al Groh might want to keep that resume handy.

12. Duke (4-8, 1-7)—Last week: 12

Coach David Cutcliffe, couldn't get Duke to a bowl game, but he just might be changing the culture of Duke football. For the first time in over a decade the Blue Devils showed a pulse in their football team. In last two games against Virginia Tech and North Carolina, Duke played well enough to be in both games deep into the fourth quarter.

Now if Cutcliffe, can manage to upgrade the overall talent level of the Duke program, a bowl game is a possibility sometime in the next 2 to 3 years. He'll have to as the rest ACC is only going to get better.