ACC Football: Week 9 Power Rankings

The ACC went undefeated against non-conference opposition this week!

This was the result of strong play from the ACC's marquee programs and the fact that every team in the conference was facing another ACC team.

All joking aside, the rich just kept getting richer this week while the possibility of only seven conference squads achieving bowl eligibility is one step closer to coming to fruition.

For the most part, it was a "dull" week in the ACC as the teams with the big name recruits and top historical track records took care of business.

However, a big divisional matchup between Georgia Tech and Miami shook up the rankings while Wake Forest and Duke played the game (or at least second half) of the week.

12. Boston College

Boston College actually posted a respectable performance against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

They led 7-6 at the half, scored 14 points against the Hokies' vaunted defense and generally limited the offense from putting up bunches of points in a hurry.

However, when you play against a team that posts over 200 yards rushing and passing, doesn't commit any turnovers and only accumulates 13 penalty yards, respectable doesn't cut it.

You have to be outright good and Boston College does not fit that label this year.

The Eagles might snatch a win or two down the stretch but they have some work to do to catch up with the ACC's top tier teams.

11. Maryland

Since posting a landmark victory against suspension-laden Miami to start the year, Maryland hasn't done much of anything.

Specifically, they are 0-5 against the FBS.

They have had a brutal schedule, but West Virginia and Georgia Tech are seeing their stock fall and uncertainty about CJ Brown is now darkening the atmosphere around College Park.

Games against Boston College, Virginia and NC State down the stretch look promising for now. However, the Terrapins need to prove they can finish against better opposition than Towson.

10. Duke

Duke was up three points with seven minutes to go in the game.

Wake Forest needed a touchdown to win.

The Blue Devils' talented offense was two yards away from a touchdown that would have made it a ten-point margin and virtually clinched a victory over a solid conference team.

Unfortunately, David Cutcliffe opted to kick a field goal which made it a six-point game, not changing the fact that the Demon Deacons could win with a touchdown.

Ultimately, the Tanner Price-led offense that hung 35 on Florida State reached the end zone against the ACC's most porous passing defense, much to the apparent surprise of Bear Bryant's former student assistant.

I know coaches want to "trust their defense" to win the game.

When you decline to go for the two yards that will clinch a contest for you, what kind of trust are you placing in your offense?

9. Virginia

Virginia is in the running for ACC's most inconsistent team.

An opening blowout of 2009 nemesis William and Mary sparked optimism that turned into uncertainty after a sloppy performance against Indiana.

A strong performance in an unexpectedly close loss to UNC once again raised hopes in Hooville before the Cavaliers lost to Southern Miss and barely edged Idaho.

After shocking Georgia Tech on homecoming, Virginia's offense had its worst performance of the Mike London era in a close loss to NC State, a team much more known this year for its ability to score than its prophylactic powers.

However, there has been some consistency for this crew.

The team rushed for over 150 yards in each of its first six games and still managed 124 in its recent loss, despite abandoning the run in the second half.

Meanwhile, the defense has performed admirably in each of the last three games.

Virginia is a quarterback away from making a significant jump up the power rankings.

8. NC State

NC State's defense came to play against Central Michigan and Virginia.

If they can do the same against higher-level competition, the Wolfpack may (improbably) be bowl bound in December.

They still need to accomplish an upset against Clemson, Florida State or North Carolina to do so.

With the Tar Heels' recent struggles, the future is looking bright in Raleigh.

State fans just need to hope that the bright light at the end of the tunnel is football salvation, not the freight train.

7. North Carolina

The Tar Heels need to beat the giant-slaying Demon Deacons this weekend in order to avoid a free fall.

The problem is that Wake has been beating just about everyone this year.

Jim Grobe's bunch has more ACC wins than any other team besides Clemson this year.

Everett Withers is going to have to prove his coaching prowess against one of the ACC's greats to stave off the mounting frustration of fans in Chapel Hill.

6. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets had a deceptive resume at the beginning of the year.

A bunch of wins against weak opposition bolstered Georgia Tech's record before road losses at Virginia and Miami stung the fighting flying insects.

Conference matchups against Clemson and Virginia Tech the next two weeks will determine whether Paul Johnson's crew are contenders or pretenders this year.

Recent signs point to the latter.

5. Florida State

Jimbo Fisher was castigated for narrow defeats to national powerhouses Oklahoma and Clemson.

Yes, I just used the "p word" to describe the Tigers.

Now his team has cruised to victories over Duke and Maryland.

Are the Seminoles for real this year?

The answer could still be yes, surprisingly.

They just need to find a way to gut out a win against the Hurricanes and, well, gut the Gators.

4. Miami

Here's the problem with Miami's decisive win over Georgia Tech.

There's no way of telling quite yet whether it's a sign that Miami is really good or whether Georgia Tech is simply overrated. 

If wins over North Carolina and Ohio State and close losses to Kansas State and Virginia Tech are any indication, the Hurricanes seem to be a supremely talented team this year.

Al Golden's bunch should easily beat Virginia, Duke and Boston College.

If they defeat Florida State in November, Miami will push Virginia Tech to its limits in the Coastal Division race.

3. Wake Forest

If the Demon Deacons conquer North Carolina this weekend, here is their to-do list in the ACC title race.

1. Go on the road to beat Clemson.

2. Take on Maryland at home.

Essentially, the Wake-Clemson game could be a division title showdown.

The Tar Heels are hoping to ruin that party.

Regardless, the winner of this showdown is bowl eligible.

2. Virginia Tech

This week, Virginia Tech did what they are best at.

They won their football game.

Sometimes it's pretty, sometimes it's ugly.

But somehow they won another game and keep cruising quietly, almost inevitably, towards the ACC Championship Game.

Thursday night contests against UNC and Georgia Tech are the only appreciable roadblocks left in their path.

The Hokies are hungry for a rematch with Clemson and they are starting to taste blood.

1. Clemson

It's official: Clemson's offense is unstoppable.

This, of course, means that Georgia Tech is going to shut them down this week.

If the Tigers avoid my jinx, however, there's no reason to believe they can't outscore the Yellow Jackets, Wake Forest or NC State.

Their rivalry game against South Carolina and subsequent ACC Championship showdown could end up being the appetizer for something even bigger if Dabo Swinney can continue to beat teams with his unrivaled enthusiasm.