Pittsburgh demolished Wake Forest, wrapping up their first ever Coastal title. That means the ACC championship game on December 1 is officially between the Panthers and Clemson. Who predicted that at the beginning of the season?
1. Clemson (11-0, 8-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (7-4, 3-4) – W 35-6
Next Week: vs South Carolina Gamecocks (6-4)
Clemson trounced Duke on Saturday, so barring an epic implosion, the Tigers are going to the College Football Playoff. They also must be licking their lips knowing that all that stands between them and an ACC Championship is Pittsburgh, a team that is one of just two squads to lose to UNC this year.
2. Pittsburgh (7-4, 6-1 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-6, 2-5) – W 34-13
Next Week: at Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4)
Congratulations to the Pitt Panthers for locking up the Coastal. Do they have any shot against Clemson in the ACC title game? I don’t think so, but they did play Notre Dame incredibly tough in a true road game, so you never know. Before that, the Panthers have to take on a disappointing Miami team, who surely remembers being handed their first loss of the season by Pitt last year. But even if Pitt loses, it won’t affect much. Miami is just a warmup for the real game on December 1.
3. Syracuse (8-3, 5-2 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-0) – L 36-3
Next Week: at #20 Boston College Golden Eagles (7-4, 4-3)
Someone should let the Orange know that the game against Notre Dame was being played at Yankee Stadium. I think their plane accidentally landed in South Bend, causing a group of imposters to take the field in the Bronx. Seriously, what was that? Notre Dame is probably much better than everyone was giving them credit for, but this wasn’t even a true road game for the Orange. At least Cuse added a heart-pounding last second field goal to avoid the shutout.
4. Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: vs Virginia Cavaliers (7-4, 4-3) – W 30-27
Next Week: at #5 Georgia Bulldogs (10-1)
I’m really jumping the Yellow Jackets up to the #4 spot in the ACC. Yes, those Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The ones who started the season 1-3, but have since won 6 of 7 and have taken care of business the last four weeks. This is not a testament to how good Georgia Tech is, this is a testament to how bad the ACC is as a whole. It’s bad. I fully expect Georgia to wallop GT this weekend. I’m absolutely rooting for the opposite.
5. Virginia (7-4, 4-3 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-4, 5-3) – L 30-27
Next Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-6, 3-4)
The Cavaliers put up a valiant effort against the Yellow Jackets, but ultimately fell short on the road. Virginia has still overachieved this season, and can really rub salt in the wound of the rival Virginia Tech Hokies with a win this week.
6. Duke (7-4, 3-4 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at #2 Clemson Tigers (11-0, 8-0) – L 35-6
Next Week: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-6, 2-5)
So, the Blue Devils got blown out by Clemson this weekend. Welcome to the club. Duke actually jumped to a 6-0 lead and was able to keep it close heading into the half down just 14-6. But then Clemson’s talent shone through as the defense clamped down and the Tigers outscored the Blue Devils 21-0 in the second half. This week they take on Wake, who will be desperate for their 6th win to secure bowl eligibility.
7. Boston College (7-4, 4-3 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: at Florida State Seminoles (5-6, 3-5) – L 22-21
Next Week: vs #12 Syracuse Orange (8-3, 5-2)
Why did you have to lose to Florida State? Why? Now the Seminoles are one game away from bowl eligibility, and though they have to take down the Gators, they still have hope. All BC had to do was not give up a 74-touchdown pass. That’s it. Ugh.
8. North Carolina State (7-3, 4-3 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: at Louisville Cardinals (2-9, 0-8) – W 52-10
Next Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (2-8, 1-6)
The Wolfpack destroyed Louisville this weekend. Welcome to the club. They end the season with two games against bad in state rivals North Carolina and East Carolina. The Wolfpack should head into their bowl game a very respectable 9-3. But they still lost to Wake, so I have no remorse keeping them at 8.
9. Miami (6-5, 3-4 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-6, 3-4) – W 38-14
Next Week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-4, 6-1)
The Canes finally ended their 4-game losing streak in dominant fashion against Virginia Tech on Saturday. While the scoreboard shows a 24-point victory, it could have been even more if the Canes didn’t drop two wide open touchdown passes. N’Kosi Perry looked really good in the victory and will try to ride the momentum into the revenge game against Pittsburgh, who is going to play in the game that the Canes thought they would have locked up a position in by now.
10. Florida State (5-6, 3-5 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: vs #20 Boston College Golden Eagles (7-4, 4-3) – W 22-21
Next Week: vs #13 Florida Gators (8-3)
Deondre Francois hooked up with Tamorrion Terry for a 74-yard touchdown that keeps the Seminoles bowl hopes alive for a little while longer. This week they welcome the Gators to town, and while they fell just short against one in-state rival this season, they could save their season with a victory here.
11. Wake Forest (5-6, 2-5 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-4, 6-1) – L 34-13
Next Week: at Duke Blue Devils (7-4, 3-4)
The Demon Deacons need to beat Duke this week to become bowl eligible. It’s that simple.
12. Virginia Tech (4-6, 3-4 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: vs Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4) – L 38-14
Next Week: vs Virginia Cavaliers (7-4, 4-3)
The Hokies simply do not want to play football anymore. They completely gave up in the 2nd half against Miami. There are whispers in Blacksburg that the Hokies may schedule Marshall at the end of the season to make up for the ECU cancellation. But for that game to mean anything the Hokies would have to beat Virginia this week. Even if they pull of that miracle, who’s to say they would beat Marshall?
13. UNC (2-8, 1-6 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: vs Western Carolina Catamounts (3-8) – W 49-26
Next Week: vs North Carolina State Wolfpack (7-3, 4-3)
The Tar Heels finally picked up their second win of the season, over a far inferior Western Carolina squad. They might be ranked #13 in the power rankings, but they are the only ACC school to knock off Pittsburgh this season.
14. Louisville (2-9, 0-8 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: vs North Carolina State Wolfpack (7-3, 4-3) – L 52-10
Next Week: vs #17 Kentucky Wildcats (8-3)
Mercifully, it’s almost over.
1. Clemson (11-0, 8-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (7-4, 3-4) – W 35-6
Next Week: vs South Carolina Gamecocks (6-4)
Clemson trounced Duke on Saturday, so barring an epic implosion, the Tigers are going to the College Football Playoff. They also must be licking their lips knowing that all that stands between them and an ACC Championship is Pittsburgh, a team that is one of just two squads to lose to UNC this year.
2. Pittsburgh (7-4, 6-1 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-6, 2-5) – W 34-13
Next Week: at Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4)
Congratulations to the Pitt Panthers for locking up the Coastal. Do they have any shot against Clemson in the ACC title game? I don’t think so, but they did play Notre Dame incredibly tough in a true road game, so you never know. Before that, the Panthers have to take on a disappointing Miami team, who surely remembers being handed their first loss of the season by Pitt last year. But even if Pitt loses, it won’t affect much. Miami is just a warmup for the real game on December 1.
3. Syracuse (8-3, 5-2 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-0) – L 36-3
Next Week: at #20 Boston College Golden Eagles (7-4, 4-3)
Someone should let the Orange know that the game against Notre Dame was being played at Yankee Stadium. I think their plane accidentally landed in South Bend, causing a group of imposters to take the field in the Bronx. Seriously, what was that? Notre Dame is probably much better than everyone was giving them credit for, but this wasn’t even a true road game for the Orange. At least Cuse added a heart-pounding last second field goal to avoid the shutout.
4. Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: vs Virginia Cavaliers (7-4, 4-3) – W 30-27
Next Week: at #5 Georgia Bulldogs (10-1)
I’m really jumping the Yellow Jackets up to the #4 spot in the ACC. Yes, those Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The ones who started the season 1-3, but have since won 6 of 7 and have taken care of business the last four weeks. This is not a testament to how good Georgia Tech is, this is a testament to how bad the ACC is as a whole. It’s bad. I fully expect Georgia to wallop GT this weekend. I’m absolutely rooting for the opposite.
5. Virginia (7-4, 4-3 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-4, 5-3) – L 30-27
Next Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-6, 3-4)
The Cavaliers put up a valiant effort against the Yellow Jackets, but ultimately fell short on the road. Virginia has still overachieved this season, and can really rub salt in the wound of the rival Virginia Tech Hokies with a win this week.
6. Duke (7-4, 3-4 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at #2 Clemson Tigers (11-0, 8-0) – L 35-6
Next Week: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-6, 2-5)
So, the Blue Devils got blown out by Clemson this weekend. Welcome to the club. Duke actually jumped to a 6-0 lead and was able to keep it close heading into the half down just 14-6. But then Clemson’s talent shone through as the defense clamped down and the Tigers outscored the Blue Devils 21-0 in the second half. This week they take on Wake, who will be desperate for their 6th win to secure bowl eligibility.
7. Boston College (7-4, 4-3 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: at Florida State Seminoles (5-6, 3-5) – L 22-21
Next Week: vs #12 Syracuse Orange (8-3, 5-2)
Why did you have to lose to Florida State? Why? Now the Seminoles are one game away from bowl eligibility, and though they have to take down the Gators, they still have hope. All BC had to do was not give up a 74-touchdown pass. That’s it. Ugh.
8. North Carolina State (7-3, 4-3 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: at Louisville Cardinals (2-9, 0-8) – W 52-10
Next Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (2-8, 1-6)
The Wolfpack destroyed Louisville this weekend. Welcome to the club. They end the season with two games against bad in state rivals North Carolina and East Carolina. The Wolfpack should head into their bowl game a very respectable 9-3. But they still lost to Wake, so I have no remorse keeping them at 8.
9. Miami (6-5, 3-4 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-6, 3-4) – W 38-14
Next Week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-4, 6-1)
The Canes finally ended their 4-game losing streak in dominant fashion against Virginia Tech on Saturday. While the scoreboard shows a 24-point victory, it could have been even more if the Canes didn’t drop two wide open touchdown passes. N’Kosi Perry looked really good in the victory and will try to ride the momentum into the revenge game against Pittsburgh, who is going to play in the game that the Canes thought they would have locked up a position in by now.
10. Florida State (5-6, 3-5 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: vs #20 Boston College Golden Eagles (7-4, 4-3) – W 22-21
Next Week: vs #13 Florida Gators (8-3)
Deondre Francois hooked up with Tamorrion Terry for a 74-yard touchdown that keeps the Seminoles bowl hopes alive for a little while longer. This week they welcome the Gators to town, and while they fell just short against one in-state rival this season, they could save their season with a victory here.
11. Wake Forest (5-6, 2-5 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-4, 6-1) – L 34-13
Next Week: at Duke Blue Devils (7-4, 3-4)
The Demon Deacons need to beat Duke this week to become bowl eligible. It’s that simple.
12. Virginia Tech (4-6, 3-4 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: vs Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4) – L 38-14
Next Week: vs Virginia Cavaliers (7-4, 4-3)
The Hokies simply do not want to play football anymore. They completely gave up in the 2nd half against Miami. There are whispers in Blacksburg that the Hokies may schedule Marshall at the end of the season to make up for the ECU cancellation. But for that game to mean anything the Hokies would have to beat Virginia this week. Even if they pull of that miracle, who’s to say they would beat Marshall?
13. UNC (2-8, 1-6 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: vs Western Carolina Catamounts (3-8) – W 49-26
Next Week: vs North Carolina State Wolfpack (7-3, 4-3)
The Tar Heels finally picked up their second win of the season, over a far inferior Western Carolina squad. They might be ranked #13 in the power rankings, but they are the only ACC school to knock off Pittsburgh this season.
14. Louisville (2-9, 0-8 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: vs North Carolina State Wolfpack (7-3, 4-3) – L 52-10
Next Week: vs #17 Kentucky Wildcats (8-3)
Mercifully, it’s almost over.
