OrangeBowlMagic
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- Jul 13, 2014
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I did this thread last week and it seemed like we had some good discussion so let's have at it again.
Now, one thing to say, this discussion isn't nearly as important this week as it was last week. Why? Because there is no longer a possibility of a three-way tie atop the ACC standings at 8-0 since Clemson lost. Miami and SMU now just need to win out and they are guaranteed to play in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
However, stranger things have happened, and there is certainly no guarantee SMU or Miami win the rest of their games, so let's see how this shakes out going forward.
Going back to last week, I laid out the schedule and who needed to win to help us out. Let's see how we did:
Stanford @ NC State -- I said last week this wasn't a major swing game, but we should be rooting for NC State. Result: NC State hammers Stanford 59-28. Good stuff for the good guys.
Virginia Tech @ Syracuse -- I said last week this was kind of a toss-up, but at the end of the day, rooting for Cuse is likely in our best interest. Result: Syracuse beats VT 38-31 in Overtime. Good stuff for the good guys.
UNC @ FSU -- This game meant nothing as far as our march to Charlotte, but watching FSU get pummeled is always a good thing, so I said Go Heels. And ho-lee-***, did FSU get pummeled. Result: UNC beats FSU 35-11, and FSU is genuinely the worst Power team in the entire country. You really love to see it. They suck something SERIOUS.
Louisville @ Clemson -- Obviously we were pulling for Louisville to get the upset here, and DING DING DING, we have a winner. Result: Louisville embarrasses Clemson in Life Valley 33-21.
Pitt @ SMU -- Both these teams were undefeated in league play, so we needed someone to lose, which obviously someone would. We said it'd be better if Pitt won since SMU's remaining schedule is far easier. Welp, this one didn't go our way. Result: SMU 48, Pitt 25.
So, onto this week. As I mentioned, this is mostly trivial, because we just have to keep winning. But what Clemson losing to Louisville did is, essentially give us a buffer to Charlotte. Because, now every single ACC team except for 4 have 2+ losses. Miami & SMU are 5-0. Clemson is 5-1, Pitt is 3-1, but they still have to play. So, at absolute most at the end of the year, there will only be 3 teams with 1 or fewer losses. Meaning, even if Miami were to stub their toe one of the last 3 games, we still have a very good shot at Charlotte, and winning there gives you a first-round bye and Top 4 seed in the CFP.
So I won't get too long-winded on the rest of this, but just as an exercise to protect ourselves in the event something crazy happens and we drop 1 game, here's what we should be pulling for this weekend to help us win a potential tiebreaker:
California @ Wake, 8:00 Friday, ACC Network -- Root for Cal. They are currently a 7 point favorite.
Syracuse @ Boston College, 12:00, The CW -- Root for Syracuse. They are currently a 2.5 point underdog.
Clemson @ Virginia Tech, 3:30, ESPN -- It'd be massive to get Clemson a 2nd conference loss here, so root for VT, bigly. Clemson is currently a 6.5 point favorite at Lane. If Clemson loses this game and we beat GT, we are almost officially clinched into the ACCCG. I'll have more on that next week depending on how these games go.
Duke @ NC State, 3:30, ACC Network -- Go Dookies, NC State is currently a 3 point favorite.
UVA @ Pitt, 8:00, ACC Network -- Pitt is one of the teams with only 1 conference loss, so them getting a 2nd one here would be lovely. Go Hoos. Pitt is currently -7.5.
Now, one thing to say, this discussion isn't nearly as important this week as it was last week. Why? Because there is no longer a possibility of a three-way tie atop the ACC standings at 8-0 since Clemson lost. Miami and SMU now just need to win out and they are guaranteed to play in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
However, stranger things have happened, and there is certainly no guarantee SMU or Miami win the rest of their games, so let's see how this shakes out going forward.
Going back to last week, I laid out the schedule and who needed to win to help us out. Let's see how we did:
Stanford @ NC State -- I said last week this wasn't a major swing game, but we should be rooting for NC State. Result: NC State hammers Stanford 59-28. Good stuff for the good guys.
Virginia Tech @ Syracuse -- I said last week this was kind of a toss-up, but at the end of the day, rooting for Cuse is likely in our best interest. Result: Syracuse beats VT 38-31 in Overtime. Good stuff for the good guys.
UNC @ FSU -- This game meant nothing as far as our march to Charlotte, but watching FSU get pummeled is always a good thing, so I said Go Heels. And ho-lee-***, did FSU get pummeled. Result: UNC beats FSU 35-11, and FSU is genuinely the worst Power team in the entire country. You really love to see it. They suck something SERIOUS.
Louisville @ Clemson -- Obviously we were pulling for Louisville to get the upset here, and DING DING DING, we have a winner. Result: Louisville embarrasses Clemson in Life Valley 33-21.
Pitt @ SMU -- Both these teams were undefeated in league play, so we needed someone to lose, which obviously someone would. We said it'd be better if Pitt won since SMU's remaining schedule is far easier. Welp, this one didn't go our way. Result: SMU 48, Pitt 25.
So, onto this week. As I mentioned, this is mostly trivial, because we just have to keep winning. But what Clemson losing to Louisville did is, essentially give us a buffer to Charlotte. Because, now every single ACC team except for 4 have 2+ losses. Miami & SMU are 5-0. Clemson is 5-1, Pitt is 3-1, but they still have to play. So, at absolute most at the end of the year, there will only be 3 teams with 1 or fewer losses. Meaning, even if Miami were to stub their toe one of the last 3 games, we still have a very good shot at Charlotte, and winning there gives you a first-round bye and Top 4 seed in the CFP.
So I won't get too long-winded on the rest of this, but just as an exercise to protect ourselves in the event something crazy happens and we drop 1 game, here's what we should be pulling for this weekend to help us win a potential tiebreaker:
California @ Wake, 8:00 Friday, ACC Network -- Root for Cal. They are currently a 7 point favorite.
Syracuse @ Boston College, 12:00, The CW -- Root for Syracuse. They are currently a 2.5 point underdog.
Clemson @ Virginia Tech, 3:30, ESPN -- It'd be massive to get Clemson a 2nd conference loss here, so root for VT, bigly. Clemson is currently a 6.5 point favorite at Lane. If Clemson loses this game and we beat GT, we are almost officially clinched into the ACCCG. I'll have more on that next week depending on how these games go.
Duke @ NC State, 3:30, ACC Network -- Go Dookies, NC State is currently a 3 point favorite.
UVA @ Pitt, 8:00, ACC Network -- Pitt is one of the teams with only 1 conference loss, so them getting a 2nd one here would be lovely. Go Hoos. Pitt is currently -7.5.
