OTB's ACC Power Poll: Week 9

Posted by Brandon Rink on October 31, 2009 under ACC Football | Comments are off for this article

The three ACC games played Saturday were barn-burners while the rest of the ACC dominated out of conference play. Duke has a better shot at the Coastal then Virginia Tech at this point now(you had that pegged preseason, right?). Florida State and NC State further proved defense is optional(seriously, what are their defensive coordinators being paid for that? I could run my NCAA Football 2010 defense from the booth and stop the opposition more). And the “U” played a quarter with Wake fully aiding them to a win on the road to keep up with the Blue Devils and Yellow Jackets who are running away with the Coastal.

Rank (LW)….Team……………………..Record
1)..(1)…Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets…………..8-1(5-1 ACC)
GT is scoring in Vandy’s nightmares right now–the Jackets put 28 points up each half to a 56-31 win in Nashville. The ‘Dores would actually take the lead in the 3rd quarter by 3, but the Jackets would score and score often as all 28 points would come with the 4th quarter plus 54 seconds to go. The Yellow Jackets once again mastered the clock with 40+ minutes of possession. The schizo Deacs are up next at home in the ATL.

2)..(3)..Clemson Tigers………………5-3(3-2 ACC)
The Tigers had a little fun in the rain today with Jacoby Ford starting it all off with a great TD catch then throwing for Clemson’s second TD subsequently. Dabo would even throw Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel out at WR and attempt a fade to him(Swinney had said in press conference earlier this week that he would give a Tigers defender a shot at an offensive TD if they got a defensive TD). The Tigers’ D was dominant of a very-pretty-much-awful FCS team in Coastal Carolina in the 49-3 win. The Tigers’ get back into the ACC race against FSU next week at home.

3)..(4)..Miami Hurricanes………………………6-2(3-2 ACC)
Good teams find ways to win games that they look like they shouldn’t(the corollary works for bad teams)–Miami was dead in the water with Jacory Harris throwing picks left and right in the second half, but one turnover to TD and some outstanding catches by Canes WRs and Miami is still in the volatile Coastal race.

4)…(2)…Virginia Tech Hokies…………………5-3(3-2 ACC)
Hokies? Hello? Are you there? Still in Atlanta? Well, you had a game Thursday and well, you lost again. You’re Virginia Tech–you are the ACC’s top dog–you cannot lose games like this. North Carolina is a horrible loss for Virginia Tech–definitely eclipses the Maryland loss for Clemson earlier this season. We expect a lot from the Hokies and they have not met our probably unrealistic expectations this season.

5)..(5)..Boston College Eagles………………….6-3(3-2 ACC)
BC split the two OOCs before getting back to the ACC schedule as they would win 31-10 over a solid Central Michigan team. In his first game as the man, BC RB Montel Harris ran for 136 yards and 2 TDs. BC gets a week off before attempting road win numero uno in Charlottesville on November 14.

6)..(6)..Duke Blue Devils…………………………5-3(3-1 ACC)
You didn’t really think they were going to lose, o ye of little faith in Duke Blue Devils FOOTBALL? Like I said last week, Duke can now not play their “A” game and win–it’s crazy and true. Again, Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis put up insane numbers–the Blue Devils are rolling right now, but, a bowl game is not a foregone conclusion. They should, mind you, but will have to defeat any two of @UNC, GT, @Miami, and Wake Forest.

7)..(7)..Florida State Seminoles……………4-4(2-3 ACC)
At some point, FSU’s defense will have to stop somebody to win a game. The Atlantic’s best QB Christian Ponder(gotta give Thad the nod overall) was battered and bruised in the 45-42 shootout win. This game actually featured only replica players on defense that looked, felt, and smelled like real football players but indeed were not. All I can say is–better step up your game, FSU, or next week’s trip to Clemson could be ugly.

8)..(8)..Wake Forest Demon Deacons…4-4(2-3 ACC)
They had it–then they didn’t. The Deacs put up 555 total yards on the board against a top 20 team, but would give up four turnovers in the loss. Wake Forest just is not playing the traditional understanding of “Grobe football.” They are not consistent and are committing turnovers at an un-Grobe-like rate. Georgia Tech up next–good luck.

9)..(10)..North Carolina Tar Heels………………………5-3(1-3 ACC)
The Heels’ D led the way in a stunning win in Blacksburg against the Hokies. UNC is getting the ball in the playmakers’ hands like Little and Draughn while the defense continues to be its awesome self. Where UNC goes from here is still TBD as I find it hard to believe they have many good matchups from here on.

10)..(9)….Virginia Cavaliers…………………..3-5(2-2 ACC)
They got Thad Lewis’d–played well enough to win, but just could not finish it off. They should have won, but if you give Lewis the ball, down by a possession, with time on the clock–bad results are gonna happen.

11)..(11)..North Carolina State Wolfpack………….3-5(0-4 ACC)
Wow, NC State is bad(There really is no reason to change this still but…). NC State offense can play, but the defense is still not playing on a FBS level. The epic Ineptitude Bowl is next week in Raliegh as the Maryland Terrapins travel to Carter Finley to see who sucks more.

12)..(12)..Maryland Terrapins……………………2-6(1-3 ACC)
Ineptitude Bowl cometh.

Agree with the rankings? Think they’re wrong? Offer a comment…