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By Marc Hudgens
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com ACC columnist Marc Hudgens recaps week nine in the ACC.
Does it seem that this season, so far, has been marked by high-scoring shootouts as of late and rain rain rain. Is this the Atlantic Coast or southeast Asia during monsoon season?
Georgia Tech’s big win over Vandy put the ne’er-do-well conference at an even mark against BCS foes and a couple wins over pastries boosted the overall mark.
Running Tally
Non-Con mark: 28-15 overall (8-8 BCS & Notre Dame)
Coastal Carolina 3, Clemson 49
Nothing to see here...
Central Michigan 10, Boston College 31
Nor here...
(11) Georgia Tech 56, Vanderbilt 31
Put any Atlantic team against the Jackets in the ACC title game today and the Jackets would win by a large margin.
(I know, Atlantic fans, “BOOOOO!!!!!!!” you yell.)
It’s as close to a fact as can be. It’s not that Georgia Tech walloped Vandy this past Saturday, it’s how they beat them. The Jackets and ‘Dores were neck-and-neck for the bulk of the game, then Tech began to pull away, fast. Reminiscent of Florida State in the 1990s -- toy with their opponent for a while, figure them out, then blast them with both barrels and overwhelm them in the second half. Beat Georgia this way at the end of the year, and all those Mark Richt rumors may become a reality.
In-Conference Thoughts
Sure, the Tar Heels won its first game against Virginia Tech in the past six matchups and the first time since the Hokies joined the ACC, fourth straight win against a top-25 team, blah blah blah. But the real aberration here is the visiting team actually won a Thursday night game. A combined four touchdowns were scored between North Carolina and Virginia Tech - textbook definition of the ol’ defensive struggle. However, unlike most defensive struggles this game was not boring, largely due to turnovers at the worst times that led to a 20-17 Heel win in the last two seconds.
After the game, Heel running back Shaun Draughn said, “To come back and play the way we did definitely speaks volumes about our team.”
However, what’s ironic about Draughn’s statement is that Florida State more exemplified it two Thursdays ago, against UNC nonetheless, than UNC did against Virginia Tech because the ‘Noles were down by far more entering the second half against the Heels than the Heels ever were against Tech.
Speaking of coming back, you have to hand it to the Canes for not cashing it in against Wake Forest. Coming off a painful overtime loss to Clemson, the team’s second which may have kicked them out of the Coastal race, Miami let Wake run all over them until about the second quarter when it appeared they realized that giving up on the season would be premature because, if Miami could win out (finishing at 10-2), it’s not unreasonable to think it could be awarded a BCS at-large berth. The Deacons had the Canes by the proverbial short and curlies until the last minute of the game, when a Jacory Harris 13-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin gave Miami their first lead of the game and the 28-27 win. Only a sophomore, Harris finished going 22-of-43 for 330 yards and one score versus one pick, and will be making a strong case for a run at the Heisman next season.
Better late than never I guess, as is the case in Tallahassee. Florida State seems to have found a bit of confidence since the comeback win at North Carolina, as they hung on against N.C. State for a riveting 45-42 win. The good news is the Noles have found a threatening offense. Bad news is their defense isn’t that great. Perhaps it’s that coordinator Mickey Andrews is saddling up en route into the sunset and everyone knows it and it’s taking its toll on the defense. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, it’s all but over for them. 0-4 in conference play and still have yet to face Clemson and Virginia Tech, it’s safe to say the Pack may be home for the holidays this year.
Let’s end this right -- what can we say about Duke? With Saturday’s 28-17 win in Charlottesville over Virginia, the Blue Devils now have five wins, their most since 1994. With this milestone and (don’t look now) sitting at second place in the Coastal behind Georgia Tech, David Cutcliffe is the toast of the town in The Triangle. Senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis is currently the ACC’s second-best passer, so look for him to be eyed by many an NFL team who needs a top quarterback. After all, Cutcliffe pupils seem to do pretty darned well at the next level. Speaking of the next level, cantankerous Cav coach Al Groh may need to pull some of his old NFL strings, as he’s got to be on his way out at Virginia by now.
Thursday night, Virginia Tech travels to a nemesis of sorts in East Carolina, and that’s the only non-con on the docket. The big conference matchup is Florida State at Clemson, the winner of which will be in the thick of the Atlantic race. The loser will essentially be out, so a lot is at stake. With this newfound confidence between the Tigers and Seminoles, next week’s game at Clemson may end up being an ACC classic.
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Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently. Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.
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Comments
I think what Shaun Draugn ment by his quote was “coming back” after the 2nd half collapse to FSU a week earlier not coming back against the Hokies cuz they only trailed once 17-14 late in the 3rd vs. VT!
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