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By Marc Hudgens
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist Marc Hudgens recaps week seven in the ACC.
At this point of the season, as in seasons past, it safe to say this about the Law of the ACC. Empirical observations include 1) everyone needs help to get to the title game but then again, 2) no one deserves it when they get there, 3) everyone has a shot but then again, 4) no one has a shot, 5) one week’s “team to beat” is the following week’s implosive disappointment. To get even more headier, to say there is a Law of the ACC implies a certain order exists, when in reality it’s just observable chaos.
Not a lot to talk about regarding non-conference competition this weekend. Expected that Miami beats UCF but to do so only by 20? Maybe there’s just not a lot to tune-up in Coral Gables.
Running Tally
Non-Con mark: 25-13 overall (7-7 BCS)
(9) Miami 27, Central Florida 7
Nothing to see here (which may be by design by Randy Shannon considering the game against Clemson next Saturday)...
Final Thoughts
For all the hype N.C. State received in the preseason, it’s safe to say that the Wolfpack is in a freefall. A 52-20 pummeling at the hands of Boston College in Alumni Stadium is now the Pack’s third straight loss. What’s worse is it’s their third straight conference loss, which will essentially kick them out of the Atlantic Division title race. On the flip side, Tom O’Brien’s teams are known for having stronger second halves than first halves of seasons so I’m hesitant to write them off just yet. But with their final three games being Clemson, at Virginia Tech and finishing against the Tar Heels, it doesn’t exactly generate a lot of hope.
Speaking of Boston College, it seems they’re putting up a real fight in the Atlantic. They’ve lost only to Clemson as far as Atlantic foes so they’ll need help in their quest for a third straight division crown, but at this time they sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 ACC mark. Yeah they have a new quarterbacck and new head coach and no Herzlich, but I’m not about to cross them off the Atlantic race just yet based solely on their overachieving ways. Everyone and their mama wrote them off the past two years and they made fools out of everyone.
Clemson actually found an offense that played a whole half of a game but hey, that’s more than they’ve gotten all season. Still, you can’t deny this much-needed 38-3 win for Clemson’s new coach Dabo Swinney, who’s endured much criticism this season. What’s huge about this outcome is that Clemson now has the head-to-head over Wake Forest in addition to Boston College. Back to the newfound offense, we’ll see if there’s enough gas in the tank on that side of the ball to play and score a full four quarters every game, because that’s largely what’ll be needed next weekend at Miami. Play only half a game and Miami will win. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will probably face his biggest challenge in Mark Whipple, the Canes’ offensive coordinator whose offense has been a wild success in only his first season. And Clemson’s defensive success has been iffy when going up against new offensive coordinators (Tony Franklin when at Auburn, Jim McElwain, Paul Johnson). But Steele clearly appears to be very different than former coordinator Vic Koenning. We’ll see.
You gotta be kidding me? Virginia atop the Coastal right now? We thought it was Virginia’s Al Groh that was a sure-fire bet to get the pink slip treatment after this season. That may still happen, but few thought that Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen would be perhaps the most likely candidate for the old “best wishes on your future endeavors.” In the ACC’s pillow-fight of the week, Groh’s Cavaliers went into College Park and left with a solid 20-9 victory. While Virginia is the recipient of three straight wins which puts them at an even 3-3 mark, Maryland falls to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference. Duke of all people has a better mark (3-3 overall, 1-1 ACC) than the Terps. But take heart, Turtle fans, at least you’re not floundering at the bottom of the Atlantic like N.C. State and Florida State. At least you have an ACC victory. The Pack, Noles and Heels do not.
The game that was said by many to decide the Coastal Division occurred Saturday night with Georgia Tech outlasting Virginia Tech, 28-23. The Jackets really looked consistent throughout the entire game but on the Coastal race the only problem is this game’s party crasher, Miami. Let’s get this straight -- each with one conference loss, Virginia Tech has the head-to-head over Miami who has the head-to-head over Georgia Tech who has the head-to-head over the Hokies. Are we perhaps looking at Big XII South 2008 redux with a three-way tie? Perhaps.
Next week Boston College travels to South Bend, Ind., to face every southern football fan’s favorite team, Notre Dame. The Irish played USC very well this past Saturday so I’m not convinced Spaz’ Eagles can get out with the win. Wake Forest will try to shake off the humiliating beating it got from Clemson and save some face when they travel to Annapolis to take on Navy. The Midshipmen are doing about as good as the Deacs so this should be a pretty even matchup. So only two noncons for the ACC next week, and both are away games and both are against the indies. Not exactly BCS matchups but not pastries either.
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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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