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By Joe Overby
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist Joe Overby looks at each ACC team at the mid-season mark.
In the topsy-turvy ACC, the tide can change at moment’s notice and a team that one week appears to be headed to the league championship game suddenly finds itself floundering after a stunning loss the next.
In a league with so many parity and multiple-personality teams, it’s difficult to tell whose ship is steered on the right course and whose ship is sinking. But here’s a stab at the current conditions of the Atlantic and Coastal waters surrounding ACC squad and how each one is faring:
Boston College: Floating. The Eagles got off to a surprisingly strong 4-1 start, but were pummeled 48-14 by Virginia Tech on Saturday. That said, BC should win Saturday against N.C. State to set up an interesting matchup with rival Notre Dame the following weekend.
Clemson: Sinking. The Tigers have lost three of their last four games and desperately needed a bye week to recoup after tough defeats to TCU and Maryland. A win over Wake on Saturday could be the life raft the Tigers need though.
Duke: Swimming. Fresh off a big win over their Tobacco Road rival, the Blue Devils are 3-3 overall and three wins away from bowl eligibility. Quarterback Thad Lewis was unstoppable in Duke’s win over N.C. State, and this offense is becoming more and more confident.
Florida State: Sinking. The Seminoles have dropped three straight, and have sunk to 0-3 in conference play. Not to mention, the controversy surrounding the football program’s leadership has taken its toll.
Georgia Tech: Swimming. At 5-1 overall, the Jackets are just a hair behind Virginia Tech and Miami as one of the league’s elite. They could change that on Saturday against the Hokies if Georgia Tech is able to pull off an upset in what could be the ACC’s best matchup of the season.
Maryland: Sinking. This team looked strong against Clemson two weeks ago, but that win was followed by a loss to Wake Forest. A win over the Deacons could have been a buoy to a positive start in the ACC, but we were reminded that this is the same Maryland team that lost to Middle Tennessee State and needed overtime to beat James Madison.
Miami: Swimming. Who would have thought the Hurricanes would have been 4-1 at this point, especially considering the Murderer’s Row that opened Miami’s season? A drubbing at Virginia Tech is the lone blemish on the Canes record, but this team still looks like it could challenge for a second BCS slot for the ACC, or better yet, the championship.
North Carolina: Floating, but beginning to sink. The Tar Heels defense played out of this world against Georgia Southern in a big win that UNC needed after a two-game slide to start ACC play. But the Heels’ offense couldn’t get it going against Georgia Tech or UVa, and could use this bye week to figure itself out.
N.C. State: Sinking. Two weeks in a row, the Wolfpack’s secondary has been exploited. First, it was Wake Forest’s Riley Skinner who shredded the Pack’s defensive backs, then Duke’s Thad Lewis had his way with State’s defense. State seems to have forgotten how to tackle, and what was once a promising season for the Pack is fading fast.
Virginia: Floating, but could use a life vest. After a dismal 0-3 start to the season, UVa got big wins over UNC and Indiana. The Cavaliers have a lot of work to do, but could even out its record with a very winnable game at Maryland this week.
Virginia Tech: Swimming. The Hokies are accelerating on all sides of the ball, and that loss to Alabama seems like a distant memory. Look for Tech to be representing the ACC in the Orange Bowl. A 12-1 mark isn’t out of the question, either.
Wake Forest: Swimming. After a tough overtime loss to Boston College in its ACC opener, Wake has won two straight conference games and is looking better by the week. Saturday the Deacs face Clemson in a game that has been a stumbling block in recent years.
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