STL's Week 7 ACC Power Rankings

Seven Weeks into the season and the ACC is still about as clear as it was at the beginning of the year. FSU is still good and Wake Forest is still pretty terrible. In the middle though, the numbers change every week. Here's how we think the ACC stacks up:

1. Florida State Seminoles (6-0, 4-0). Last week: 1
They didn't cover (grumble, grumble, grumble) but took care of business at the Carrier Dome last weekend. This weekend they'll play host to Notre Dame and Gameday. If the Noles can get past the Irish and keep their QB on the field, they're path to the ACC Championship Game and Playoffs look pretty good.

2. Clemson Tigers (4-2, 3-1). Last week: 2
The Tigers squeaked by visiting Louisville last weekend and lost their freshman phenom QB in the process. The upset pick of the week this week when they travel to Chestnut Hill, but I think they'll have no problem with the Jekyll and Hyde BC Eagles. The real question will be if they can withstand losing Watson for 5 weeks.

3. Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-0). Last week: 4
Hoos had a bye week and like Duke and GT in previous weeks, got to move up in the rankings. A showdown with the Blue Devils this week is the most important game in the Coastal Division. A win could go a long way in the Cavaliers hopes to play in Charlotte in December.

4. Duke Blue Devils (5-1, 1-1). Last week: 7
Coming off of a bye week, Duke took care of business against the triple option at Georgia Tech. I still don't know what to make of the Blue Devils given their terrible OOC schedule to begin the year, but the next few weeks should tell us after they play Virginia, travel to Pitt and Syracuse, then play host to Virginia Tech.

5. Louisville Cardinals (5-2, 3-2). Last week: 5
The Cardinals traveled to Clemson and almost pulled off the upset. It's a tough three weeks for the Cardinals as they play host to NC State before welcoming FSU for a Thursday night showdown on the 30th. If Winston plays, I'd expect FSU to take care of business, but we all know that's up in the air.

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-1, 2-1). Last week: 3
Many expected Georgia Tech to be somewhat of a fluke given the terrible opponents they played early in the season. Some thought their first loss wouldn't come til November, but after losing to Duke last week and traveling to UNC and Pitt over the next two weeks, more losses could be on the horizon for the Yellow Jackets.

7. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2, 1-1). Last week: 6
Poor Hokies. They beat UNC handily and still fall in the rankings. (Can you tell we're a UVa blog?) They start their Thursday night games this week at Pitt. A win will go a long way in helping the Hokies Coastal aspirations since they don't have to play Louisville, FSU, or Clemson.

8. Miami Hurricanes (4-2, 1-2). Last week: 8
Beating a bad Cincinnati team isn't going to help your rankings. Sadly, a bye week probably will. Fortunately, for the rest of the Coastal, Miami still has to travel to Blacksburg for a Thursday night game and host FSU in the middle of November. I expect at least 4 ACC losses for the Canes at the end of the season.

9. Boston College Eagles (4-2, 1-1). Last week: 10
If anyone could let me know which BC team shows up this weekend, or any weekend for the rest of the season, that'd be great. I don't know whether to think the team that beat USC or the team that lost to Pitt and Colorado State at home will show up. Two road games to Wake and VT line up before playing Louisville and FSU . The future isn't bright for the rest of BC's season.

10. Pittsburgh Panthers (3-3, 1-1). Last week: 9
A bye week after three straight losses means you're going to have a bad time. Unfortunately for the Panthers, things tdon't get a whole lot easier when the Hokies come to Heinz Field. For some reason, the Panthers are still a one point favorite, so Vegas must think very little of the Hokies.

11. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-4, 0-2). Last week: 12
The good news is UNC was able to keep it close with Notre Dame only losing by 7. The bad news is they still have no idea how to play defense. The worse news is they get to play Georgia Tech this weekend and bad defenses usually don't play well against a triple option attack. Things are not well in Chapel Hill.

12. N.C. State Wolfpack (4-3, 0-3). Last week: 11
Poor poor Wolfpack. FSU and Clemson in back to back weeks wasn't very fun, but then they had to go and lose to BC before traveling to Louisville. Luckily they get to play Wake, Syracuse, and UNC so they could end up with 7 wins and a bowl game!

13. Syracuse Orange (2-4, 0-2). Last week: 13
They lost pretty badly to FSU last week. They play Wake Forest this week in the ugliest ACC game we hope to ever see. I don't want to talk about that anymore.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-4, 0-2). Last week: 14
Nope, still not talking about that team.