Week 3 ACC Power Rankings

We've been able to see nearly all of the ACC teams play a legitimate opponent by now. So, we should know something about most of the teams, right? Yea, try ranking the teams outside of Clemson and Florida State and let me know what you come up with.

If UVa played NC State's (or Duke's or Wake's or GT's) schedule would they be 2-1 or 3-0 instead of 1-2? Switch out any of those team's schedule for any others and you'll see the mess we're dealing with.

What we do know is Clemson and Florida State are the class of the conference. I think.

Going into the 4th week of the season, here is how we think the ACC is stacking up.

1. Florida State Seminoles (3-0, 1-0). Last week: 1
The Noles won in Chestnut Hill, but it didn't look pretty. They were able to score on their opening drive and werent able to finish off another offensive drive the rest of the night. A bye week this week gives FSU two weeks to prepare for Wake Forest. Phew.

2. Clemson Tigers (3-0, 1-0). Last week: (tie) 1
Clemson about gagged away a win in Louisville and not many players looked good in doing so. The Tigers ended up winning the game, but it seemed like Louisville might have lost it more than Clemson won it. Deshaun Watson threw for 2 TDs but wanted to balance things out by throwing for 2 INTs. They'll get a week off this week to recover and prepare for a prime time showdown with Notre Dame in Week 5.

3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-1, 0-0). Last week: 3
Many were expecting (and hoping) the Yellow Jackets to triple option their way into South Bend and take care of Notre Dame after the Irish looked suspect against UVa. But CJ Procise gave GT a taste of their own medicine by running for 198 yards and three TDs. Justin Thomas ended the day with 24 attempts which is never a good sign for the Yellow Jackets.

4. Miami Hurricanes (3-0, 0-0). Last week: 6
Oooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeee, did Al Golden's job flash before his eyes. After jumping out to a HUGE 4th quarter lead, the Hurricanes bumbled it away and had to take Nebraska to overtime before getting an interception and a field goal to get the W. Golden's horseshoe is going to have to stay lucky if he is to remain in Coral Gables into February.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1, 0-0). Last week: 7
Is Virginia Tech good? Possibly. Is Purdue the poo of the Big Ten? Most likely. The Hokies will have to play well again this week at East Carolina. The Hokies are 8.5 point favorites, so Vegas thinks they should be able to ride this momentum.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-1, 0-0). Last week: 8
The Tar Heels smoked Illinois in the unofficial ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Is Illinois any good? Most likely not. Think about this though, UNC is one dreadful game against South Carolina from being 3-0 and likely much higher on our list. Outside of a visit to Georgia Tech in a few weeks, if this UNC team is legit, they could be staring down a 9 or 10 win season.

7. N.C. State Wolfpack (3-0, 0-0). Last week: 5
Give me your favorite Wolfpack win over a legitimate opponent. I'll wait.

8. Duke Blue Devils (2-1, 0-0). Last week: 4
Man, you play a school that fully funds football and you come away with a loss? Who would have expected that after opening with Tulane and North Carolina Central?

9. Louisville Cardinals (0-3, 0-1). Last week: 9
We were all cheering for you. You were so close! Luckily, the Cardinals will get on the board this week with a drubbing of Samford (hopefully). As a UVa fan though, I must recommend choosing a QB and not rotating three of them.

10. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1, 0-0). Last week: 11
I can't imagine anyone saw much of Pitt's game against Iowa outside of the 57 yard bomb of a field goal the Hawkeyes hit as time expired. I'm sorry Pitt, but when that happens, just tip your cap. The Panthers get a week off before they travel to Blacksburg to open up ACC play.

11. Boston College Eagles (2-1, 0-1). Last week: 10
BC's defense deserved better than what the offense delivered last Friday against Florida State. The defense held FSU's offense to just 7 points. Unfortunately, the Eagles offense was held to 0 points. BC is back on the field this week as a 4 point favorite against a 2-1 Northern Illinois team that just scared Ohio State.

12. Syracuse Orange (3-0, 1-0). Last week: 13
Cuse took CMU to OT but came away with a victory. Good thing, because Leonard Fournette is coming to town and if he was able to run over Auburn's defense, I'm sorry Syracuse. Don't watch that game, someone might actually die, and nobody wants to see that.

13. Virginia Cavaliers (1-2, 0-0). Last week: 12
Yay! It's fun to get a win and have people have less confidence in you than they did after you lost the week before. Win this week and the Virginia faithful might be thinking about a bowl game after all.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-1, 0-1). Last week: 14
Wake could go to 3-1(!!!) if they can beat Indiana this week. Will we think they are better than the bottom of the conference if they do? Probably not.

As always, here is how we all voted. Let us know what you think the rankings should look like.