Week 6 ACC Football Power Rankings

Six weeks into the year and the staff at Streaking the Lawn is still excited for Saturday and not counting down the days until basketball begins (ok, we are actually doing that second part, but still excited for Saturday!).

Weirdly enough, UVa being 4-1 doesn’t win them the ACC. This football seems like a silly sport. Let’s check out how ACC stacks up in STL’s mind.

1. Clemson Tigers (6-0, 4-0) Last week: 1

Last game: win 28-14 vs. Wake. This week: at Syracuse
There is not really much else to say about the Tigers. They’ll have Georgia Tech, NC State, and FSU in a three week stretch, but I doubt there is anyone in America that thinks they’ll struggle with any of those teams right now.

2. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (4-0, 2-0) Last week: 2

Last game: win 24-20 at FSU. This week: vs. GT
Miami isn’t “back” but winning on the road in Tallahassee is a good step in the right direction. They’ll have to avoid a severe let down spot this weekend against the triple-option. Miami is good, but I bet they stumble against another team not named “Virginia Tech”.

3. Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1, 1-1) Last week: 4

Last game: win 23-10 at BC. This week: BYE
A win is a win, I guess. Still though, suck it.

4. N.C. State Wolfpack (5-1, 3-0) Last week: 6

Last game: win 39-25 vs. Louisville. This week: at Pitt
Alright, we can start taking notice of the Wolfpack. Nobody should expect them to beat Clemson, but maybe they can give them a game for a half or three quarters. Bradley Chubb is legit though.

5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-1, 2-0) Last week: 5

Last game: win 33-7 vs. UNC. This week: at Miami
Miami, Wake, Clemson, UVa, Virginia Tech are on the schedule in the next 5 weeks. 3-2 would likely be impressive while 4-1 with a loss against Clemson would likely give Georgia Tech the Coastal Division.

6. Louisville Cardinals (4-2, 1-2) Last week: 3

Last game: loss 39-25 at NC State. This week: vs. BC
Forgive me father, for I have sinned. While watching NC State-Louisville last Thursday I allowed myself to think Virginia might be able to beat the Cardinals. Then I remembered Lamar Jackson is still there and well, the Cardinals could beat anyone.

7. Florida State Seminoles (1-3, 1-2) Last week: 7

Last game: loss 24-20 vs. Miami. This week: at Duke
Man, you lose a starting QB and the world seemingly falls apart. FSU finally showed signs of life this weekend against Miami. Since their early season game against ULM was cancelled, the Noles will have to go 5-2 down the stretch just to make a bowl game. That means they’ll have to beat one of Clemson, Louisville, or Florida.

8. Virginia Cavaliers (4-1, 1-0) Last week: 10

Last game: win 28-21 vs. Duke. This week: at UNC
I’ll confess, I did not expect UVa to sniff the top 10 in any of our Power Rankings this year. I’ll admit.

9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-2, 1-2) Last week: 9

Last game: loss 28-14 at Clemson. This week: BYE
Poor Wake. The Deacons got our hopes up after staring off 4-0. If they’re going to make a bowl in 2017 they’ll likely have to beat Syracuse and Duke because I don’t give them a great shot against Georgia Tech, Louisville, Notre Dame, or NC State.

10. Duke Blue Devils (4-2, 1-2) Last week: 8

Last game: loss 28-21 at UVa. This week: vs. FSU
Duke might not be as good as we thought. The Blue Devils might be as good as we thought and the Hoos are just better. I don’t know, but I hope it’s the latter because the transitive property says the Cavaliers can cruise this weekend.

11. Syracuse Orange (3-3, 1-1) Last week: 11

Last game: win 27-24 vs. Pitt. This week: vs. Clemson
I hope it’s not snowing yet in Syracuse and those kids could enjoy that win against Pitt. This week Clemson is coming and oh man it might get ugly. Actually, I was kidding, it’s always snowing in Syracuse I am pretty sure.

12. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-4, 0-2) Last week: 13

Last game: loss 27-24 at Syracuse. This week: vs. NC State
I cant imagine how much Pitt misses James Connor right now. Outside of a home game against UNC in November, they’re likely underdogs in the rest of their games of 2017.

13. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-5, 0-3) Last week: 12

Last game: loss 33-10 vs. Notre Dame. This week: vs. UVa
The more I think about it and look at the results, the more I think the Tar Heels might be the worst team in the ACC. What a dropoff for Fedora.

14. Boston College Eagles (2-4, 0-3) Last week: 14

Last game: loss 23-10 vs. VT. This week: at Louisville
One day the Eagles might be decent again. We all remember 2007. That day is not coming anytime soon though.