Streaking the Lawn’s Week 8 ACC Football Power Rankings

We’ve reached the Banana Zone of the season where a few upsets have lead to people dreaming of a seven way tie in the Coastal Division. Thanks to UVa’s upset of Miami this past week, it’s possible!

Here’s how we think the ACC stacks up heading into week 8:

1. Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0). Last week: 1
Last game: BYE. This week: vs. NC State

Boy am I glad Clemson had a bye to get ready for their toughest game of the season. In other news, our President tweeted about a “Horseface” and I am not sure why he is attacking a freshman QB at an ACC school, but nothing really surprises me anymore.

2. N.C. State Wolfpack (5-0, 2-0). Last week: 3
Last game: BYE. This week: at Clemson

Part of me remembers NC State has one of the three worst fanbases in the conference and has the biggest case of little man syndrome on the planet. The other desperately wants Dabo Jesus to lose a game. My pettiness always wins out. Roll Wolfpack this weekend.

3. Boston College Eagles (5-2, 2-1). Last week: 4 (tie)
Last game: win 38-20 vs. Louisville. This week: BYE

BC had to go through another week without stud AJ Dillon, who still leads the Eagles with 652 rushing yards despite missing multiple games. Luckily they were playing Bobby Petrino who is probably mailing it in at this point hoping Louisville buys out his $18 Million buyout.

4. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (5-2, 2-1). Last week: 2
Last game: loss 16-13 at UVa. This week: BYE

Luckily for Miami they get a week to figure out who their QB is. Bad news for Miami is they really have no clue and likely won’t before next Thursday’s game at Boston College. Mark Richt has already lost control of his QB situation.

5. Duke Blue Devils (-1, -1). Last week: 6
Last game: win 28-14 at GT. This week: vs. UVa

Though tied 7-7 at halftime, GT ended three straight drives with fumbles and Duke capitalized with three straight TDs to score the 28 points they needed. Bright spot for UVa fans? Duke had two fumbles and an interception themselves.

6. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2, 3-0). Last week: 4 (tie)
Last game: win 22-19 at UNC. This week: BYE

Credit to Tech for getting a conference road win anyway necessary. But squeaking out a 3 point win over one of the worst UNC teams in ACC history is not going to earn the confidence of the redneck faithful; especially after getting the doors blown off the week before by Notre Dame.

7. Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1). Last week: 8
Last game: win 16-13 vs. Miami. This week: at Duke

The drive for 6 got a big ole boost with that W. The letdown loss in a game they should win is coming. It has to. It can’t not come.

8. Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2). Last week: 7
Last game: BYE. This week: vs. UNC

They’ll get a chance to right the ship this week against UNC after losing a head scratcher to Pitt two weeks ago. They probably need to win this one to make a bowl because of their last five, they’ll only be favored in one more: against Louisville in November.

9 (tie). Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-4, 1-2). Last week: 9
Last game: loss 28-14 vs. Duke. This week: BYE

The Jackets will have to win three more games to make a bowl and have any chance of keeping Paul Johnson’s job. At VT, at UNC, vs. Miami, vs. UVa, and at UGA is a tough schedule to get three more for a struggling GT squad.

9 (tie). Pittsburgh Panthers (3-4, 2-1). Last week: 11
Last game: loss 19-14 at Notre Dame. This week: BYE.

Is Pitt good? No. Is Pitt bad? Probably, but maybe not as bad as we thought. Or Notre Dame was just coming off a big win at Virginia Tech and slept walked through their game with the Panthers. Yea, it was probably that.

11. Florida State Seminoles (3-3, 1-3). Last week: 10
Last game: BYE. This week: vs. Wake Forest

Four of their last six are against currently ranked opponents. One of the two not ranked is BC. A 4-8 FSU season is a real possibility. 5-7 might be best case scenario.

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-2). Last week: 12
Last game: BYE. This week: at FSU

In most seasons a home game vs. Clemson followed up by two road games against FSU and Louisville is a sure fire recipe for an 0-3 stretch. It’s 2018, so Wake might go 2-1 there!

13. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-4, 1-2). Last week: 14
Last game: loss 22-19 vs. VT. This week: at Syracuse

Hoos play the Heels next week so we’ll just hope for some type of emotional win or loss for UNC this weekend. Otherwise, I don’t have anything nice to say about UNC allowing a 6 minute, 98 yard drive.

14. Louisville Cardinals (2-5, 0-4). Last week: 13
Last game: loss 38-20 at BC. This week: BYE.

Louisville is doing a massive stadium renovation and has a coach they can’t buyout because they gave him a stupid contract. Glad UVa gets to play them every year at least.