Streaking the Lawn’s Week 12 ACC Football Power Rankings

It’s the same story as it was for the last 11 weeks: Clemson is a machine and everyone else is entertaining. Yes, Clemson is not entertaining. More like they are ruining football.

Here’s how the STL staff breaks out the rest of the ACC.

1. Clemson Tigers (10-0, 7-0). Last week: 1
Last game: Win 27-7 at BC. This week: vs. Duke

Yes, they won. No, they won’t lose until they play Alabama or Georgia in the College Football Playoffs. Yes, their quarterback/Kentucky Derby entry is fine. No, you can’t understand my disdain for this fanbase unless you live in South Carolina.

2. Boston College Eagles (7-3, 4-2). Last week: 2
Last game: Loss 27-7 vs. Clemson. This week: at FSU

Listen, if Anthony Brown isn’t driven to the ground in a “clean” play by Christian Wilkins, does Boston College win that game? They might. Can’t tell me for sure they wouldn’t.

3. Syracuse Orange (8-2, 5-2). Last week: 4
Last game: Win 54-23 vs. Louisville. This week: vs. Notre Dame

Cuse has had a magical run this season, but it might have some rain in the forecast. Playing Notre Dame in New York City this week and traveling to BC next could put a damper on a still great season.

4. Pittsburgh Panthers (6-4, 5-1). Last week: 5
Last game: Win 52-22 vs. VT. This week: at Wake

The run game is unstoppable and we did not recognize it til November. They still lost to North Carolina somehow.

5. N.C. State Wolfpack (6-3, 3-3). Last week: 3
Last game: Loss 27-23 vs. Wake. This week: at Louisville

Last week was a classic “Well, our season doesn’t really matter anymore, let’s phone it in.” Louisville, UNC, and a makeup game against ECU left on the schedule means the Wolfpack are still likely to go 9-3.

6. Virginia Cavaliers (7-3, 4-2). Last week: 6
Last game: Win 45-24 vs. Liberty. This week: at GT

I’ll be amazed if they keep Georgia Tech under 400 rushing yards. It just doesn’t seem possible. Not a lot of confidence heading into this weekend.

7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-4, 4-3). Last week: 9
Last game: Win 27-21 vs. Miami. This week: vs. UVa

I left GT for dead when they were 1-3. They’ve since gone 5-1 with their only loss being a 28-14 loss to Duke. With UGA next week though, Paul Johnson needs to win this weekend if he wants to improve his team’s chances at a better bowl.

8. Duke Blue Devils (7-3, 3-3). Last week: 7
Last game: Win 42-35 vs. UNC. This week: at Clemson

David Cutcliffe is going to go 8-4 with Duke again. Bad news is the NFL is starting to recognize Daniel Jones so the QB might leave early.

9. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-5, 3-3). Last week: 8
Last game: Loss 52-22 at Pitt. This week: vs. Miami

Personally, I am loving the hell out of this struggle. You’d think the world was ending in Blacksburg.

10. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (5-5, 2-4). Last week: 10
Last game: Loss 27-21 vs. GT. This week: at VT

ESPN executives and national media journalists had this Miami-VT game circled whenever the schedule came out as the game we were not going to want to miss. Instead, it’ll be an absolute dumpster fire of a slap fight.

11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-5, 2-4). Last week: 12
Last game: Win 27-23 at NC State. This week: vs. Pitt

That miracle win against NC State gives the Deacs hope for a bowl. Pitt this week and Duke next week gives them a puncher’s chance. S&P+ gives them 63% chance of making a bowl, but it gives them a 46% win probability this week against Pitt, which seems about 20% too high.

12. Florida State Seminoles (4-6, 2-5). Last week: 11
Last game: Loss 42-13 at Notre Dame. This week: vs. BC

Yeesh.

13. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-8, 1-6). Last week: 13
Last game: Loss 42-35 vs. Duke. This week: vs. Western Carolina

I guess now we just see if Larry Visor is coaching in Chapel Hill next year.

14. Louisville Cardinals (2-8, 0-7). Last week: 14
Last game: Loss 54-23 at Syracuse. This week: vs. NC State

Dead ass broke and firing coaches with $14 Million dollar buyouts so you can go buyout another coach and give him a $25-30 Million dollar contract. Too bad there’s no money for the kids.