Streaking the Lawn’s Week 4 ACC Power Rankings

Look, I know UVA hasn’t beaten VaTech in eons, but it’s hard not to take some satisfaction in their loss to ODU Saturday night. That game was just a punctuation mark on an uninspiring week for the ACC. And with it, there’s a major shakeup in the rankings. That being said, if you don’t like them, wait for next week, they’ll probably change again.

1. Clemson Tigers (4-0, 1-0). Last week: 1
Last game: win 49-21 at Georgia Tech. This week: vs. Syracuse

Seeing everyone else in the conference implode behind them, the Tigers decided this week to up their degree of difficulty and have made a quarterback change. In is true freshman Trevor Lawrence, out is senior Kelly Bryant. Just in time for a showdown with Syracuse. First to 50 wins?

2. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (3-1, 0-0). Last week: 4
Last game: win 31-17 vs. FIU. This week: vs. UNC

While a win over FIU doesn’t really move the needle, keep in mind the Panthers did defeat the mighty Old Dominion Monarchs. Thursday’s tilt with UNC might not show us much, but a week later they host FSU as a true test of how good….err maybe not.

3. N.C. State Wolfpack (3-0, 0-0). Last week: 6
Last game: win 37-20 at Marshall. This week: vs. UVA

A win on the road at Marshall is nothing to sneeze at. While the jury is still out on Virginia, a convincing win could signal NC State is the next best team in the Atlantic.

4. Duke Blue Devils (4-0, 0-0). Last week: 5
Last game: win 55-13 vs. NC Central. This week: vs. VaTech

While this isn’t the undefeated Coastal showdown we were hoping for, both teams are still undefeated in conference play. So far Duke has managed to overcome their injury woes, but a very talented (though hobbled) VaTech team comes to Durham. Win this one, and the Blue Devils should be taken seriously.

5. Syracuse Orange (4-0, 1-0). Last week: 7
Last game: win 51-21 vs. UCONN. This week: at Clemson

Frankly, I’m a little disappointed that the Orange didn’t put up a bazillion points against UCONN. The defense in Death Valley will be just a tad better though.

6. Boston College Eagles (3-1, 1-0). Last week: 3
Last game: loss 30-13 at Purdue. This week: vs. Temple

Maybe we were a little quick to crown BC as the challenger to Clemson in the Atlantic. AJ Dillon had a down game for his standards, but that could have been more about game script with the Eagles falling behind Purdue early in the second quarter. Temple has beat Maryland, so the Owls won’t be scared in this one.

7. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1, 1-0). Last week: 2
Last game: loss 49-35 at ODU. This week: at Duke

I live two miles from ODU and it’s incredible the number of Monarch flags that now adorn the front porches of my neighbors. But to add insult to injury, there’s now two fan bases ragging me for UVA not being able to beat VaTech. Thanks Hokies.

8. Virginia Cavaliers (3-1, 0-0). Last week: 9
Last game: win 27-3 vs. Louisville. This week: at NC State

With all of the carnage around them, and a decisive win over Louisville, I thought the Hoos would have moved up a few more spots in these rankings. Alas, we are still UVA fans and are conditioned to fear the worst. However, should they pick up the roadie at NC State, I bet UVA will leap over teams like Bryce Perkins leaps over Louisville defenders.

9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-2, 0-1). Last week: 8
Last game: loss 56-27 vs. Notre Dame. This week: vs. Rice

Rice has one win on the season, a squeaker against Prairie View. I feel we’ll learn as much about Wake in a win over the Owls as we did in their shellacking last week against Notre Dame.

10. Florida State Seminoles (2-2, 0-1). Last week: 13
Last game: win 31-17 vs. Northern Illinois. This week: at Louisville

Northern Illinois is good for what ails you. That’ll set up a showdown for the Atlantic basement with Louisville. Who saw that coming in August?

11. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-2, 1-1). Last week: 10
Last game: loss 38-35 at UNC. This week: at UCF

Who knows what things will look like by the end of the year, but a loss at this point to UNC doesn’t look good on paper. And it doesn’t get any easier as the Panthers square off against the #13 Knights.

12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-2). Last week: 12
Last game: loss 49-21 vs. Clemson. This week: vs. Bowling Green

GT < Pitt < UNC. I don’t need to be an engineer to suggest Georgia Tech may be a spot or two too high in these rankings. Fortunately, they should be able to take care of Bowling Green before the ACC schedule heats up.

13. Louisville Cardinals (2-2, 0-1). Last week: 11
Last game: loss 27-3 at UVA. This week: vs. Florida State

Last week: Are they good? Are they bad? Are they decent? Who knows!
This week: They bad.

14. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-2, 1-0). Last week: 14
Last game: win vs. Pitt. This week: at Miami

The Heels picked up a win over Pitt. Nicely done. Now they’re just itching to cede the bottom of the rankings to the loser of FSU-Louisville.