Streaking the Lawn’s Week 6 ACC Football Power Rankings

Half the conference refused to play last week but that didn’t mean there wasn’t some serious #goacc happening. Pitt and VT win on the road while Louisville and BC tried to put their best foot forward in case the Big 12 ever comes calling. Thank God we’ve got 11 of the 14 teams playing this week.

Here are the rankings:

1. Clemson Tigers (5-0, 3-0). Last week: 1
Last game: BYE last week. This week: vs. FSU

Tigers got a bye week after nearly laying an egg at UNC two weeks ago. After the Tigers fell to No. 2 in the AP Poll, I am sure Dabo made sure to tell his team the entire world was disrespecting them and nobody is giving them a chance anymore. Nevermind the fact they’ll likely be favored in every game this season except MAYBE a National Championship game.

2. Virginia Cavaliers (4-1, 2-0). Last week: 2
Last game: BYE last week. This week: at Miami

The Cavaliers need to improve their offensive line play after getting embarrassed in South Bend two weeks ago. They’ll get the Hurricanes this weekend in hopes of putting the Coastal division in a chokehold. A win would do wonders for their chances in the division.

3. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-0, 1-0). Last week: 3
Last game: BYE last week. This week: vs. Louisville

Wake is a darling of the college football world right now and for good reason. They pulled out a close game against BC two weeks ago and will continue their trek through the ACC Atlantic for the next few weeks. If they win the games they are supposed to win, their game at Clemson in mid-November will be the Atlantic Division Championship.

4. Pittsburgh Panthers (3-1, 1-1). Last week: 8
Last game: win 33-30 at Duke. This week: BYE

After jumping out to a 26-3 lead in Durham this past weekend, the Panthers let Duke score 27 unanswered points and take the lead with 1:29 left in the game. Pitt answered and held on but 27 unanswered seems hard to do.

5. Florida State Seminoles (3-2, 2-1). Last week: 6
Last game: BYE last week. This week: at Clemson

Well that two game winning streak was fun while it lasted. Willie Taggert probably built up some good will with those wins over Louisville and NC State. Now they’ll be sacrificed to the orange gods. Real test comes next week when the Seminoles travel Wake Forest.

6. Duke Blue Devils (3-2, 1-1). Last week: 4
Last game: loss 33-30 vs. Pitt. This week: vs. GT

Rough way to fall back to earth after embarrassing VT the previous week. It was impressive for the Blue Devils to climb all the way back to take the lead but losing home games to teams they likely should not lose to isn’t a good sign for the Blue Devils.

7. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-3, 2-1). Last week: 7
Last game: win 38-22 at GT. This week: BYE

UNC was able to shake off that let down against Clemson by easily handling Georgia Tech on the road. At 2-1 in the ACC and the meat of their Coastal schedule still in front of them, the Tar Heels hold their destiny in their own hands.

8. Louisville Cardinals (3-2, 1-1). Last week: 12
Last game: win 41-39 vs. BC. This week: at Wake

The Cardinals might not be as bad as we all expected. No matter how slightly better they are though, traveling to Wake this weekend before hosting Clemson and UVa in the following two weeks could make for a really tough three week stretch for the Cardinals.

9. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (2-3, 0-2). Last week: 5
Last game: loss 42-35 vs. VT. This week: vs. UVa

I can’t imagine the Hurricanes firing Manny Diaz this year but if they lose to the Cavaliers this week and fall to 0-3 in the ACC, that theory could be tested. They’ve got a fairly cushy schedule down the stretch with GT, Louisville, and FIU so even with a loss to UVa, the Canes should still make a bowl.

10. Syracuse Orange (3-2, 0-1). Last week: 10
Last game: BYE last week. This week: at NC State (Thursday)

This game against NC State in Raleigh should tell a lot about Syracuse. Thus far they have 0 quality wins after entering the season thinking they could compete with Clemson in the Atlantic. If they lose to the Wolfpack we can probably just bury the Orange.

11. Virginia Tech Hokies (3-2, 1-2). Last week: 13
Last game: win 42-35 at Miami. This week: vs. Rhode Island

The dumpster fire in Blacksburg got a bucket of water thrown on it with a win by the skin of their teeth. A win this weekend against URI gets them to 4 wins, but having already played Furman, they’ll need three more victories to get to bowl eligible.

12. N.C. State Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1). Last week: 9
Last game: loss 31-13 at FSU. This week: vs. Syracuse (Thursday)

Like Syracuse, we have no idea if NC State is any good and this Thursday game could help the Wolfpack get some respect in the conference. They still have BC, GT, and Louisville on the schedule so a bowl game is still extremely realistic.

13. Boston College Eagles (3-3, 1-2). Last week: 11
Last game: loss 41-39 at Louisville. This week: BYE

Had no idea BC could score 39 points in a game but also had no idea they could give up 41 points. No matter what they’ll stay down here in the bottom since they lost to Kansas.

14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-4, 0-2). Last week: 14
Last game: loss 38-22 vs. UNC. This week: at Duke.

The Citadel probably isn’t even the best FCS team in the Charleston area! Shameful.