Streaking the Lawn’s Week 9 ACC Football Power Rankings

Clemson has been No. 1 for as long as these Power Rankings have been going on. We have no idea when that is going to change. Wake Forest is ok, I guess? Everyone else loves to shoot themselves in the foot.

Here are the rankings:

1. Clemson Tigers (8-0, 6-0). Last week: 1
Last game: win 59-7 vs. BC. This week: vs. Wofford.

The death machine marches on and they get to play their FCS opponent this weekend. Yay, how fun.

2. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1, 2-1). Last week: 3
Last game: BYE last week. This week: vs. NC State.

It’s not clear who in Winston Salem made a deal with the devil, but it appears the Deacs are benefiting from it. Other than their early season win over Rice, Wake’s six other games were decided by one possession. They win the close ones, give them credit.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (4-4, 3-2). Last week: 7
Last game: win 20-17 vs. Duke. This week: vs. UVA

Like Wake, UNC has been in one game decided by more than one possession (16 point win over GT). Unlike Wake, UNC is 3-4 in those games, but Mack Brown has exceeded expectations by leaps and bounds in his first season in Chapel Hill.

4. Louisville Cardinals (,). Last week: 9
Last game: win 28-21 vs. UVa. This week: BYE

If anyone can explain why Michale Cunningham ever comes out of the game for Louisville, I’d be all ears. Cunningham was almost as dynamic as Lamar Jackson was for the Cardinals a few years ago.

5. Virginia Cavaliers (5-3, 3-2). Last week: 2
Last game: loss 28-21 at Louisville. This week: at UNC.

Not much else to say that hasn’t already been said. If the Cavaliers don’t figure out an offense there is a legitimate chance they end the year at 6-6.

6. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-3, 2-2). Last week: 4
Last game: loss 16-12 vs. Miami. This week: at GT

The Panthers have GT and BC left on the schedule, which should be two more wins. They also have UNC and VT on the schedule and nobody has a clue which Pitt team shows up and who wins either of those games.

7. Duke Blue Devils (4-4, 2-3). Last week: 5
Last game: loss 20-17 at UNC. This week: BYE

Jump pass with a running back probably isn’t a high percentage play, but we can’t doubt the Wizardy of Cutcliffe. The Blue Devils will have to upset someone to make a bowl game this season with NotreDame, Syracuse, Wake, and Miami left on the schedule.

8. Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 3-3). Last week: 8
Last game: win 35-17 vs. Syracuse. This week: vs. Miami

The Noles have seemingly played well in individual games and even won two in a row earlier in the season, but how much confidence does a win over Syracuse bring? BC and Alabama State are still on the schedule, so the Noles should make another bowl and save Willie Taggert’s job.

9. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (4-4, 2-3). Last week: 10
Last game: win 16-12 at Pitt. This week: at FSU.

At FSU, vs. Louisville, at FIU, and at Duke. Canes could go 1-3 or 4-0 in those final four games of their season and neither would be very surprising. They’ve beaten arguably the two best teams in the division in UVa and Pitt while also losing a home game to Georgia Tech.

10. Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2, 2-2). Last week: 6
Last game: BYE last week. This week: at Notre Dame.

The Hokies have five games left to get two more to extend their streak. Notre Dame, Wake, GT, Pitt, and UVA. They’ll likely beat GT and have the final game to get to seven and undoubtedly win.

11. N.C. State Wolfpack (4-3, 1-2). Last week: 12
Last game: BYE last week. This week: at Wake.

Like the rest of this mediocre football conference, the Wolfpack could go 4-1 or 1-4 over their last five (they won’t beat Clemson because God is not just).

12. Boston College Eagles (4-4, 2-3). Last week: 11
Last game: loss 59-7 at Clemson. This week: at Syracuse

Ah yes, another team sitting at .500 with winnable games or not winnable games on the schedule. Who can really know?

13. Syracuse Orange (3-5, 0-4). Last week: 13
Last game: loss 35-17 at FSU. This week: vs. BC.

Unfortunately for the Orange they don’t have anymore non-Power 5 opponents remaining on their schedule. The good news is they’ve got BC this week who might be as bad as they are.

14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-5, 1-3). Last week: it’s obvious
Last game: BYE last week. This week: vs. Pitt.

Basketball season is almost here, Yellow Jacket faithful. Not that that means much to you guys these days, but even that dumpster fire team could lose to the Citadel. That team isn’t and has never been competitive.