STL’s Week 8 ACC Football Power Rankings

Just as we all expected, Wake Forest and NC State battling it out for ACC supremacy. Seven weeks in and we really have no idea what is going on.

1 (tie). Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-0, 4-0)
Last week: Bye. This week: at Army

Weird to schedule the Black Knights during the middle of the season. Who knows how they will react to a triple-option attack. Fortunately they had a week off last week and play Duke next week. The meat of their schedule follows with UNC (out of conference), NC State, Clemson, and BC.

1 (tie). NC State Wolfpack (5-1, 2-0)
Last week: win 33-7 at BC. This week: at Miami

State really sent a message last week with a thorough beatdown of BC in Chestnut Hill. Miami seemingly has nothing to play for, but Wolfpack have to make sure they don’t sleep walk into the game.

3. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-1, 2-0)
Last week: win 28-7 at VT. This week: vs. Clemson

For a week that could have been a look ahead to this week against Clemson, Pitt handled their business in Blacksburg making the Hokies look ugly. The Panthers are now the ACC’s best hope to make the CFP and Kenny Pickett has turned into a legitimate Heisman contender.

4. Clemson Tigers (4-2, 3-1)
Last week: win 17-14 at Syracuse. This week: at Pitt

The Tigers still have Wake near the end of the season, but this Pitt game is likely their biggest left on the schedule. Tigers could ruin the Panthers’ season with a better offensive performance than they’ve put out this season.

5. Virginia Cavaliers (5-2, 3-2)
Last week: win 48-0 vs. Duke. This week: vs. GT

The Hoos are a game away from another bowl berth and are coming off their best all around performance of the season. Georgia Tech has been a Jekyll and Hyde team all season so UVA needs to keep their foot down.

6. Boston College Eagles (4-2, 0-2)
Last week: loss 33-7 vs. NC State. This week: at Louisville

The Eagles ran through a bad out of conference schedule and then ran into ACC play and have promptly lost two in a row. Syracuse and GT are still on the schedule, but if this team is significantly worse than we thought after their first four games, maybe a bowl game is in jeopardy?

7. Virginia Tech Hokies (3-3, 1-1)
Last week: loss 28-7 vs. Pitt. This week: vs. Syracuse

After five of their first six games of the season were in Blacksburg, the Hokies now have four of the last six on the road where Enter Sandman won’t be played. Granted, the Hokes last the last two at home so maybe it wasn’t all that helpful anyways.

8. North Carolina Tar Heels (4-3, 3-3)
Last week: win 45-42 vs. Miami. This week: Bye

After the bye week the Heels have three straight against ranked opponents in Notre Dame, Wake, and Pitt. They technically still have an outside chance at the Coastal title, but it’ll take a 5-0 end to the season and a mound of help from others.

9 (tie). Louisville Cardinals (3-3, 1-2)
Last week: Bye. This week: vs. BC

The Cardinals have two ACC losses by a combined 4 points. They have NC State and Clemson looming on the horizon. These Cardinals could put a serious hurt on a few seasons down the stretch.

9 (tie). Miami Hurricanes (2-4, 0-2)
Last week: loss 45-42 vs. UNC. This week: vs. NC State

The Hurricanes are on bowl watch and Manny Diaz watch. Who knows if the Canes’ head coach will last the entire season with how everything has gone so far.

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-2)
Last week: win 31-27 at Duke. This week: at UVA

Alternating wins and losses all season means the Jackets are due for another loss this weekend. They still have Notre Dame and UGA to end the season so making a bowl game is going to be hard to come by for Geoff Collins.

12 (tie). Florida State Seminoles (2-4, 2-2)
Last week: Bye. This week: vs. UMass

Who knows what is really going on in Tallahassee. They’re still paying like 4 different ex-coaches, so Mike Norvell’s job is surely safe (probably).

12 (tie). Syracuse Orange (3-4, 0-3)
Last week: loss 17-14 vs. Clemson. This week: at VT

Three straight ACC losses by 3 points. Dino Babers’ seat has to be getting a little warm.

14. Duke Blue Devils (3-4, 0-3)
Last week: loss 48-0 at UVA. This week: Bye

We’ve truly reached the bottom. The Blue Devils are awful.

Here’s how the staff voted this week: