ACC Breakdown: Florida State, Duke set to battle for ACC supremacy

Heading into Championship Week, two teams remain fighting for the ACC Championship and the automatic BCS bowl berth that comes along with it.

The two teams have everything to play for in very different ways.

Recently crowned No. 1 Florida State wants to cap its magical regular season off with an ACC Championship and secure a bid for the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, ArizZ., for the BCS National Championship Game.  After last week’s craziness in the Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama, the Seminoles can sit back and watch the selection show to find out who they’ll face in the title game if they take care of No. 20 Duke.

Duke sits at 10-2, already the most wins by Duke fFootball in a season ever, and has one shot at a BCS bowl, which would also be a first. The Blue Devils don’t have a national title on the line, but considering how bad Duke fFootball has been, winning an ACC title by beating the top-ranked team and going to a BCS bowl was more far-fetched at the beginning of the season than what FSU accomplisheddid.

Here’s this week’s ACC Breakdown:

Florida State

The systematic drubbing of struggling in-state rival Florida had to feel good for the Seminoles.   FSU has always been the little brother in the state but cementeding a 4-8 season for the Gators andwhile wrappeding up its own perfect season. The Seminoles’ final test lies in the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., against Duke.  had to feel good.

Duke

Like FSU, Duke also took care of an in-state rival.   The Blue Devils, in less impressive fashion, defeated rivalhated North Carolina 27-25 after a 27-yard field goal with just more thanover two minutes remaining put them ahead for good.

Clemson

Clemson didn’t fare as well in its matchup with an in-state rival.   The Tigers turned the ball over six times in their 31-17 loss to No. 10 South Carolina.   Although its goals of a BCS bowl isare looking slim, Clemson will play in a high-profile bowl and can send out stars Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins on a high note.

Miami

After three –straight losses, the Hurricanes’ offense appears to have hit its stride again, although against inferior competition, by winning its last two games while scoring 86 combined points.   Miami defeated Pitt 41-31 in a game that was never close.

Virginia Tech

For the 10th-straight time, Virginia Tech defeated its in-state rival, Virginia.   Although it wasn’t pretty, the Hokies took down their rival 16-6 while turning the ball over twice and only converting 4 –of –14 third-down attempts.

UNC

Quarterback Marquise Williams’s pass was intercepted after advancing his team into Duke territory while down two points late in the game.   If the Tar Heels could’ve executed the drive and got at least a field goal, they would’ve ended Duke’s improbable run while capping off their own seven-game winning streak.   Considering it was once 1-5, UNC should be happy to have made it to 6-6 and bowl –eligibility.

Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 20-0 lead over their hated-rival Georgia before allowing the Bulldogs to come all the way back for a 41-34 double-overtime victory.   To make matters worse, Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason was making his first career start after starter Aaron Murray went down with a knee injury. Mason attempted just 25 passes all season before leading the Bulldogs to a comeback victory against Georgia Tech.

Maryland

In their final ACC football game ever, the Terrapins took down North Carolina State 41-21 in Raleigh, N.C.   At 7-5, Maryland will represent the ACC for one last time in a bowl game before the Terrapins move to the Big Ten conference.

Boston College

The Eagles’ four-game winning streak came to an end with their 34-31 last-second loss to Syracuse.   While Boston College will be going bowling, most of the Eagles’the focus is nownow is on hyping 2100-yard rusher Andre Williams and urging voters to vote him to New York City for the Heisman Trophy Presentation.

Pittsburgh

Pitt is once again left at 6-6 after aA disappointing second half of the season, where the team wentgoing 2-4. T, leaves Pitt once again at 6-6.   The bowl-eligible Panthers will be waiting until Saturday night to find out where their season will endy end up, and it’s possible that they won’tdon’t receive an at-large bid.   

Syracuse

An 8eight-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left propelled Syracuse to a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility.   The Orange outgained Boston College both on the ground and through the air in Saturday’s victory.

Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons ended the season on a five-game skid after their 23-21 loss to Vanderbilt.   After his 13th season at Wake Forest, head coach Jim Grobe decided to step down from his position on Monday.   

North Carolina State

The Wolfp Pack went winless in the ACC this year for the first time since 1959.   First-year head coach Dave Doeren won’t be on the hot seat, but he surely didn’t expect to struggle this much in his first year at the helm.

Virginia

A hard-fought game against in-state rival Virginia Tech may have been enough to save Mike London’s job.   The Cavaliers’ head coach has a decent recruiting class coming in, and it appears that the administration is willing to give him at least one more year.   If London sticks around for 2014, he’ll have one of the hottest seats in the nation.