ACC Breakdown: Seminoles cement themselves at ACC’S top

Week eight of the ACC season saw a definite hierarchy established in the conference, by way of now-No. 2 Florida State’s 51-14 demolition of No. 9 Clemson Saturday night. As a result, the Seminoles vaulted over Oregon to No. 2 in the BCS rankings, which would give the ACC a participant in the National Championship if the season ended today.

1. No. 2 Florida State (6-0, 4-0 ACC)

The Seminoles locked themselves into the status of the conference’s best team with another fantastic performance from redshirt freshman Jameis Winston. Winston completed 22 of 34 passes for a career-high 444 yards and added three touchdowns, while his Clemson counterpart, Tajh Boyd, finished 17-for-37 with two interceptions against the Seminoles defense.

2. No. 9 Clemson (6-1, 4-1 ACC)

Before the Tigers get thrown into the garbage heap of former contenders, remember this team was ranked No. 3 prior to its loss against FSU. While Boyd struggled, the Tigers are still the second-best team in the conference until Miami proves otherwise.

3. No. 7 Miami (6-0, 2-0 ACC)

Miami rose to the conference’s second slot in the minds of many pundits, but have yet to prove much in the way of being better than Clemson this season. Miami faces Wake Forest Saturday, which could serve as a trap game with a matchup against FSU on the docket next week.

4. No. 14 Virginia Tech (6-1, 3-0 ACC)

The Hokies haven’t lost since falling 35-10 to No. 1 Alabama in their first game. Since then, a six-game winning streak has Virginia Tech atop the Coastal Division by a half-game over Miami. Following a bye week, Virginia Tech’s winning streak should extend to seven games when the Duke Blue Devils visit Lane Stadium Saturday. 

5. Georgia Tech (4-3, 3-2 ACC)

The Yellow Jackets rebounded from a two-game losing slide to dominate Syracuse 56-0 in Atlanta this past weekend. Saturday, Georgia Tech faces another winnable game against the Virginia Cavaliers, who remain winless in conference play.

6. Pitt (4-2, 2-2 ACC)

Pitt struggled early, facing a 10-0 deficit against Old Dominion in the first quarter, but rebounded in the second to take a 21-10 lead into halftime. This weekend, the Panthers face the option attack of Navy, which should prepare them for a divisional showdown with Georgia Tech next week.

7. Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2 ACC)

The Demon Deacons strung together a pair of wins against Atlantic division foes North Carolina State and Maryland to jump into third place in the division. But that streak will likely end this weekend unless Wake Forest can pull off an upset in Sun Life Stadium against Miami.

8. Duke (5-2, 1-2 ACC)

Duke has taken advantage of an easy schedule since its loss to Pitt Sept. 21 and compiled a three-game winning streak heading into this week. The Blue Devils have an opportunity to prove their legitimacy Saturday in a visit to Blacksburg, Va., where they play the division-leading Hokies.

9. Maryland (5-2, 1-2 ACC)

Nothing has gone well for the Terrapins since their 63-0 blowout loss at the hands of FSU Oct. 5. Since then, Maryland’s only victory came by one point against Virginia — arguably the conference’s worst team — and that was followed by a 24-point loss at Wake Forest. The going stays tough this week while the Clemson Tigers pay a visit to Byrd Stadium.

10. Boston College (3-3, 1-2 ACC)

Boston College has a chance to pull its conference record to .500 this weekend against North Carolina, following a bye week. The Eagles’ last game saw them post a spirited effort against then-No. 3 Clemson, but they ultimately lost 24-14.

11. Syracuse (3-4, 1-2 ACC)

With each week that passes, it becomes clearer that the Orange just aren’t very good. Syracuse was decimated by Georgia Tech’s triple-option en route to a 56-0 loss, and the team allows an average of 29 points per game. 

12. North Carolina State (3-3, 0-3 ACC)

Of the three ACC teams without a conference win, the Wolfpack is the only team above .500. N.C. State has lost three of its last four games, though, and another loss is probably in order, as the team faces Florida State next.

13. Virginia (2-5, 0-3 ACC)

Virginia has lost four games in a row, a streak that figures to stretch to five straight losses against a Georgia Tech team fresh off a 56-0 win over Syracuse. The battle for the basement ensues in two weeks, when the Cavaliers face North Carolina Nov. 9.

14. North Carolina (1-5, 0-3 ACC)

The Tar Heels have the least amount of total wins among any ACC team and enter the week also riding a four-game losing streak. Against Boston College, a team tougher than its record indicates, the streak will likely move to five consecutive losses.