Author's note: South Carolina State isn't listed because their season ended last week.
(12) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-2, 6-2 ACC) at (15) Georgia Bulldogs (9-3, 6-2 SEC)
While this game - which the bees won 30-24 - will be remembered first for the overtime interception that killed Georgia, and second for the 53-yard field goal that got Georgia Tech to overtime, there's something else to note: GT passed for only 64 yards. All their damage was done on the ground, a tactic proven by Florida to be effective. It's hard to prepare for the Paul Johnson Magical Mystery Offense in one week, and as the game drags on it tends to wear down its opponents. Next is the ACC Championship, against...
(2) Florida State Seminoles (12-0, 8-0 ACC)
...these guys, who managed to beat Florida 24-19 because of the Gators' abysmal red zone performances. If Florida had an offense - a functioning QB with a better offensive line would be a good start - they would have won this. Defense was good for both teams for different reasons; in FSU's case it was because they were playing Florida, and in Florida's case it's thanks to Jameis Winston throwing them the ball so much. All four turnovers were his fault.
NC State Wolfpack (7-5, 3-5 ACC) at North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6, 4-4 ACC)
NC State won this exceptionally stupid game 35-7. UNC rushed for only 30 yards! The Wolfpack passed for 66! Of course, they also rushed for 388, which explains their nearly 39 minutes worth of possession. Now we're stuck with two bowl-eligible teams that nobody is going to want, because the one with the better record has a losing conference record and the other one is .500 in literally everything. Belk Bowl it is! For both of them. That is their punishment.
(21) Louisville Cardinals (9-3, 5-3 ACC)
Beat Kentucky 44-40 after Bobby Petrino wanted to kick a Kentucky assistant or something in the pre-game. Don't laugh at how close this was; the Wildcats are better than anyone thinks. Louisville won in the best way it knew how: by Gerod Holliman picking off his record-tying 14th pass. The Cardinals had to overcome four turnovers to make this work - and by this, I mean the passing game commanded by Kyle Bolin. Does Louisville have a quarterback cloning facility in the stadium? Where are these guys coming from?
Syracuse Orange (3-9, 1-7 ACC) at Boston College Eagles (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
BC won this game 28-7, in the same way beating a legless puppy in a boxing match can be considered winning. Did anyone watch it? If so... why? To be clear, neither team was a sterling example of offense, but Syracuse gained 66 passing and 62 rushing yards - while turning it over twice. I've thought the Clemson offense was terrible, but wow. BC managed 160 passing and 142 rushing, which would have been bad stats if they were playing anyone but Syracuse.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-9, 1-7 ACC)
Wake went quietly into that good night, losing 41-21 to Duke. Our final check on their rushing total reveals 64 gained while 146 were given up, a genuinely okay performance by their soul-crushing standards. Add in Duke's 293 passing yards, and, well, ouch. John Wolford accounted for all three Wake touchdowns - they just need a running game to go with that. Any running game. And hey, there's an okay defense there too. Really, really need a running game though.
Georgia State Panthers (1-11, 0-8 Sun Belt)
Dropkicked off a cliff by Texas State, 54-31. The Panthers' lost fumble and two interceptions are only the icing on this cake of woe. They gave up 607 yards of offense. Granted, they got 516 of their own, but Texas State scored four times in the second and three more in the third and everyone's souls were just dead by the time Georgia State put up some garbage points. They'll always have Abilene Christian, but I'm not sure how much better they'll do next year.