ACC Power Rankings: Week 8

#1 Clemson (7-0, 4-0) (LW:#1):

For the second straight game, Clemson overpowered and outmatched school from North Carolina for a blowout win. And once again, this one could’ve been much uglier had there not been a few mistakes in the first half. Clemson is playing as a complete team now and is in seek and destroy mode, and if you’re a fan of another ACC team, that should be terrifying. For Tiger fans, sit back and enjoy the ride, because this one could get fun. One because the Tigers are good but also because PETTY DABO BACK:

Petty Dabo is in full force and I love it. The Tigers will head down to Tallahassee for a date with rival FSU Saturday.

#2 Notre Dame (7-0, 3-0 vs ACC) (LW:#2):

The Irish had the week off. They’ll return to action Saturday when they face Navy in San Diego.

#3 Boston College (5-2, 2-1) (LW:#5):

Boston College also had the weekend off. They host Miami on Friday.

#4 Virginia (5-2, 3-1) (LW:#9):

Welcome to 2018 where UVA is possibly good (well, as good as the Coastal is going to get) and now looks like a legit contender for the Coastal. I for one would love to watch Clemson stomp them in Charlotte. The Wahoos host UNC Saturday.

#5 NC State (5-1, 2-1) (LW:#3):

NC State talked a lot over this week (and over the past few years) and ran into a buzzsaw in Death Valley. Had the Pack gotten to play WVU I’m sure they would’ve been exposed earlier, but whatever. NC State heads to Syracuse Saturday.

#6 Miami (5-2, 2-1) (LW:#7):

Miami had a bye week this past weekend. The Canes head to BC on Friday.

#7 Syracuse (5-2,2-2) (LW:#6):

Cuse has looked like a shell of the team that took Clemson to the wire in Death Valley. The Orange needed overtime to survive against North Carolina. As Syracuse prepares for NC State on Saturday, they also have a bit of a QB controversy after Tommy Devito came in to replace Eric Dungey in the win over UNC.

#8 Virginia Tech (4-2, 3-0) (LW:#8):

The Hokies are coming off a bye week as they’ll host Georgia Tech in the “Techmo Bowl” in Lane Stadium. While neither team is that good, a chill Thursday game in Lane Stadium is usually a fun thing to watch.

#9 Duke (5-2, 1-2) (LW:#4):

Duke took a major stumble falling to UVA 28-14 at home. Cutcliffe and co. will try to rebound Saturday at Pitt.

#10 Florida State (4-3, 2-3) (LW:#11):

FSU knocked off Wake at home 38-17 (insert 1738 Fetty Wap joke here). This was a good win for the Noles. Now they’ll turn their attention to Clemson.

#11 Pitt (3-4, 2-1) (LW:#10):

Pitt had the weekend off after their tough loss to Notre Dame. The Panthers will host Duke Saturday.

#12 Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3) (LW:#12):

The Jackets were also off over the weekend. They’ll head to Blacksburg on Thursday.

#13 UNC (1-5, 1-3) (LW:#14):

The Heels took Syracuse to the wire in the Carrier Dome, falling 40-37 in overtime. Now UNC will head up to Charlottesville for a clash with the Cavs.

#14 Wake Forest (3-4, 0-3) (LW:#13):

Wake was trounced by the Noles 38-17, but the Deacs did end their touchdown drought in Tallahassee.

I didn’t realize Wake had been that bad at Doak Campbell Stadium in recent years. Deacs will head to Louisville on Saturday.

#15 Louisville (2-5, 0-4) (LW:#15):

Louisville fans enjoyed a bye week, and by enjoyed I mean “got to do something else besides watching their team continue to implode.” Good news for Cards fans? A bad Wake team comes to town this weekend. Both teams will be looking for their first ACC win of the year.