ACC Power Rankings: Week 13

#1 Clemson (12-0, 8-0) (LW:#1):

Despite our secondary’s poor performance, the Tigers earned 56-35 win over the Univer5ity of 5outh Carolina Gamecock5. More good news for the Tigers, Tre Lamar’s injury doesn’t seem to be very serious (at least from what was said in Dabo’s presser), so there’s a good chance he’ll be back for the ACC Championship game vs Pitt. Also, maybe we won’t have any “disconcerting signal” penalties this week.

#2 Notre Dame (12-0, 5-0 vs ACC) (LW:#2):

The Irish survived 24-17 against rival USC. Notre Dame will now prepare for championship Saturday by...sitting around and watching everyone else play. With no conference championship to play, ND sits comfortably in the playoffs.

#3 Syracuse (9-3, 6-2) (LW:#4):

Syracuse ran over BC 42-21 to get to 9 wins, and probably ensure that Dino Babers’ name will he brought up as a potential to fill vacancies at other schools. ‘Cuse will await their bowl destination. SB Nation’s bowl projections currently have them in the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia.

#4 NC State (8-3, 5-3) (LW:#5):

State survived an overtime scare against UNC that ended with a good old fashioned post game brawl.

NC State will return to Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday for a make up game against ECU.

#5 Pitt (7-5, 6-2) (LW:#3):

Pitt flopped against Miami, falling 24-3 to the Canes. So, now, an unranked, 7 win team will represent the Coastal division against Clemson in Charlotte. Hopefully a surging offense and Clemson defense fueled by revenge against Pitt for the 2016 loss and Brent Venables anger after a subpar night vs the Gamecocks will put Pitt out of this game early.

#6 Boston College (7-5, 4-4) (LW:#6):

BC was blown out by Syracuse as the once hyped Eagles finish on a three game skid. BC is currently projected to play Cincinnati in the Military Bowl.

#7 Georgia Tech (7-5, 5-3) (LW:#7):

Paul Johnson’s offense was stifled by Kirby Smart and UGA as the Dawgs won 45-21 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Regardless, GT still had a great finish after a rough start to this season and just lost to an extremely talented UGA team. The Jackets are projected to take on Vandy in the Belk Bowl.

#8 Miami (7-5, 4-4) (LW:#10):

Miami avenged last year’s loss to Pitt by upsetting the #24 Panthers 24-3. The Canes are projected to take on in state foe USF in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa.

#9 Virginia (7-5, 4-4) (LW:#6):

Oh, UVA. Being a UVA fan would have to be one of the most frustrating fandoms there is. Last March, their #1 seeded basketball team became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed in the NCAA tournament when they fell to UMBC. Then their football team climbs to the top of the Coastal only to flounder and finish third. And then, they have the perfect opportunity to end a 14-year losing streak against instate rival VT. This is one of the better teams UVA has had in a while against probably the worst VT team since early in the Frank Beamer era. It was so perfectly tee’d up, and like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football, and the Hokies were there to pull the opportunity away in the most heart breaking fashion. VT extended the streak to 15 years. UVA is projected to play Cal in the Sun Bowl.

#10 Wake Forest (6-6, 3-5) (LW:#12):

And out of nowhere, the Deacs opened up a 59-7 win over Duke to earn bowl eligibility. The projections have Wake heading to Detroit to take on Purdue in the Quick Lane Bowl.

#11 Duke (7-5) (3-5) (LW:#9):

Clemson may have broken Duke, as the Devils followed up their loss to Clemson with that 59-7 loss to Wake. Duke is projected to take on Arkansas St in the Independence Bowl.

#12 Virginia Tech (5-6, 4-4) (LW:#13):

The Hokies extended their streak over UVA to fifteen games. The last time Va Tech lost to the Cavs was 2003 when Matt Schaub was the quarterback for UVA. Since then Schaub has been drafted by the Falcons, backed up Michael Vick, traded to the Texans, started there for a while, then went to the Raiders and Ravens and is now back in Atlanta backing up Matt Ryan. The Hokies will now look to extend their bowl streak to 26 years with a make up game in Blacksburg against Marshall.

#13 Florida State (5-7, 3-5) (LW:#11):

Speaking of streaks, FSU’s 36 year bowl streak ended 41-14 loss to Florida with rapper Kodak Black in the house cheering for the Gators.

#14 North Carolina (2-9, 1-7) (LW:#14):

UNC showed some fight (literally) in their OT loss to NC State, but that wasn’t enough to save Larry Fedora’s job. The Tar Heels severed ties with Fedora Sunday morning.

#Louisville: (2-10, 0-8) (LW:#15):

The Cards fell 56-10 to rival Kentucky to end this abysmal season. In the midst of this blowout was this bizarre altercation between interim HC Lorenzo Ward and TE Mikey Crum.

Ward tried to send Crum to the locker room following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and Crum was having none of that. Crum stayed on the sideline and eventually returned to the game.