ACC Power Rankings: Week Three

#1 Clemson (3-0) (LW:#1):

The Tigers retain the top spot after a lackluster 38-7 win over Ga Southern. I know there’s a lot of opinions on this game. Mine is that if we easily could have won that game 58-0 if we make our field goals and don’t turn the ball over. The field goals I’ll chalk up to the wind. The turnovers? Those were bad, but given that Clemson hadn’t turned the ball over prior to this game, I’m not too worried. This was a weird game with the time change and all that was going on with the storms. I think we see a more focused team next week.

Tied #2 Boston College (3-0)(LW:#3):

Boston College gutted out a 41-34 win at Wake Forest Thursday night and are now ranked #23. BC is playing as well as anyone in the ACC right now. Next week Steve Addazio’s dudes head out to West Lafayette, Indiana for a showdown with the Purdue Boilermakers.

Tied #2 Va Tech (2-0) (LW:#2):

VT’s game with ECU was postponed due to Hurricane Florence. The Hokies will return to action when they play at Old Dominion. Yes, the #13 team in the nation is playing on the road against a Conference USA program that didn’t even field a team from 1941-2009. As weird and confusing as this is, it’s also sort of cool. I don’t know how I’d feel if Clemson played a road game at somewhere like Coastal Carolina or App State, but I can imagine the ODU folks are excited about it.

#4 Duke (3-0) (LW:#5):

Saturday night I said something I never thought I’d say. That was: “I’m glad Clemson has Duke instead of Miami on the schedule to help our SOS.” That may a bit of an overreaction, but Duke has started off well. They came out of Waco with a 40-27 win over Baylor, and will host cross-town foe North Carolina Central this weekend.

#5 Miami (2-1) (LW:#4):

For some reason, Miami played at Toledo this weekend and knocked off the Rockets 49-24 in the Glass Bowl. Miami also taunted the Toledo student section before the game because Miami gonna Miami. This time their pregame shenanigans weren’t followed up by complete embarrassment, so congrats, Canes! Progress! Miami hosts FIU on Saturday.

#6 NC State (2-0) (LW: #6):

State’s big game with West Virginia was unfortunately cancelled due to Florence. Pack are back in action when hosting Marshall this weekend.

#7 Syracuse (3-0) (LW: #8):

Syracuse made a statement in their 30-7 win over FSU. While this isn’t your father’s FSU team, still it’s impressive how Syracuse dominated the Noles. This is the same ‘Cuse defense that gave up 45 to Western Michigan, so for them to come out and hold FSU to 7 was huge. The Orangemen host UConn this weekend for an old Big East reunion.

#8 Wake Forest (2-1) (LW: #7):

The Deacs dropped a Thursday evening game at home against BC. Wake will continue the Baptist-Cartholic challenge this week as they host #8 Notre Dame.

#9 Pitt (2-1) (LW: #12):

Pitt knocked off Georgia Tech at home and that means that the Pitt Panthers are now tied with VT for first in the Coastal. And the Panthers have a very good shot of moving to 2-0 next week as they face the downtrodden UNC Tar Heels.

#10 Louisville (2-1) (LW: #11):

The Cards survived a test from instate rival Western Kentucky, winning 20-17. That really shouldn’t be grounds for them to move up in the rankings, but they are because, as I said before, this league is a mess.

#11 Virginia (2-1) (LW: #13):

The Cavs got themselves a 45-31 win over Ohio, which means UVA fans probably celebrated by drinking Charlottesville out of Zima. UVA opens conference play this week, hosting Louisville.

Georgia Tech (1-2) (LW: #10):

Poor, poor Jackets. After blowing a double digit lead in Tampa to USF i. week 2, Ga Tech look bad in their week 3 loss at Pitt. You’d have to imagine the temperature on Paul Johnson’s seat is starting to rise, right? Things could get ugly for GT this as triple option killer Brent Venables brings Clemson into town. Clemson fans always do a great job of packing out Bobby Dodd, and you’d have to imagine disillusioned Tech fans may decide to sell their tickets, meaning “the Flats” could look like Death Valley, Junior on Saturday.

#13 Florida State (1-2) (LW: #9):

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. After the Noles barely survived a home game with Samford, the prospect of their losing at Syracuse wasn’t that shocking. What was shocking is the fact they lost 30-7 to ‘Cuse. Just an ugly, ugly game for FSU. It also gave us this incredibly sad tweet.

Maybe the FSU social media team should’ve just shelved the gif and just used a normal score graphic for this one. FSU host Northern Illinois on Saturday, so we’ll see if Willie Taggart’s squad can pull off the upset.

#14 North Carolina (0-2) (LW: #14):

UNC’s game with the people’s National Champ UCF was postponed due to hurricane Florence. The Tar Heels will host Pitt this weekend.