ACC Power Rankings: Week 4

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

Clemson ran all over Georgia Tech en route to a 49-21 win in Atlanta. This was the kind of performance we’ve been waiting for from Clemson, and it should’ve been even bigger. GT’s scoring drives were due to a pair of turnovers and some questionable penalties. Regardless, I’ll take a 28 point win on the road where we get to give all 72 players some reps any day.

#2 Duke (4-0, 0-0 ACC) (LW:#4):

No, this isn’t basketball season. Duke is sitting at #2 in the ACC after an easy win over NC Central. Duke is currently ranked #22 in the nation and will host Va Tech Saturday.

#3 Miami (3-1, 0-0 ACC) (LW: #5):

Miami knocked off instate foe FIU this weekend 31-17, and they didn’t get in a huge brawl like they did back in 2006. So, good job Miami. They switched to QB N’Kosi Perry in the first quarter and he performed well. Their QB situation is worth watching. The Canes have looked better since their opening week debacle vs LSU and may again be the favorite for the Coastal.

#4 North Carolina State (3-0, 0-0 ACC) (LW:#6):

NC State sleepwalks into week 5 at 3-0 after a 37-20 win over Marshall that came after they cancelled their game against West Virginia due to Hurricane Florence. The Wolfpack will get a big challenge this weekend as they host UVA in Raleigh.

#5 Syracuse (4-0, 1-0 ACC) (LW:#7):

Well, ‘Cuse seems decent at football this year. The Orangemen lit up UConn 51-21 this weekend and head in to Death Valley this weekend to face our Tigers. Should Clemson be able to handle Syracuse? Yes. Am I going to be a nervous wreck this week about this game? Also yes. ‘Cuse’s offense can move the ball. Hopefully our defense is still mad about the performance vs Syracuse last year and will take out some frustrations on them. If it makes y’all feel better, I was nervous this past week about the Clemson-GT game, and that turned out great, so here’s hoping we shut down Syracuse the same way.

#6 Virginia (3-1, 1-0 ACC) (LW:#11):

UVA walked all over Louisville 27-3 this past Saturday and will head to Raleigh this weekend to face off with NC State. Are the Cavs legit? Probably not, but, still, pop open a Zima and enjoy the show.

#7 Boston College (3-1, 1-0 ACC) (LW:#2):

The BC hype train was promptly derailed by the Purdue train to a tune of a 30-13 beating in West Lafayette. BC’s stint as the #23 team in the nation was short lived and the Eagles looked very vulnerable. As high as I was on BC earlier this year, I’m now skeptical, but with the way the rest of the ACC is doing, I still wouldn’t be shocked to see them finish #2 in the Atlantic. BC hosts Temple this weekend.

#8 Wake Forest (2-2, 0-1 ACC) (LW:#8):

Wake was ran off the field by a Notre Dame team that barely beat Vandy. It was so bad they fired their defensive coordinator after the game. Still, they didn’t move in the rankings because this was a rough weekend in the ACC. The Deacs host Rice this weekend and should get back on the winning track.

#9 Virginia Tech (3-1, 1-0 ACC) (LW: Tied #2):

VT took a well-deserved tumble in the rankings. They went to Old Dominion - an 0-3 Conference USA school - and lost. ODU was crushed by Liberty earlier this year. And it gets worse: a few years back, ODU posted a sketch of their new stadium design and called their shot by featuring a scoreboard that showed them beating the Hokies. Virginia Tech football responded with this:

I had to post this tweet with a picture of the actual tweet because the Hokies deleted the original. Just so many L’s all around for Va Tech.

#10 Florida State (2-2, 0-2 ACC) (LW: #13):

Congrats FSU! You won a game! The Noles knocked off NIU 37-19 in a rematch of the 2012-13 Orange Bowl. Now the Noles will head to Louisville for a matchup with the Cardinals.

#11 Louisville (2-2, 0-1 ACC) (LW:#10):

The Cards were beaten handily by UVA in Charlottesville. This week they’ll host FSU in a game that should be at least funny to watch.

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

Things were looking somewhat hopeful for the Panthers and then they gave UNC their first win of the year. This week the Panthers will travel to Orlando to face the defending people’s champion #13 UCF. Obviously the most Pitt thing they could do would be to somehow win this game.

#13 Georgia Tech (1-4, 0-2 ACC) (LW:12):

Not many expected the Jackets to do much against Clemson, but still, GT looked bad. The Jackets fumbled five times, and somehow only lost one of those. GT’s 21 points were scored off of two Clemson turnovers and some questionable penalties. Bobby Dodd Stadium looked to be about two-thirds Clemson fans, and the few Techies that showed abandoned ship in the third quarter. Paul Johnson recently got a contract extension, but you have to imagine he’s feeling his seat heating up. The Jackets host Bowling Green on Saturday.

#14 North Carolina (1-3, 1-0 ACC) (LW:#14):

The Heels won a game by knocking off Pitt 38-35. UNC will head to Miami this week for a date with the #16 Hurricanes.