ACC Power Rankings: Week 13

#1 Clemson (11-0, 8-0) (LW:#1)

And it’s finally here. Clemson-Sakerlina weekend. And while the Gamecocks have had a disappointing finish to the season after their upset of Georgia, you know that their loyal fan base will still show out strong as the #3 Clemson Tigers come to Columbia, right?

Maybe not, It appears that the combo of a bad Sakerlina team and a noon kickoff has the home fans deciding to find other ways to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This might mean Willy Brice Stadium will have a orange tint to it this weekend.

#2 Notre Dame (9-2, 5-0 vs ACC) (LW:#2)

Notre Dame demolished Boston College 40-7 to win the Jeweled Shillelagh. The Irish will play at Stanford on Saturday.

#3 Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2) (LW:#4)

In Bud Foster’s final game at Lane Stadium, the Hokies blanked Pitt 28-0, setting up Friday’s rivalry game with UVA as the Coastal Division Championship game.

#4 Virginia (8-3, 5-2) (LW:#3)

The Cavaliers knocked off Liberty 55-27 in preparation for the Commonwealth Cup. Last year seemed like the perfect time to for Virginia to end their losing streak against the Hokies, so naturally the Wahoos choked and the streak extended to 15. Many thought this was Virginia’s year to win the Coastal, but the resurgent Hokies would love nothing more than to spoil that in Charlottesville. My recommendation: forget black Friday shopping, grab a plate of Thanksgiving leftovers, your favorite libation, and spend Friday afternoon enjoying this one.

#5 Louisville (7-4, 5-3) (LW:#7)

Louisville got a nice 56-34 win over Syracuse. The Cardinals now head to Lexington for a date with rival Kentucky. We’re looking at a very possible eight-win regular season Louisville and a nice bowl appearance. Scott Satterfield’s turnaround at Louisville has been nothing short of amazing.

#6 Wake Forest (8-3, 4-3) (LW:#8)

Wake knocked off Duke 39-27 to give them and undefeated sweep against teams from North Carolina. Saturday it’ll be time for that classic ACC rivalry of squints at schedule the Deacs and Syracuse.

#7 Pitt (7-4, 4-3) (LW:#5)

Pitt was shutout 28-0 at Virginia Tech to end their chances at a second consecutive Coastal title. The Panthers host Boston College on Saturday.

#8 Miami (6-5, 4-3) (LW:#6)

What’s sadder: that Miami lost to FIU or that I still can’t find a good reason to rank them below eighth? First off, let me remind y’all that last week I hinted at Miami playing on the “road” at a baseball field might end poorly for them.

This loss has so many levels of it that you can enjoy. First, FIU’s head coach is former Miami head coach Butch Davis. You then proceeded to see FIU take a 13-0 lead to the half, with Miami fans yelling and flashing their turnover chains at the FIU players going to the locker room via dugout stairs. And then there was, ummm, this.

People ragged Clemson for dancing in the locker room after surviving in Chapel Hill, but dancing on the sidelines while getting blown out by a mid-major? Sheesh, not a great look. And, final beautiful piece of this game.

I’m so here for this. I love it when Georgia State declares Atlanta their city and puts a basketball billboard right in front of Georgia Tech’s campus. I love when Boston U hockey fans chant “not in Boston” at BC players. The little guy chirping at the big bad U and beating them, then saying “you aren’t even from here” is amazing. Miami will try to recover against Duke on Saturday.

#9 Florida State (6-5, 5-4) (LW:#9)

Noles got an open date to prep for this week’s rivalry game with Florida.

#10 North Carolina (5-6, 3-4) (LW:#10)

Despite a valiant effort from the pride of Middle Georgia, the Mercer Bears fell just short against UNC, losing 56-7. The Tar Heels can make bowl eligibility Saturday against downtrodden NC State.

#11 Boston College (5-7, 3-4) (LW:#11)

Boston College fell 40-7 to Notre Dame. Eagles head to Pitt on Saturday.

#12 Syracuse (4-7, 1-6) (LW:#12)

Cuse’s bowl dreams ended losing 56-34 to Louisville. Orangemen host Wake Forest Saturday.

#13 Duke (4-7, 2-6) (LW:#13)

Duke fell 39-27 to Wake Forest. Duke hosts Miami Saturday, but at this point the folks in Durham probably are more focused on the big hoops game with Wintrhop on Friday.

#14 Georgia Tech (3-8, 2-6) (LW:#15)

Yep. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets got conference win number two by beating NC State on a chilly Thursday in Atlanta. In typical Atlanta sports fashion, they tried to let the Wolfpack come back and win, but fortunately this time NC State’s luck was worse than Atlanta’s. The Jackets will now host #4 Georgia on Saturday which, man, is going to be ugly and boring all at the same time.

#15 NC State (4-7, 1-6) (LW:#14)

Welcome to the cellar, NC State! If you look, UNC might have left some wine down there from their season long stay last year. The Wolfpack got Rick Sanchez voice Ramblin ramblin Wrecked, son! Well, GT was Wrecking them but NC State came back to make it a closer game. Doesn’t matter,as the Pack will not go bowling and are proud owners of a transitive loss to the Citadel. State hosts North Carolina Saturday, so we’ll see if the Pack show some heart and try to finish the season on some kind of positive note or just fold up and head into the offseason with another L over their head.