The Confidential

The Confidential’s ACC Standings Poll: Week 3

Each week, the Confidential’s correspondents vote on the top 10 in the ACC (including Notre Dame).  With two weeks of games, the standings are starting to take shape.  We discuss the rankings from 10 to 1… so here we go:

10.Georgia Tech (2-0), 6 points.  The Yellow Jackets have not looked impressive, but they are 2-0.  That got them on 5 of the 6 ballots.  Next up: Hosting Georgia Southern (1-1).

9. Miami (1-1), 15 points.  The ballots were not kind to the Hurricanes, as the Confidential correspondents are just not sold on Miami yet.  They need to see a good performance against a good opponent to buy into Al Golden’s rejuvenation.  Next up: Hosting Arkansas St. (1-1).

8. North Carolina (2-0), 21 points.  Apparently, style points do not count, as UNC has not looked dominant yet against inferior foes.  San Diego State is good, to be sure.  But if North Carolina wants to stay in the top half of the ACC in football, they need to start putting together 60 minute games.  Next up: Bye.

7. Duke (2-0), 23 points.  The Blue Devils did not have it as easy with Troy as they did with Elon.  But Duke still did what it needed to do–win.  This week, Charlie Weis’s Kansas squad comes to town to give Duke an even better test.  In theory.  We’ll see.  Next up: Hosting Kansas (1-0).

6. Pittsburgh (2-0), 28 points.  The Panthers looked great against Delaware, and then looked equally solid against Boston College to get a conference win.  The Panthers offense is coming together this year.  Next up: @ Florida International (1-1).

5. Clemson (1-1), 29 points.  Although the Tigers have a loss, Clemson put up a lot of points against South Carolina State.  In fact, Dabo was being Dabo wasn’t he.  Classless scoring is not the karma that Clemson needs.  Next up: Bye.

4. Notre Dame (2-0), 46 points.  The top 4 are really separating themselves.  Notre Dame had a nice win over Michigan, shutting out the Wolverines.  These aren’t your Daddy’s Wolverines though.  That reality keeps the Fighting Irish in the #4 spot.  Next up: Hosting Purdue (1-1).

3. Louisville (2-0), 47 points.  The Cardinals win over Miami may or may not be better than the Notre Dame win over Michigan.  But Louisville was very impressive against Murray State.  As such, they squeak just ahead of Notre Dame.  Another conference foe awaits–a Virginia team with something to prove.  Next up: @ Virginia (1-1).

2. Virginia Tech (2-0), 48 points.  The Ohio State Buckeyes are not the same team without Braxton Miller.  Still, when you can go into Ohio State and topple them with 106,000+ rooting against you, that is an accomplishment.  And the Hokies did just that.  They need to avoid the letup now, as East Carolina is no pushover.  Next up: East Carolina (1-1).

1. Florida State (2-0), 60 points, 6 first place votes.  The Seminoles did not pull a Clemson and run up the score. As the #1 team, wins trump style points.  Isn’t that one good thing about the playoff?  A committee can make that judgment.  A rest week before Clemson.  Next up: Bye.

Others receiving votes: NC State (4), Virginia (1), Syracuse (1).  Boston College and Wake Forest did not get any love.

What do you think?  Did we hit/miss?