The Confidential’s ACC Standings Poll: Week 5 Updated
As we enter Week 5, things are supposed to get easier, not more jumbled. Georgia Tech was not supposed to beat Virginia Tech. Pitt was not supposed to lose to Iowa. And so on. Anyway, with all precincts now reporting (that is why we are updating this) here we go:
10.Virginia Tech (2-2), 4 points. The Hokies are reeling after the big Ohio State win. Either the Buckeyes simply laid an egg or Virginia Tech peaked in Week 2. Because it just does not seem like Virginia Tech is even as good as we thought they were before the Ohio State win. Wow.
9. NC State (4-0), 18 points. NC State has played nobody. But they have beaten everyone. We did not think Georgia Tech was very good for similar reasons, but then the Yellow Jackets beat Virginia Tech. Florida State comes to town, likely with Jameis Winston. We know what is supposed to happen. And it should.
8. Pittsburgh (3-1), 21.5 points. The Panthers had no business losing to Iowa, but they did. This is not a good Iowa team. It just is not. But once again Pitt allowed an inferior opponent to chip away at a good season. Akron comes to town next week, which should help the Pitt offensive studs get healthy.
7. Boston College (3-1), 24 points. Boston College underwhelmed for a while against Maine, who likely has less talent than the Trojans. But the Eagles ultimately got the win and are sitting pretty at 3-1. Colorado State makes the long trip in now.
6. Louisville (3-1), 27.5 points. The Cardinals took care of business at Florida International. The Confidential correspondents remain skeptical, as Miami has looked fairly mortal. Wake Forest may not provide much of a better test this week, but the Demon Deacons are roadtested. Well, they lost on the road anyway. Nevermind, the Cardinals should win this one easily.
5. Clemson (1-2), 33 points. The losses to Florida State and South Carolina are piling up for Dabo Swinney. Each seems to be more heartbreaking than the last. But they have their QB for the future, that’s for sure. And the defense looks very tough. 9 wins still remains very plausible, which given the graduation losses is not the end of the world. North Carolina at home is next for the Tigers.
4. Georgia Tech (4-0), 35 points. From no votes to 4th place. That is the ACC. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated though, which not many teams can still say. And the win at Virginia Tech is “good,” even if East Carolina state proved that Lane Stadium simply is not the certain loss that it used to be. And now they get another week off to recuperate.
3. Notre Dame (3-0), 50 points. The Fighting Irish get disappointing Syracuse next, as the two teams will play in the Meadowlands. After watching Maryland’s offense roll over Syracuse, expect Brian Kelly to open up the offense. The question is whether Notre Dame’s defense is for real. Rice, Purdue, and Michigan are not offensive juggernauts. Syracuse moved the ball very well against Maryland, so this could be a shootout.
2. Duke (4-0), 52 points, 1 first place vote. Duke has beaten nobody. But they have beaten everyone that they have played. Duke travels to Miami in just the type of game you can envision Duke losing… just to muddy up the Coastal a bit more. Miami is getting desperate too. So if Duke can pull this off, you have to begin to look at the Blue Devils as the favorites to represent the Coastal one more time.
1. Florida State (3-0), 57 points, 5 first place votes. The Seminoles did what they needed to do, beating Clemson. And now they are 3-0, 1/4 of the way to entering the post-season undefeated. It has not been pretty yet, which may cost the Seminoles some style points. Needless to say, Jameis Winston is needed for another run. Next up is a trip to NC State, which has given good Seminoles teams fits in recent years.
Others receiving votes: UVA (3), Miami (2), UNC (2), Syracuse (1). Wake Forest did not receive any votes.
What do you think? Did we hit/miss?
The Confidential 