The Confidential

The Confidential’s ACC Standings Poll: Week 6

As we enter Week 6, things are finally starting to get easier to figure out at the top.  With all the correspondents voting, here are the poll standings as of today:

10.Virginia Tech (3-2), 7 points.  The Hokies got slightly back on track with a win over Western Michigan.  Generally, wins over directional Michigan schools are not the catalyst for bigger and better things. Ask Syracuse.  However, facing North Carolina’s porous defense may be a better remedy to what ails the Hokies.

9. Virginia (3-2), 15 points.  The Cavaliers host a Pittsburgh team that has celebrated its win over Boston College by losing at home to Iowa and Akron.  All of the sudden, Mike London’s team looks like it can get to bowl eligibility.  They need to take care of business with the Panthers though.  Pitt may be desperate.  And those teams go in either of two directions.

7. NC State (4-1), 19 points.  North Carolina State lost, but it moved up in the standings because they showed that they could hang with Florida State.  You know, the defending champion and #1 team in the country.  And they came very close to pulling an upset that Jimmy V would be proud of.  It doesn’t get any easier this week, as the Pack travels to Clemson.

7. Miami (3-2), 19 points.  The Hurricanes are an unknown.  If they win, it is not a surprise.  If they lose, it is not a surprise.  Miami stifled Duke’s offense, showing that they may have something in the tank after all.  They will be tested this week against an undefeated, but underwhelming, Georgia Tech team coming off a bye.

6. Duke (4-1), 32 points.  Duke was 4-0 and lost to a team from Florida on the road.  And fell in the standings.  NC State was in a similar position, losing at home.  However, Florida State is well ahead of Miami… propelling NC State up the standings.  Miami… is… not… Florida State.  Ergo, Duke drops.  The Blue Devils get a week off to regroup.

5. Louisville (4-1), 38 points.  The Cards only loss is to Virginia.  The Miami win looks a little better.  The Cards struggled a bit against Wake Forest, before ultimately putting the Demon Deacons away.  Next up is a Syracuse team that is at the crossroads between a disappointing season and a successful one.  Stated otherwise, Syracuse may be a hungry, desperate team.  A Louisville win will be impressive.

4. Clemson (2-2), 39 points.  Clemson put up video game offensive numbers against UNC, but who doesn’t?  Unfortunately for the Tigers, 2-2 is a disappointment, even though 10-2 is a distinct possibility.  With a new QB and a tough defense, the Tigers can certainly do it.  This week is NC State–who may have an emotional letdown after letting the Seminoles slip away.

3. Georgia Tech (4-0), 41 points.  Idle teams do not lose, so Georgia Tech remains unbeaten.  The Yellow Jackets have two weeks to prepare for Miami, who seem like a team capable of alternative wins and losses all year.  But a win over Miami would be yet another important divisional win and put Georgia Tech in the drivers’ seat to play in the conference championship game.

2. Notre Dame (4-0), 54 points.  The Fighting Irish are a unanimous #2.  They dispatched Syracuse on Saturday, despite 5 turnovers.  Golston was good, but he needs to take better care of the ball for Notre Dame to make the playoffs.  The schedule gets much tougher down the stretch, including Florida State.  This week is a tough Stanford team too.

1. Florida State (4-0), 60points, 6 first place votes.  The Seminoles are back to a unanimous #1, after rallying to beat NC State.  The defense has questions, but it is doubtful that Wake Forest’s offense will make things worse.  That being said, this is not last year’s Florida State.  This may not be the blowout one would expect.

Others receiving votes: BC (3), Syracuse (3).  UNC, Pitt and Wake Forest were not on any ballots.

What do you think?  Did we hit/miss?