The Confidential

ACC Roundtable of the Confidential Correspondents: Week 7/8

Welcome to the ACC Roundtable of the ACC Correspondents!  As is and will be the plan for the remainder of the football season, the Confidential correspondents will discuss the Week that was (Week 7) and the Week that will be (Week 8) for the ACC and their respective schools.  Tell us what you think below.

1. What was most notable about your school’s performance in Week 7?

• HHuntley (NC State): Bye Week…NC State didn’t lose, but teams above them did. It was a good week.
  
• Lenville (Louisville):The passing game improved even against a good FSU defense. Jackson found Quick for 3 TD’s passes. Unfortunately the run game disappeared. This loss was on the D as they continuesly shot themselves in the foot with penalties & poor tackling which led to multiple big plays. 
• Commander/ACaffrey (Syracuse): The continuing narrative of Scott Shafer’s lack of courage, especially for a so-called “hard-nosed” coach.  Given the chance to go for 2 in the second overtime to win the game, he chose to kick the XP and force a third overtime even though: (1) his defense had not stopped Virginia in four consecutive drives, including two length of the field drives in regulation and a 40-yard drive in OT; (2) his offense had performed well in overtime; (3) his team would go first in OT3; (4) the opposing defense had a key LB–an already thin position–ejected for targeting, and gave up a TD in one play; (5) in light of #4 above, an option would have had more chance of success with an inexperienced LB substitution; and (6) in OT3, Syracuse would have HAD TO go for 2 on a TD anyway.  A complete lack of courage that, to me, is inexcusable.  3 years of playing not to lose has, well, led to losses.  Even if you fail, show your team that you have confidence in them and that you will take the responsibility for a loss (and off their shoulders).  
  

• HHuntley (NC State): Quite simply…not to loose. NC State hasn’t won @ Wake Forest since 2001 and it would be great to break that streak.
  
• Lenville (Louisville): Continued improvement. BC has a tough defense & their offense showed signs of life this past weekend. I want to see the Cards put a full game together, with rushing & passing from the offense & a full game from the defense. With their marquee games behind them they can grow their youth, try to make a bowl & build on next season.
• Commander/ACaffrey (Syracuse): With FSU, Clemson, and Louisville looming, this is a must-win game for bowl-eligibility.  While not impossible to beat Louisville, NC State, and Boston College (who are 1-8 in conference play so far)… it is also very unlikely.  Frankly, it is just as likely that the team would lose to all three.  A win over a ranked Pitt would be the signature win for Scott Shafer at Syracuse (second only to perhaps Minnesota) and start to win back some of the fan base.  

• HHuntley (NC State): Not sure what’s going on with Pitt, but they looked great this week in their win over Miami. Imagine the #CoastalChaos that would arise if they made it to Charlotte.
  
• Lenville (Louisville): North Carolina beating Wake Forest 50-14. They are a team showing improvement every week & putting 50 up against a good WF D is a tough task. The Coastal maybe the toughest division in the ACC from top to bottom, take away FSU & Clemson and it is without a doubt.
  
• Commander (Syracuse): Pitt, Duke, and UNC are two basketball schools and a school that has had more hoops success than football success recently.  But there they sit, undefeated in the Coastal.  Not Virginia Tech.  Not Georgia Tech.  Not Miami.  But a trio of essentially basketball schools.  Props to those athletic departments (well, except for UNC’s NCAA issues, of course).
  

• HHuntley (NC State): Ohio State, Baylor, Utah, and Clemson. All the conference champions sans the SEC. LSU has a tough schedule ahead and might need to run the table to make the playoffs.
  
• Lenville (Louisville): Today it would be 1 Utah, 2 LSU, 3 Clemson & 4 Michigan St. with Baylor, Ohio St, TCU & FSU in order. Alabama & Notre Dame are strong contenders among those with a loss. Ole Miss, who beat Bama, loss to Memphis may hold Bama back in the eyes of the CFP committee.
  
• Commander (Syracuse): Right now?  Chalk–Ohio State, Baylor, LSU, and Utah.  By season’s end?  Baylor, Michigan State, LSU, and Clemson.  I like Baylor over  TCU and the field.  I also think that Utah is not quite ready to join the playoff mix.  MSU over Ohio State.  LSU over the SEC field.  And then Clemson getting the nod by beating a wounded South Carolina, a not-quite 2013 FSU, and the Coastal offering in the ACC Championship Game.
  

What do you think?  How would you answer these questions?