Hootie’s ACC Power Poll: Week 11

Rank, School, Overall record/ACC, Previous rank, Comment:

1 Clemson, 9-0/6-0 (1). Must be nice when you’re 20-point favorites in your biggest conference game of the year. The Tigers visit frosty Boston tonight with the ACC Atlantic Division title on the line. If they shut down BC’s A.J. Dillon like they did last year, this one could be over early.

2 Boston College, 7-2/4-1 (2). The Eagles are counting on cold weather and a brutally physical game to pull the upset over Clemson. The temps might have an impact, but we’re guessing the Tigers know a little something about being physical.

3 Pitt, 5-4/4-1, (5). The Panthers know a little something about physical, too, and that’s helped propel them into the lead in the Coastal Division. Pitt hosts Virginia Tech today and can put itself in the catbird’s seat if they can handle the Hokies.

4 Georgia Tech, 5-4/3-3 (6). Paul Johnson’s team is running more than ever and enjoying it more than ever as they have revived themselves into a darkhorse shot at the Coastal title. Tech has been its own worst enemy this season with fumbles,  and that will be the key to the Jackets game vs. Miami today.

5 Syracuse, 8-2/ 5-2 (8). The Orangemen are the ACC’s highest scoring team, and as successful as they’ve been in getting to eight wins, Syracuse is going to need every bit of that offense the final two weeks of the season against Notre Dame and Boston College, both road trips.

6 Virginia, 6-3/ 4-2, (3). Bronco Mendenhall’s Wahoos dropped three spots after that loss to Pitt last week. UVa’s defense was beaten up by a more physical opponent. While that won’t be a factor against Liberty today, it will be as the Cavaliers attempt to remain in contention for the Coastal title, facing road games at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, two programs known for physical football.

7 N.C. State, 6-3/3-3 (4). The Wolfpack talked all week about getting to 10 wins for the first time in 32 years. Somebody forgot to tell that to Wake Forest, which sprung the upset Thursday night with a QB starting his first game. Now State can’t do any better than nine, finishing against Louisville, UNC, and ECU.

8 Virginia Tech, 4-4/3-2 (7). Today’s game at Pittsburgh will give an indication as to whether the Hokies can bounce back. The Panthers are trying to seize control of the division and Tech can play the role of the spoiler. But are the Hokies too beaten and battered on defense to pull off the upset?

9 Duke, 6-3/2-3 (10). As the late Bill Dooley used to say, it’s rivalry week, so you can throw the record books out the window. It’s Duke vs UNC, bitter rivals. I think the underdog has won the last six. Duke is favored, but don’t be shocked if the Tar Heels find enough inspiration to pull off the win.

10 Miami, 5-4/2-3 (9). Quarterback musical chairs continues to go on down in Coral Gables as Coach Mark Richt can’t seem to settled on a starter. This week it’s Perry’s turn. Last week it was Rosier, at least for a while, and the Hurricanes were embarrassed at home by Duke.

11 Wake Forest, 5-5/2-4 (13). Somehow the Deacs are finding a spark at season’s end. They’re one game away from bowl eligibility with games against Pitt and Duke remaining. Dave Clawson deserves some credit by winning with a new QB and a defense that is beaten all to pieces.

12 Florida State, 4-5/2-5 (11). We don’t know what in the world is going on down in Tallahassee, but it probably won’t get any better any time soon. The Seminoles’ 35-year bowl streak is headed off the tracks. FSU needs two more wins. Today they play at Notre Dame, then finish against Boston College and Florida. Good luck with that.

13 North Carolina, 1-7/1-5 (12). Maybe the only good thing left to play for is the fact that the Tar Heels play two of their biggest rivals in the last three weeks: Duke and N.C. State, with a chance make something good happen. There’s a nonconference game against Western Carolina sandwiched in between.

14 Louisville, 2-8/0-7 (14). Karma?