Hootie’s ACC Power Poll: Nov. 1

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

1 Clemson, 8-0/5-0 (1). The Tigers are getting better behind freshman QB Trevor Lawrence and a ferocious defense. Name your score this week as Clemson hosts hapless Louisville, which gave up over 50 to Wake Forest last week. If the Tigers want 70, 80, there’s nothing stopping them.

2 Boston College, 6-2/ 3-1 (2). If the Eagles can solve their Hokies puzzle, they could be in store for a chance to play for the Atlantic Division crown next week against visiting Clemson. BC has a history of struggling with Virginia Tech, but if A.J. Dillon gets loose against an inexperienced Hokies defense, watch out! Georgia Tech ran for over 400 against Tech and doesn’t have a back as good as Dillon.

3 Virginia, 6-2/ 4-1 (4). The highest the Cavaliers have ever climbed in Hootie’s ACC Power Poll. UVa has shocked the ACC in bolting to first place in the Coastal. The Wahoos host Pitt in a huge division game Friday night. They key will be can Virginia stop the Panthers running attack. UVa needs another big game from QB Bryce Perkins.

4 N.C. State, 5-2/2-2 (3). Dave Doren’s Wolfpack rides a two-game losing streak headed into this weekend’s home clash against Florida State. We wondered if the thrashing the Pack took from Clemson in a showdown two weekends ago might cost them another game, on the road, at Syracuse last week, and it did. State’s defense had been solid until the past two games, and now must solidify if the Wolfpack is to finish the year strong.

5 Pittsburgh, 4-4/3-1 (5). Three of Pitt’s losses have been to the big boys: Penn State, Central Florida, and Notre Dame. The Panthers should have beaten the Irish on the road and are coming off a track meet of a win over Duke in which they rushed for nearly 500 yards. Pitt has only one conference loss and wants the Coastal just as much as one-loss UVa and one-loss Virginia Tech, teams that the Panthers will now face consecutively.

6 Georgia Tech, 4-4/2-3 (6). Man, did the Jackets open up a can of whoop-ass on the Hokies’ defense last week or what? Georgia Tech only attempted one pass the entire game and put up well over 400 yards rushing. Paul Johnson said afterward, “That was good Georgia Tech. We’ve been seeing bad Georgia Tech and good Georgia Tech. That was the good one.” If the Jackets want to go bowling this year, then they had better take the good Georgia Tech to Chapel Hill this weekend.

7 Virginia Tech, 4-3/3-1 (7). We are now seeing the results of a Bud Foster defense with inexperienced players. After being falsely impressed with a season-opening win over FSU, the Hokies have given up huge numbers (both yardage and points) to ODU, UNC, and Georgia Tech. The Hokies’ four wins have come against FSU (4-4), William & Mary (3-5), Duke (5-3), and Carolina(1-6). Another test coming Saturday against invading Boston College & A.J. Dillon.

8 Syracuse, 6-2/ 3-2 (11). The Orangemen are ranked for the first time since becoming a member of the ACC. ‘Cuse’ last ranking came in the final poll of the 2001 season, in January of 2002. They’ve had to win shootouts with UNC and N.C. State in back-to-back home games to get that ranking. They should be able to hold onto it for at least another week with a road trip to Wake Forest, which is coming off its own video-numberesque victory over Louisville and the worst defense in America.

9 Miami, 5-3/2-2 (8). This was supposed to be Mark Richt’s best team out of Coral Gables. It was supposed to be a contender, a national contender. More than eight weeks into the season, the Hurricanes aren’t even bowl eligible at this point. The ‘U’ has lost back-to-back ACC games and has a major problem at quarterback. Talk about a Turnover Chain … maybe the ‘Canes should lend the chain to its opponent each week. They host Duke this weekend, which is no gimme, but the Miami faithful, which aren’t so faithful when things aren’t going so well, may stay away in droves.

10 Duke, 5-3/1-3 (9). The Blue Devils are trying to become bowl eligible and likely will, but it won’t be easy getting number six at Miami this weekend. Daniel Jones threw for a career high at Pitt last week, but Duke’s defense couldn’t stop the run and paid dearly. Oh well, basketball season is just around the corner.

11 Florida State, 4-4/2-4 (10). The Seminoles have won their last two visits to Carter-Finley Stadium. Not gonna happen this time. Not sure of QB Francois, who suffered a head injury and had to leave last week’s beatdown by Clemson. Thinking FSU might not win again this season, which would end the nation’s longest bowl streak?

12 North Carolina, 1-6/1-4 (12). The Tar Heels have some talent, they just can’t put it together and that could cost Larry Fedora his job if something doesn’t change. UNC’s only win came against Pitt and we’re still trying to figure that one out. So the Heels host Georgia Tech this weekend and if they can’t stop the run, then fahget about it.

13 Wake Forest, 4-4/1-3 (14). Well the Deacs just killed Louisville last week with an offense that can be fairly effective, two different styled running backs, a freshman QB who looks promising over the long haul, and several talented receivers. But the Deacs have no defense. They’re banged up and surrendering yardage and points at an alarming rate. Can they stop the ACC’s leading scoring team in Syracuse (46 points per game)? I think not.

14 Louisville, 2-6/0-5 (13). Well, there’s no question who the worst team in the ACC is now after the Cardinals were hammered last week by Wake in a battle of the basement. Hint to L’ville defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder: you might want to start looking for a moving van. Hey, I know somebody who can handle that, one of our sponsors. VanGorder is Petrino’s third defensive coordinator in three years. Ouch!