Hootie’s ACC Power Poll: Week 12

Condensed this week. Rank, School, Overall record/ACC, Previous rank, Comment:

1 Clemson, 10-0/7-0 (1). Tigers are driving toward the College Football Playoffs and doesn’t look like anything is stopping them until maybe Alabama.

2 Pitt, 6-4/ 5-1 (3). Panthers are literally running all over everyone. Wake’s shredded defense shouldn’t be an exception.

3 Georgia Tech, 6-4/ 4-3 (4). The Jackets are the nation’s No. 1 rushing team and playing home against UVa, which hasn’t won in Atlanta since 2008.

4 Boston College, 7-3/ 4-2 (2). Eagles are good against most everyone else. Was no match for Clemson’s defense.

5 Syracuse, 8-2/ 5-2 (5). Can the Orange pull off the upset over Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium? Probably not, but they could make the Irish sweat. With QB Eric Dungey, and one of the most dangerous offenses in the country, it could get interesting.

6 Virginia, 7-3/ 4-2 (6). The Cavaliers have a chance for a strong finish, but the question is can they stop Georgia Tech’s mighty triple option with four of five of UVa’s defensive linemen having never played against it before?

7 Duke, 7-3/ 3-3 (9). Blue Devils have the unenviable task of taking on Clemson. Nuff said. Could this be the one game a year where Tigers let their guard down?

8 N.C. State, 6-3/3-3 (7). What has happened to the Wolfpack? Stunned at home vs. Wake and a rookie QB last week was not what Dave Doren had in mind when he was talking about a 10-win season.

9 Virginia Tech, 4-5/3-3 (8). Hokies have lost three in a row. A bit healthier now on defense, can they stop the bleeding against Miami?

10 Miami, 5-5/2-4 (10). OK raise your hands if you thought the Hurricanes would not be bowl eligible heading into Week 11. Liar.

11 Wake Forest, 5-5/2-4 (11). Great win for the Deacs last week on the road with a new QB. They’ll have to beat either Pitt or Duke to become bowl eligible.

12 Florida State, 4-6/2-5 (12). The Seminoles still need to win two games to keep their 36-year bowl streak alive. They play Boston College and Florida. Good luck.

13 North Carolina, 1-8/1-6 (13). Tar Heels have talent, they just can’t get it together. This week they will against Western Carolina, but who cares?

14 Louisville, 2-8/0-7 (14). Now that Petrino and Pitino have nearly broken the bank, where do the Cardinals go from here?