ACC Week 5 awards. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

With Clemson winning the battle with Virginia Tech, the Tigers have become the favorite to the win ACC. Let’s not forget about Georgia Tech, as they moved to 5-0 on the season. UNC and Duke had a couple of decent of non-conference wins over East Carolina and Florida International. Most of rest of the ACC didn’t really do anything to get anyone too excited, but there were no embarrassing losses this week which is always good

The Good

Do you believe now?

If you don’t think Clemson is one of the country’s 10 best teams, then I can’t help you. I really can’t. After beating Auburn, Florida State, and at Virginia Tech in three consecutive weeks, you have to tip your hat to what the Tigers were able to accomplish defeating three straight ranked teams. They even did it without SammyWatkins having a great game. Dabo Swinney might be the coach of the year in the ACC. The Tigers went into Blacksburg and dominated the Hokies in the impressive 23-3 win. Put them in the top 10 right now.

Perfection

The Yellow Jackets keep winning. They pulled away late and led in the 4th qtr 42-14 over NC State before giving up some garbage touchdowns to make the final closer at 45-35. Tevin Washington certainly did not have his best game going 4 for 12 and 117 yards, but really good teams find ways to win even on the road, when they don’t play well. Georgia Tech is a really good team, and they’ve now become the Coastal Division favorite.

Showing Heart

As I said previously Georgia Tech didn’t play well, but NC State had something to do with it. After falling behind 21-0, it looked like the Jackets were going to put up Kansas like 66 point 700 yard numbers. The Wolfpack were decimated along the defensive line but showed a lot of heart battling back to get the game to 21-14 in the third qtr. In the end the superior team won, but to the Wolfpack’s credit they kept fighting. I was impressed by that.

Nice recovery

North Carolina coming off a disappointing loss to Georgia Tech last week headed to East Carolina in a dangerous non-conference game. The Tar Heels went up 28-3 at the half and never looked back. Giovani Bernard had 146 yards rushing, and is quickly becoming one of the ACC’s best backs. Everett Withers has done an excellent job in leading the Heels to a 4-1 start. This is a team that can win 8 or 9 games this season. Quietly having a nice season….

Streaking

That would be the Duke Blue Devils, who won their 3rd straight game in a 31-27 victory over FIU. Sean Renfree threw for 336 yards, and I just get the feeling Duke has an upset or two in them this season. Wake Forest also won their 3rd straight game winning 27-19 at Boston College. Tanner Price has been one of the ACC’s most efficient QB’s and the Demon Deacons are one 4th qtr from being 4-0. The get Florida State at home next week, in a game the Noles don’t want to overlook.

The Bad

Is this the best we’ll ever be?

Given the softness of the Hokies schedule, you had to believe this was a golden opportunity to go undefeated at least through October. It didn’t happen… again. Clemson beat up Virginia Tech in Blacksburg 23-3 in a performance that left the Hokie faithful stunned. They may still win the Coastal they may even win the ACC, but is Virginia Tech ever going to get over the hump and become a nationally elite team? They can’t recruit at the level Clemson and Florida State can. I’m not so sure they will ever be better than what they are now, which is still pretty darned good.

1st Half Sleep Walking

Miami, Virginia, and Maryland all won their games over Bethune-Cookman, Idaho, and Towson, but here were the Half Time scores… 14-7, 7-3, 14-6. None of these teams are playing particularly well, and more first halves like these will result in losses.

The Ugly

Spaz watch is on

 Boston College is the conference’s most disappointing team, and I’m not sure it’s even close. At 1-4 with home losses to Duke and Wake Forest, and looking games at Clemson and at Virginia Tech a 1-6 start to the season seems very likely. BC Head Coach Frank Spaziani is in a heap of trouble. I don’t know how he makes it through the season.