ACC Football Power Poll – October 1, 2013

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Until then, please stick around here for great Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports coverage – as my friend Jeff (@TalkinACCSports) says – we love the world of sports – but we specifically love the ACC.

We’ve got a new feature on the site this week – the ACC football power poll – we decided to start this in Week 6 because one can get a gauge more on where the teams area at in the conference.  You’re probably going to see some of the usual suspects here – Clemson and Florida State are clearly the top teams in the conference – but others are making their way through the masses – we at All Sports Discussion want find out how strong the upper middle, the middle, and the lower middle of the conference is.  For the first time in several years, the ACC has four teams that are undefeated going into Week 6.

Without further ado, here we go:

1. Clemson – The best team in the conference right now – and that Georgia win is looking better every week – especially with the Dawgs wins vs. South Carolina and LSU.  Of course, we’re all looking forward to October 19, 2013 – that’s when the ACC takes center stage when the Tigers take on Florida State.

2. Florida State – Famous Jameis Winston and the Seminoles got a pretty good test up on Chestnut Hill at Boston College this past Saturday – but to Winston’s credit, the Seminoles made adjustments and got a key ACC road win.  See my previous comments on October 19.

3. Miami – Duke Johnson is an amazing football player – and with the injury to Stephen Morris, I think you’re going to see the Cans run the ball a lot vs. the Yellow Jackets.  And Al Golden’s defenses have done wonders vs. the triple option.

4. Virginia Tech – Through September 30, 2013, the Hokies have the 4th ranked team in total defense in the nation.  We knew the Hokies had an outstanding defense after the Alabama game – and it’s going to get stronger as the season goes along because Antone Exum is back (h/t @NormWood).  Logan Thomas was a terrific game manager vs. Georgia Tech – and the offense did just enough to get a big win vs.

5. Maryland – We would have put the Terps at the four spot in this poll – and maybe they deserved the four spot after crushing West Virginia – but how much can you really tell about a team that’s played Florida International University, Old Dominion, and Connecticut (the Hokies got some big wins vs. East Carolina and Marshall that are going to look better as the season goes long – @RalphDrussoAP had both of the teams in his top 10 non-AQs that could crash the BCS – that’s a big reason why we have VT one notch ahead of Maryland)?  We’ll know more about the Terps this week when they take on the Seminoles.

6. NC State – We like the way the Wolfies are playing right now – they are flying around on defense – and have one of the brightest offensive coordinators in the country in Matt Canada.  I feel as though NC State might be the best team in North Carolina – but we will find out later this year when the Wolfies take on East Carolina University.

7. Georgia Tech – The Wramblin’ Wreck is going to have difficulty getting past that seven win barrier – part of me wonders if Jackets fans are tired of the triple option – and Paul Johnson.

8. Pittsburgh – Paul Chryst is building the Panthers into the mold of those prior Wisconsin Badgers that he coached as offensive coordinator – teams that had strong defenses – and brute offensive lines.  Watch the Panthers – if anyone here in the bottom six in this poll can break to the top six – it’s Pittsburgh.

9. Boston College – The culture has changed at Boston College – you can tell that Steve Addazio has the guys playing hard – and Chestnut Hill is going to be a tough road trip for some teams this year.

10. Syracuse – Don’t know what to make of the Orange – they trounced Wagner – lost to Northwestern, but beat Tulane.  Are they better than Duke?  Maybe – that will be a game with both teams need if they want to get to a bowl.

11. Duke – Seriously – another bowl might be do-able for the Blue Devils, but their defense has to do a lot of catchup work.  I look at the schedule and I see Virginia Tech and Miami (both Ls) – but we think the Devils might find three wins in Navy, Virginia, NC State, Wake Forest, or maybe even North Carolina (and if the Devils get to a bowl, once again, David Cutcliffe should be in the mix for ACC coach of the year)… because…

12. North Carolina – The Tar Heels are probably the most disappointing team in the conference (h/t @TalkinACCSports).  The Tar Heels were ripped to shreds by East Carolina last week – UNC game up hundreds of yards of offense – and 55 points – The Daily Tar Heel has a good wrap up of that game here.  I have not seen a team play worse defense or get out-coached the way Larry Fedora did this year in the ACC.  Tar Heels got a few issues to work out.

13. Virginia – Did you know Mike London was a detective in the law enforcement arena before he arrived in Charlottesville?  He better find some offense – quick.

14. Wake Forest – Demon Deacons could be headed for a 3-9 or 2-10 season.  Woof.  Got a feeling that Winston-Salem will be talking about Jim Grobe’s job security in the next couple of months.

And that’s our poll for this week – stay tuned for more great material on the site.

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