It’s the most exciting week of the year for fans of college sports. College basketball is tipping off, with some big November non-conference games and tournaments on the horizon. Meanwhile, it’s crunch time on the gridiron, with playoff spots, bowl bids, and rivalry games at stake every week. There wasn’t much (or any) movement in my power rankings this week, but I highly suspect next week will bring a different story.
1 – Florida State: Jameis Winston isn’t point-shaving for his high school buddy. He’s point-shaving to make people think you can actually beat Florida State. He simply turned the difficulty up from Varsity to All-American.
2 – Duke: Who had Virginia Tech-Duke as a noon kickoff in the preseason? And if you did, who thought it would be because Virginia Tech has a losing record?
3 – Clemson: Deshaun Watson returns to the Clemson starting lineup this week, just in time for a top-25 showdown with Georgia Tech. Not a moment too soon.
4 – Louisville: The Cardinals finish 5-3 in their maiden ACC football voyage. It was a good run against stiffer competition, and now they’ll finish with two non-conference games that aren’t against a team like Presbyterian.
5 – Miami: The last time the Hurricanes beat FSU at home, they played in the Orange Bowl and Miami was on a six-game winning streak against the Seminoles. Antonio Cromartie, Sinorice Moss, and Frank Gore had touchdowns in that game.
6 – Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets had one offensive series in the second quarter Saturday and outscored NC State 21-3 during the period. The lesson, as always: Don’t spot Georgia Tech points.
7 – Boston College: Louisville’s stout defense kept Tyler Murphy in check, picking him off four times and holding him to 41 yards rushing. Things won’t get easier for the Eagles, as a trip to Tallahassee awaits them following a bye week.
8 – Virginia: I’d make a Mike London cop joke, but @ThrowinBeaus made the best one for this week already.
9 – Pittsburgh: The last time we saw Pitt, they were losing a nailbiter to Duke. Facing North Carolina should be an easier task, but they won’t have the benefit of playing at home in this one.
10 – NC State: I just … I … I’ve got nothing.
11 – North Carolina: If UNC can pick up a win against Duke or NC State to end the season, it might help ease the wounds of possibly missing a bowl game, involvement in a never-ending academic scandal, and having possibly the worst defense in recorded history. Or it might not.
12 – Virginia Tech: In case things weren’t bad enough for the Hokies, starting tackle Jonathan McLaughlin has been lost for the season due to injury. Such a bizarre, strange, and unfortunate season for Virginia Tech.
13 – Syracuse: Enjoy the bye week, ‘Cuse fans. A throwback Big East stretch to finish the season (at Pittsburgh, at Boston College) awaits you.
14 – Wake Forest: Local bragging rights on the line as the Deacons go to Raleigh this week to face NC State. Can Wake Forest shake up the double-digit range of the power rankings? Stay tuned!
Until next week, peace, love, and #goacc.
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