ACC Power Rankings After Week 8

Not too much change in the Power Rankings this week as mostly the expected happened in the ACC this week. Game of the week is Thursday night's Florida State at NC State.

1. Florida State Seminoles

The 'Noles will remain at the top of the power poll until someone knocks them off. They’ve played very well ever since their loss at Oklahoma, and control their own destiny to the ACC title game. They can just about clinch the Atlantic Division with a win Thursday Night at NC State.

2. Virginia Tech Hokies

The Hokies gave Duke no chance of pulling the upset in Blacksburg. At 4-0 in the conference and ranked 25th in the nation, the Hokies would be a top-ten team had the not lost to JMU. Still, they’re in the driver’s seat to win the Coastal Division.

3. Miami Hurricanes

The Hurricanes pounced on a depleted UNC secondary, and their defense was locked in on TJ Yates all night. The ‘Canes dominated the second half, outscoring the Tar Heels 20-0. They continue to look good, and Jacory Harris continues to learn and improve to better this offense.

4. NC State Wolfpack

The Pack badly needed a bye-week, and they used it to rest up as coach Tom O’Brien gave the guys a few days off before they got back to work preparing for their biggest game of the year- against Florida State at home this Thursday night. A win against the Seminoles and the Pack would control their own destiny to an Atlantic title.

5. Clemson Tigers

The Tigers have now won two straight conference games (their first two conference wins of the year), and if they were to win out in their final four conference games, they would win the Atlantic Division. Unfortunately, they host NC State and then head to Florida State in back to back weeks.

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The bad news for Georgia Tech after their 14 point loss at Clemson is that Joshua Nesbitt was held to just two (2) yards rushing, and teams seem to be figuring out how to stop their triple option. The good news is, that both conference losses for the Jackets were against Atlantic Division teams, and they are still (technically) in the race for the Coastal Division title.

7. North Carolina Tar Heels

The lack of depth on UNC’s roster finally caught up to them, if only for one game as they lost to Miami. If the injuries to the defensive secondary are serious, then the absence of Stuckey and Brown due to suspension will be the demise of this Tar Heels team.

8. Maryland Terrapins

Just throwing this out there, but the Terps do have five wins- and with five games remaining (of which one is a home game against Wake Forest, and another is at Virginia), the Fridge should bring this team to a bowl, something most did not expect entering the year. Heck, if they beat Wake this Saturday, they’ll be 3-1 in conference play, they could make some noise here.

9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Wake needed their bye week, as they’ve lost five in a row. They better hope that Duke doesn’t win a game or they will be the worst team in North Carolina. They’ll have a chance to win this week, though, as they host Boston College.

10. Boston College Eagles

The Eagles started out 2-0, and it has been all downhill from there- and unfortunately for them, it will continue to be. I’d be surprised if they beat a confident Clemson team this Saturday, but they do have enough winnable games remaining to make a bowl game if they cut back on the turnovers.

11. Virginia Cavaliers

Usually teams don’t like to play non-conference games in the thick of the ACC schedule, but Virginia needed an easier game this week. They beat one of the worst FBS teams in the country, but it was close for a while before Virginia finally pulled away. Mike London’s team has five games left to find something to build on heading into next season.

12. Duke Blue Devils

The Duke basketball team might just beat a Div. 1A (FBS) team before the Duke Football team does- that’s pretty impressive considering the football team had a two month head start. After six straight losses, all that’s left for the Blue Devils is a chance to beat rival UNC in the last game of the season.