ACC Football Round-Up: Week 5

Week 5 began the process of separating the “haves” from the “have nots.” There were some close games, so don’t count the teams that lost those close ones out of the ACC race just yet. A few teams suffered a second conference loss and that digs them a pretty deep hole to climb out of if they want a shot at the title. Last Saturday saw Maryland snap off the Blue Devils’ horns, Miami narrowly escape from Death Valley, and Virginia Tech pull away from the Wolfpack at the end. The surprise ending came in Winston-Salem where the Stingers just missed having their first back-to-back losses since Coach Paul Johnson took over at the Buzz Hive on North Avenue. Week 5 is in the records, and we’re now gettin’ down to cuttin’ time...But before we do, let’s take a look back at Week 5 in the ACC.

Atlantic Division

Florida State 34, Virginia 14

Florida State moved to the head of the class in the Atlantic Division with a 2-0 conference record by taking care of business in Charlottesville – which historically is not an easy place for the visitor to play and come away with a win. Virginia was of unknown quantity and quality coming into the FSU game, but they were soon found out. The Seminoles took care of business early putting up 27 points in the first half and holding the Cavaliers scoreless through two quarters . By then, the damage had been done and so was Virginia. The Cavs were no match for a group of determined Seminoles and both teams will find the competition getting tougher as October progresses. FSU moved up to No. 23 in the Top 25 with the 20-point win and will have to use all their weapons to tame a nasty Hurricane Saturday night at Coral Gables. Miami, with a big ACC win at Clemson, climbed to No. 13 in the polls and this one is always a grudge match between the two. It ought to be a really good one on ABC. Virginia has talent and is capable – they did come back and score twice in the second half, but it was too little and way too late to make a difference against The Seminoles. Now, The Cavs venture South for a swat at the Buzz Hive at Grant Field in a game they must win if they want to be one of the “haves”. Virginia knows Tech’s defensive coach well and his schemes, but he also knows their offense and their defense, which will help those pesky Swarming Buzzers when the two teams meet for a late afternoon game in Atlanta.

Miami 30, Clemson 21

When all the smoke and dust settles, Clemson may still be the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. The Tigers let Miami slip through their claws at Death Valley, but one conference loss does not the end of a title run make – they proved that last year. Sure, The Tigers may be without Spiller and Ford, but they still have some talented backs, a good line, a good defense, and a mobile, strong-armed quarterback. Playing North Carolina at Chapel Hill won’t be a breeze, but somehow the Tigers will find a way to win when it comes down to crunch time – and for both of these teams, it’s crunch time, since neither can afford another ACC loss. Clemson was playing toe-to-toe with the then No. 16 ranked Hurricanes, but mistakes spelled the difference in this one. The old coaching adage holds true, you can’t make too many mistakes against a good team and expect to come out a winner. Clemson did more to beat themselves than Miami did to beat them. These two teams are fairly evenly matched, and should they meet again in Charlotte, don’t bet the house on Miami. The Tigers will have to take care of business late Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill or it may be one of those deep holes that may be too deep for a run at Charlotte.

Georgia Tech 24, Wake Forest 20

Playing with their fourth team quarterback, Wake Forest had Georgia Tech by the wings and ripping them out one by one until they got hit by the Stinger. A week after being shut out by FSU, Wake came back to Winston-Salem and gave the Yellow Jackets all they wanted – and then some. The usually powerful and potent Tech offense continued its quest of trying to find ways to shoot themselves in both feet, and could put up only two field goals in three quarters. Wake Forest took advantage of the Yellow Jackets' miscues and porous defense to build a strong 17-6 lead going into the fourth period. But then Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt found that he CAN throw the ball, and that a few of his receivers CAN catch it and then run with it, and then score. Nesbitt engineered an 18-point fourth quarter, including a two-point conversion run after hitting a touchdown pass on a fourth and five play from 20 yards out. Wake finds themselves approaching the “have nots” category to almost a point of no return. The Demon Deacons jump out of ACC play this week to host another option team when Navy comes to visit, but it doesn't much easier for Jim Grobe’s Deacons after that. Tech returns to the Hive to battle the swashbuckling Cavaliers and one of these two teams will find out if they are one of the “haves” or the “have nots.”

Notre Dame 31, Boston College 13

Boston College took it on the chin – and everywhere else – from a “not-so-good” Notre Dame team last week. Notre Dame has not been exactly stellar on offense or defense so far this year, but Boston College appears to be in trouble – troubles that won’t go away any time soon. You have to hate it for Mark Herzlich’s return to the game, but he’s got to have some help and it just ain’t happening on the other side of the ball. The Eagles are really struggling on offense – a shutout in Week 4 and only 13 points in the first half and a shutout in the last two quarters in Week 5 (against a fair Notre Dame defense). That kind of offensive output won’t keep BC in the ACC title hunt for long. In fact, the Eagles will find out just how bad it can get when they invade the ‘Pack's Den in Raleigh this Saturday. North Carolina State may be coming off a disappointing loss to Virginia Tech, but the Wolfpack is a good all-around team and if BC can’t put points on the scoreboard, the ‘Pack will show them how – quick and often. It is a must win for both teams, but things ain’t lookin’ real good for the Eagles right now.

Virginia Tech 41, NC State 30

A week after playing one of the best games of his college career, North Carolina State’s junior quarterback Russell Wilson was not really on his game from about mid-way of the second quarter through the end. Wilson made too many mistakes that cost his team points, and that translates to falling behind a good team. When they had the Hokies down 17-0 it was time for the knock-out punch. Instead, the Wolfpack special teams unit let Virginia Tech run back the kickoff and make it a 17-7 game at the half. That kick return and three N. C. State turnovers were just what the Hokies needed to make a run - and run they did, slapping down 34 points in the second half. Wilson and the Wolfpack offense put up 507 yards of total offense, but costly turnovers in scoring position and giving up two two-point conversion plays in the second half won’t get you a win against a quality opponent. This loss hurt, but it didn’t knock N. C. State out of the title run picture. The Wolfpack has the talen,t and will have to take Boston College on Saturday and continue doing that kind of business for the rest of the season to make it.

Maryland 21, Duke 16

The Maryland Terrapins have already won more games than most prognosticators predicted they would for the 2010 season; but wins will get harder to come by as The Terps move through October and into November. Coach Ralph Friedgen is one of the top offensive minds in college coaching, but he still has a young team and they are prone to making mistakes on both sides of the ball. Maryland fell behind Duke early, but fought back and posted three touchdowns – one in each of the last three quarters – to go 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in ACC play. It was a good win, but a tough battle with Coach David Cutcliffe’s Blue Devils. Maryland has the week off and will be working on how to continue that win streak when they have to wander through Death Valley at Clemson on Saturday, Oct. 16 for an important ACC Atlantic Division game with the Tigers. Not many escape Death Valley from a High Noon ambush and get to brag about it, and it ain’t lookin’ like the Terps will be doing much bragging. They have a week to rest and prepare, but they’re gonna need all of it.

In Week 5, Clemson took a hit, but not a knock-out punch. So, the way we see it so far, it still looks like the Clemson-Florida State game is the best bet to determine which team and which group of fans will check-in on those reservations in Charlotte to represent the Atlantic Division. FSU has made some statements in the last two weeks and N. C. State presents a serious challenge, but the odds favor the winner of the Clemson-FSU game. We’ll have to wait and see what Week 6 brings, with Clemson taking on rival North Carolina at Chapel Hill, FSU invading arch-rival Miami, and N. C. State taking on Boston College. Those games will shed a whole lot more light on the subject.

ACC Coastal Division

North Carolina 42, East Carolina 17

North Carolina is still reeling from the effects of player problems in the off-season, which is now affecting their predicted Top 25 season. The Tar Heels took care of business against East Carolina, but it was a struggle through the first half. Tied at 14-14 at the break, the Tar Heels poured on the pressure and popped 28 points on The Pirates in the second half, while giving up only a field goal in the third quarter. Down 0-1 in conference play, North Carolina will have to step things up a notch or two or three as some key ACC games come into play starting this Saturday. Clemson is in a different mode than East Carolina, so the Tar Heels will have to play mistake-free and all-out. Both have one loss in ACC play, so the winner stands to gain some ground in their division. Clemson may be too strong for North Carolina right now, but look for the Tar Heels to continue to improve as the season progresses. They clearly have Virginia Tech and Miami in their sights.

With what’s been seen in the ACC Coastal Division so far, it’s still anybody’s division to win; and it will probably stay that way for a few more Saturdays. The way we see it panning out, expect North Carolina to be the spoiler for some team and Duke to hand a big boy a loss. In this ACC division, the big intra-divisional games will be Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech; Miami vs. Virginia Tech; North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech; North Carolina vs. Miami; and Georgia Tech vs. Miami, which are coming in October and early November. Virginia could figure in the mix if they upset Georgia Tech on Saturday. But again, don’t bet the farm on it.