ACC Power Rankings: Week 3

This weekend was an excellent day for those of us with a Carolina blue persuasion. As for the rest of the ACC, it was up and down.

Clemson won the biggest game any ACC team played, but there were also some not ideal results. Florida State was taken to overtime at home by a Sun Belt team, while Syracuse got boatraced by a first-year head coach.

Now that the dust has settled on week two, let’s take a peek at how the conference is shaping up.

1. #1 Clemson Tigers (2-0)

The Tigers made it through possibly their toughest game of the regular season, Texas A&M, without too much trouble. Not much to report besides that.

Next Week: Saturday at Syracuse

2. #25 Virginia Cavaliers (2-0)

Interesting fact: The only two ranked ACC teams are at either end of the AP Poll. Virginia gets the nod at number two, because they came in as the Coastal favorites and have held serve so far.

Next week: Saturday vs. Florida State

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0)

I’m not sure even the most optimistic fans among us would have expected this much this fast in the Mack Brown 2.0 era. By virtue of beating two solid Power Five teams, UNC has a very legit claim to having been the best of the ACC’s large middle class.

Next week: Friday at Wake Forest

4. NC State Wolfpack (2-0)

So far in 2019, State have beaten both East Carolina and Western Carolina. With UNC’s win over South Carolina, the end-of-season rivalry game between the two will decide who truly is the best Direction + Carolina team of the season.

Next week: Saturday at West Virginia

5. Boston College Eagles (2-0)

BC has gotten off to a pretty good start on their march to finishing with exactly seven wins, as they have in five of their six seasons under Steve Addazio.

Next week: Friday vs. Kansas

6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-0)

Wake’s offense has gotten off to a good start this season, scoring 79 points in two games. Allowing 21 to Rice, doesn’t seem as good, however.

Next week: Friday vs. North Carolina

7. Duke Blue Devils (1-1)

Duke handled North Carolina A&T pretty easily. Considering that their first game was against Alabama, 1-1 is exactly where this team should be.

Next week: Saturday at Middle Tennessee State

8. Pittsburgh Panthers (1-1)

An ACC team beating a MAC team shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but Ohio were voted the MAC preseason favorites. On paper, this seemed like a big chance for Pitt to fall into a trap ahead of their game against Penn State, but they got past it with the W.

Next week: at Penn State

9. Virginia Tech Hokies (1-1)

Good job on not losing to Old Dominion this time around.

Next week: Saturday vs. Furman

10. Florida State Seminoles (1-1)

Even though they were at home and blew a sizeable lead, FSU losing to Boise State is understandable. Going to overtime with Louisiana-Monroe and only winning because they missed an extra point is not as understandable.

Next week: Saturday at Virginia

11. Miami Hurricanes (0-2)

They may be the only winless ACC team, but Miami still deserves to be ahead of a couple teams. Both of the Hurricanes’ losses are by under five points, and both came to pretty good teams. They still have yet to play a home game, too.

Next week: Saturday vs. Bethune-Cookman

12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-1)

Winning against South Florida is a pleasant surprise for a team rebuilding as much as the Yellow Jackets are.

Next: Saturday vs. The Citadel

13. Louisville Cardinals (1-1)

On the heels of playing Notre Dame closer than expected, Louisville picked up its first win under Scott Satterfield. It was just Eastern Kentucky, but after allowing 40 or more points in six of their last seven games of last season, actually shutting a team out is a good step for them.

Next week: Saturday vs. Western Kentucky

14. Syracuse Orange (1-1)

Allowing 63 points to Maryland, huh? Yikes.

Next week: Saturday vs. Clemson