ACC Rankings after Week 3

The major disappointment of week one across the league had turned into some positives over the past few weeks, and you need look no further than the state of Florida for those good stories…

 

1) Miami.  The Canes proved themselves in a week one win over Florida State, but it was their defensive dominance over Georgia Tech last Thursday that really shocked people.  Jacory Harris’ name is already on some Heisman lists.

2) Virginia Tech.  The Hokies needed a miracle to pull off a win against Nebraska Saturday.  Really all they needed was Tyrod Taylor to start playing like a quarterback. 

3) Florida State.  The Noles looked lost a few weeks ago against Jacksonville State, but their beatdown of BYU Saturday showed that perhaps Papa Bowden hasn’t lost his touch.

4) North Carolina.  The Heels are getting it done defensively, holding opponents to 11 points a game.  A trip to Georgia Tech this weekend should really help us see just how real this team is.

5) Georgia Tech.  The Jackets tricky offense was held in check against Miami, gaining just 95 yards on the ground.  Paul Johnson knows how to coach, but he’s gonna have to find a plan B when those triple option plays stop working.

6) Clemson.  The Tigers D held Boston College to 59 yards of total offense Saturday, winning 25-7.  Problem is, the Tigers failed to score an offensive touchdown.  That must change quickly if the Tigers are gonna compete for the ACC Atlantic crown.

7)  Wake Forest.  Riley Skinner is solid at QB, and Jim Grobe is a solid coach.  Wake lacks big time playmakers, and that could hurt them the rest of the way. 

8)  Boston College.  The Eagles are in the top ten of the nation defensively, but much of that comes from 2 games against Northeastern and Kent State.  Offensively, things could be better.

9) NC State.  The Wolfpack’s Russell Wilson set the NCAA mark for passes without an interception Saturday against Gardner-Webb.  Looks like Tom O’Brien finally has his team playing offense, something we didn’t see in week 1 against South Carolina.

10) Duke.  The blowout against Kansas was expected, but finally Duke has a coach that isn’t content to just “field a team”.  David Cutcliffe has done well in recruiting and is gonna turn this team around in time.  Heck, at least they’re not last in the ACC.

11) Maryland.  In the first of our two ACC coaches that need to go segment, we question how Ralph Friedgen allowed MTSU to beat the Terps…again.  It took a last minute drive to win against James Madison a few weeks ago. 

12) Virginia.  How bad is Al Groh?  The Cavs can’t even hold on to a big lead against Southern Miss.  Losses to TCU and (gasp!) William and Mary should cement Groh’s fate.

Setting up the 2009-10 Bowl Matchups and Conference Winners

CONFERENCE WINNERS

SEC: FLORIDA over Alabama

BIG TEN: OHIO ST.

BIG 12: TEXAS over Kansas

ACC: VIRGINIA TECH over Florida St.

PAC-10: CALIFORNIA

BIG EAST: WEST VIRGINIA

MOUNTAIN WEST: TCU

CONF. USA: HOUSTON over East Carolina

WAC: BOISE ST.

MAC: CENTRAL MICHIGAN over Buffalo

SUN BELT: TROY

 

BCS BOWLS

TITLE GAME: Texas vs. Florida

ROSE: Ohio St. vs. California

SUGAR: Alabama vs. Boise St.

FIESTA: USC vs. Oklahoma St.

ORANGE: Va. Tech vs. W. Virginia

OTHER BOWLS

HUMANITARIAN: Colorado St. vs. Nevada

NEW MEXICO: Utah vs. La. Tech

POINSETTIA: BYU vs. Arizona

LAS VEGAS: TCU vs. UCLA

NEW ORLEANS: Southern Miss vs. Fla. Atlantic

ARMED FORCES: Tulsa vs. Air Force

HAWAII: East Carolina vs. Fresno St.

LIBERTY: Houston vs. South Carolina

MOTOR CITY: Michigan vs. Central Mich.

OUTBACK: Illinois vs. Georgia

CAPITAL ONE: Penn St. vs. Ole Miss

ST. PETERSBURG: Arkansas St. vs Marshall

PAPAJOHNS.COM: Cincinnati vs. MTSU

INTERNATIONAL: S. Florida vs. Bowling Green

TEXAS: Kansas St. vs. Navy

INDEPENDENCE: Nebraska vs. Kentucky

INSIGHT: Baylor vs. Northwestern

SUN: Colorado vs. Rutgers

ALAMO: Kansas vs. Iowa

HOLIDAY: Texas Tech vs. Oregon St.

COTTON: Oklahoma vs. LSU

GMAC: Wake Forest vs. Buffalo

EAGLE BANK: NC State vs. Memphis

EMERALD: Boston Coll. vs. Oregon

MEINIKE CAR CARE: Miami vs. Pittsburgh

MUSIC CITY: North Carolina vs. Auburn

CHAMPS SPORTS: Clemson vs. Michigan St.

GATOR: Ga. Tech vs. Notre Dame

CHIK-FIL-A: Tennessee vs. Florida St.

Top Coaches of the Decade

Last week, the Sporting News released their list of the top  50 coaches of all time ( you can read their list here: http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2009-07-29/sporting-news-50-greatest-coaches-all-time)

A good list, but not very relevant to the young people like myself who follow sports today. Most of us have no clue as to what Toe Blake did in the NHL, or Hank Iba in college basketball, and I’m guessing a big majority of us don’t care. What we do know is what’s happened in major sports recently, and that’s what I aim to address here.

 

Below you’ll find my Top Ten Coaches of the Decade list. Love it, hate it, question it, whatever. Just read it and leave your thoughts. I know you’ve got some.

 

 

1. Pete Carroll, Football Head Coach, USC

   2 National Titles are nice. 7 straight Pac-10 titles are pretty sweet. But when you start talking about 3 Heisman winners and 25 All-American first team players, that’s impressive. Carroll consistently has the Trojans in the BCS Title hunt, not to mention constant attention on his players from NFL scouts.

   

   Haters unite: Carroll is better than your team's coach, no question. (Photo courtesy of tigerrag.com)

2. Bill Belichick, Head Coach, New England Patriots

   When you win on a regular basis in a sports league that seems to have more parity than any other, that’s the essence of high-caliber coaching. Cut off hoodies and emotionless faces be damned, Bill Belichick has been the epitome of dominance in the NFL in the 2000’s. He’s led the Pats to 3 Super Bowl wins and 4 AFC titles. He’s had only one losing season this decade (2000), but the kicker may be his playoff record: 14-3.

3. Urban Meyer, Football Head Coach, Utah/Florida

   He’s largely thought of as the man reinventing the college football wheel, making opposing defenses look downright silly with his spread offense. It’s been good enough to win 2 of the last 3 BCS titles, not to mention winning the toughest conference in the land those 2 years as well. However, we’ve got to include Meyer’s full body of work from the decade. He won the Mountain West conference as the coach at Utah, where he went on to win his first BCS game against Pitt in dominating fashion.

4. Geno Auriemma, Women’s Basketball Coach, UConn

   I’m not sure what’s more surprising: seeing a women’s basketball coach this high on the list, or seeing a women’s basketball coach NOT named Pat Summitt this high on the list. However, when you break down the numbers from this decade alone, Auriemma’s have been downright outstanding. He’s led UConn to 5 NCAA titles, 7 Final Fours, and 8 Big East titles. During the 2000’s, he’s lost only 7 Big East games.

   

   Geno cuts more nets than an over-eager fisherman. (Photo courtesy of fansonly.com)

5. Phil Jackson, Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers

   One of the biggest (and lamest) knocks on Jackson is that his titles are based more on the players he’s coached (Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, Kobe) than his actual coaching talent. Whatever the case, the man has more hardware than Home Depot and more rings than Marks and Morgan. He’s had 4 NBA titles this decade, with 5 1^st place finishes in the Pacific Division. Not a year that he’s coached has he NOT made the playoffs, boasting a 98-50 post season record.

6. Roy Williams, Basketball Head Coach, North Carolina

   Like Urban Meyer in football, Williams has managed success at two separate schools in this decade. Starting it off at Kansas where he managed to win two Big 12 titles, to 2003 when he left for his home state of North Carolina, leading the Tarheels to 2 NCAA titles, 4 ACC titles, and 2 ACC tourney titles. Not once this decade has Roy Williams failed to make it past the first round of the NCAA tourney.

7. Billy Donovan, Basketball Head Coach, Florida

   In a day where most young talents leave college early (if they go to college at all) for the NBA, Donovan managed the near impossible: keeping together his core of players to win back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Donovan had 8 straight NCAA tournament appearances, winning 3 SEC titles during that span.

   

   Like his stars from 2006, Donovan resisted the lure of the NBA himself a few years ago. (Photo courtesy of projo.com)

8. Tony LaRussa, Manager, St. Louis Cardinals

   Most baseball fans don’t think LaRussa right away when they consider great baseball managers this decade. However, LaRussa has definitely proved his worth, leading the Cards to 2 World Series’, winning one of them. He’s had 8 playoff appearances, winning the NL Central 6 of those seasons.

9. Gregg Popovich, Head Coach, San Antonio Spurs

   A true model of consistency, Popovich has turned one of the lesser known NBA cities into a title town. The Spurs have won 3 NBA titles playing fundamental basketball using role players instead of a lineup of superstars. They’ve had 6 1^st place finishes in the Midwest Division, and have only made the playoffs one year where they didn’t get out of the first round.

10. Mike Krzyzewski, Basketball Head Coach, Duke

    While certainly not experiencing the splash of success this decade his rival Roy Williams has, Coach K has definitely shown he’s not about to play second fiddle to anyone. Duke has 1 NCAA title this decade, with 8 Sweet Sixteens and 6 ACC tournament titles. The key sidebar for Coach K is his success with NBA players. He led the USA’s “Redeem Team” to the 2008 Gold Medal last year in Beijing.

    

    It wasn't so much his work at Duke, but his work in the Olympics that got Coach K on this list. (Photo courtesy of butthegameison.com)

 

Honorable Mention: (Joe Torre (Yankees/Dodgers), Terry Francona (Red Sox), Nick Saban (LSU/Alabama/Dolphins), Tony Dungy (Colts), Pat Summitt (Tennessee Women’s Basketball), Larry Robinson (New Jersey Devils), Mike Babcock (Ducks/Red Wings), Jim Tressel (Ohio State), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Larry Brown (76ers/Pistons)

2009 ACC Football Preview

ACC PREVIEW

 

Each of my conference previews are determined in part by using a simple formula using certain nine variables to determine a teams ability to win games. These nine categories are as follows: Quarterback, RB/WR/TE, Offensive Line, DE/LB, Secondary, Coaching, Schedule Difficulty, Home Field Advantage, and Player Experience. Each team is ranked in descending order according to their strength in these areas. For example, the team in a conference with the best QB will be given a one, the second best rated team by QB will be given a 2, and on down through the remaining teams in that conference. This formula goes on for all categories. After all categories and teams are ranked, those rankings are added up to give the team’s a total score. The lower the score, the more likely a team will be successful this year and win more games than teams with higher overall scores. By no means is it an exact science, just my personal predictions for the upcoming season.)

 

 

The expansion of the ACC just a few years ago was supposed to bring a mediocre football conference into the realm of superiority. However, the opposite has happened. Florida State has fallen off from being a feared dynasty, Miami has embarrassed themselves on the field, and Clemson has yet to live up to lofty expectations. Can anyone in the ACC lay claim to national respect this year?

 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

 

1. Half the league will finish with 8 or more wins. The league isn’t quite the caliber of the SEC, but it is turning out some programs who’s football prestige is growing. Most notably schools like Boston College, NC State, and North Carolina.

2. Another losing season will finally cost Al Groh his job. Can you remember a year where Groh wasn’t on the hot seat at Virginia? Last year, the Cavs finished 5-7, a year which included a few nice wins but more notably some really bad losses. Uva managed to lose to Connecticut and Duke by a combined 63 points. In this, Groh’s 9^th season, a winning record is more important than ever.

   

   Groh needs wins to avoid the axe. (Photo courtesy of weblogs.newsday.com)

3. Virginia Tech will finish ACC play undefeated. It’s certainly no surprise that the Hokies are ranked top of the conference, but they’ve got to end the ACC season with a clean slate. That could very easily happen this year, with the only real test coming on the road against Georgia Tech. If they do finish undefeated in conference play, it will be the fourth time in the five years of the ACC title game in which the Hokies have participated in the championship tilt.

 

THREE GUYS READY FOR DRAFT DAY

 

1. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- With James Davis gone, Spiller is the Tigers’ featured back. His play making ability has led many college football talking heads to refer to him as the “Reggie Bush of the East Coast.” AS long as Spiller keeps things north-south and doesn’t try to dance too much (as has been his tendency), he’ll be a stud in the NFL.

   

   Is Spiller the most dynamic back in ACC history? (Photo courtesy of daylife.com)

2. Kam Chancellor, S, Va. Tech- The best defensive secondary in the ACC is led by the best DB in the league, Kam Chancellor. The senior DB has skills that set him apart, even though this is his first full season playing free safety. He’s got great range and can cover big spaces, which is exactly what you was a FS to do.

3. Dekoda Watson, LB, Florida St.- He’s got rushing abilities beyond most other Lbs in the league, and NFL scouts love him. He considered leaving early each of the last 2 seasons, and now as a senior, has a chance to fully polish his skills and look for a 1^st or 2^nd round draft spot.

 

THREE “CAN’T MISS GAMES”

 

1. Clemson at Georgia Tech, Sept. 10- Early season test between rivals. Can Dabo Swinney make his mark early in his first full season as the Tiger’s coach?

2. Va. Tech vs. Alabama, Sept. 3- Hokies fight for ACC respectability against tough Bama squad, who embarrassed Clemson in same game last year 34-10.

3. North Carolina at NC State, Nov. 28- Won’t be a decider in the ACC title hunt, but should be a great game to watch between two up and comers in the league. The Heels got trounced by the Pack last year 41-10.

 

 

THREE THINGS WE WON’T SEE THIS YEAR

 

1. Clemson in the ACC Title Game. Frustrations over Tommy Bowden’s ineptitude came to a head last season, and Bowden was politely asked to not let the door hit him on the backside on his way out of town. Dabo Swinney, a young Alabama kid takes over at the helm and did a decent enough job last season, guiding Clemson to wins in 5 of their last 7 games. However, they’re not at the level yet to be a title contender, at least not this season. Florida State will just edge them out for the Atlantic spot.

2. Duke making a bowl game. No question Dave Cutcliffe is making the Blue Devils into a recognizable program. It’s tough to climb out of the cellar after being there for years and years. Recruiting is improving, and students are starting to see that there is another sport other than basketball on campus. However, the Dukies aren’t quite there yet. Only 12 starters return, and a tough ACC slate won’t help break a 14 year bowl-less streak.

3. National respect for ACC football. It still is viewed as a basketball league, and nothing that takes place this year will change that. Even if VT stops Alabama in that season kickoff in Atlanta, most NCAA fans will refer to it as nothing more than an “old Big East team” knocking off a SEC team. For the ACC to climb back into national title discussions, teams like Clemson, Florida State, and Georgia Tech have to return to the programs they once were.

 

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE BIG EAST

 

1. Tobacco Road: All 4 NC schools have shot at a bowl. Never in the history of college football have all 4 of the ACC schools from North Carolina been in bowl games in the same season. There’s a chance that could change this year. North Carolina and Wake Forest seem almost a lock in the pre-season to make bowls, and sleeper NC State has all the makings of a team destined for the post season as well. Duke, while unlikely to make a bowl, isn’t a definite lock to NOT make one. Could be interesting to see if all 4 can sneak into bowls in the same year.

2. Virginia Tech’s BCS Title run. If the schedule was completely flipped upside down, the big SEC/ACC clash between the Hokies and Crimson Tide would possibly be a de facto play-in game for a spot in the BCS title game. As it were, if VT can beat Saban’s Bama boys, Frank Beamer controls his own destiny.

   

   With 17 returning starters, the Hokies are looking BCS bound. (Photo courtesy of myspace.com/kennyowens)

3. To determine if Paul Johnson and his crazy run-the-ball-every-play system is for real. Georgia Tech was one of the strongest teams in the ACC last year, and it was all due to the fact that they dominated the running game. The Ramblin’ Wreck finished 4^th in the nation in rushing, thanks to Paul Johnson’s system and a young man named Jonathan Dwyer, picked by many as a Heisman dark horse this season. As good as the Jackets were as rushing, their passing game was equally as bad. Johnson will have to mix things up more, as he was exposed in an ugly Chik-fil-A Bowl loss to LSU 38-3.

 

BOWL QUALIFIERS

Clemson, Florida State, Boston College, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Miami