2008 Around the ACC: Week 10

The ACC waters are still murky after another round of conference games. Five
of the six teams in the Coastal Division are tied with two conference losses.
Maryland sits atop the Atlantic Division with just one loss, but they have a
very tough game coming up on Thursday night in Blacksburg.

Current Standings

This Week’s Schedule

Atlantic Division

Maryland (6-2, 3-1)

Maryland was off this week.

Up Next: at Virginia Tech, Thursday, November 6, 7:30pm, ESPN

Florida State (6-2, 3-1)

Florida State lost a tough game to Georgia Tech 31-28 on Saturday in Atlanta.
The ‘Noles had a chance to score the winning touchdown, but fumbled at the goal
line late in the game. As a result they are knocked out of their top position in
the Atlantic Division.

The key to stopping Georgia Tech’s offense is shutting down Jonathan Dwyer.
The Hokies were able to do it earlier in the year, and UVA was able to do it
when they knocked off the Jackets last week. However, Dwyer went wild against
FSU, running for 145 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries.

FSU is still in good shape in the Atlantic Division, though they lost the
head-to-head tiebreaker against Wake Forest. However, they still have a good
shot at making it to Tampa for the ACC Championship Game.

• Offensive MVP: Jermaine Thomas. 9 carries, 130 yards.
• Defensive MVP: Derek Nicholson. 10 tackles, 1 TFL

Up Next: Clemson, Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm, ABC

Wake Forest (5-3, 3-2)

Wake Forest broke their two game losing streak with a 33-30 win over Duke in
overtime on Saturday. Alphonso Smith intercepted a pass in overtime to preserve
the victory, though the Demon Deacons got quite a battle from a much improved
Blue Devil team.

The Demon Deacons put the ball in the hands of quarterback Riley Skinner, who
threw for 232 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. However, Wake’s
running game struggled, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry as a team. Their
running game continues to be their Achilles heel.

Wake is still alive in the Atlantic Division. They own the head-to-head
tiebreaker with Florida State, but they have to hope Maryland loses to have a
shot.

• Offensive MVP: Riley Skinner. 18-of-31 for 232 yards, 1 touchdown, 36
  rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown.
• Defensive MVP: Alphonso Smith. 2 interceptions, including the game
  winning interception in overtime

Up Next: Virginia, Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm, ESPNU

Boston College (5-3, 2-3)

Boston College lost their second straight game, this time falling to Clemson
27-21 at home on Saturday. The Eagles have finally run into trouble when facing
teams that can throw the football downfield. Their two losses have come to UNC
and Clemson, both of which are capable of stretching the field.

The BC offense was also completely dominated by the Clemson defense. The
Eagles managed just 236 yards of total offense. Tiger quarterback Cullen Harper
even threw three interceptions, but BC couldn’t take advantage.

With the loss, BC is a longshot to win the Atlantic Division.

• Offensive MVP: Josh Haden. 15 carries, 71 yards, 1 touchdown
• Defensive MVP: Mike McLaughlin. 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1
  interception

Up Next: Notre Dame, Saturday, November 8, 8pm, ESPN

Clemson (4-4, 2-3)

Clemson came up with a big win on Saturday at Boston College. Though it isn’t
likely to get them back in the Atlantic Division race, it does put them two
games away from being bowl eligible.

Cullen Harper threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, and C.J. Spiller had a big
game on the ground and through the air. However, the most impressive performance
came from the Clemson defense, which limited the BC offense to just 236 yards.
The Tiger defense owned the line of scrimmage, and shut down the passing of
quarterback Chris Crane. Crane threw for just 116 yards on 39 attempts.

• Offensive MVP: C.J. Spiller. 8 carries, 55 yards. 6 catches, 105 yards
• Defensive MVP: Kavell Conner. 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 pass defended

Up Next: at Florida State, Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm, ABC

NC State (2-6, 0-4)

NC State was off this week.

Up Next: at Duke, Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm, ESPN360.com

Coastal Division

Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2)

Georgia Tech knocked off Florida State 31-28 at home on Saturday, and as a
result of Virginia’s loss to Miami, the Yellow Jackets are now tied in the loss
column with four other Coastal Division teams. Despite the win, Georgia Tech
still must depend on Virginia and Virginia Tech losing another game before they
can win the Coastal Division outright.

Jonathan Dwyer had a huge day for the Yellow Jackets, running for 145 yards
and two touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt added 61 yards on the ground and 55
yards through the air, but he left the game with an injury. Jaybo Shaw came on
in relief and threw an interception that helped FSU get back in the game.
However, a goal line fumble by Marcus Sims preserved the victory for the Yellow
Jackets.

Georgia Tech has a huge game with UNC this weekend. The loser of that game
will be on the outside looking in in the Coastal Division race.

• Offensive MVP: Jonathan Dwyer. 13 carries, 145 yards, 2 touchdowns. 1
  catch for 30 yards
• Defensive MVP: Morgan Burnett. 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 passes broken up

Up Next: at UNC, Saturday, November 8, Noon, Raycom

Miami (6-3, 3-2)

Miami trailed most of Saturday’s game at UVA, but forced overtime with a late
touchdown drive. The ‘Canes had the momentum going into overtime and managed to
walk out of Scott Stadium with a 24-17 victory. After Miami scored a touchdown
to open overtime, Cedric Peerman’s fumble on the first play of UVA’s possession
sealed the victory.

Miami racked up 448 yards of total offense on UVA. None of those yards were
more important than their 95 yard touchdown drive to tie the game in the fourth
quarter. They were able to move the ball for most of the game, but turnovers
kept Virginia in the lead. Robert Marve was benched in favor of Jacory Harris
again, and Harris came through in the end.

If UNC loses to Georgia Tech this Saturday, Miami will control their own
destiny in the Coastal Division. They have upcoming games with two other Coastal
contenders, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.

• Offensive MVP: Jacory Harris. 12-of-21, 160 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Defensive MVP: Sean Spence. 8 tackles, game winning forced fumble in
  overtime

Up Next: Bye, then Virginia Tech, Thursday, November 13, 7:30pm, ESPN

Virginia (5-4, 3-2)

Virginia’s four game winning streak was snapped at the hands of Miami on
Saturday in a 24-17 heartbreaking overtime loss. Cedric Peerman’s fumble on
UVA’s overtime possession sealed the deal for the ‘Canes, and the Hoos are now
in must-win mode for the remainder of ACC play.

The UVA defense struggled to stop the Miami offense, but the ‘Canes turned
the ball over and kept Virginia in the lead. UVA missed two key field goals in
the second half that would have put the game out of reach.

It’s not quite so simple for Virginia anymore. Even if they win out, there is
still a chance that they could finish in a tie with Miami at the top of the
Coastal Division. In that scenario, the ‘Canes would go to the ACC Championship
Game.

• Offensive MVP: Marc Verica. 27-of-41 for 240 yards, 1 touchdown
• Defensive MVP: Alex Field. 3 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks

Up Next: at Wake Forest, Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm, ESPNU

North Carolina (6-2, 2-2)

North Carolina was off this week.

Up Next: Georgia Tech, Saturday, November 8, Noon, Raycom

Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2)

Virginia Tech was off this week.

Up Next: Maryland, Thursday, November 6, 7:30pm, ESPN

Duke (4-4, 1-3)

Duke lost a 33-30 overtime heartbreaker on Saturday at Wake Forest. They
might also have lost their hopes of going to a bowl game this season. However,
even if the Blue Devils don’t win another game this year, they have shown
massive improvement as a team.

Duke had two chances to win this game. They missed a 42 yard field goal at
the end of regulation, and then Thaddeus Lewis threw an interception in overtime
to seal the game for Duke. His receiver was open, and would have had a chance
for the touchdown if Lewis had put a bit more air under the ball.

In the end, Duke’s -3 turnover margin sealed their fate.

• Offensive MVP: Thaddeus Lewis. 18-of-26 for 229 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2
  interceptions
• Defensive MVP: Adrian Aye-Darko. 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass defended

Up Next: NC State, Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm, ESPN360.com