ACC Football: Coastal Division

ACC Football: Coastal Division Warzone

Of the two divisions of the ACC, the most interesting seems to be the Coastal Division. We talked before about how the ACC had lost a lot of respect last year because none of the 12 teams finished in the top 10. It even sparked some to say that maybe the ACC does not deserve a BCS bid, and should rather give it to Boise State…

Huh? Boise State beat how many quality teams last year?

But this year things look a little different. With early surprises and a handful of teams in the top 25, the ACC looks as competitive as it did last year, but with even more punch.

If you missed the blog I wrote on the Atlantic Division of the ACC, and their rank, check that out. We wanted to take a look at this football conference and see their current rank and file, as of three weeks into the 2009 season. The actual rankings look this way:

General: Miami Hurricanes

Captain: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Lieutenant: North Carolina Tarheels

Sergeant: Virginia Tech Hokies

Corporal: Duke Blue Devils

Buck Private: Virginia Cavaliers

Remember that these are only based after 3 weeks, since 4 of the 6 teams have yet to play a conference or division game. Of course Miami leads the division because not only have they won 2 games, they won two CONFERENCE games. Georgia Tech is second because they won and lost a conference game, one against Miami. The remaining four teams are listed with the Tarheels third because they are 3-0, and Virginia Tech is 2-1 overall. Duke is 1-2 and at dead last is Virginia, at 0-3.

But is this the TRUE rank and file? Let’s take a closer look and see:

Miami: Good times are a plenty in Miami, not only as the state (and the eastern coast) survived hurricane season with no threats in the least, the sports-type Hurricanes are enjoying a very good start. A team that was 7-6 last year has surprised everybody with a 2-0 start, including wins over a ranked Florida State and a ranked Georgia Tech. There is no question that as of this moment, they are doing very well. A HUGE game against Virginia Tech will determine if this will be a solid top 10 squad, or one just passing by. Some question if this is a really for real top ten team, and this weekend will prove many things. Mind you, last year Miami beat VA Tech by 2 points… it could be just as close.

Georgia Tech: This 9-4 team bothers me, in that the style of play that worked last year could quickly be as outdated at bell-bottomed pants and fly-collars. This option style almost cost them the game against Clemson, and surely cost them against Miami. If people figure out this style, it may well be easy to counter, forcing the Yellow Jackets to do what they could not do…pass. We’re just not too confident that the option will work in the BCS conference.

North Carolina: The only 3-0 team in the ACC and one more win from making a solid impact on the top 25. Beating Citadel means nothing, beating Big East foe Connecticut on the road is worthy, and beating ECU is even a little better. Lots of people see the Tarheels as a mid-card team, and not much is going to change it this year, but if UNC can beat Georgia Tech, then they could possibly be the third best team in the division…maybe

Virginia Tech: Hmmm, this team is ranked and plays top ten foe Miami this weekend. Losing to Alabama is their only blemish, but much is expected from this team that was 10-4 last year. An embarrassing loss to ECU, back to back road losses to Boston College and Florida State, and a road loss to Miami means they don’t like leaving home, but a home game vs. Miami might fix all that ails them. IF Virginia Tech beats Miami, it is not out of the realms of possibility for them to run the table…you were warned…

Duke: Ugh…do we have to? Oh well. Four wins last year had some people thinking they can win 8 this year…not sure on who does the math at Duke. However, a good win over Navy at home and a narrow win at Vanderbilt is worth something. If they don’t beat NC Central by at least 30 points, then shame on them…it may well be the best win of the year for them. Live it up now Blue Devils, the post season comes not for thee.

Virginia: This is an embarrassing spot for a once proud football team. Currently the ONLY winless team in the ACC, there may still be hope for Virginia. I mean, they did win one game more than Duke. Mind you, they did beat ECU, UNC and Georgia Tech, so there is still some talent there, but they better manifest it soon, or they will be mopping the halls long after chowtime is done. Such is the fate for Buck Privates.

So having looked at these teams, we think the true order, the true rank and file of the Coastal Division goes like this:

General: Virginia Tech Hokies

Captain: Miami Hurricanes

Lieutenant: North Carolina Tarheels

Sergeant: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Corporal: Virginia Cavaliers

Buck Private: Duke Blue Devils

With several key games this weekend in the ACC, it will be interesting to see top ranked foes Miami and Virginia Tech will fare. With a week off, Virginia needs to find someway to play this game they call football. UNC will see if they can figure out the code to cracking the played out style called Triple Option and Duke plays a so called Gridiron Classic, with nothing classic about it.

We shall see who really runs the ACC…time will tell…..