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ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings Week 4
Another week of ACC Football. Another number one a top the Coastal Rankings
Week four gave us more.
Lets start up in the Big Ten where the best team might not play in Ohio or Michigan. Wisconsin welcomed themselves to the party with their second straight victory over a top ten team.
Sure the Buckeyes and Wolverines are 7-0 combined, but only one of those wins came against a ranked team. In fact those combined teams are 13-14 and only two have winning records. With the Buckeyes and Wolverines coming up for the Badgers, we will see if Wisconsin is for real or not soon.
Head out west where the Cardinal reign supreme. Stanford beat UCLA on the road this past Saturday. The Cardinal are one of four undefeated Pac-12 teams. The other three are Washington, Arizona State, and Utah.
The Sun Devils and Utes reign from the South Division which may be crazier than the ACC Coastal.
Down South the Big 12 continues to stay a step behind. Baylor and West Virginia remain undefeated but neither are considered locks to win the conference. While in the SEC Alabama and Texas A&M stay a step ahead. Tennessee also announced their presence with a comeback that did more than win a game.
Finally we arrive in the land of ACC football. The ACC went 10-2 this weekend. The two losses were to other ACC teams. The Atlantic went 5-0. Louisville continues to dominate. Lamar Jackson continues to score touchdowns.
Jackson added seven touchdowns to his resume this weekend and now has 25 on the season. He had 23 total in 13 games last season.
Well that leaves just the Coastal in ACC football land. So let’s get started with the only constant all season long.
Sep 24, 2016; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back Taquan Mizzell (4) carries the ball en route to a touchdown as Central Michigan Chippewas linebacker Nathan Ricketts (42) chases in the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers won 49-35. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Cavaliers
(1-3)
Last week: Won 49-35 against Central Michigan Last rank: 7th
Virginia stays in this spot despite winning for another week. The win over the Chippewas was a mixed bag. The Cavaliers led 28-0 before allowing 28 unanswered points. They then scored 3 straight touchdowns before Central Michigan added a late score making it a 14 point defeat. Should the Cavaliers get credit for blowing a big lead or so easily re-extending it? Taquan Mizzell continues to rebound this season after a slow start. He put up his second consecutive game of over 100 total yards and this week added two touchdowns. Virginia gets the chance to finally climb out of the basement this week. The Cavaliers travel to play Duke for last place in the Coastal.
Next: Fighting the Irish aint what it use to be
Sep 24, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Anthony Nash (83) leaves the field after Duke defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 38-35 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Blue Devils
(2-2, 0-1)
Last week: 6thLast rank: Won 38-35 against Notre Dame
Four weeks ago this would have been an impressive win for a struggling Duke team. Unfortunately, the loss says more about how far Notre Dame has fallen than Duke has improved. Duke has played only one team so far this season with a winning record. Their two wins have come against a 1-3 team and a 2-2 FCS opponent. They also have a loss to a Northwestern team who has only beaten the Blue Devils this season. Jela Duncan did record his second 100 yard rushing game of the season, both Duke wins. In those two wins Duncan has 36 carries for 236 yards and three touchdowns. In the two losses he has 20 carries for 78 yards and one score. Duke will see if that trend can continue as they welcome in Virginia this week. The loser of that game will most likely reside in the bottom of these rankings for the rest of the season.
Sep 24, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nathan Peterman (4) dives for a first down in the second quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Panthers
(2-2, 0-1)
Last week: Lost 37-36 against North CarolinaLast rank: 4th
Since joining the ACC, Pitt is 0-4 against the Tar Heels. They are 8-7 against the rest of the Coastal with at least one win against each team. They have played UNC close. Those four losses have come by an average of just five points a game. This past one had to be the most heartbreaking. They led UNC for 59 minutes and 58 seconds of game time. They also were able to do what they wanted against Carolina for most of the game. James Conner ran for 66 yards and a score. Nate Peterman threw only four incompletions all game. Their run defense held UNC to 18 total yards on 22 carries. Yet despite this, the Panthers still came up a point short, partly due to their inability to stop the pass. Pittsburgh will get a chance to work out some of their issues this week as they take on Marshall. The Thundering Herd are 1-2 and have allowed 124 points in their last two games.
Sep 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Ben Boulware (10) tackles Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Dedrick Mills (26) in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Clemson defeated Georgia Tech 26-7. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
(3-1, 1-1)
Last week: Lost 26-7 to ClemsonLast rank: 2nd
Last week I got some criticism about ranking Georgia Tech all the way up at two. Though I tried to defend my argument (3-0, two wins against the power five), the Jackets did me no favors this past Thursday Night. Tech was held to just 95 yards on the ground. They were averaging over 200 rushing yards going into the game. Also they were held to just seven points after averaging 30 points in their first three. Some may think I am still being too generous to Tech this week. However, for now they stay a spot ahead of the Panthers. The Yellow Jackets continue their home stand this week (four straight home games) as they invite Miami into town. A win their will give Georgia Tech a key Coastal win, while raising major questions about the Hurricanes.
Sep 17, 2016; Boone, NC, USA; The Miami Hurricanes huddle up before the start of the fourth quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Hurricanes
(3-0)
Last week: Bye WeekLast rank: 1st
What did Miami do this week to earn a two spot drop? If your answer was absolutely nothing, you’re right. They did nothing. They didn’t even play a snap. Unfortunately for them, other teams did. Miami’s resume was already questionable. Sure they are 3-0, but they have beaten teams that are a combined 3-9 . Sure they have averaged over 50 points a game, but they have no wins against a Power Five team. In the words of Shania Twain, they don’t impress me much. The Canes do have a lot of positives including Brad Kaaya and Mark Walton. However, until they play someone with a pulse, their record will continue to be questionable. The Canes do get that opportunity this week when they travel to take on Georgia Tech. If they continue their dominance in Atlanta, they will move up. If they don’t, their record will continue to look shaky and they might drop another spot or two. Next: Hokie Power!
Sep 24, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) runs the ball against East Carolina Pirates defensive lineman Demage Bailey (97) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Tech Hokies
(3-1, 1-0)
Last week: Won 54-17 against ECULast rank: 5th
One of the reasons that Miami dropped so far this week was the unexpected play of Virginia Tech. The Hokies have scored 103 points in their last two games. They have done this while holding their opponents to all of 17 points. This includes six straight quarters of shutout football. Jerod Evans looks legit in Justin Fuentes offense. If you forgot who Justin Fuentes QB was last year, ask the Denver Broncos, who spent a first round pick on the guy. He was also QB coach at TCU when Andy Dalton was there. The coach knows QBs. Evans has thrown for 970 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He would be in legit line for ACC Player of the year if not for some guy named Lamar Jackson. The only knock to Virginia Tech is their schedule. Their three wins have come at home and to teams with a combined 5-7 record. The Hokies will get a bye this week. The following week, they play their first true road game of the season. The game is at Chapel Hill and very easily could be for control of the ACC Coastal division.
Next: Balance? We dont need no stinking Balance!
Sep 24, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer (3) runs after a catch during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Carolina defeated Pitt 37-36. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina Tar Heels
(3-1, 1-0)
Last week: Won 37-36 against PittsburghLast rank: 3rd
I said last week the winner of the UNC Pitt game would probably take the one spot. I am a man of my word. The Heels passing game looked good in their comeback win. Earlier I mentioned all the things the Panthers did right. The one thing they didn’t do right was stop the pass. Ryan Switzer caught 16 passes for 206 yards and a score. Bug Howard caught six passes for 66 yards and two scores, both in the last six minutes. Even Austin Proehl came up big with seven catches for 99 yards and a score. Of course these were all secondary to the QB who threw them the ball. In his last two games Mitch Trubisky has thrown for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite some late struggles he came up big on his last two drives going 4 for 4 on fourth downs when the Heels needed them most. Of course the game was not all awesomeness. The run defense continues to struggle, giving up over 200 yards and four scores on the ground. This is the seventh straight game where the Heels have allowed a 100 yard rusher. Also, even though the passing has been stellar, the run game has not. Carolina has had only one game where a player rushed for over 100 yards. The lack of balance will eventually catch up to the Heels. It also doesn’t help the defense as rushing yards help extend drives. Finally the offensive play calling has been questionable at best. The worst part is a lot of it is coming in the second half. Take the Pitt game. UNC had gotten back to within three by passing the ball. They get the ball to start the second half and precede to run two straight plays up the middle for little to no gain. They finally tried passing on third down and Trubitsky got sacked. The Heels punted and Pitt drove down making it a 10 point game. This was a chance for the Heels to take their first lead and instead they went away from what was working. The Heels will have to fix these problems as they travel to take on FSU this weekend. The Seminoles are beatable, but not if you are predictable.
Well that does it for this week’s action. If UNC wins, the Heels keep the top spot. If Miami wins and the Heels lose then the Canes will be looking at number one again. If both lose, the idle Hokies look in great shape to ascend to number one status for the first time. So sit back and relax, there is still plenty of ACC football left to play.
What did you think of this week’s rankings? Let us know in the comments below.
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