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ACC Roundtable 9, or Where The Clemson Boys Jinx Their ACC Championship Game Hopes

This week's ACC Roundtable is brought to you by the Atlantic Division leaders (grumble), the Clemson Tigers blog Block-C. Their questions and our answers below.

 

1) Let's just say, not trying to jinx anything here, but let's just say the Tigers make the ACC Championship game versus Georgia Tech. Who wins, and why?

Jinx, jinx, jinx ... In a rematch of Georgia Tech-Clemson, Georgia Tech will win. The Yellow Jackets offensive system is proven and Clemson is relying on a freshman QB who is inconsistent and a gimpy darkhorse Heisman candidate. I'm still not so sure whether Georgia Tech or Virginia Tech is the best team in the ACC, but that aside, both have been better than Clemson.

 

2) Has the ACC taken the form that you thought it would at the beginning of the season? If not, what didn't you see coming? Disappointments? Pleasant surprises?

Not exactly. In the Atlantic, we both tabbed Clemson as the Division favorite so that has gone according to plan. We thought Florida State would contend for another Division title, but the best they can do now is finish third in the division and become bowl eligible with a win over Maryland. We also thought that NC State would finally get it together. By get it together, we mean a third place finish instead of a fifth place finish and a bowl game. Wake has slightly disappointed and Maryland is who we thought they were. I also think BC - who can now finish no worse than 2nd in the Division and can still tie Clemson for first - has the opportunity to slightly surpass our expectations. Here is a look at our preseason ACC Atlantic Division standings and where we are at.

Place Jeff Prediction Record ACC Brian Prediction Record ACC Current Record ACC
1 Clemson 10-2 6-2 Clemson 8-4 5-3 Clemson 7-3 5-2
2 Florida State
8-4 5-3 Florida State
8-4 5-3 Boston College
7-3 4-2
3 Boston College
8-4 4-4 Boston College
7-5 4-4 Florida State 5-5 3-4
4 NC State
6-6 3-5 NC State 8-4 4-4 Wake Forest 4-7 2-5
5 Wake Forest
7-5 3-5 Wake Forest
7-5 4-4 NC State
4-6 1-5
6 Maryland 5-7 2-6 Maryland 3-9 1-7 Maryland 2-8 1-5

 

On the Coastal side, Georgia Tech has been the surprise. We weren't really sure they could overcome their hurdles on defense. Virginia Tech has been a slight disappointment, at least for Jeff as they were his pick for Coastal Division champ. The Miami train looks to be finally derailing. We had Duke just about pegged correctly and I hope I'm wrong about North Carolina. Here are our preseason ACC Coastal Division standings and the division's current standings:

Place Jeff Prediction Record ACC Brian Prediction Record ACC Current Record ACC
1 Virginia Tech 10-2 6-2 Miami (Fla.)
9-3 6-2 Georgia Tech
7-1 10-1
2 Miami (Fla.)
8-4 5-3 Georgia Tech
10-2 6-2 Virginia Tech
7-3 4-2
3 Georgia Tech
8-4 5-3 Virginia Tech
9-3 6-2 Miami (Fla.)
7-3 4-3
4 Duke
6-6 3-5 North Carolina
9-3 5-3 North Carolina
7-3 3-3
5 Virginia
6-6 3-5 Duke
5-7 2-6 Duke
5-5 3-3
6 North Carolina
7-5 3-5 Virginia 3-9 0-8 Virginia 3-7 2-4

 

3) If your team is not in contention for the ACCCG, what are the necessary changes your program has to make to get your team into the game next year? If there's still a shot, what do you guys need to have happen in order to find yourself in Tampa? Non-team specific writers, pick your flavor of the week and go with it.

As all of our readers know well, there's still a shot for the Eagles to make it back to the ACC Championship Game for the third straight season. We need the following to happen:

  • Clemson loses to Virginia this weekend (Tigers are 21 point favorites? Ouch)
  • Boston College defeats North Carolina at home and Maryland on the road

The latter is very possible. The former? Well let's just say we can only hope.

 

4) If you could point to one player as the brightest spot on your team, who would that person be? Extrapolate a little for us please.

This season's bright spot has been true freshman LB Luke Kuechly. He has quietly stepped up to lead the team in tackles (107). Those 107 tackles are good for 7th in the country, and is more than 1 in 7 of the teams total tackles on the year. Kuechly has emerged as a great defensive player in a position where we definitely needed someone to step up given all the injuries.

 

5) Swap one player on your team for a player from your hated rival. Who you got and why?

I am swapping Jeff Smith for Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams. Nothing personal. Just that Jeff Smith's career at running back/kick returner hasn't really panned out as anyone would have liked. Adding Ryan Williams to the Eagles backfield with Montel Harris would make for a nasty combo, especially in the Wildcat/Bazooka formation.

Honorable mention: Michael Floyd (BC's receivers have to make more catches), C.J. Spiller (but he's graduating), Jimmy Clausen (but he's a punk)

0 recs  |  Comment 15 comments |

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The anti-Clemson bias kicked in

when Brian went for Ryan Williams instead of CJ Spiller who would clearly benefit the Eagles more since our kick return game is far from special. With Spiller it would be very special.

by Jeff @ BCI on Nov 18, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

No anti-Clemson bias

Spiller has two freaking games left!

by Brian @ BCI on Nov 18, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Gause

Gause has actually looked pretty good returning kicks. He hasn’t found a seam yet, but he hits the first level with a good amount of speed and fearlessness. I think it’s only a matter of time before he busts one.

by BCMike22 on Nov 18, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

great job with the picks this year

you preseason picks are pretty good. sell your thoughts to all those college football magazines. impressed with calling duke to step it up.

by blockparty on Nov 18, 2009 12:40 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

No Russell Wilson love :(

i’d have to replace shinskie with russell wilson. I may have a man crush. They are our rival because of TOB.

Or do we replace a guy on our d-line to create pressure. Defense wins acc championships?

by BCRaj on Nov 18, 2009 12:49 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

NC State isn't a rival of BC ...

Not even top 4 (Virginia Tech, Miami, Clemson, Notre Dame).

Besides, RW is going to call it quits this year and focus on baseball. He’s had a crappy year. Since Wake Forest broke his INT-less streak, he’s throw 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sophomore slump?

by Brian @ BCI on Nov 18, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

you take that back

you take that back, take that back right now.

Also CJ Spiller is a flop in the NFL, guaranteed. Injury Prone + speed doesnt do it in the nfl, you actually have to break tackles.

by BCRaj on Nov 18, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I guess if he's going to be a flop in the NFL ...

They might as well give him the Heisman. Heismans = NFL flops.

by Brian @ BCI on Nov 18, 2009 7:59 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

spiller

First of all, to call C.J. Spiller a ‘gimpy darkhorse’ is clearly a misnomer-we’re talking about one of the better backs in college football right now.
And to respond to BCRaj-Spiller does break tackles…you might wanna take a look at some films-50+ yard run with no shoe on in the Maryland game, just to name one….

by jlexow10 on Nov 18, 2009 10:01 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I can't take the "Spiller for Heisman" campaign seriously.

Clemson lost to Maryland, and this is the same fan base that was calling for “Cullen Harper for Heisman” when Matt Ryan went into Death Valley and beat Clemson.

The only reason Spiller is in the conversation this year is because this year’s Heisman class is incredibly weak.

by Brian @ BCI on Nov 18, 2009 10:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

i love me some wheel routes and running to the corner

Hey CJ Spiller will have 99 speed in NCAA football games, but let’s be honest he scores on kick returns, runs to the outside and wheel routes. He’s a good back in the system, but heisman worthy, i think not. They should actually not award the heisman this year, unless they wan tto give it to a defensive player.

And how much will you hate me if i say shipley is more deserving of the heisman.

by BCRaj on Nov 18, 2009 10:43 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Heisman

I have no problem with you saying Shipley for Heisman.

The Spiller hate is ridiculous though. He is a very legit candidate. He had over 300 yards back to back against Miami and FSU. Then last week he ran for, threw and caught a TD. In the last three weeks no individual efforts have been better than Spiller’s. Had he gotten off to a better start this season, he’d be the favorite.

Don’t blame the weak class this year. You just sound like an angry BC fan, which I don’t think you are nor are there many of. But with limited places to post thoughts on our intradivison rivals, it will probably come across that way.

Spiller’s big flaw on his resume is that he only has 7 rushing TDs. You would expect a Heisman candidate running back to have quite a few more.

by Jeff @ BCI on Nov 19, 2009 9:30 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

How can you make a case for Spiller?

The Heisman Trophy should go to the best player on one of the best teams in college football. I’m all about being different this year and giving it to a RB or a WR, but just because Spiller does a bit of everything doesn’t mean he is the best player in college football. As a fringe Top 25 team, Spiller isn’t on one of the best teams in college football either.

Consider:

Rushing – Mark Ingram (1297 yards, 10 touchdowns, team is undefeated) … and in conference, Dwyer, Ryan Williams, Montel Harris and Nesbitt have all rushed for more yards and more touchdowns this season

All-purpose YPG – An impressive 195.2, good for fourth in the country behind Damaris Johnson 220.2 (Tulsa).

All-purpose TDs – He does have 6 rushing TDs, 4 receiving, 1 passing, 3 kick returns, 1 punt returns. 15 TDs. Impressive, but Tebow has 22 (12 passing, 10 rushing) and his team is undefeated.

Is Spiller one of the most dynamic and versatile players in college football this year? Absolutely. But do any of his accomplishments stand out enough to warrant giving him the trophy? No.

Spiller would have to put up extraordinary numbers to win the Heisman this year on a 3-loss team. A la Tebow in 2007 (32 passing TDs, 23 rushing TDs). Spiller is a great player and should probably win ACC Player of the Year, but it is a stretch to say he should win the Heisman.

by Brian @ BCI on Nov 19, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Spiller is a Heisman Candidate

One of I don’t know, 8? 6? 10?

Your argument against him being one compares his total TDs to Tim Tebows. Not even close to apples to apples. Then compares his all purpose yards to someone who doesn’t play in a BCS conference. C’mon.

by Jeff @ BCI on Nov 19, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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