First, a couple of programming notes. Jeff is traveling back from Austin after completing the Livestrong Challenge today. As a result, we'll have our thoughts on the 20-16 loss to the Irish as well as our weekly blogpoll ballot up late Monday or Tuesday morning.
It wasn't a good weekend for BC's remaining 2009 opponents. Our remaining ACC opponents went a combined 0-3, including two home losses by Virginia and North Carolina. The only winner this weekend was Central Michigan, who is 5-0 in conference and continues to roll in MAC play.
Let us take a trip around the box scores of our upcoming opponents in week 8.
Central Michigan 24, Bowling Green 10. Another MAC tilt, another victory for the surging Chippewas. Quarterback Dan LeFevour completed 16-of-27 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns as well as rushing for a game-high 128 yards in the CMU victory. Antonio Brown caught both touchdown passes, while Carl Volny rushed for 74 yards on 11 carries. Central Michigan pushes its record to 7-1, 5-0 MAC and is one step closer to representing the MAC West in the MAC Championship for the third time in four seasons. Central Michigan has remaining MAC games with Toledo (2-2) and Northern Illinois (2-1) at home, and with punchless Ball State (1-3) on the road. Central Michigan travels to BC this weekend with one win over a BCS conference opponent already under their belt this year.
Georgia Tech 34, Virginia 9. The Yellow Jackets broke an 8 game losing streak in Charlottesville, defeating UVA 34-9 to keep pace in the ACC Coastal Division race. 'Hoos quarterback James Sewell threw for 168 yards on 18-of-32 passing. Vic Hall caught five of those passes for 51 yards. Virginia's only points on the day came from the leg of Robert Randolph who was good from 49, 19 and 30. On a rain soaked afternoon, the Virginia rush attack only managed 30 yards total rushing on 12 attempts. Georgia Tech dominated Virginia in time of possession too, holding onto the ball for 42:43. Virginia (3-4, 2-1 ACC) stays home this week and hosts Duke before traveling to Coral Gables to face Miami (Fla.).
Florida State 30, North Carolina 27. It was a tale of two halves for the UNC Tar Heels. North Carolina went into the locker room at halftime with a 17-6 lead. The much-maligned North Carolina offense could only manage 10 more points in the second half, and saw the defense cough up an 18-point lead late in the second half to hand Florida State it's first victory in conference play this season. The vaunted Tar Heel defense surrendered 438 total yards of offense, including a career high 395 yards passing to FSU quarterback Christian Ponder. UNC quarterback T.J. Yates threw for a mere 64 yards on 12-of-25 passing, as the Heels seem to desperately miss their standout wide receivers from a season ago. Greg Little led all North Carolina receivers with 60 yards on 6 catches. In addition, Little scored on a 5-yard run. Running back Shaun Draughn eclipsed the century mark on the ground, rushing for 126 yards on 23 carries. North Carolina (4-3, 0-3 ACC) searches for its first ACC win of the season this weekend when they travel to Lane Stadium to take on the Hokies.
Duke 17, Maryland 13. Maryland managed to hand Duke the program's first back-to-back ACC victories since the 1994 season with a 17-13 loss to the Blue Devils. Turnovers once again doomed the Terrapins as they turned the ball over twice in the game's final four minutes - on a fumbled punt return and an interception - to seal another ACC loss. Maryland ranks 117th of 120 nationally in turnover margin this season as they are already -12 in turnovers through 8 games. How did this team beat Clemson again? Maryland QB Chris Turner was 16-of-23 for 182 yards and a touchdown in the loss. The Maryland offense clearly is feeling the effects of not having Da'Rel Scott on the field, as the Terps only managed 67 yards on the ground. Davin Meggett paced the Terps in both receiving and rushing, catching 2 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown as well as rushing for 38 yards on 9 carries. Maryland (2-6, 1-3 ACC) now faces an extremely uphill battle to even make the postseason or make any noise in the Atlantic Division race. The Terps would have to win their four remaining ACC games - at NC State, Virginia Tech, at Florida State, BC - to make a bowl. Even in the remote chance this happens, Maryland would need some help (in the form of another Clemson loss) to win the ACC Atlantic Division. So in all likelihood, it looks like the Terrapins will be playing for pride and Ralph Friedgen's job the rest of the way out. Maryland has a bye week this week before finishing up their 2009 campaign with four straight ACC games.