This week's ACC roundtable is being hosted by Willy Mac and Chili over at Block-C. For those of you that have already put these guys out of your memory after last week's beat down, these guys are the Clemson representatives to the roundtable.
Block-C's questions and our answers are below.
1. Does this weekend's OOC performance for the ACC negate that first weekend's total bed shitting performance? Why or why not?
Last weekend absolutely should have helped the ACC negate the first weekend, but it simply didn't. Florida State waxed #7 BYU on the road, but instead of praising Florida State for the win, the spin was that "OK, maybe the Mountain West hasn't yet arrived." This was largely due to the fact that both Utah and BYU both got bounced from the BCS Buster conversation.
Virginia Tech needed a Tyrod Taylor-led miracle comeback to nip a ranked Nebraska team at Lane Stadium. Cool. Another notch in the cap for the ACC, but everyone is quick to point out that the Hokies offense is still not all that good (granted better than BC's offense. So far, anyway).
The biggest problem with the conference's perception is that since we started the season behind the eight-ball yet again - including another Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic loss to Alabama - the national media spin is that every team in the ACC has to take care of business every week. There is clear separation this year between the bottom of the league (namely Maryland, Virginia and Duke, a combined 2-7) and the rest. So for the league's ACC blogger to write that the "Conference takes another hit" isn't doing a whole heck of a lot to help shape the national perception of ACC football.
Point is that there will always be bottom fourth of the league that should not weigh down the overall national perception of the conference. Remember, we are only one season removed from the SEC game that set back offensive football 50 years (3-2 Auburn). Two season removed from Mississippi going 3-9 and 0-8 in the SEC, and the Tide losing to a Sun-Belt team. Whatever the Mississippi States, Vanderbilts and Kentuckys do in non-conference play doesn't seem to change the perception that the "SEC is king" when it comes to football. So I'm very confused why even the ACC's bottom-feeders are dealing the conference a "hit" week after week by losing to Sun Belt and CAA teams. At least the CAA is competitive in I-AA, which is more than can be said for the I-AA teams that SEC teams typically snacks on.
2. Continuing the weekly theme of predicting the conference outcome, who'll play in the ACC Championship Game?
As you may have no doubt learned by now, both Jeff and I aren't easily swayed. We are likely to stick to our guns. So we'll do just that and go with our original preseason predictions. I had Miami (Fla.) playing Clemson in the ACC Championship, which is looking prett-ay good right now. Jeff predicted a Virginia Tech vs. Clemson ACC Championship Game. (For both our predictions, Jeff and the Mrs. will likely be making their third straight ACCCG roadtrip. I'm bummed, because a third straight trip for me isn't looking so hot right now.)
When Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech square off this weekend, it's looking like one of us will have an early poll position on our prediction. Provided of course that Clemson can find just a little more on offense.
3. Is Miami a legit top ten team? Why or why not?
Who's this? Oh, you mean Miami (Fla.)? Right. Miami (Fla.) should be a top ten team this week. They have knocked off two of the ACC's best teams including their arch-rivals on the road. Jacory Harris has had all the time in the world to torch the secondaries of the Seminoles and Jackets, and everyone is singing the praises of new OC Mark Whipple. If the U can defeat an offensively-challenged Virginia Tech squad this week in Blacksburg, there is no reason why Miami shouldn't be firmly planted in the two major poll's top ten. Given how few games have been played this season, I'd be hard-pressed to come up with another team across the country that would have a more impressive resume than a team that is 3-0 with wins at home vs. Georgia Tech and on the road in Tallahassee and Blacksburg.
4. If you had to declare an ACC MVP right now, who's your top guy?
There's only one team left that has two quality wins against conference opponents and that's Miami (Fla.). Clearly, the best offensive player on that team through three games has been Jacory Harris. His 184.08 QB rating leads the conference. While Christian Ponder might have more total passing yards and Russell Wilson might have more passing touchdowns, both haven't led their team to the two quality wins that Miami (Fla.) got under their belt in the first three weeks.
5. Women, whiskey, and miles of travelin' is all that I understand. What are three things you understand, blogger friends?
After last week's disappointing performance in Death Valley, my mind is cloudy. I like to think I understand Boston College, college sports, and blogging, but last weekend may have set me back a bit in these three categories.