ACC Atlantic Division Powers Collide And The Big Finish

Brian: The Game of the Century of the Week in the ACC this weekend is the primetime showdown between the #4 Florida State Seminoles and the #10 Clemson Tigers. Florida State comes into the game as a significant favorite despite coming into the game having played no one, really. Clemson has the more impressive resume in the early season, even if Auburn is off to a 1-2 start.

These two teams are the prohibitive favorites to win the ACC Atlantic Division this year. Unfortunately for Boston College, the Eagles will face both programs over the next three games of the season. A few questions. How does Clemson-Florida State go down tonight? What are the chances that someone other than Florida State or Clemson wins the Atlantic Division this year? How do you see BC matching up against both programs over the next three weekends

Jeff: I think tonight's game is much more of a tossup in terms of who will win than the point spread indicates. Clemson has the ability to beat the Noles and like you said, FSU has played no one so far this season so they might not be nearly as good as a lot of people think they are. FSU's defense has been able to be completely dominant in their games so far but that does not mean that they will be able to bottle up the Clemson offense. I see Clemson being in this game until the end and possibly winning it, but you have to admit there is the possibility that FSU is as good as they have looked so far this season which is why the point spread is so high.

There is virtually no chance that anyone other than Clemson and FSU win the Atlantic this season. If the Coastal Division were stronger and both teams had a chance of losing 2 of their 3 Coastal games then that would open the division up more but I do not think that is going to be the case. Also, N.C. State has been somewhat of a disappointment so far this season and Wake Forest, who almost won the division last year, has already been throttled by FSU.

I see BC having a very good chance of knocking off Clemson next weekend. BC gets Clemson at home which helps and it really helps that Clemson will be coming off of an emotional game in Tallahassee. When BC travels to FSU though, there chances of coming away with a victory are not nearly as good and it could even get a little ugly if our defense does not figure some things out before then.

Brian: BC senior punter Gerald Levano finally gets his chance after waiting patiently behind Ryan Quigley for four seasons. Have you been impressed with Levano's play this season?

Jeff: Punters unfortunately only really get noticed when they screw up so it is a good thing I haven't noticed him.

Jeff: Do you think an FSU win is good for the league or does it not really matter since Clemson and FSU would both be undefeated if they win tonight?

Brian: A Florida State win is slightly better for the league given what will happen to FSU in the polls vs. if Clemson wins.

Brian: Coach Spaz has lost this week's top spot in the 2012 Locksley to Colorado's Jon Embree. Which coach is canned first?

Jeff: Should be or will be?

Jeff: Plenty of tickets still available for the Parent's Weekend game against Clemson. Would it have even mattered if we had beaten Miami or Northwestern?

Brian: Nope.

Brian: BC hoops is a 50:1 longshot to win the ACC this year, the worst odds in the conference. Sound right to you?

Jeff: Realistically their chances are probably a little worse than that.

Jeff: Bigger disappointment this fall so far - football or men's soccer?

Brian: Men's soccer by a mile. BC went into the season ranked in the Top 15. They are now 2-3-1.

Brian: Last one. In three weeks time BC will have faced both Clemson and Florida State (and Army in between). What will their record be after the FSU game?

Jeff: I really want to say 3-3 so I am going to say 3-3. I still like our chances next weekend despite what we've seen so far.

Pick 5

Brian (2-3 last week, 6-9 overall):

Virginia Cavaliers at TCU Horned Frogs (-18)
Army Black Knights at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-7)
Colorado Buffaloes (+20) at Washington St. Cougars
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+9.5) at Arkansas Razorbacks
Temple Owls at Penn St. Nittany Lions (-7)

Jeff (1-4 last week, 4-11 overall):

Maryland Terrapins at West Virginia Mountaineers (-26)
Kentucky Wildcats at Florida Gators (-23)
Miami Hurricanes (+14) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Kansas Jayhawks at Northern Illinois Huskies (-8.5)
LSU Tigers (-20.5) at Auburn Tigers

ATL (0-1 last week, 1-2 overall):