Three weeks are in, and the top of the ACC Power Rankings continue to stand pretty solid. Clemson is the class of the conference, with FSU and Miami nipping at their heels. This week includes a bunch of ACC matchups, so let's take a look at how the teams landed in this week's voting.
1. Clemson Tigers
Last Week: 1
Highest Selection: 1
Lowest Selection: 1
Opponent: N.C. State Wolfpack
Prediction: Clemson 31, N.C. State 17. Clemson has held a unanimous first slot for three straight weeks now. Two undefeated ACC foes battle in the second Atlantic matchup of the season. Vegas has the line at -12, which seems like it could be easy money for the Tigers. I expect an easy win for Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
2. Florida St. Seminoles
Last Week: 2
Highest Selection: 2
Lowest Selection: 2
Opponent: Bethune Cookman Wildcats
Prediction: Florida State 62, Bethune Cookman 10. Last week's shellacking of Nevada helped to solidify the Seminoles in second place, removing the two voters who placed the Noles 3rd. This week won't be any challenge for Jameis Winston, who will be rolling into Chestnut Hill next weekend.
3. Miami Hurricanes
Last Week: 3
Highest Selection: 3
Lowest Selection:3
Opponent: Savannah State Tigers
Prediction: Miami 56, Savannah State 3. In the history of Vegas odds, the -62 line that Miami holds is tied for the biggest ever in NCAA football history. Who are they tied with? FSU in 2012, when they played...wait for it....Savannah St. Miami is going to be looking for blood, and they are going to tear the Tigers limb from limb.
4. North Carolina Tar Heels
Last Week: 4
Highest Selection: 5
Lowest Selection: 6
Opponent: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Prediction: Georgia Tech 20, North Carolina 10. UNC actually beat out their opponent in the rankings this week by .3 of a point, which is pretty impressive since the Yellow Jackets took care of Duke last week in pretty convincing fashion last week and the Tar Heels didn't play. I don't know call it a hunch, maybe due to their home field advantage but I think the Yellow Jackets will pull this off.
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last Week: 4 (t)
Highest: 4
Lowest: 6
Opponent: North Carolina Tar Heels
Prediction: Georgia Tech 20, North Carolina 10. 1-0 in the conference could turn to 2-0 if GT wins against the Heels on Saturday. I expect a defensive battle, but in the end the Yellow Jackets come out on top.
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
Last Week: 6
Highest Selection: 4
Lowest Selection:7
Opponent: Marshall Thundering Herd
Prediction: Virginia Tech 21, Marshall 10. Last week I was derided for picking VT to hold ECU to 3 points. I was wrong, they held them to 10. VT's offense still appears to be pretty weak, but their defense is back to the Hokie defenses we have known and feared in years past. This might be another closer game, but the Hokies have no business losing it.
7. N.C. State Wolfpack
Last Week: 8
Highest: 7
Lowest: 9
Opponent: Clemson Tigers
Prediction: Running into the Clemson buzzsaw won't do anything to help the Wolfpack's rankings next week, but if I remember correctly they did unseed a major ACC power last season. Could they do it again this year?
8. Maryland Terrapins
Last Week: 9
Highest: 6
Lowest: 13
Opponent: West Virginia Mountaineers
Prediction: West Virginia 27, Maryland 23. The Terps rise up the Power Rankings continue after they dispatched Connecticut last weekend. Unfortunately their run of cupcake opponents comes to an end when they face WVU this week. Again, I am not buying Maryland to be an ACC contender this year, however I think they are better than I expected. I expect them to keep this close, but lose it in the end. And whoever keeps voting Maryland near the bottom, god bless you.
9t. Virginia Cavaliers
Last Week: 8
Highest: 8
Lowest: 11
Opponent: VMI Keydets
Prediction: Virginia 42, VMI 10. After getting dismantled by Oregon two weeks, the Hoos will take care of business against VMI.
9t. Pittsburgh Panthers
Last Week: 13
Highest: 8
Lowest: 12
Opponent: Duke Blue Devils
Prediction: Pittsburgh 35, Duke 21. Pitt's offense exploded last weekend against New Mexico for 49 points, which is either a testament to the potency of FSU's D, or condemnation of the Lobos. Duke's defense isn't much better, and the Panthers will continue to climb in the ACC with a decisive win this weekend.
11. Boston College Eagles
Last Week: 7
Highest: 8
Lowest: 11
Opponent: Bye
Prediction: What a difference a week makes for the Eagles after they were destroyed by the Trojans last week. The voters clearly reacted to the loss dropping BC 4 spots, the biggest drop by any team this season.
12. Duke Blue Devils
Last Week: 11
Highest: 9
Lowest: 12
Opponent: Pittsburgh Panthers
Prediction: Not a strong effort last weekend against the Yellow Jackets, which costs the Blue Devils a slot on this weeks power rankings. Look for them to cement their 12th slot with another Coastal ACC loss, this time to Pitt.
13. Syracuse Orange
Last Week: 14
Highest: 12
Lowest: 13
Opponent: Tulane Green Wave
Prediction: Syracuse 35, Tulane 10. Not surprisingly Syracuse gets out of the basement after a big win against Wagner. Then again it's Wagner. But look at the team below the Orange, 'Cuse doesn't deserve to be in the basement with Wake in the conference.
14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last Week: 13
Highest: 14
Lowest: 14
Prediction: Army 35, Wake 24. Wake Forest is our first unanimous last place team of the season, and boy do they deserve it. Last week they lost at home to ULM, and this week they take on Army. This team is in a full fledged tail spin. The offense is terrible, they can't stop anyone, and if they lose this week calls for Jim Grobe's job are most likely going to start. Wake stinks against the run, does anyone else smell a 2012 BC type loss this week for the Demon Deacons?