Week 12 Power Rankings (And clinching scenarios)
Wake Forest was able to hold on at home against NC State and they remain the best team in the ACC. They have a tough challenge this week on the road in Clemson, but they still are the odds on favorite to make it to Charlotte. With only 2 weeks left in the regular season, and only 3 teams that control their own destiny (Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, & UVA), I'm going to go through all of the clinching scenarios for all the teams that are still alive to get to the conference championship game in Charlotte.
Atlantic
Wake Forest
Win @ Clemson OR @ Boston College
Clemson
Win vs Wake Forest
AND Wake Forest loss @ Boston College
AND NC State to lose vs Syracuse OR vs North Carolina
NC State
Win vs Syracuse AND North Carolina
AND Wake Forest to lose @ Clemson AND @ Boston College
Coastal
Pittsburgh
Win vs Virginia
OR Loss vs Virginia AND win @ Syracuse AND Virginia to lose vs Virginia Tech
Virginia
Win @ Pittsburgh AND vs Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech
Win @ Miami AND @ Virginia
AND Pittsburgh to lose vs Virginia AND @ Syracuse
Power Rankings
1. Wake Forest 9-1 (6-0)
Last Week: W 45-42 vs NC State
This Week: @ Clemson
Wake bounced back from their first loss of the season with a big win over NC State. They are back at #10 in the country and they still aren't getting any respect from Vegas. They're a 4.5 point underdog travelling to Death Valley on Saturday.
2. Pittsburgh 8-2 (5-1)
Last Week: W 30-23 (OT) vs UNC
This Week: vs Virginia
Pitt was outscored 16-0 in the 2nd half against UNC last Thursday, but still managed to hold on and win in overtime. They'll play for a championship if they can beat UVA on Saturday.
3. NC State 7-3 (4-2)
Last Week: L 42-45 @ Wake Forest
This Week: vs Syracuse
I still haven't seen an angle that definitively shows when NC State first touched that onside kick against Wake Forest. It was a disappointing loss, but the Wolfpack can still make a really nice bowl game if they win out.
4. Clemson 7-3 (5-2)
Last Week: W 44-7 vs UConn
This Week: vs Wake Forest
The college football world wrote off Clemson after their 2nd loss, but this team is still loaded with talent and the offense has shown much improvement over the last 3 weeks. They still have an outside shot of making it to Charlotte if they beat Wake Forest (they're actually favored) and they'll find themselves back in the top 25.
5. Virginia (With Brennan Armstrong) 6-4 (4-2)
Last Week: L 3-28 vs Notre Dame
This Week: @ Pittsburgh
As we saw last Saturday, Virginia is not the same without Brennan Armstrong. They would have been in that game with Notre Dame if he played. I think Woolfolk will be a good player in this offense, but he's not there yet. The only chance they have this week is if Armstrong plays.
6. Louisville 5-5 (3-4)
Last Week: W 41-3 vs Syracuse
This Week: @ Duke
Louisville is the first of 5 ACC teams looking to get their 6th win and bowl eligibility this week. They're coming off a dominating win over Syracuse and if they play anything like that tonight, they won't have a problem with Duke.
7. North Carolina 5-5 (3-4)
Last Week: L 23-30 (OT) @ Pittsburgh
This Week: vs Wofford
You still never know what you're going to get out of their defense, but Sam Howell and the offense always puts up numbers. They'll get to bowl eligibility this week by beating Wofford.
8. Florida State 4-6 (3-4)
Last Week: W 31-28 vs Miami
This Week: @ Boston College
If Florida State can find a way to get wins at Boston College and in the Swamp next week against Florida, they will become bowl eligible after starting 0-.4. Jordan Travis has really found his groove.
9. Miami 5-5 (3-3)
Last Week: L 28-31 @ Florida State
This Week: vs Virginia Tech
Miami was looking really strong before the loss to rival FSU last Saturday. Miami fired their AD Blake James this week so the writing may be on the wall for Manny Diaz as well, regardless of how they finish the season.
10. Boston College 6-4 (2-4)
Last Week: W 41-30 @ Georgia Tech
This Week: vs Florida State
BC is a completely different team with Phil Jurkovec in the lineup. His ability to run and throw makes their offense so much more dynamic. They're undefeated this year in games he starts. They'll look to keep that streak alive Saturday, in what should be a tight game against FSU.
11. Virginia Tech 5-5 (3-3)
Last Week: W 48-17 vs Duke
This Week: @ Miami
The Hokies parted ways with Coach Fuente this week and now much go on the road for their final two games against Miami and UVA. They still have an outside shot of going to Charlotte if they win them both and must win one of the two if they want to go bowling.
12. Syracuse 5-5 (2-4)
Last Week: L 3-41 @ Louisville
This Week: @ NC State
Syracuse had been in every game this year before getting routed by 38 last Saturday. They could get a chance to play spoiler in the final two weeks against NC State and Pittsburgh.
13. Georgia Tech 3-7 (2-6)
Last Week: L 30-41 vs Boston College
This Week: @ Notre Dame
Georgia Tech has lost four straight and now gets to finish the season against Notre Dame and Georgia. That's just not fair.
14. Duke 3-7 (0-6)
Last Week: L 17-48 @ Virginia Tech
This Week: vs Louisville
At least Duke was able to do something that SEC-bound Texas couldn't: beat Kansas.