Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE
Well…
Week 3 in ACC Football action shook up a lot of things. But it may have been some action outside the conference that affected the power rankings of Woody’s High Five.
Just in case you forgot, this is a strictly statistical average based on the 10 team offensive and defensive categories as ranked in the ACC; the pass, rush, points for and point against rank nationally; and conference rank on based on national strength of schedule.
Got it…
Good…
So here is Woody’s High Five for Week 3 of ACC Football…
5. Boston College Eagles (21.7) – The Eagles break into the top 5 despite a tough road loss to the Northwestern Wildcats, 22-13, on Saturday. BC is tops in the league and 15th nationally in passing offense thanks to the huge season junior QB Chase Rettig has put together through three games. Overall, the Eagles range anywhere from 5th to 10th in all other conference team categories and are 52nd and higher nationally. Currently BC has the fifth toughest schedule in conference.
4. North Carolina Tar Heels (15.4) – North Carolina remains in Woody’s High Five despite a tough loss as well to the 19th-ranked Louisville Cardinals, 39-34. The Heels rank anywhere from third to eighth in the conference. This in conference average along with a mark of 21st in passing and 19th in scoring nationally helped keep the Tar Heels alive. Carolina also currently boasts the fourth toughest schedule.
3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (13.1) – After the Jackets blasted the Virginia Cavaliers, 52-20, it is hard to believe they actually fell from second to third in Week 3. Georgia Tech is first or second in every total offensive team category and team rushing. Tech is No. 3 in the nation in rushing. But what killed the Jackets was something out of their control as the Virginia Tech Hokies laid an egg in a bad loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers. That result and the pounding Georgia Tech gave to Virginia pushed its strength of schedule rank to ninth. Either way, the Yellow Jackets look poised to be a weekly force in Woody’s High Five.
2. Clemson Tigers (10.9) – Clemson is about as steady as you can get with an ACC team at this point. The Tigers are third or fourth in seven of the 10 team categories with its lowest mark being seventh twice. Nationally, Clemson is just as stable coming in at 23rd in passing, 30th in rushing, 23rd in points scored and 34th in points against. Clemson’s cupcake strength of schedule remains at eighth, but that is expected to go way up come next week.
1. Florida State Seminoles (5.2) – The ‘Noles completely destroyed the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, 52-0. It was such a beat down, that Wake, who had an average of 8.3 in the Week 2 rankings plummeled to 34.5 in Week 3. FSU is tops in the league in seven of the 10 team categories. It is second in two others and its lowest ranking is at sixth in passing. Nationally, the Seminoles are 41st in passing, 11th in rushing, 2nd in points for and 1st in points against. FSU comes in with the sixth toughest schedule at this point. Something that should go up as well following its battle with Clemson this Saturday.
The rest of the conference comes in as follows: Duke Blue Devils (22.7), Virginia Tech (23.2), North Carolina State Wolfpack (25.1), Virginia (25.9), Miami Hurricanes (26.2), Maryland Terrapins (29.5) and Wake Forest (34.5).
The Stanford Cardinal‘s upset of Southern California Trojans really helped boost Duke to the edge of making the High Five. At that point, the statistical formula might have been readjusted.
Just kidding…
Well, maybe not…
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M. Shannon Smallwood has over 10 years experience in sports broadcasting, journalism and college athletics and currently covers ACC Football for Rant Sports.
Follow him @woodysmalls
