Three weeks ago, Florida State, on the strength of a 3-0 start that included a win over Alabama, had climbed as high as the #7 in the polls.
The Seminoles rode into Charlottesville for a nationally televised Friday night contest with Virginia, poised to make the statement that “FSU was back.”
That night ended with Virginia pulling off the upset, sending both teams heading in opposite directions.
Virginia followed up with an overtime win at previously undefeated Louisville, while FSU, well, is still looking for its next win.
The Seminoles returned home to lose to state rival Miami, and then were miserable in a loss at home to Pitt.
FSU is spiraling, and head coach Mike Norvell’s seat is getting red-hot.
The Seminoles are headed to the West Coast this weekend to battle Stanford in what has become a must-win game for Norvell if he doesn’t want to become the ACC’s second coaching casualty this year.
The season hasn’t gone well for Stanford, either.
At 2-4 and 1-2 in the ACC, the Cardinal, under interim coach Frank Reich, has been inconsistent on both sides of the ball.
Florida State, 3-3 and 0-3 in ACC action, will attempt to break an eight-game conference losing streak, dating back to a win over Cal on Sept. 21, 2024.
If the skid doesn’t end Saturday in Palo Alto, then Norvell might not be accompanying the Seminoles back to Tallahassee.
Forecast: FSU, 41, Stanford 21. Norvell is on the team plane.
A pair of games highlight Saturday in the ACC
After an idle week, Duke will be hosting #12 Georgia Tech in Wallace Wade Stadium.
The game has huge ACC ramifications as both the Blue Devils (4-2, 3-0 ACC) and the Yellow Jackets (6-0, 3-0 ACC) are unbeaten in the conference.
Duke beat Cal, 45-3,1 before its bye week, scoring the game’s final 38 points.
Georgia Tech kept its record unblemished with a 35-20 win over Virginia Tech.
Virginia fans should pay close attention to this contest.
The Cavaliers do not face Georgia Tech, while they travel to Durham on Nov. 15th.
I think the Yellow Jackets are for real, while Duke is not.
Forecast: GT 34, Duke 21.
Meanwhile, another intriguing ACC contest takes place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in primetime on Saturday evening (7 p.m.) when Louisville faces the second-ranked ‘Canes.
The Cardinals can still light up the scoreboard, averaging over 36 points a game this season, but it’s Louisville’s defense that gets my attention.
The Cardinals’ defense is limiting opponents to just over 260 yards per game. In the overtime loss to UVA, Louisville limited the Cavaliers to 237 yards.
In the win at Pitt, Louisville (4-1, 1-1 ACC) forced five turnovers, including three second-half interceptions.
Make no mistake, Miami’s defense is no slouch. The Hurricanes rank 16th in the nation in yards given up at 274 per game.
Upset alert: Louisville 27, Miami 24.
Belichick has fallen fast in the Tar Heel State
After spending the last two weeks in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and talking to plenty of UNC fans, the sense that I got was that Bill Belichick can’t get the boot quick enough.
“He’s the worst thing that has happened to North Carolina since Doherty,” said Bill from New Bern.
Bill was speaking of Matt Doherty, who played at UNC, then was head coach of the Tar Heels from 2000-2003, compiling an underwhelming 53-43 record.
In a game at Duke in 2001, Doherty was heard telling his players during a timeout that “Duke had the ugliest cheerleaders in the ACC.”
Yep, Bill from New Bern believes Belichick is worse than Doherty.
Week 8 ACC Football Power Rankings
- Miami
- Virginia
- Georgia Tech
- Duke
- SMU
- Louisville
- Clemson
- Pitt
- Cal
- NC State
- Syracuse
- Wake Forest
- Stanford
- Virginia Tech
- Florida State
- Boston College
- North Carolina
Support AFP
Share
