Bring on basketball season!

Boston College’s loss last Saturday night to Florida State sealed another disappointing season for ACC football. The B.C. defeat all but guaranteed an eighth straight year with no ACC team in the national title hunt in early November. The defeat dropped the Eagles to eighth in the BCS rankings, behind teams like Kansas, Missouri and West Virginia.

So, what do ACC football fans have to look forward to over the next three weeks? Well, some interesting storylines have developed, like Clemson now controlling its own destiny in the Atlantic Division, a mini resurrection by Florida State as Bobby Bowden seeks his 300th victory as Seminole coach and the last game for Miami in the Orange Bowl on Saturday night.

Below is a breakdown of the top ACC games of the weekend:

Wake Forest at Clemson
These two teams have played some wild games against each other in recent years and it looks like Saturday should be no exception. The Demon Deacons and Tigers are two of the highest scoring teams in ACC games. Each has also taken advantage of turnovers – Wake Forest is 17th in the nation in this category, Clemson sits at 11th. The real deal in this game should center around Clemson’s speed on defense, one of the few units in the league that can match up against Wake’s misdirection tactics. Wake’s been more than solid on defense this season, especially against the run, but James Davis and C.J. Spiller are the best tandem in the league and can wear down good defenses come the fourth quarter.

My other main concern with Wake Forest is its mental state following its tough loss at Virginia last weekend, a game in which Mr. Automatic, Sam Swank, missed a game-winning field goal. The loss snapped Wake’s six-game winning streak and pushed the Demon Deacons to the brink of elimination in the Atlantic Division.
Clemson needs this game more and will want it more at home.

Final Score: Clemson 32, Wake Forest 27

Florida State at Virginia Tech
Can the Seminoles make it two in a row in cold and blustery conditions? One thing became crystal clear if you watched the Noles upset B.C. last weekend in the frost of New England. Florida State was once again stretching the field under new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. Receivers were open and Drew Weatherford is the hottest QB in the ACC. He’s thrown just one interception in 192 attempts this season and is a combined 65-for-93 in Florida State’s last two wins.

Bobby Bowden has never lost to the Hokies, last beating a heavily-favored Virginia Tech team in a game that counted in the 2005 ACC Championship game.

The only quality win by the Hokies was at Clemson in a bizarre game that featured turnovers and special teams blunders by the Tigers.

Sure, Virginia Tech is at home, but it’s a day game, which will help the Seminoles. And are we still giving the Hokies too much credit and respect on reputation and preseason rankings?

Florida State has just shown me more recently than the Hokies, who have QB issues no matter who Beamer goes with Saturday.
This is my upset special of the week. 

Final Score: Florida State 24, Virginia Tech 20 

Virginia at Miami
I can’t see the Hurricanes losing the final game in the Orange Bowl. Miami has had one of the more disappointing seasons in the ACC and stands at 5-4, but its defense still ranks as one of the best in the nation. Mix in the inability of the Cavaliers to score and this makes for an interesting finale on a field when Joe Namath beat the Colts in Super Bowl III and Doug Flutie’s pass won him the Heisman Trophy.

The Miami defense has allowed more than 400 yards in a game just twice this season, one was to Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Virginia has scored more than 28 points just once in eight wins.

Looks like Kyle Wright returns to QB the Hurricanes, which should be a plus.

Virginia will know by game time whether Virginia Tech, who the Cavs are battling for the Coastal title, has won or lost. Could that add some extra pressure to a young Virginia team, forcing some early turnovers?

Final Score: Miami 16, Virginia 10

The Best of the Rest:
North Carolina 37, N.C. State 34
Georgia Tech 28, Duke 7
Boston College 35, Maryland 17