ACC/SEC TOP 20 WEEK 13

1.  Florida (11-0, 8-0)

The Gators finally put together a dominating performance.. albeit against FIU.  Their win streak should continue with a mediocre Florida State team coming to town.  This is no longer a rivalry and the Gators probably started preparing for the SEC championship last Monday.

2.  Alabama (11-0, 7-0)

Don’t expect the Tide to overlook in-state rival Auburn.  They still have a National Championship and a Heisman Trophy on the line and this weeks matchup should be another great one.

3.  Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1)

Georgia Tech had the week off to prepare for the Bulldogs visit to Atlanta this Saturday.  The Jackets put a hurtin’ on their arch rival last season and with the way “The Wreck” is rolling I expect similar results.  But, Georgia has dominated this rivalry and needs this win to get back to respectability.  It should be another great Saturday matchup

4.  LSU (8-3, 4-3)

The Tigers let a potential BCS bid slip through their hands, but their losses have come by a total of 21 points to three teams in the top five in my rankings and two of the games were played on the road.  They are still a top 15 team nationally, but this week’s game against Arkansas will be no cake  walk.

5.  Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3)

The Rebels have risen from the ashes after a slow start.  Dexter McCluster is the most overlooked player in college football… no pun intended.  This team is right back in second place in the west where a lot of people had them during the preseason hype but Mississippi State will give them a fight this weekend.

6.  Clemson (8-3, 6-2)

To give up nearly 300 yards 17 first downs and 21 points to the pathetic offensive of Virginia may have given Dabo and the Tigers some cause for concern heading into the most important stretch of games Clemson has had in nearly two decades.  Saying that, they should have no problem with their in-state speed bump this weekend.  The reality is, this is an average team (nationally) in a terrible conference but they have a good shot at a conference title and that is something to take pride in.

7.  Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2)

The Hokies are what they have always been.  They are one of the two best defenses in the ACC, they have the best running back in the ACC and they play great special teams.  Translation they win game.  Tech should completely dismantle the Wahoo’s in what should be Al Groh’s last game.

8.  Arkansas (7-4, 3-4)

The Razorbacks are one of the hottest teams in America.  They  are averaging over 48 points per game during their four game winning streak and they will give LSU all they can handle in their bid for a New Years Day bowl.

9.  Miami (8-3, 5-3)

As I have said many times, the Hurricanes are a year away from being an ACC title frontrunner.  They looked flat against an improved Duke team early in the game but their athleticism took over late.  The game against South Florida will be a good chance for Miami to establish themselves as the second best program in Florida.

10. Auburn (7-4, 3-4)

The Tigers will not be intimidated this Saturday by the best Alabama team in over fifteen seasons.  This is maybe the most bitter rivalry in college football and this is the perfect opportunity for Gene Chizik to put his stamp on this program.  The question is do they have the horses?

11. North Carolina (8-3, 4-3)

Butch Davis’ Tar Heels finally put together two great games in a row.  They may have finally found the consistency they had been lacking in bad losses to Virginia and FSU.  They are pretty talented and when they play up to their potential they are dangerous.

12. Tennessee (6-5, 3-4)

This past Saturday this a badly beat up Volunteer team got bowl eligible.  Monterio Hardesty had another great performance and Crompton played solid football.  It’s a baby step for this program that Phil Fullmer left in shambles, and the upcoming game against Kentucky will be vital for both programs. It is shaping up to be one of the more interesting games of a great weekend of college football.

13. Kentucky (7-4, 3-4)

Six weeks ago no one thought that this Wildcat team had a shot at winning eight games for the the second time in three years, or even making a forth straight bowl game for that matter.  But after wins over Auburn and Georgia, that is exactly what this squad has a chance to do this week when Tennessee comes to town.  They are evenly matched teams who both need the potential program changing victories this Saturday

14. Boston College (7-4, 4-3)

Boston College has come back down to earth the last few weeks.  Their talent is overwhelmingly worse than their record indicates but they are still a gutsy team that should be able to rap up another eight win season when they beat the worst team in the ACC, Maryland, this week.

15. Georgia (6-5, 4-4)

The Bulldogs season of nightmares continued this past Saturday with the loss to Kentucky.  This is the worst Georgia team in over a decade and a second straight loss to Georgia Tech would have people screaming for Mark Richt’s head.  A win this week could go a long way to healing some wounds, but even that won’t be enough to totally satisfy the Bulldog faithfull.

16. South Carolina (6-5, 3-5)

This is the Gamecocks last chance to make something of this season and avoid the SEC’s bowl of shame in Shreveport.  They have to show the guts they have lacked in recnt weeks and finally turn the table on Clemson.  In my opinion this is one of the most important games in South Carolina’s football history.  The loss would be devastating to recruiting and to Spurrier’s future as head ball coach and a win would establish them as an up and coming team for next season.  It’s all or nothing this week… fans just better hope that the players and coaches understand this.

17. Florida State (6-5, 4-4)

This week the Seminoles will see a total dichotomy of football ability.  After struggling against Maryland, who only has one win against a FBS team,  FSU has to travel to Gainesville to play a team that is favored to win it’s third National Championship in four years.  The Gators will be motivated.  While I don’t normally endorse betting, If the line on this game is less than  five touchdowns we should all put every penny we have on this one.

18. Mississippi State (4-7, 2-5)

I feel bad for Dan Mullen and his Bulldogs.  If they played in any other conference in America I think they would easily win seven or eight games.  Sadly for them they had to play Auburn, LSU, Georgia Tech, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas, and it doesn’t get any easier as they go up against a very hot Ole Miss team.

19. Duke (5-6, 3-4)

The Blue Devils have one last chance to get salvage a non-loosing season for the first time since 1994.  Luckily for them they play a reeling Wake Forest team that has lost five in a row.  If they win this game I will clearly vote for David Cutcliffe for ACC coach of the year.  Heck to get six wins at Duke should almost get you inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

20. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5)

The Deacons should just thank their lucky stars that Maryland, Virginia, and NC State are so bad that they look O.K. in comparison.  They aren’t good by any stretch of the imagination, and I feel bad for seniors like Riley Skinner who did so much to get this programs name on the map only to see it fall by the waist side.  Maybe they can make one last stand against Duke… maybe?

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