Around the ACC: Week 8 Recap

It’s a big bye-week week, folks. That means we only have four games to recap, two of which features horrible performances. Let’s run it down!

North Carolina 37, Syracuse 40

North Carolina, under the leadership of Larry Fedora, will have to continue its seemingly fruitless search for a second win next week against Virginia after losing to Syracuse in double overtime. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that UNC is the best 1-5 team in college football, but let me know if you have any teams to nominate for the honor.

Syracuse, meanwhile, is just a win away from bowl eligibility with five games left on the schedule. It gets harder(ish) the rest of the way with NC State and Notre Dame mixed in, but it’s time to think about how you’re going to talk to your kids about the Orange in the Orange Bowl. It’s technically supposed to go to the ACC runner up in the event that Clemson makes the playoff, but no one from the Coastal even remotely deserves it.

Virginia 28, Duke 14: #GoACC Moment of the Week (?)

David Cutcliffe likes symmetry, which is why he lives in perpetual fear of his players losing a knee ligament and also why he lost this game 28-14 after winning 28-14 the week prior. They get stuck with Moment of the Week honors this time because losing to UVA is a scarlet letter that much of the ACC is apparently going to wear this season.

Speaking of things to talk to your kids about, I submit for consideration the fact that it’s week eight and UVA still controls its own destiny. At 3-1 in conference play and with UNC, Pitt, Georgia Tech, and Josh Jackson-less Virginia Tech remaining, I’m not sure who’s going to stop the Hoos this year. They already beat Miami and Duke, after all.

NC State 7, Clemson 41: #GoACC Moment of the Week (?)

You know what, this is a pretty #GoACC moment too. Everyone who has watched Dave Doeren be the pinnacle of mediocre for the past few years knew that they weren’t actually a top-20 team, and Clemson proved it in emphatic fashion for us. I guess I’ll open this one up to a popular vote once again to see who was truly the worst of the worst this week.

Clemson, meanwhile, doesn’t really have any obstacles left on the schedule. They’re probably going to the ACCCG.

Wake Forest 17, Florida State 38

Willie Taggart is back, everyone! The heir to Jimbo’s beef jerky-smelling throne finally has his first super high-quality victory of the season, and it came against the bumbling Demon Deacons. Just you wait, this FSU team is going to the natty next year.

#GoACC Moment of the Week Scoreboard:

Miami - 1

North Carolina - 1

Florida State - 1

Virginia Tech - 1

Clemson - 1

Louisville - 1

Georgia Tech - 1