The remaining ACC schedule is about 50% resolved on paper. The following results are this gnomes view on how the games should play out to favor the Tigers chances at the ACCCG and rankings.

Duke v FSU
Since the ‘Noles have dug themselves a hole I will be rooting for them so that our win over them and our division come out looking better. I say that as if there is a chance that the ‘Noles could lose but ya never know, the Tigers lost to the Dukies on their home field once!

Maryland v Virginia
Once again another team that the Tigers will play versus one that they won’t see in the season. And again, the way Virginia has been playing this year, I don’t think that there really is any question that the Terps won’t run away with it. After a close loss to the Jackets, the Terps should be looking to keep their season in tact with a win in UVA. Of course the loss could be demoralizing and have the Terps in a slump. A loss for the Terps would separate them from the top of the division with 2 losses in conference, but I don’t see that happening so if anything as win would strengthen Clemson’s schedule when they play the Terps in the Valley later in the season.

Miami v Fla Intl
Seriously, let’s just get to the remaining good ACC game. There hasn’t been a game besides VT and BC this week that isn’t already decided on paper. Miami needs to get some good press and needs to light up FAI. No Coker hotseat heat here for once.

UNC v South Fla
I would say that this game is an ACC lock but UNC is on a downhill slide this year and USF usually has a good team rolling for them. From my developing stats page USF has #54 overall offense and #28 overall defense. This could be Buntings farewell song and could be a good bottom dweller game to watch a small school get some props by playing and possibly defeating an ACC team.

NC State v Wake Forest
This is the ACC game, besides VT/BC, that Clemson fans will have their eyes on this weekend. After the undefeated streak ending, 4th quarter meltdown against the Tigers, the Deacs head to Raleigh, the giant killing field, to face a hot Wolfpack team. NC State may be on a high after knocking BC and FSU down a notch over the previous weeks and may not see Wake as that much of a threat. I look for Wake to keep their smoke and mirror offense alive and take the pack down for their first ACC loss thus propelling them to the 1 loss familiarity that is the Atlantic division.

While some gnomes were in Clemson taking in the rout that was the La Tech game, I was in Charlottesville watching the #2 ranked men’s soccer team get completely outplayed by #5 Virginia.  The game was not nearly as close as the 1-0 score.

UVa attracted a 7,000+ crowd for the game because of the high rankings of the teams and the unveiling of HooVision or some “Jumbotron” thing that made most of the action look smaller while not providing any replays — money well spent.  From my POV, 1000 of those in attendance were little kids running wild.
Clemson was sharp for about 5 minutes until they knocked one into the goal and started celebrating… only to realize that none of the officials had noticed the ball that was still resting over the line.

After that the team didn’t show very much potential.  Three quarters of the way through the game UVa was attacking without very little counterattack from a Clemson team that seemed intent to hunker down on defense and force a 0-0 tie.  Obviously that didn’t work and as my buddy wisely noted that “getting lucky isn’t a strategy.”

When the final whistle blew, we hightailed it to the pub to watch the remainder of the football game.

I would like to offer a congratulatory “FUCK YOU” to the guy sitting behind me at the game who through high advanced education has learned only how to say “You know what’s stupid?  Clemson.”  And “cheaters.”   I kid you not.  He spent all game calling us cheaters.  This is why the world would be a better place without assault and battery laws.

In continuing the “baseball’s just a crazy game” theme, here’s the ACC component of the latest pseudo-RPI:

        Division I   Overall
Rank Rating   W   L      W   L    Team   

1    0.637   37  13     37  13   Clemson
4    0.624   37  13     37  13   Georgia Tech
10   0.609   40  10     40  10   North Carolina
12   0.607   37  13     37  13   Florida State
13   0.604   33  16     33  16   Miami, Florida
14   0.603   34  16     34  16   North Carolina State
15   0.602   40  10     40  10   Virginia
20   0.595   32  16     32  16   Wake Forest

Those will (in all likelihood) be your 8 ACC Tournament teams. It looks like it will be a close proxy for the national championship.

The first game of the tourney is May 24th, with play the championship game to be played on the 28th. Who’s going to buy me a plane ticket to Jacksonville?