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ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 8: Clemson back on track

By Dante Pryor

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Head Coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers runs off the field after a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on September 14, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Head Coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers runs off the field after a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on September 14, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 11: DeeJay Dallas #13 of the Miami Hurricanes runs for touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 11, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 11: DeeJay Dallas #13 of the Miami Hurricanes runs for touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 11, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Pick Analysis. Syracuse Orange. 11. Scouting Report. 3-3, 0-2. Last Week: 11. player. 827

We’ve learned so far this season the Syracuse Orange aren’t who we thought they were before the season started. They haven’t transitioned as smoothly at quarterback as head coach Dino Babers would have liked after the graduation of Eric Dungy. The defense — even with two good pass rushers — has been awful this season. In short they’ve underachieved this year.

They couldn’t move the ball or stop the pass rush against North Carolina State Friday night. The run game couldn’t take any pressure off of DeVito at all. The Orange need to figure it out in a hurry; their schedule doesn’t get any easier, and if they play like this for the rest of the year wins are going to be hard to come by.

player. 847. Pick Analysis. Virginia Tech Hokies. Last Week: 12. 10. Scouting Report. 4-2, 1-2

The Hokies must be auditioning for a modern version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They are the most up and down team in the ACC. They lay down against Duke, come out firing against Miami, and are threatened by — Rhode Island? Keep in mind three of their four wins have come from two bad FCS teams and a bad Group of Five team. If someone knows what to make of this team publish it and make a lot of money.

Their schedule will let us know what they are. The rest of the their schedule could lead to bowl eligibility or Justin Fuente being in the unemployment line.

player. 834. Last Week: 10. Miami (FL) Hurricanes. 9. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 3-3, 1-2

After an 0-2 start, the Hurricanes have won three of four, and had an impressive victory against the Virginia Cavaliers. Miami is hard to gauge because they are so young. Jarren Williams played well at times this year, but the Hurricanes went back to N’Kosi Perry against the Cavaliers after Williams played so poorly against the Hokies the week before.

The difference in the two games was Manny Diaz taking a more active role in coaching the defense. The defense responded by shutting down the Cavaliers’ offense. The Hurricanes’ schedule is tough, though not impossible and it starts after they scrimmage against Georgia Tech.

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