ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 11: Clemson has sights set on playoff

One of our favorite personalities stop by headquarters for a mint julep with extra mint. So we asked legendary coach Jim Mora about the Orange’s chances of winning out and getting to a bowl. “A bowl game — wha — bowl eligibility? They better hope they can win a game.” We were so entertained by Mora we figured why not another mint julep, and another question about Syracuse. “So why do you think they’re so bad coach?” His reply, “They can’t run, they can’t pass, they can’t stop the run, they can’t stop the pass, they can’t do diddly poo.”

Unless there’s another schedule we can’t see, the Orange are in danger of an eight or nine-loss season. Mora’s analysis of the Orange’s season was on point. We took a straw poll and decided he would come to break down film at headquarters every week, and he said he’d do it for as many mint juleps as we can make — but really, wouldn’t that be awesome if it were true?

We flipped a coin to see if the Yellow Jackets or the Wolfpack would end up No. 13 in the rankings this week and it turned up ‘Pack. Each team has a Power Five win — if you can call Syracuse a Power Five win this season — but Georgia Tech’s win was against a team (Miami) that has actually defeated a Power Five team.

NC State was supposed to have enough talent to survive losing Ryan Finley, Reggie Gallaspy and Germaine Pratt; we knew Georgia Tech was going to be this bad. We didn’t know the Wolfpack were going to be this bad. There isn’t much hope for a win this year in “The Rivalry that Really Ain’t” against Clemson. Their best shot at another win this season is in the ACC tickle fight of the decade against Georgia Tech.

While we’re on the subject of the tickle fight contestants. Georgia Tech actually is starting to get it. The Yellow Jackets’ bright spot offensively was their offensive line. They only allowed two sacks against one of the best pass rushes in college football. They had three turnovers on defense, but couldn’t do much of anything with them.

This might be completely off base, but the Yellow Jackets are going to get someone on this schedule. All they have to do is piece together every positive thing from each game, and put it together for one game.

For example, take the offensive line performance from today and pair it with their 200-yard passing performance against Duke and their 100-yard rusher from the Miami game, and come with that package on offense. Defensively, get three turnovers like they did against Pitt and give up 10 points like they did to South Florida.

Now, we just need an upset candidate — can a yellow jacket sting through wolf fur?

The Seminoles are in free-fall. The loss at home to the Hurricanes was too much to bear for the Florida State boosters and administration. Through private donations, the Florida State boosters raised $20 million dollars to buy out the remaining $17 million dollars of Taggart’s contract.

Economics drove Taggart out. Season ticket sales were so bad, they were losing money and home attendance was the lowest it had been in years. One thing that will get you fired from a program quickly is lack of interest. The on-field product is going to take time for anyone taking that program, but when the students and alums don’t care, the hook will come.

Let’s not make this completely about the firing of Taggart. The Seminoles still have a shot at a bowl game. Florida State has two winnable games left on its schedule. We’ll see if there’s any player leadership on the team that can get them to a bowl.