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ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 14: Don’t sleep on Virginia Tech

By Dante Pryor

BLACKSBURG, VA - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Ryan Willis #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates with the Commonwealth Cup following the victory against the Virginia Cavaliers at Lane Stadium on November 23, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Ryan Willis #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates with the Commonwealth Cup following the victory against the Virginia Cavaliers at Lane Stadium on November 23, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 16: Moe Neal #21 of the Syracuse Orange celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarterof their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 16: Moe Neal #21 of the Syracuse Orange celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarterof their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

So here’s what we know about the North Carolina State Wolfpack: they aren’t very good at football this season. This shouldn’t erase what head coach Dave Doeren has done in Raleigh, but it’s been a struggle. Last week’s loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is confirmation of their struggles.

The ‘Pack have had their issues at quarterback and their offensive line hasn’t played well this season. This season let coach Doeren and Wolfpack nation know where they are as a program especially when they lose NFL-caliber talent. This is the wrong week to play your rival, too. The Tar Heels come looking for bowl eligibility with the living legend Sam Howell at quarterback. Maybe next year, coach.

Just when we thought the Syracuse was going to get the first name to the Dome back, the Orange proved they don’t want nice things. The Orange were boat raced by the Louisville Cardinals on the road last week. Maybe it was senior night at Louisville, or maybe it’s Syracuse wasn’t what we thought they were.

Was there reason for us to think they’d be as good as they were last season? This was a different team than last season, and it showed. The Orange never got in sync offensively and couldn’t stop anyone defensively.

There are usually two different types of injuries that derail a season. You have the Purdue Boilermakers who have so many injuries they are using the Texas State Armadillos formula for fielding a team — Scott Bakula and everything — the rest of this season.

Then there’s Duke.

They don’t have as many injuries, but the ones they’ve sustained are significant. They lost one of their running backs and a couple of linemen they were relying on to contribute this season. They were already at a disadvantage without the ability to go downfield  in the passing game; not being able to gash people with their power run game really put them behind the eight-ball.

Let’s just ask the question: Is Steve Addazio on the hot seat? Rather, should Addazio be on the hot seat? There’s been no evidence to the first, and it’s the opinion of the power rankings staff that he should not be on the hot seat. He lost his starting quarterback early in the season and has had to play a walk-on baseball player at quarterback.

Their blowout loss to Notre Dame showed their short comings at quarterback and wide receiver when their run game isn’t functional. The Eagles have one more shot at a bowl at Heinz Field against Pitt. It’s Pitt so that game isn’t a gimme either way you slice it.

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