Saturday Blitz
Fansided

ACC football power rankings: Syracuse continues to shock the league

By Dante Pryor

Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers reacts to a play against the Purdue Boilermakers in the third quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers reacts to a play against the Purdue Boilermakers in the third quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Oct 8, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman (10) looks to pass against the Army Black Knights during the second half at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman (10) looks to pass against the Army Black Knights during the second half at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-1)

Singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow wrote, “a change will do you good.”  That song lyric could not be more true for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Interim head coach Brent Key is undefeated as head coach; both wins are conference wins. Georgia Tech has the opportunity to run that streak this weekend as they host the struggling Virginia Cavaliers.

Georgia Tech will likely lose its last two games against #22 North Carolina and #1 Georgia, but the four before that are winnable. Hey, you do the math. Could Key fool around and coach his way to being the permanent head coach?

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-2, 1-1)

The Panthers were off this week. According to a reliable source at the former Heinz Field, head coach Pat Narduzzi still believes he’s dreaming after Israel Abanikanda had a record-setting game against Virginia Tech. Coach refuses to accept the game of his dreams happened. Narduzzi and the Panthers could still feel like they are in LaLa Land against Louisville.

The Cardinals aren’t great against the run, and Pitt wants to run a lot. If the Panthers can play their ball style, they will be problems in the Coastal for the rest of the season.

4. No. 13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1, 1-1)

The Demon Deacons could have been a contender if Wake Forest had pulled the upset against Clemson. However, they are fighting Syracuse for the second-best team in the Atlantic, if not the entire ACC. Sam Hartman has the Deacons’ defense humming, and the defense has played well, save the Clemson game.

The Deacons have winnable games until they play UNC for the Tobacco Road Directional Trophy. Okay, so that’s not a real trophy. Maybe it should be.

Home/ACC