Miami’s 30-12 victory over Virginia Tech on Thursday night puts the Hurricanes in position to get to the ACC championship by winning their final two conference games.
All the 'Canes (5-4, 4-2 ACC) have to do is defeat Virginia, which has lost six consecutive games and is winless in league play, and Duke (6-3, 3-2) on the road and they are headed to Charlotte to take on the Atlantic Division champs.
But there are no guarantees in the ACC, especially in the Coastal Division where each week what was once believed as logical takes a curious twist. Here’s what we do know:
The division’s best team, North Carolina, is ineligible for the crown because of a bowl ban. So, the Tar Heels must watch the title game thinking about what could have been had they self-imposed a ban a year ago.
Virginia has lost eight of its last nine contests versus FBS teams with the lone victory by a single point in September over a Penn State squad that missed four field goals that afternoon. The Wahoos won’t win the Coastal.
Georgia Tech is 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the ACC, but after visiting quarterback-less Maryland this weekend, the Yellow Jackets must venture to UNC, which won’t be an easy game. The Yellow Jackets are such a long shot it’s not worth breaking down their scenarios.
The Real Candidates
Miami, Duke and, even with Thursday’s loss, Virginia Tech are the real candidates to represent the division, and each is severely flawed.
The Hurricanes are in if they win their final two conference games. Add in a victory over South Florida of the Big East and the 'Canes could be 8-4 heading to Charlotte. Not bad given their lopsided losses at Kansas State and Notre Dame.
One potential sang is the NCAA's current investigation of the 'Canes. If Miami opted to self-impose a bowl ban for the second straight year, then like North Carolina, it would prevent the Hurricanes from winning the division even if it has the best record.
Duke, however, could make its own path even if it is beaten soundly by Clemson on Saturday night. In fact, the Blue Devils have been clobbered three times on the road, including at Stanford in early September, but they are 5-0 at home averaging nearly 43 points per outing. If Duke loses to Clemson but wins at Georgia Tech and at home two days after Thanksgiving versus Miami the Blue Devils will win the division.
Virginia Tech (4-5, 2-3) must win out, which means taking out Florida State next Thursday night in Blacksburg, and then beating 2-6 Boston College and closing at home with Virginia. But even if the Hokies win their final three games they will win the division only if Miami loses to the Cavaliers and Blue Devils.
Thus, the odds are quite strong that Miami will end up in Charlotte versus either Florida State or Clemson -- likely FSU -- and the ACC will finally get that Seminoles-Hurricanes title game it has long wanted. Of course, it was always anticipated the game would carry some national cache.
Duke representing the division follows, and it may be the more fascinating story. Virginia Tech getting to Charlotte is quite a long shot.
