Monday, October 20, 2003

Ok, so where does the football stand?

Conf. Overall .........Conf........Overall......Games left
Florida State............ 5-0........ 6-1 .......WF, ND, CU, NCST, UFL
Maryland.................. 2-1........ 5-2 .......GT, UNC, UVA, NCST, WF
Virginia..................... 3-2....... 4-3 ........Troy ST, NCST, MD, GT, VaTech
NC State.................. 2-2........ 5-3 ........Duke, UVA, FSU, MD
Clemson................... 2-2....... 4-3 .......UNC, WF, FSU, Duke, USC
Georgia Tech............ 2-2....... 4-3 .......MD, Duke, UNC, UVA, UGA
Wake Forest............ 2-2........ 4-3 .......FSU, CU, UNC, UConn, MD
Duke........................ 0-4........ 2-5 .......does it really matter
North Carolina.......... 0-3....... 1-6 ........does it really matter

So, from the looks of it, FSU will probably cruise the rest of the way. From the looks of it, Clemson and GaTech may have the easiest ACC schedules remaining (not counting FSU of course). What is brewing is a major shootout in the middle of the pack.

I would estimate the following teams to be bowl eligible (at least 6 wins):
FSU, MD, UVA, NCST, Clemson, GaTech.

That basically means everyone would have to keep beating up on UNC, Duke and Wake Forest for the remainder of the year. Certainly a possibility for Wake may have found new motivation after the GaTech game "I hate to give Georgia Tech any credit, but they motivated us after that game" (words from WF head coach going into half time ahead of Duke 42-0).

Bottom line - Tech's fate in a bowl is squarely in their own control. If they win the remaining ACC games (UNC / DUKE should happen, UVA/MD a challenge), we can go into the UGA game with an 8-3 record. Winning there would be another surprise of the year (a la Auburn), but always possible. A 7-5 or better record should ensure us a bowl bid. Of course, the better the record, the better the bowl. I really believe an 8-4 record is a realistic possibility.

Go Jackets.