The Pack Should Go Bowling

I'm on a good streak. Last week, I had my second straight 5-1 week. I missed only Boston College's comeback win over Clemson.

I'm watching that game and I keep thinking to myself, "Tommy Bowden doesn't win games like this." I knew that, but I fell for it again. It seems like Boston College loses a defensive player to injury on every play, but they hang in there and win.

This should have been the perfect storm for Clemson to make the ACC title game: playing a wounded Boston College team and at home – and they let it get away. Give credit to Boston College – they are in the ACC championship game. But boo on the Tigers.

Both come in at 5-6. One will go to a bowl game, the other will call it a season. Two years ago, it was the same deal, same teams and the Pack won it.

State had its bubble burst last week at Wake Forest, snapping a four-game winning streak. Is it me, or does it seem like Daniel Evans throws more touchdowns to the other team than to his own?

Maryland has lost four of its last five, but that win was over Boston College. Maryland has been beaten up pretty badly with injuries on the offensive side of the ball. But even while losing they have fought hard. They also can run the ball with Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball. Sometimes State can't stop the run, can they? They must stop Maryland's run game to win.

State has really turned its season around. Finishing 6-6 and playing in a bowl game (although I do have problems with 6-6 teams going to bowl games) would be a good first season for Coach Tom O'Brien and certainly a good step to the future.

State at home with a lot on the line. The Wolfpack looks good to me.

How about that Butch Davis? I do think he's got Carolina headed in the right direction, and he parlayed optimism, a 3-8 record and rumors about Arkansas into a nice little $291,000 raise and a contract extension. Bless his heart, I do hope now he'll be able to afford the better things in life. I stayed up at night worrying that poor Butch couldn't get by on that $1.8 million. I know he's sleeping better.

Meanwhile Duke's Ted Roof doesn't look like he's slept in weeks. He could be lucky to have a job come Monday. We have heard some rumblings going on around the Methodist Flats. I mean, that's good because I was afraid nobody cared. A 6-44 record will do that.

I've always liked Roof. Liked him as a player at Georgia Tech and I've liked him at Duke. But he looks more beat down each week. He says progress is being made, but it's not translating into wins. Something is wrong. Maybe Duke football is just a hopeless situation that nobody can cure. Some do think that. I don't, however.

Duke is a relatively young team, and Roof said before this season that they would be bowl eligible in 2008. But as this season has worn on, it seems to me that Duke has regressed, not progressed, and it will be interesting to see what the Devil powers that be are thinking about the coaching situation. Maybe nobody over there is thinking and that's the problem.

Anyway, 3-8 Carolina is certainly better than 1-10 Duke, and let’s face it – the Tar Heels have only lost to the Devils once since 1989. Roof coached Duke to that win.

These two bitter rivals meet for the right to meet Boston College in the ACC Championship Game. Both come in at 9-2 and oh, you better believe both want this one badly.

Virginia has been a surprise. They have been the king of the squeaker. I keep thinking they'll fold, and they keep winning. They might have won at N.C. State if quarterback Jameel Sewell hadn't been hurt in the fourth quarter. Sewell has been the master of the fourth-quarter comeback.

Before the season, Virginia Tech was the consensus pick to win the ACC. They fizzled early, fell flat on their faces in front of the nation at LSU and were knocked out of the Top 10. Now they're back in the Top 10 and, in my opinion, deserve to be in the ACC title game.

Virginia will play the Hokies hard. Yes, Virginia Tech, there is a Virginia and you better be ready. But Virginia Tech is the better football team. Tech's defense will be hard for an often-struggling Virginia offense to solve. The Hokies offense, while often erratic, is improved.

Before the season, I picked Virginia Tech to meet Boston College for the ACC Championship. This late in the season, why change that? The Eagles are there. I expect the Hokies to join them.

Can you believe that South Carolina was once ranked sixth in the country? I knew that was a mirage after they barely hung on to beat Carolina in early October. Now they are reeling at 6-5, with their hated rival Clemson coming to Columbia.

Clemson comes in at 8-3, knowing they blew their chance last week for an ACC title and the possibility of a great season. Now they face the Gamecocks and Steve Spurrier, who seems to be getting by this century on just being Steve Spurrier. He sure didn't win with the Redskins, and he's not exactly setting the woods on fire with the Gamecocks. Of course, factor in that at South Carolina, 7-5 is pretty good. Those Gamecock fans do get fired up over the Independence bowl.

Tommy Bowden really needs this one or the claws of the tiger will be right at his throat.

Clemson is better than South Carolina. The Tigers should win, but, again, I throw out the Bowden-loses-the-big-one factor.

Still, I go with the Tigers.

Florida State is talking big. Something about knocking down Gator quarterback Tim Tebow. Good luck. Yes, Florida State still talks big, and now it's just thrown back in their faces. They don't have the players to back it up like they used to way back when. Tebow is kind of like Superman. You don't tug on Superman's cape.

The Noles are going through, for them, another disappointing season. 8-4 would look better than 7-5, but can you really see this team going to the swamp and beating Florida? I can't.

This may be the toughest of all to pick.

Wake Forest goes to Nashville with a 7-4 record and assured of a bowl bid. The Deacons won't repeat as ACC champions, but an 8-4 season will be pretty good if they beat Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt comes in at 5-6, but they have had their heart broken as much as any teenager in love. They lose to the likes of Georgia 20-17. They lose to Kentucky 27-20, and last week the biggest knife to the heart of all – 25-24 at Tennessee.

We all know what the Deacons can do when they're clicking. Vandy is fighting for a bowl game. I'm going with the Deacs, but I won’t be surprised if Vanderbilt wins this one. Not at all. Wake better be ready. I think Jim Grobe will make sure they are.

My pick is Wake Forest.