In jumbled ACC, can Florida State become the team to beat?

By Lee Roberts  |   Thursday, October 23, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Florida State Seminoles
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The ACC college football season has been a roller-coaster ride for anyone trying to figure out which is the best team in the conference. Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina have all looked the part of ACC champion at one point, only to lose and fall back to the pack. So, this week, it’s the Florida State Seminoles’ turn. With a win over Virginia Tech, FSU can return to its rightful spot atop the ACC standings, at least for a week.

Commentary: Florida State joined the ACC in 1992 and proceeded to win nine consecutive conference titles and has since won three more. The Seminoles dominated the conference throughout the 1990s, but the 21st century hasn’t been as kind. Without an ACC or Atlantic Division title since 2005, the Seminoles are in a drought. This year, with a young, athletic team, Bobby Bowden just might be able to return to ACC prominence.

In the ACC this season, everyone has looked great at times and also looked terrible at times. Florida State is no exception. The 12-3 loss to Wake Forest at home was as ugly as a football game can be. Seven turnovers ugly. At that point, talk of an ACC championship seemed ridiculous. One month later, it seems perfectly legitimate. With wins over Colorado, Miami and N.C. State, the Seminoles appear to be back on track. Plus, the other teams around FSU in the standings have been just as inconsistent.

In the Atlantic Division, FSU is currently tied with Boston College, Maryland and Wake Forest with a 2-1 conference record. Boston College is a turnover machine – not good when facing the opportunistic UNC defense this week. Maryland loses 31-0 one week to UVA and then beats Wake 26-0 the next week, so it's hard to figure them out. Wake can’t find the end zone and its kicker is still hurt, so the team can barely make field goals now.

Meanwhile, Florida State leads the conference in scoring, total offense and total defense. That’s a recipe for success no matter what league you play in. If the Seminoles can step up against Virginia Tech this week, they will once again become the favorites in the Atlantic Division -- for now.

Fan Pulse: Seminoles fans seem cautiously optimistic about the matchup with Virginia Tech. The biggest concern is letting Tyrod Taylor make plays with his feet.

Injury Watch: Linebacker Dekoda Watson is questionable after hurting his hamstring against N.C. State. Wide Receiver Bert Reed will miss the game because of a suspension for missing class.
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About Lee Roberts

Born in Richmond, Va, I moved south to UNC-Chapel Hill for college and received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and cover Auburn, LSU and the ...
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