In a league where almost any team can beat anyone else, it is fitting that the Atlantic Division race has come down to the last two weeks of the season. Florida State, North Carolina State and Maryland-all of whom lost the previous weekend-each won their games this past Saturday to set up three important games over the next two weeks to determine the division champ. It begins this week with perhaps the biggest game of the weekend-Florida State at Maryland. The Seminoles head into their final conference game with a one-half game lead over the Terps and the Wolfpack. A Florida State win would eliminate the Terrapins from winning the division, while a Terrapins win keeps them alive and continues a turnaround almost no one was expecting. Earlier on Saturday, North Carolina State has a big game of its own, as they head to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels in a rivalry game. A Wolfpack win keeps them alive in the Atlantic Division race, and possibly sets up a winner take all game the following week in College Park against the Terps, provided the Terps get past Florida State.
Whoever wins the Atlantic Division may have to face a Virginia Tech team that is rolling. The Hokies have won eight straight games, and with a win on Saturday over Miami will clinch the Coastal Division title with a week to go. Last week, the Hokies eliminated any chance the Tar Heels may have had on winning the Coastal, dispatching them 26-10 in Chapel Hill. The Hurricanes need to win to keep any hopes of a division title alive; they would also need Virginia to upset the Hokies on the following Saturday to claim the title. The Hurricanes defeated Georgia Tech on Saturday behind freshman quarterback Stephen Morris; it is unknown at this time whether he will start against the Hokies or if Jacory Harris will return to start the game.
Elsewhere in the conference, Clemson, Boston College and Georgia Tech sit one win from bowl eligibility. Clemson missed an opportunity to get its sixth win by losing in the last seconds to Florida State, while BC edged closer with a win over Duke. All three teams will be favored in their games this weekend, as they each play an ACC team that won’t be going bowling this season. Clemson heads to Winston-Salem to play Wake Forest, the Eagles host the Cavaliers and Georgia Tech will face Duke at home.