Tuesday September 29, 2009

The Atlantic Division

The Atlantic Division
As I told you in yesterday’s blog, it is best that I don’t write the Monday blog right after the game. I usually have a different mindset on Monday after a loss and that mindset continues to change as each days passes.

Thus happens in the callers to my radio show and e-mailers to this blog as well. Sunday and Monday after a loss means fans are out for blood. They want answers and they want heads to roll. By Tuesday and Wednesday a much more rationale fan settles in and the upcoming game is the major topic.

Since it is Tuesday and since I am an optimist, I am ready to return to my normal state.

Losing still hurts. It is unacceptable. But my thoughts are now less negative and more productive when it comes to this Saturday and the rest of the 2009 season. There are a couple of reasons why.

First, the schedule gets easier. Also, this team can win the Atlantic Divison.

Maryland is 1-3 and struggling. They have home losses to Middle Tennessee and Rutgers. The Terps continue to turn the football over at a rapid pace and Clemson is a 13-point favorite in College Park Saturday.

An open week will help Clemson heal and superstar running back C.J. Spiller’s toe should be better after the entire week off.

The Tigers then host Wake Forest who has also struggled this season. The Deacs are 2-2 including a last second win against Stanford and a loss at Boston College. The Tigers could be double digit favorites at home against Wake Forest.

Perhaps the toughest game left on the schedule and the only game a remaining against a team currently ranked is the road game at Miami. The Hurricanes should be favored against Clemson but a loss here does not kill the chances of a division title because Miami is in the other division.

Coastal Carolina is a non-factor and a chance for this team to get emotionally ready for the two biggest weeks left on the schedule with a home game with Florida State and a road game at NC State. The Seminoles are schizophrenic with a terrific blowout win at BYU but bad performances at home against Jacksonville State and South Florida.

NC State started slow with the pathetic offensive performance against South Carolina but has improved against a week schedule in the last three weeks. This game is difficult because it is a road game against a division contender.

The final ACC regular season game is a home game against Virginia who may be the worst team in the league. I don’t expect much of a challenge here.

The regular season ends with a trip to the arch rival’s home field but hopefully an ACC Championship game is waiting the following week in Tampa.

The Atlantic Division
I said yesterday that a division title and a shot at the ACC Championship is the only thing that would make this season a success in my eyes. It has come to this in my opinion. Clemson is not a national title contender but it is good enough to win this division. It has been 18 years since the Tigers have won anything in this conference and this season provides a terrific opportunity.

Here is what the rest of the division looks like at this point:
Boston College-I don’t think the Eagles provide much of a threat. They are 1-1 in the league with an awful loss at Clemson and an overtime win against Wake Forest. This team is not talented enough to win the division.
Remaining ACC Home Games-Florida State, NC State, North Carolina
Remaining ACC Road Games-Virginia Tech, Virginia, Maryland

Maryland-Like Boston College, this team does not have the talent to win the division. The Terps have looked bad so far and I don’t believe they can turn it around.
Remaining ACC Home Games-Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College
Remaining ACC Road Games-Wake Forest, Duke, NC State, Florida State

Wake Forest-The Deacs have issues as well and a loss to Boston College means they start out the ACC season behind the eight ball. It is hard to imagine this team coming back and winning the division.
Remaining ACC Home Games-NC State, Maryland, Miami, Florida State
Remaining ACC Road Games-Clemson, Georgia Tech, Duke

In my opinion, only three teams have enough ability to win this division, Clemson, NC State and Florida State.

Clemson-Obviously Clemson has issues but the Tigers two losses have come by a total of seven points to two teams ranked in the top 15. If Clemson can improve, the schedule is set up for a run at the division title.
Remaining ACC Home Games-Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia
Remaining ACC Road Games-Maryland, Miami, NC State

Florida State-Boy, how do you get a handle on this team. They look terrific in Provo Utah but awful in Doak Campbell.
Remaining ACC Home Games-Georgia Tech, NC State, Maryland
Remaining ACC Road Games-Boston College, North Carolina, Clemson, Wake Forest

NC State-The Wolfpack and Maryland are the only two teams in the division without a loss but neither has played an ACC game yet. The difference is State has enough talent to win the division.
Remaining ACC Home Games-Duke, Maryland, Clemson, North Carolina
Remaining ACC Road Games-Wake Forest, Boston College, Florida State, Virginia Tech

A 6-2 record wins this division outright but a 5-3 mark will come down to tie breakers.

Tiger fans need to pull for Boston College over Florida State and Wake Forest over NC State this weekend. The Seminoles are five-point favorites in Beantown but State is a one-point underdog in Winston-Salem.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs.