Day of reckoning for ACC
Happy New Year, everyone. Big day of bowls for the ACC, beginning with N.C. State taking on Vanderbilt in the Music City bowl at noon. Georgia Tech meets USC in the Sun Bowl at 2 p.m. The best game’s at 7:30, when Clemson and LSU square off in the Chick-fil-A. Gambling picks on all these games are here. Bowl guide is 12-7 against the spread and looking for more.
The ACC is 1-1 in bowls so far, with Duke losing a heartbreaker to Cincy and Virginia Tech outlasting Rutgers.
Speaking of which, Andy posted his five thoughts on the Russell Athletic Bowl, with some emphasis on the coaching staff.
-Alfred Morris runs for 200 yards as the Redskins beat the Cowboys to claim the NFL East title. They’ll host the Seahawks next week in the first round of the playoffs.
December 31, 2012 - 10:25 AM
Aaron, it is more like the days of wreckin the ACC. Vandy, at home, will crush NCSU, GT will get steamrolled by USC, Barkley or no Barkley.
Clemson stands a 40/60 chance against LSU, if the offensive is on.
The ACC had a chance to gets wins from FSU, VT, Duke (yes, Duke), Clemson, but that’s about it.
It is looking to be a 2-6. 3-3 has to be considered a morale victory.
You got that right, ole ‘Mary from Ivy’ is buzzing off right now……[cue the Bad News bees]
Didn’t think I would ever have read someone write “Vandy will crush [anyone]” in any bowl game. Not that I disagree–just shows how far James Franklin has brought that team and program.
Bears fire Lovie Smith after a 10-6 season…a .625 winning percentage just doesn’t go as far as it used to.
AM–do you and Andy Bittner get hazard or danger pay for having to sit through the entire Russell Athletic Bowl game? At least comp time?
They should get that danger pay for having to read many of their blog posters. Present company (so far), of course, excepted. As for Barry from Ivy, I doubt we’ll be having to read his drivel for a long time after this afternoon.
I don’t know that they should be paid for reading a book in some press box somewhere.
Only worthy ACC today is between LSU and Clemson.
It seem that USC is not interested in playing the Bumble Bees and might shrug if they lose to the Bumble Bees, thus, having Barry proclaiming, falsely, that GT is the best ACC team to win. I mean, when you have Lane Kiffin and his team arriving late, and having those FML tweets, it’s a team that have lost complete interest in playing Georgia Tech. I wonder if USC would be interested if they were playing Virginia Tech or anybody else but Georgia Tech.
Duke had two chances to make a statement win over Cincinnati, but two goal line fumbles cost them the game. One of my biggest concerns about Duke was their defense being able to slow down Cincinnati. It was also the second time this season they had the team on the rope, but failed to deliver the knock out punch. I felt bad for David Cutcliffe, but got to give the man credit for bringing Duke football to a respectable level.
Boise State decided to stay in the Mountain West after all. Basically told the Big East to go and eff themselves. Unbelievable they would do that after all thae overturnes about being committed to the Big East. I guess it was just lip service to appease the Big East. I wouldn’t be surprised if San Diego State follows suit and stay on the east coast.
In a lot of way, it makes perfect sense. Geographically, it never made sense, and logistically, it presents numerous of challenge. So I think they were better off being in the MWC.
I must admit, I am routing, tepidly, for GT, just don’t want to be able to see Barry’s head from here if they do win. The ACC needs it, but the world doesn’t need more from Barry. Might have to turn off the computer for a few days.
Looks like GT is taking whatever pride USC had and i shoving it back in their face.
Barry can say what he likes. VT won that game.
Why would anyone with any kind of program join the Big East now? Talk about an implosion.
Hats off to the Bees. They showed up to play while USC are paying the price for their disrespect of GT. Also, CPJ was due for a bowl win. I was surprised to learn this bowl game is the Bees’ 16th straight appearance in a bowl game. Respect.
Can’t say the same for the LOLUVA…
One has to wonder what went wrong at USC this year. Such huge expectations and they lose to UCLA early on and then drop 5 out of their last 6. Remind me why everyone wanted Matt Barkley back?
Kiffen has to dig deep now and Barkley will kick himself for a long time.
Mary from Ivy is really buzzing off now, good win for the bumbling bees
For the final two minutes, I honestly thought the Bees was giving the the Trojans every chance to get back in the game with dumb penalties that had Paul Johnson saying “Forty-five ^^%$#@!@$# yards!” Yes, I can read lips, and in HD too. On Twitter, several Hokies fans are congratulating the Bees, including James Gayle.
If I recall, Matt Barkley injured his shoulder in the UCLA game, and hasn’t been cleared to participate in practices. I suspect it’s so he can stay rested up for the Combine, if he gets the invite. Hey, maybe he’ll be drafted to the New York Jets and back up another USC golden boy, Sanchez. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?
I think Lane Kiffin’s seat just got mighty warmer.
Hat’s off to the Bees, again.
The Trojans show that USC stands for University of Severely Classless after blowing off a dinner for both teams on Wednesday. GT shows it is almost as classless by getting flagged for 45 yards in personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct on the the final drive.
The Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech, the true Coastal Division champion and best ACC representative. Need I say more?
The Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech, the Coastal Division representative but not champion, and the best ACC representatives play tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow.
I don’t care how the ACC performs this bowl season. The regular season has shown the conference to be poor and getting worse each year. When light weights FSU and Clemson are your top teams, you have problems.Please don’t tell me they have 10 wins since they beat nobody and were crushed by real teams like South Carolina and Florida.
I say congrats to GT and to Barry I say it’s about time that team did something noteworthy…
Congrats to the Jackets on the bowl win. How they manage to win against anyone with that old, antiquated offensive scheme they run is beyond me but they got it done. Reminds me of another Tech that seems to be stuck in and old, antiquated offensive scheme and mindset that also surprised me this year that they managed to win 7 games. I really hope Coach Johnson sticks to his at GT, and can only pray there are big offensive changes offensively in Blacksburg, both in coaching and attitude. The Hokies need to find some coaches that will instill in their offense a nasty, go for the kill, take no prisoners mindset. Much like the one Foster has instilled in his defenses for the last twenty years. Match that kind of intensity on the offensive side of the ball and the Hokies would stand a chance of filling that empty NC trophy case before Beamer retires. Stick with what Stiney and company have been not doing for years, and the Hokies will never move forward on the national stage.
Amen, Huntersdad (#19). I have wondered for years now why Beamer stayed with his, “Let’s just keep it close and maybe the defense or special teams will win it for us” philosophy. That’s not how national championships are won! Can you picture the dominant Miami, Oklahoma, USC, or Alabama teams of the past thinking like that? They were out to crush their opponents offensively AND defensively, not just “keep it close” and hope to eke out a win at the end.
ACC! ACC!
If USC doesn’t discipline Kiffin for his disrespect of the bowl committee and GT the NCAA should. Totally uncalled for and in my opinion, the west coast attitude. I guess when you hobnob with the movie stars you expect others to bow down to you. The NCAA should dock USC and the conference their bowl money. Kiffin walks around as the future coming of Knute Rockne and has done nothing outstanding in the coaching profession. Now he’s got another milestone, only the 2nd team in history to start ranked no 1 and end up non ranked. Yeah Lane. He’s an A** H***. Good for GT.
#17 – yup the ACC has so little value it shouldn’t play football at the FCS level. Ask LSU. They’ll agree.
ACC 2-1 today, nice wins by GT and Clemson.
hang in there Tremor. Great post…….
Hey Barry from Ivy, can you speak through this????
Dont speak with your mouth full, Barry from Ivy
Nice to see real emotion displayed by Clemson’s head coach. Nice to see gutsy play calling and enthusiasm displayed. You’ve got to give Clemson credit, they made the moves necessary to move forward, not to stay inside a bubble. They’re now reaping the rewards for doing so. The page has turned. They beat a really good SEC team. Their program continues to elevate.
Congratulations to Georgia Tech and Barry.
I can’t say enough about Clemson and their victory over LSU. Now that was a ball game. The Clemson players and coaches never gave up and emotion was running high. They look like a team moving up and I only hope that VA Tech can move in their direction.
Props to GT, but that Clemson game…it was indeed a ball game. Definitely reminded me of what it felt like. C’mon VT, Frank B., let’s shake it up and get that back.
Chad Morris is a very good o coordinator. Clemson had their team prepared for this game. One of the Clemson players interviewed last night said that they had been preparing for the situations they were in last night. It certainly showed. Clemson’s defense showed up last night as well. That is what it takes to beat top tier teams like LSU. You have to be strong on both sides of the ball. Not relying on just one side to overcome the other’s shortcomings. You may win some games that way, but you are not going to win against a top tier team.
Clemson and LSU is definitely the best game so far. The other great game will be OK and Texas A&M. FSU is going to have their hands full tonight.
Really? FSU is going to have their hands full? 31-10 seems to say otherwise. Just another Barry prognostication gone wrong.
ACC 4-2. First winning bowl record since 2005. Don’t lose to Cincy or Vandy one and the “coveted” ESPN Bowl Challenge Cup would be the ACC’s for a third time. Instead, Conference USA locked it up for the second year in a row with a 4-1 (80%) record. The Big East can still win a share of it if they somehow manage to upset Florida tomorrow and then Pittsburgh wins against Ole Miss this weekend.
“#17 – yup the ACC has so little value it shouldn’t play football at the FCS level. Ask LSU. They’ll agree.Comment by Zman
Assuming you’re saying ‘ask LSU’ because they were beaten by Clemson.