Swinney fires Napier in desperation move; high-risk/high-reward candidate in the fold?

Dabo Swinney is in panic mode. On Sunday, the Clemson coach fired offensive coordinator Billy Napier and running backs coach Andre Powell in the standard “don’t blame me, blame the staff” transaction in light of the team’s struggles in 2010.

A year after Napier guided the Tigers’ offense to its most prolific season in school history, Clemson’s offensive production dipped from 31 to 24 points per game and 5.7 yards per play to 5.0.

Was it Napier’s fault?

Sophomore quarterback Kyle Parker had NFL scouts raving in 2009 but noticeably regressed this season. Perhaps he wasn’t absolutely committed to the program, considering he had a multi-million dollar baseball contract waiting for him in the spring? Of the five leading receivers and tight ends on Clemson’s depth chart, four were freshmen or sophomores. And in case no one noticed, C.J. Spiller was in a Buffalo Bills uniform this year.

By letting Napier go, it either means Swinney expected him to turn water into wine, or because he knows the grace period is over as head coach and he’s got to catalyze the program not a minute too soon. If Clemson struggles to contend for the conference title next year, it’ll likely be the final straw for Swinney. It’s safe to say the cause is the latter.

Napier is 31 years old, or about seven in Coach Years. In a normal situation, he hardly deserved to be canned after two years on the job. Because of Swinney’s herk-and-jerk shuffling of the staff, it probably set Napier’s career back five years. He’ll land somewhere else, but it could be some time before he runs a BCS offense again.

Late Sunday night, one name surfaced in the race to replace Napier that would change the landscape of Clemson football: Chad Morris.

Morris is reportedly Swinney’s clear first choice, and is expected to interview as early as Monday. He joined Todd Graham’s staff at Tulsa last year after a 16-year run as a high school coach in Texas. During that time, he took six teams to the state finals and won three championships.

Morris, 42, is a virtual clone of Gus Malzahn, another former Tulsa offensive coordinator whose spread offense has guided Auburn to the national championship game this year and made him one of the hottest assistant coaches on the market.

Morris tutored five Division-I quarterbacks in high school since 2005, including Garrett Gilbert and Jevan Snead. His no-huddle spread offense was beyond dominant at the prep level, and it guided Tulsa to a 41.4 scoring average this season.

Bringing in Morris would further cement the argument that Swinney is swinging for the fences with a full count. Morris did guide Tulsa to the fifth most productive offense in the country this year, but one year’s collegiate experience in Conference USA doesn’t usually warrant a high-profile gig like this one. He’s an unproven recruiter – though he could be a gold miner given his track record in the wealthiest state in America for football prospects.

Morris very well could be a home run; he’s just a calculated risk given his paper-thin track record. Most people will point to Malzahn’s meteoric rise from Springdale High School to running the top-ranked offense in the country as proof that Morris is a slam-dunk hire. Either way, bringing in Morris will be the move that sharply alters Swinney’s career; it’s just not certain in which direction.

Weekend Forecast – October 9

1. Florida State at Miami

This game is nearly always a classic. Who could forget last year’s ending, when Christian Ponder thought he’d thrown the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play, only to see the official waving his arms signaling an incompletion?

The Seminoles looked strong last week at Virginia, especially on defense. Their secondary is extremely young but also very talented. Jacory Harris continues to struggle with his decision-making, but thankfully the Miami defense has played lights-out (leads the ACC allowing just 15 ppg).

Miami has the better combination of talent and experience, but Florida State has a more reliable signal-caller. It’s a tough call, but I think Miami’s defense does just enough to lead the ‘Canes to victory.

Miami 31, FSU 28

2. Boston College at North Carolina State

The Eagles will start a banged-up true freshman at quarterback in Chase Rettig, who looked good in limited action last week against Notre Dame. North Carolina State, meanwhile, is still licking its wounds after a monumental collapse against Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack’s woeful run defense was exposed last week, allowing 306 yards on the ground to the Hokies. Boston College has a great running back in Montel Harris, except he’s struggled to get the ball rolling in 2010. So far, he’s averaging just 84 yards per game and has scored only one touchdown, and hasn’t exactly come against a who’s who of good defenses.

The Eagles’ secondary is average at best. They have allowed 230 passing yards per game, including 277 in the season opener to Weber State. While the group as a whole has matured over the past month, they’ve seen nothing like the passing attack that State will bring with Russell Wilson.

NC State will put up big numbers through the air and rebound from last week’s stunner.

NC State 35, Boston College 17

3. Central Michigan at Virginia Tech

The Hokies return home for a full month of games inside Lane Stadium, the first of which against the downtrodden Chippewas. The Hokies have yet to lead by more than seven points at halftime in any of their five games, but they’d love to do just that on Saturday.

CMU leads the MAC in scoring defense, giving up just 17.6 points per game. However, the most explosive offense they’ve faced belonged to Northwestern.

Ryan Williams is out for the third straight week for Tech, but it shouldn’t matter, as Darren Evans is back to his 2008 form after a 160-yard, two-touchdown showing last week.

The Hokies learned from the James Madison debacle not to overlook anyone, so expect a big win for the home crowd.

Virginia Tech 49, Central Michigan 14

4. Virginia at Georgia Tech

The Groh Bowl, as fans are putting it, pits former Cavaliers’ coach and current Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh up against his old team in a must-win game for both sides.

Virginia was embarrassed last week in a home loss to Florida State, while Georgia Tech has looked nothing like the team everyone expected to contend for the ACC title.

UVA coach Mike London is former assistant of Groh’s and has spent countless hours studying his style of defense. If you want to know whether or not that matters, look no further than Steve Sarkisian’s success at Washington against USC the past two seasons.

The Wahoos have a severe lack of playmakers offensively, but right now the Yellow Jackets can’t stop much of anything. Groh should throw some new wrinkles in the gameplan this week to try and rejuvenate his bunch.

Meanwhile, London may have trouble scheming against Paul Johnson’s triple option in his first try. It may not be pretty, but the Yellow Jackets move to 3-1 in the conference.

Georgia Tech 24, Virginia 20

5. Clemson at North Carolina

The Tar Heels get back another of their star defenders this week, safety Kendric Burney. Linebacker Quan Sturdivant is listed as questionable heading into the game.

Clemson looked as ugly as could be last week against Miami, yet the Tigers were a fourth-down conversion away from possibly winning that game. North Carolina has played so remarkably well in the absence of a multitude of starters that it’s starting to get hard to pick against them.

The play of Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates has been outstanding. The senior has completed 68 percent of his passes this season while throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception.

Kyle Parker threw three interceptions last week in what coach Dabo Swinney called the worst game of his young career.

I can’t help but to think that North Carolina will keep Clemson’s offense at bay again this week. The Heels are giving up just 2.8 yards per carry in the past two games.

At home, the Heels pull off another improbable win and nab their first conference win.

North Carolina 20, Clemson 13

6. Navy at Wake Forest

The Midshipmen are in a world of hurt right now after losing their first game to another service academy in seven years. Wake Forest lost in demoralizing fashion last week to Georgia Tech, when Joshua Nesbitt’s touchdown pass with 15 seconds left sealed the Deacons’ fate.

Tanner Price will start at quarterback for Wake Forest, after injuries to Ted Stachitas and Brendan Cross have depleted the Deacs’ supply of healthy arms.

Price has appeared in four games this season as a true freshman while completing 48 percent of his passes. He did not play in the loss to Georgia Tech last week, but Jim Grobe has confirmed Price will get a majority of the snaps on Saturday.

Wake’s opponents this year average 4.85 yards per carry, but they did hold Georgia Tech to just 4.3 yards per rush last week.

Facing the triple option after just playing against it the week before is a huge benefit that most teams never have. Navy is reeling right now, and despite the fashion of last week’s loss, Wake Forest took comfort in the fact that their young team hung with the defending ACC champions.

Wake holds on at home in a nail-biter.

Wake Forest 17, Navy 14

Looking back: Week One

Embarrassment: Avoided

Last season’s disgraceful start to the season scarred the ACC. Teams like Baylor, William and Mary, and Richmond knocked off ACC foes. NC State held South Carolina to seven points – and lost. Maryland lost by 39 points to Cal. Conference favorite Virginia Tech was outgained by 300 yards in a nationally televised loss to Alabama.

This time around, the ACC took care of business. Eight games featured FCS opponents, which the ACC won all of them by an average of 31.6 points.

On Monday, Maryland stunned Navy, prevailing 17-14 thanks to a last-minute goal line stand. The Terrapins were the doormat of the ACC a year ago, but this win proves they are poised for a respectable season this time around.

Virginia Tech looked sloppy in a loss to Boise State, but it was a better performance on national TV than last year’s loss to Alabama, or Clemson’s embarrassing loss to the Crimson Tide in 2008.

The ACC did lose its two most prominent games, but they both came down to the wire and didn’t do anything to show the league can’t compete on a national stage.

The bigger test comes this week, with Florida State playing Oklahoma and Miami traveling to Ohio State.

Hot start for Jimbo

In front of less than a sellout crowd in Tallahassee, Jimbo Fisher kicked off his tenure at Florida State in style. The Seminoles led 42-0 at halftime over Samford en route to an easy 59-6 win. Christian Ponder was razor sharp, missing on just two passes and throwing for four touchdowns.

Yes, it was Samford, but remember last year, when Jacksonville State held the Seminoles to just 19 points? This game proved the ‘Noles offense is in gear and primed for a high-flying season.

There’s life without Spiller at Clemson

In the win against North Texas, Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper shouldered the load with excellence. Both players topped the 100-yard mark, showing the Clemson faithful that together they can ease the pain of losing the world-class talent C.J. Spiller.

Just 16 seconds into the game, Ellington burst 60 yards for a touchdown in Spiller-esque fashion.

The Tigers only possessed the ball for 18 minutes, but that’s mainly due to the fact that four of their five scoring drives took four plays or less.

Clemson showed it has  game-breaking ability in the backfield, but Kyle Parker’s shaky performance (9-for-17, 170 yards, one interception) showed there is much to improve upon before a showdown with Auburn in two weeks.

North Carolina could have been a national title contender

Say what you want about LSU, but any SEC team worth a Cajun tailgate should have obliterated a team playing with its entire second unit in the secondary, as well as 3/4 of its defensive line. Oh, and its third string running back and backup wide receivers.

Instead, North Carolina held LSU scoreless in the second half Saturday night and nearly pulled off one of the most improbable wins in college football history. T.J. Yates looked like Dan Marino, throwing for 412 yards, three touchdowns and zero interception in the 30-24 defeat.

There’s no doubt about it: if UNC plays at full strength, it wins that game…easily. Thanks to Marvin Austin, Greg Little and the rest of the gang involved in the NCAA investigation, North Carolina won’t be a factor in the national title race.

If Yates plays anywhere near the level he did against LSU for the rest of the year and the defense gets back all of its starters, it’s hard to see how the Tar Heels could lose a game. They definitely should be considered a favorite in the ACC if all the players are back in time for the ACC opener in two weeks against Georgia Tech.

On the Docket – Week One Preview

Two games on Monday: Boise St. – Va. Tech and Navy-Maryland, will be previewed later in the week.

Presbyterian at Wake Forest, Thursday 6:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: It really doesn’t. The Deacs will need a miracle to even dare competing for the ACC this year, and Presbyterian might need a bigger miracle to win this game. Presbyterian went winless in 2009 without playing a single FBS team. Wake Forest begins a year where they simply need an identity post-Riley Skinner.

Player to watch: Ted Stachitas, the redshirt sophomore dubbed Skinner’s replacement at quarterback. Stachitas won a four-way battle in August for the job. He’s a dual-threat option who led Nease High School from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. to three straight state championship appearances as a starter. The Deacs figure to operate mostly out of the shotgun in a spread option look. Expect to see Skylar Jones line up in the Wild Deacon formation some, too. This game is a good introductory level course in replacing a legend for Stachitas.

Who has the edge?

To call this a scrimmage might be insulting. The Deacs starters could play a game against the backups and third-stringers and it might be more competitive. This is simply a chance to give Stachitas as many reps as they can in a live situation and try and work out the kinks across the board.

Prediction: Wake Forest 41, Presbyterian 0

Florida A&M at No. 13 Miami, Thursday 7:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Once again, this won’t be much of a contest. Like many of these creampuff season openers, this is a great chance for Miami to unleash some of its younger, unproven talent and see if anyone emerges. The Hurricanes are very deep across the board, and they can get those young backups some important reps in this game.

Player to watch: Sean Spence and Graig Cooper are two prominent players from who are recovering from injuries. Cooper’s is of a more serious nature (torn ACL), while Spence dealt with nagging injuries last season before missing three entire games late in the year. Cooper figures to get some carries at running back, but it will be interesting to see how much action he gets in a backfield loaded with talented ballcarriers.  Spence needs to be healthy this season and return to his stellar 2008 form at linebacker.

Who has the edge?

Miami will name the score in this game. ‘Nuff said.

Prediction: Miami 45, Florida A&M 10

Samford at No. 20 Florida State, Saturday 12:00 (ESPNU)

Why it matters: This will be the first time in 35 years that somebody not named Bobby Bowden will coach the Florida State football team. The Jimbo Fisher Era begins, and he hopes to bring a new energy to Doak Campbell Stadium. I’m looking to see what the environment is like for Fisher’s first game. If the fans come out hard for the Samford game, it will speak volumes for the support Fisher has from the fan base.

Player to watch: This could be a great way to pad the stats early for FSU quarterback Christian Ponder in his trek for the Heisman Trophy. He figures to play the first half, and maybe some of the third quarter, but that’s still enough time for close to 300 yards and three or four scores.

Who has the edge?

This won’t remind people of last year, when Florida State escaped a scare Jacksonville State at home. The ‘Noles will cruise as they try and smooth the wrinkles before traveling to Norman next week to face the Sooners.

Prediction: Florida State 52, Samford 7

Weber State at Boston College, Saturday 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: See player to watch

Player to watch: Mark Herzlich will play, and that’s the story in and of itself this week. Herzlich, whose story as the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year-turned-cancer survivor is well-read by now, was hobbled by a broken foot during August. Head coach Frank Spaziani said he wants to get Herzlich on the field this Saturday, and when he does trot between the white lines, I can’t wait to see what the reaction from the crowd is. A true miracle.

Who has the edge?

Boston College needs a crisp performance from David Shinskie, who battled inconsistency last year but managed to win the starting quarterback job again this past month. I expect to see him play most of this game no matter the score, unless he struggles. In that case, I’d be interested to see if Spaziani plugs in Marc Mascovetra to run the show.

Prediction: Boston College 35, Weber State 6

South Carolina State at No. 16 Georgia Tech, Saturday 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: The Yellow Jackets begin their defense of the ACC title with a cakewalk. However, they must do it without several key defensive stars from a year ago, most notably Derrick Morgan, now with the Tennessee Titans. I expect the offense to keep on chuggin’, despite the loss of former All-ACC performer Jonathan Dwyer.

Player to watch: Anthony Allen fills in for Dwyer at A-back, and I for one think Allen could have a big year. He’s a physical runner with breakaway speed (see: the first Clemson game last year). With Joshua Nesbitt under center, he will put the ball in the belly of the right runners, and I think Allen could have a sensational year because of that. He might touch 200 yards in this game.

Who has the edge?

Georgia Tech needs to sharpen its defense, which switched to a 3-4 this off-season under new coordinator Al Groh. The Jackets hit the road for the next two weeks after this Saturday to face Kansas and North Carolina. Both games will favor the Jackets, but they need the defense to be on top of its game heading into those contests. This is just a tune-up.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 49, South Carolina State 17

North Texas at Clemson, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Why it matters: Clemson fans get to see Kyle Parker in a football jersey again, which at one point this summer seemed unlikely. Parker will quarterback the Tigers for this season and likely no more, but his return at least gives Clemson hope it can make another run at a division title in 2010.

Player to watch: Andre Ellington replaces C.J. Spiller at running back. Spiller was a legend, perhaps the greatest player to ever wear the Tigers’ uniform. However, Ellington is not too shabby himself. In 68 carries last year, Ellington averaged more than seven yards every time he had the ball. He won’t produce like Spiller, but I think he’ll be better than people expect.

Who has the edge?

At one point earlier in the decade, North Texas was a strong mid-major program (Name-drop: Patrick Cobbs). Now, they are one of the worst FBS programs in the country. Clemson cruises in this one.

Prediction: Clemson 31, North Texas 6

Richmond at Virginia, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Virginia breaks in new coach Mike London, against the team they pillaged for him – and also the one he led to an FCS national title two years ago. London built the foundation strong program in two years at Richmond, and it’s feasible that the Spiders are more talented at several positions than the Cavaliers. Virginia can not afford a second consecutive season-opening loss to an FCS opponent.

Player to watch: All eyes are on Marc Verica, who must cut down on his interceptions this season. He has thrown twice as many interceptions (17) as he has touchdowns (eight) in his career. He has a strong grip on the starting quarterback job, but if he struggles against an FCS team in week one, nobody’s job is safe.

Who has the edge? Virginia, but not by much. I’d say the Wahoos are maybe a three-point favorite. Richmond has a former USC Trojan under center in Aaron Corp, and Virginia really has in my opinion the least talented roster in the ACC. This will be the most competitive game of the day in the ACC.

Prediction: Virginia 23, Richmond 20

Western Carolina at NC State, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Not much does. The ‘Pack figure to be a non-factor in the ACC chase, and this game should be a snoozer. We’ll probably get a chance to see Mike Glennon, the backup quarterback for State who could probably start for 80% of college football teams.

Player to watch: Nate Irving, like Herzlich, also makes a miraculous comeback after nearly losing his life in a car accident last summer. Irving missed all of 2009 but will be in the starting lineup at middle linebacker for the Wolfpack on Saturday. Another example of a heroic human being. His return should severely help a defense that was downright awful in 2009.

Who has the edge?

The Wolfpack will score at will in this game. Russell Wilson could throw for a career-high number of yards. No chance of an upset here.

Prediction: NC State 48, Western Carolina 14

Elon at Duke, Saturday 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Duke needs to make sure it wins the easy ones as it tries to make its first bowl game in a decade in a half. The Blue Devils are repairing a defense that was terrible last season. Holding Elon under 10 points would be a promising start. They need a dominating performance to build confidence heading into a key week two matchup with Wake Forest.

Player to watch: Sean Renfree has to overcome a repaired ACL and the legend of Thaddeus Lewis. Lewis set every major passing record at Duke, and Renfree tore his left ACL last November, prompting him to miss all of spring practice. Duke has plenty of options on offense, particularly at wide receiver, where Donovan Varner was the leading receiver in the ACC last year as a sophomore. Renfree was a highly touted recruit who has the potential to flourish under head coach/quarterback guru David Cutcliffe.

Who has the edge?

Duke should win handily, but a suspect defense could let in some scores early and make it closer than it should be early.

Prediction: Duke 34, Elon 13

LSU vs. North Carolina (in Atlanta), 8:00 p.m. (ABC)

Why it matters: This was supposed to be the breakthrough game for Butch Davis’ program at UNC. Now, this might be a measuring stick of just how fall the Tar Heels have fallen thanks to the infamous NCAA investigation into improper agent contact and academic fraud. LSU is in a state of flux as well, with questions at quarterback and a coach in hot water. Still, it’s likely that several key players for UNC will sit out the game. If they do, the Heels have no shot.

Player to watch: T.J. Yates enters his senior season as the maligned starting quarterback trying fend off redshirt freshman Bryn Renner. Renner is the more dynamic player, while Yates is the calmer and obviously more experienced prospect. Don’t be surprised to see Renner get some snaps if Yates struggles and/or the game gets out of hand. The coaches are waiting to give Renner his chance.

Who has the edge?

LSU. Even if North Carolina is at full strength, the distractions from the past month and a half must have taken a toll on the team’s focus and preparation. LSU feels the pressure to win this game and contend in the SEC. Speaking of the SEC, it has dominated the ACC in recent years. It won’t stop Saturday.

Prediction: LSU 34, UNC 10

The Crystal Ball – How the ACC will fare in 2010

After all the waiting, the season is upon us. This Thursday, the college football season will officially begin. And it begins with Wake Forest hosting Presbyterian at 6:30, the first game to kick off the 2010 season.

That also means it’s about time to make an idiot out of myself by trying to predict what will happen this year. Here is my comprehensive breakdown of the upcoming season for the ACC, otherwise known is idiocy at its finest.

Championship Game: Virginia Tech over Boston College

This was my story a month ago, and I’m sticking to it. The Eagles have a strong defense and a workhorse running back. David Shinskie is back under center, and he can only improve on his freshman season – his first year of football in half a decade.

I’ve lost faith in Florida State’s chances enough to take the Eagles as the Atlantic champs. BC faces an easier conference schedule, where I think they can sneak six conference wins in.

The Hokies, meanwhile, figure to be either 7-1 or 8-0 when the calendar hits November. Their three-game stretch of Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Miami is treacherous, but with the uncertainty around the Tar Heels’ season, that stretch is a little calmer now, it seems.

When it comes to the Eagles-Hokies matchup, it really doesn’t do justice to call it a match up, because it hardly resembles one. The gap between the two divisions this year is immense. Whoever wins the Coastal Division wins the championship.

Player of the Year: Christian Ponder, FSU

Ponder, if healthy, could put up ridiculous numbers in his senior season with the ‘Noles. It figures to be more of the same with Florida State in terms of the offense loading up the scoreboard, while the defense struggles to do its job.

Ponder has the athletes around him to make big plays. He has a shot to become the first Heisman winner from the ACC in nine years, and he could also shoot up NFL Draft projections with a strong year.

Biggest upset of the year: Duke over Miami, Oct. 16

Before you stop reading, hear me out.

Miami will either be coming off a huge win over Florida State, or a devastating loss the week before. The ‘Canes have a history of sleepwalking through road trips to Duke.

In 2008, they trailed the Blue Devils 24-14 in the third quarter before coming back to win 49-31.

In 2006, the Hurricanes needed a last-second interception on the goal line to avoid falling to the winless Blue Devils, winning 20-15.

If Duke came that close when they had significantly inferior talent, the Blue Devils have a much better chance this time around when the talent pool is much better.

Duke has a strong offense capable of scoring on anyone. Donovan Varner is the most productive receiver in the league, and Sean Renfree was a highly recruited quarterback two years ago and the coaches have high hopes for him.

If Miami doesn’t watch its step coming off a potentially mammoth rivalry game the week before, it’s not absurd to think Duke could win that game.

Best newcomer: Jeff Luc, LB Florida State

Luc, the most prized recruit in the ACC in the class of 2010, saw his chances for playing time rise when projected starter Nigel Carr was booted off the team in July.

Luc is slotted to back up Kendall Smith at middle linebacker, but he could move around if need be as a backup. Everything I’ve heard is the Luc is the next great linebacker at FSU, following in the footsteps of Peter Boulware, Ernie Sims and Dekoda Watson.  Expect him to make an immediate impact on a defense desperate for that type of player.

Biggest disappointment: Clemson

The return of Kyle Parker was supposed to salvage the Tigers’ season. It will make nary a difference with a lack of supporting cast. Andre Ellington has 1,000-yard potential at running back, but there is no semblance of a receiving corps.

Clemson’s early-season schedule is too tough to overcome. The Tigers face Auburn, Miami and Georgia Tech in a four-week span. I don’t think Clemson wins any of those games.

A 7-5 season would impress me. A 6-6 year would be just about right.

Best offense: Virginia Tech

There are more proven weapons for the Hokies than anyone else. Florida State has Ponder, Miami has an abundance of former blue-chip recruits who should emerge this year, but the Hokies have by far the best combination of talent and experience.

David Wilson may emerge as the backup running back instead of Darren Evans, meaning the Hokies might have a former 1,000-yard rusher at third string.

Senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor has his entire receiving corps back intact for the third consecutive year. Also, new starting tight end Andre Smith will be an improvement in the passing game over Greg Boone.

Ryan Williams should put up gaudy numbers again after breaking a number of school and conference rushing records as a freshman.

Best defense: Miami

I’m sorry, but until I know who will or won’t play for North Carolina, I’m not touching that team when it comes to predictions. So Miami earns this recognition with studs like Allen Bailey, who could be a top 10 pick next spring, and Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence at linebacker.

Brandon Harris anchors a secondary that is closing the talent gap between recent years and the early part of the decade.

Miami will have the fastest and fiercest defense this year, and Randy Shannon finally has the pieces in place again to wreak havoc on opponents like the ‘Canes used to do when Shannon was defensive coordinator.

Game of the year: Virginia Tech at Miami, November 20

This is the de facto ACC Championship game, if everything unfolds as planned. These are the two best teams of the year facing off in the next to last week of the season. Both teams have some road bumps before this date, but it’s possible both could be ranked in the top 10 come game time, maybe even the top five.

The winner of this game will likely punch their ticket to the ACC Championship Game two weeks later.

It’s going to be a great year for the ACC. Virginia Tech and Miami should carry the torch at the forefront of the national rankings most of the season.  Still, nine teams should reach the postseason, showing the true depth of a league that has taken it’s fair share of criticism in recent years.

Can Boston College prove the doubters wrong…again?

There’s something about Boston College that prevents it from getting any respect.

Pipe down, Aretha, because that suits the Eagles just fine.

The Eagles have a knack for surpassing preseason expectations by a mile. In 2007 and 2008, BC was picked second and fourth, respectively, in the Atlantic Division by the ACC Media. Both times, the Eagles soared all the way to the conference title game.

In 2009, amidst a stunning coaching change, a cancer-stricken All-American, and not a single quarterback on the roster with any experience, the Eagles were chosen to finish in last place before the season.

Once again, they stunned everyone with an 8-5 season, including a 5-3 record against ACC foes.

To be fair, four of those league wins came against Wake Forest, Virginia, NC State and Maryland – arguably the four worst teams in the league. But the fact of the matter was, each and every one of them had higher expectations, at least from the outside looking in, than Boston College.

So when the writers picked Spaziani and Co. to finish a distant third in the division this year, behind Clemson and Florida State, it is business as usual up north.

It’s very likely that the recent decision by Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker to return to school rather than leave to play pro baseball weighed perhaps too heavily on the mind of voters.

The attention Parker’s decision received was too close to LeBron territory and not enough to the Derrick Mason range. The hype surrounding his return probably warped the minds of some voters, because quite frankly it’s hard for me to see how the Tigers got so much more love than the Eagles, but that’s for another day.

Count me among those who nabbed the Eagles to finish second behind Florida State, and I quite nearly took them to win the whole darn thing.

The Eagles have one of the most productive rushers in the league Montel Harris, playing behind perhaps the best offensive line in the ACC as well, led by future All-Pro Anthony Castonzo.

It’s clear that the biggest detractor from Boston College’s preseason hype is the lack of faith in sophomore quarterback Dave Shinskie. Shinskie struggled last year, after taking more than five years away from football to focus on a pro baseball career.

When the pressure was fierce, Shinskie crumbled. But when given time, he proved to be a effective passer. Spaziani noted that he must get better quarterback play, and that Shinskie has to make a sizable leap in year two of running the offense. Besides, look what people expected of him last year. Anything productive was exceeding expectations in 2009. Don’t be surprised if he comes through again.

I’m not calling for Shinskie to go neck-and-neck with Christian Ponder for player of the year honors or anything, but I don’t think we’ll see any more 1-for-12 performances like we did last year against the Hokies.

If Shinskie somehow loses the starting job in preseason camp, which Spaziani acknowledged as a possibility (“nobody’s jersey is tattooed on their chest,” he said), it will be because there is a more consistent option out there. The position won’t cripple the Eagles like it did last year.

As long as Spaziani and longtime assistant-turned-defensive coordinator Bill McGovern oversee the defense, there isn’t reason to fret over how stout the Eagles will be on that side of the ball.

Luke Kuechly had a phenomenal freshman season in 2009, earning ACC first-team and Freshman of the Year honors. His 12.15 tackles per game were the most of any rookie since the NCAA began tracking the statistic in 2003.

With Kuechly in the middle, the rest of the defense will simply follow his lead. They’ll be tough to crack for any offense.

Still, despite so much proven talent on both sides of the ball, it’s normal for a team like Clemson, with holes aplenty at the skill positions and an inconsistent defense, to garner more attention than Boston College.

Spaziani offered up an interesting explanation for why the Eagles don’t get more love in July and August.

“It’s called tradition. They have whatever you want to call it. It’s just the way it is. We’ve been here five years and (the poll) is just a starting point and talking points,” Spaziani said.

The final part of that statement is not up for debate. As for the first part, however, coach ‘Spaz’ can’t use such persuasion much longer.

Tradition is clearly built on the long haul, but it’s tough to argue Clemson’s program has much more of it than Boston College.

The Tigers have one national title, which came 30 years ago. The Eagles had their own glory days of yesteryear, with Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie in 1984.

In recent years, Boston College has the best conference record of any time in the Atlantic Division since joining the league in 2005. They’ve appeared in two title games, more than any other team in that division.

If people want to sleep on the Eagles, they won’t argue. They’ll just wait until December to laugh right back in your face.

Just how much does Kyle Parker mean to Clemson football?

The question anyone who pays attention to Clemson football has been asking since February- and maybe before- will soon be answered, when Kyle Parker announces his intentions to either turn pro in baseball or stay in school.

Head football coach Dabo Swinney has plenty of reasons to sweat out Parker’s decision. The Tigers have a talented team lined up for this fall, which returns seven offensive starters if you include Parker. Even C.J. Spiller, perhaps the greatest offensive player in school history and is now a member of the Buffalo Bills, has viable suitors to replace him.

Should Parker leave his coach and teammates high and dry for the fruits of a hefty payday, it would leave Clemson with not a single career passing yard on the roster.

Tajh Boyd, a redshirt freshman who redefined indecisiveness during his recruitment process, would inherit the starting role from Parker.

There were mixed signals from coaches, bloggers and fans unlike on where Boyd in terms of being prepared to lead the offense.

Starting a quarterback who lacks experience can be costly for many college teams. In 2009, BCS conference teams whose leading passer had never been a full-time starter prior to the year were a combined 218-186 (or a .540 winning percentage). On the other hand, teams who had an experienced signal caller were 250-160 (.610).

While that’s not a mind-blowing margin, the difference in 7-10 winning percentage points is one win over the course of a season. Well, the Atlantic Division has been decided by a game every season of its existence, and Clemson has been on the good or bad side of that each time.

Boyd has a strong arm and a solid frame. He’s a pocket passer with good mobility. Sounds like a worthy candidate to be an ACC quarterback. Clemson wouldn’t step off a cliff with Boyd, but with Parker they’d climb the mountain a bit higher.

Something that would make a Parker-less offense a little more comforting for Swinney is his four returning starters on the offensive line. Having a rookie quarterback behind a weak offensive line is the football equivalent of mixing baking soda with vinegar. The offense explodes all over itself.

The Atlantic in 2010 won’t blow anyone’s minds, but the competition within it is stiff. Florida State is the consensus favorite to win the division, but even they have plenty of question marks and a freshly minted coaching staff.

Boston College has issues of its own at quarterback among other uncertainties. NC State has weapons galore on offense, but a defense that has people wondering if it will ever hold the opponent out of the end zone.

What would a veteran quarterback- Parker- do for Clemson? It would give them an even balance of a solid offense and defense both. The Tigers wouldn’t score 40 points a game, but it would hardly struggle to score. The defense won’t shut people out, but it will keep offenses at bay.

For anyone with their doubts about Parker, all there is to say is he played his best games against the stiffest competition.

If Clemson has to break in a new quarterback for the second year in a row, the learning curve for him will have to be steep if the Tigers seek a repeat trip to the conference championship game. It’s probably a little too steep.

The ACC’s most irreplaceable players

The theme this week on ESPN.com and ESPN’s College Football Live is irreplaceable players for the upcoming season.

This spurred me to think of several guys in the ACC whose teams could fall apart without them.

There are as many as seven teams with legitimate belief they could win the conference title. But as history has shown, things rarely go according to planned as the season unfolds.

Injuries happen, as do suspensions. Both are tough to swallow for the throngs of fans who scour message boards in their cubicles during the week; that thrive on the “what if?” discussions that make the off-season survivable.

Those same fans hold their breath every Saturday that certain players don’t roll over a heap of players the wrong way, or take an opposing helmet in exactly the wrong spot on their body.

Last year’s national title game was exhibit A of the importance of preparing backup players for unsuspecting moments. Garrett Gilbert had no idea, nor intention for that matter, to play all but six plays against Alabama after Colt McCoy’s shoulder left him hopelessly on the sideline.

There are plenty of guys in the ACC who fans will be equally as apprehensive about a potential sidelining this fall.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech

There’s no way Virginia Tech can compete for the ACC title, let alone the national championship without its senior quarterback. Taylor enters his fourth season as the starting quarterback for the Hokies, third in a full-time role. His numbers as a passer took a substantial leap in his junior season, but more important than his stats were his complete grasp of the team.

There are other offensive stars – Ryan Williams and Darren Evans specifically – but the entire team looks up to Taylor as its face. He earned the complete respect of his teammates when he led an 88-yard drive to beat Nebraska last season.

The expectations in Blacksburg are as high as they’ve ever been, and it all hinges on Taylor being under center. His backups are Logan Thomas and JuJu Clayton, listed as co-no. 2’s on the depth chart. Neither is ready to be handed the reins to a Division I offense yet. Thomas is a freak athlete who reminds many people physically of Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor. Clayton is an undersized product who has neither the arm strength nor the grasp of the offense to keep the Hokies afloat in Taylor’s absence.

Montel Harris, RB, Boston College

There’s been a long line of great running backs in the Eagles’ program this past deacde, going back to William Green, Derrick Knight, Andre Callender and more. Harris is a special back who carried the ball 308 times last season for 1,457 yards. Besides Harris, the rest of the team combined to rush for 323 yards on 164 carries, less than a two yard-per carry average.

Harris is a diminutive back – he’s listed at a trim 5’10’’, 190 lbs. – but that doesn’t mean he’s not a between-the-tackles runner. Harris will put his facemask in the teeth of any front seven, and a single defender rarely tackles him. He is shifty in the open-field, but not so much that he can rely on his agility on most carries.

With the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback spot for the Eagles, as well as an inexperienced group of wide receivers, Harris will be the focal point of the offense. He should enter fall camp with a chunk of meat added to his frame, because teams aren’t going to pull any punches on him this time around.

There is nobody behind him with any experience, and if Harris goes down, it’s hard to fathom just how this offense can generate points. The Eagles seem to be a sleeper in the ACC, but even with a very good defense, they’ll need Harris to duplicate his 2009 performance – and maybe even improve on it, if that’s possible – to challenge Clemson and Florida State for the Atlantic Division title.

Torrey Smith, KR, Maryland

Most places, kick returners are as hard to replace as wastebaskets. There are exceptions to the rule of course; C.J. Spiller and Devin Hester come to mind. It won’t be long until the country knows the name Torrey Smith. There hasn’t been much attention paid to Smith so far in his career, but he is a crucial component for Maryland.

The Terrapins offense will sputter in first gear more than it will be on cruise control this year. One of the best ways they can reach scoring opportunities is for Smith to hand the offense tremendous field position.

In 2009, Smith averaged more than 25 yards per kick return, and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He is clearly the most dangerous return man in the ACC, and he could emerge as the best in the country as the season unfolds. Maryland will have a hard time winning many ballgames, but without Smith, the number of times the Terps will even cross midfield could be limited.

Kyle Parker, QB, Clemson

Prior to spring practice, Clemson fans knew Parker could very well never return to the football field in pursuit of a professional baseball career. As the college baseball season draws nearer to a close, Parker is still undecided whether he’ll come back to play quarterback for coach Dabo Swinney.
The only thing that could have happened this spring more discouraging to Tiger fans would have been if Steve Spurrier broke into Memorial Stadium and stole Howard’s Rock. Parker destroyed pitchers on a daily basis en route to an All-ACC season, while the search for his potential replacement at quarterback was a disaster.

Tajh Boyd handled the Lion’s – errr, Tiger’s – share of snaps under center in Parker’s absence, and the coaching staff hoped he could progress enough so he’d be ready if Parker does not return. Boyd did nothing in the spring game to prove that notion, completing just eight of 25 passes.

The Tigers’ running game will be strong, with Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper pairing up in the backfield. Clemson has the chance to be a dangerous team if it has an experienced elite-level signal caller.

Boyd was highly recruited out of high school, and has plenty of potential, but if Clemson wants a shot at 10 wins – a feat it has not accomplished since 1990 – it needs Parker, not Boyd, calling the shots.

Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

The Cavaliers’ road back to the top of the ACC is longer than from Charlottesville to Portland. The offense is putrid, and the defense is retooling under its new coaching staff. Dowling has garnered plenty of preseason hype as one of the best defensive backs in America.

Like 99 percent of football teams, the defense is going to be better prepared than the offense when the season begins. That gap is usually even greater when a team is under a new coaching staff.

Virginia will need its defense to not only stop its opponents from scoring, but also be opportunistic as well. If there is one game-changer on that defense, it’s Dowling. His three interceptions in 2009 were returned for an average of 23.3 yards. That’s the definition of a momentum swing.

Without its lockdown corner, Virginia will find it hard to contain the offenses of the ACC in a year in which the league is full of good ones.

Joshua Nesbitt, QB, Georgia Tech

This goes against my philosophy that Paul Johnson is better at plugging in new faces to his offense than Kenny Chesney is at writing summertime hits. Nesbitt is the essence of irreplaceable, though. In his third year operating the triple option, Nesbitt’s experience will turn this offense from a cheap liquor to a smooth-drinking vodka.

It’s probably unfair to refer to the last two editions of the Tech offense as not smooth, but wait until this fall and observe the fluidity and confidence Nesbitt will exude under center.

Tevin Washington firmly staked his claim as Nesbitt’s backup, and word out of Tech camp is that Washington could be as good as the current starter by the end of his career. Still, in an offense that relies so heavily on timing and feel by the quarterback, you cannot replace a third-year starter without a significant drop-off.

ACC Baseball Tournament Preview

The ACC Baseball Tournament gets under way Wednesday at noon with Virginia vs. Boston College

It’s finally here!

The ACC Baseball Tournament is ready to go Wednesday, where as many as six teams have a legitimate shot at winning the title.

Last season, Virginia came from the sixth seed to win the conference, and turned that into a College World Series berth.

The league is as strong as it’s ever been. Clemson, which is the top seed in Division B, is the lowest ranked of the six ACC teams in Baseball America’s Top 25.

It’s going to be hard to confidently project the results of the week, but I’m sure as hell gonna try.

Division A

#1 Virginia

The Cavaliers virtually went wire-to-wire during the ACC season as the best team in the conference. They are ranked first in the country by Baseball America and are a lock to be one of eight top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

They open the tournament Wednesday at noon against eighth seed Boston College. The Cavaliers swept the Eagles during the regular season.

UVA coach –and ACC Coach of the Year – Brian O’Connor said he would start Cody Winiarski on the mound in this game. Winiarski went 5-0 with a 4.23 ERA this season.

The Cavaliers will then face Florida State at 4 p.m. Thursday. The two teams met in the first conference series of the season in early March, with Virginia taking two of three from the Seminoles.

Phil Gosselin is the star of Virginia’s offense. He was named first team All-ACC, the only position player on the Cavs’ roster to earn such honors. Gosselin was very impressive, especially towards the end of the regular season. He batted .379 with seven home runs, 21 doubles and 49 RBI. He also stole 15 bases.

Danny Hultzen will rest the first two games, and unless Virginia is in a must-win situation against Miami on Saturday, he will pitch in the championship game. The ACC Pitcher of the Year finished with a 2.08 ERA – nearly a full point better than the next best pitcher in the league.

#4 Miami

The Hurricanes are a team carried by a small group of players. The most important player for Miami is catcher Yasmani Grandal. He earned ACC Player of the Year honors by leading the league with a .428 batting average, 13 home runs and 54 RBI. Grandal is far and away the most complete hitter in the conference.

Miami has a lot to play for this weekend. They are slated to host an NCAA Regional, according to ESPN, but that would evade the ‘Canes grasp with a poor showing in Greensboro.

They could surely use that home-field advantage. They had an 18-game home winning streak snapped in the second game of their series with Virginia last week.

It’s going to be a tough opener for the ‘Canes. Freshman pitcher Chris Whaley will make his second career start against the Seminoles on Wednesday. In 26 appearances this year, Whaley is 4-1 with a 4.58 ERA. He has plenty of innings of worked, but putting him up against Florida State with so much on the line is risky.

Miami doesn’t have much choice, though. Eric Erickson, a usual starter, will miss the tournament with an elbow injury.

Chris Hernandez, a first team all-conference pitcher, will start against Boston College on Thursday. That should be enough for Miami to feel comfortable about that game. Which leaves the all-important game Saturday against Virginia.

Miami lost the series to Virginia last week, and the one game it won was in extra innings. For a team that doesn’t play nearly as well away from home, it will need a magical performance to emerge from the division on top.

#5 Florida State

The Seminoles have to be careful not to let a late-season slide carry over into Greensboro. A week ago, Florida State expected to be the top seed in Division B as champions of the Atlantic Division. Instead, the ‘Noles went to Clemson and got whipped by the Tigers.

Three straight losses relegated Florida State to this division, where two of the three teams will be top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

That being said, the Seminoles went 5-4 during the regular season against the other teams in the division. They lost twice to Virginia, but took two of three from Miami and Boston College.

However, Miami led in 25 of the 27 innings against Florida State this year, and the Hurricanes are hungry to prove their worth. It’s going to be a grind-it-out kind of weekend for the Seminoles.

Florida State bats .296 as a team, virtually the same as Boston College and Miami, who bat .295 each. Virginia is light years ahead of all three at .335.

The Seminoles have a good chance to beat Miami using a young pitcher. However, the ‘Noles pitching staff posted a horrid 13.09 ERA against Clemson, killing any momentum the team could have had.

Boston College could be tricky, because the Eagles are on the NCAA bubble (I thought I wouldn’t have to use that word for 10 more months dammit!).

If the Seminoles can slide past Miami on Wednesday, they have a chance to make the finals. If they have a poor showing for the fourth straight game, count them out.

#8 Boston College

As mentioned before, the Eagles will be fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives this week. ESPN pegs them as one of the final five at-large teams that will make the field.

The Eagles went 1-8 against the other teams in the division, not a convincing statistic.

They are only in the tournament after the third tiebreaker ruled them ahead of North Carolina for the final seed in the tournament.

The Eagles’ team ERA is the second worst in the league at 6.58. Thankfully for them, they avoided the more offensively potent division which includes Georgia Tech and Clemson, but there is still little proof their pitching staff can contain the likes of Virginia, Miami and Florida State.

Not only is the defense suspect, but the Eagles’ bats are in the bottom half of the league in nearly every significant category. They scored the least amount of runs of any team in the tournament, which kind of makes you wonder how they made it this far.

Off the hate train now, but at best the Eagles will win one game this weekend, and that’s if Florida State is in the dumps.

DIVISION B

#2 Clemson

There’s no better feeling in sports than to be red-hot heading into the postseason. That’s exactly what the Tigers are, coming off an emotional sweep of Florida State at home to clinch the Atlantic Division.

On a side note, Clemson became the first school in the expansion era of the ACC to win its division in both football and baseball.

While we’re on the subject of the two sports, Kyle Parker is not only the leader on the gridiron, but on the diamond as well.

Parker tied for the conference lead with 18 home runs. He also batted at a .373 clip and drove in 56 runs, which was third on the team.

Jeff Schaus led the league with 71 RBI, and John Hinson was seventh with 60.

Needless to say, the Tigers can score runs in bunches.

They avoid facing Deck McGuire, the Georgia Tech ace, and will face Matthew Price, the third best starter for Virginia Tech.

I really like Clemson right now. They scored the third most runs in the league, and they are playing very well. This division is chock full of offensive prowess, and Clemson is well equipped for some slugfests.

If it comes down to pitching, Clemson is in a bit of trouble. The Tigers’ staff is only average, and when they faced Georgia Tech earlier this year, the Jackets scored 23 runs in three games, all won by Tech.

Expect the Tigers to be in some high-scoring affairs every day.

#3 Georgia Tech

Talent-wise, Georgia Tech has the best chance outside of Virginia to win this tournament. The Jackets are absolutely loaded offensively and have a couple knockout pitchers on their side.

The problem with Tech is inconsistency.

The Yellow Jackets dropped a series at home to Virginia Tech during the regular season and did the same at North Carolina State, but they did sweep Clemson.

You just never know which Georgia Tech ball club will show up. The Yellow Jackets have won nine of their last 11 games, though.

Tony Plagman is a monster at first base. He tied with Parker for the league lead in home rusn, and bats clean-up for a lineup that produced 111 home runs in 55 games.

That’s a two-home run per game average. They won’t have any trouble getting people across the plate.

Deck McGuire is going to take the mound in game one on Thursday night against Virginia Tech. McGuire is rated as the best pro prospect in the ACC, and has the best control of perhaps any pitcher in the country.

If Georgia Tech puts together a solid weekend of baseball, they should expect to be playing on Sunday. That’s a big if.

#6 Virginia Tech

The Hokies are the only team coming into the tournament from this division not on a hot streak. Tech dropped its last four games to end the season, including a sweep at the hands of North Carolina.

To be fair, the Heels were playing for their postseason lives, and are much more talented than just about any team sitting at home already.

Still, there are several question marks surrounding the Hokies entering Greensboro.

Jesse Hahn, the usual Sunday starting pitcher, has struggled since returning from an elbow injury. He has started in two of the last four losses for Tech, and coach Pete Hughes wants to rest him until a potential championship game appearance.

Hahn will be ready to pitch Saturday against N.C. State if it is necessary.

Tech has a strong lineup, fitting in well with the rest of the division. The pitching staff is also fairly deep, as noted by strong play in the month without Hahn.

There is probably not a more balanced team in the league in terms of good hitting and good pitching, with the exception of Virginia.

Austin Wates and Steve Domecus are the leaders on offense. They are both near the top of the conference in terms of batting average and runs batted in.

The Hokies might have the best bench of any team in the league, which could prove vital in tight ball games when situational hitting is crucial.

The Hokies were swept by Clemson early in the year, but did win the series against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

The injury to Hahn is tough, but the Hokies’ two best pitchers left will face Georgia Tech and Clemson. While they could win both of those, a realistic scenario is a split of those two games and a chance to clinch the division against the Wolfpack on Saturday night.

#7 North Carolina State

Despite being seeded low, the Wolfpack scored more runs than anyone else in the ACC this year with 532. The number wouldn’t have been as high had they not slammed LaSalle for 65 runs in three games to open the season.

In all seriousness, though, they have a good enough offense to make a run this week.

They were the only team to beat Virginia in a series this season, winning 6-5 in 11 innings on Friday, then 7-6 on Sunday, April 4 in the rubber match.

They also took two of three from Georgia Tech late in the year, which was the beginning of a stretch where the ‘Pack won 10 of 13 games to end the regular season.

Just like Georgia Tech and Clemson, the Wolfpack are playing well at the right time.

Outfielder Drew Poulk is the offensive star for a powerful lineup. He batted .367 on the year with 13 home runs and 67 RBI.

The Wolfpack have the look of a team that could surprise some people this weekend, as they have on several occasions this season. They play their best baseball against their toughest competition, which means the rest of their division will be in for a battle.

If they can get consistent pitching for their second and third starters, there’s no reason the Wolfpack can’t sneak up and win a wide-open division.

Here are my predictions for how the weekend will unfold:

DIV. A	UVA	MIAMI	FSU	BC	Total
UVA		Virginia	Virginia	Virginia	3-0
MIAMI	Virginia		Florida St.	Miami	1-2
FSU	Virginia	Florida St.		Florida St	2-1
BC	Virginia	Miami	Florida St.		0-3
Total	3-0	1-2	2-1	0-3

DIV. B	CLEM	GT	VT	NC ST	Total
CLEM.		Clemson	Va. Tech	Clemson	2-1
GT	Clemson		Ga. Tech	NC State	1-2
VT	Va Tech	Ga Tech		Va Tech	2-1
NC ST	Clemson	NC State	Va Tech		1-2
Total	2-1	1-2	2-1	1-2

Finals: VIRGINIA over Virginia Tech

Crucial games across the board in baseball’s final weekend

It all comes down to this.

The ACC baseball regular season concludes on Saturday, and nobody really knows much about how things are going to end up.

No team has locked up a certain position for next week’s conference tournament, and nine teams are still eligible for the final eight spots.

The top two teams in the standings are going to battle, and two of the three teams that have already been eliminated from postseason play are meeting up, meaning that eight of the nine teams still with a chance to make the tournament are playing each other.

That should make for an interesting weekend.

Virginia (43-9, 21-6) at Miami (38-13, 19-8)

Thursday’s probable starters – UVA: Danny Hultzen (7-1, 1.98 ERA); Miami: Jason Santana (5-3, 5.86 ERA)

Friday’s probable starters – UVA: Robert Morey (8-2, 3.30 ERA); Miami: Chris Hernandez (8-2, 3.04 ERA)

Saturday’s probable staters – UVA: Cody Winiarski (5-0, 4.30 ERA); Miami: Eric Erickson (4-1, 2.52 ERA)

The Cavaliers enter Miami needing only one victory to clinch the regular season conference championship. This series pits the teams with the two best earned run averages in the league. Hultzen is the most dominant pitcher the conference has to offer, and Morey is coming off a complete game three-h

itter against North Carolina last weekend. The Cavaliers, who are ranked No. 1 in the country according to Baseball America, have a great offense top-to-bottom, led by second baseman Phil Gosselin. Gosselin is second in the league with a. 386 batting average; he has also stolen 15 bases.

There’s a very good chance Virginia will take at least one game in this series, despite playing in a tough environment on the road. The Miami fans are notoriously ruthless, but that won’t bother the Cavs, who are one of the favorites to win the national championship.

Virginia Tech (36-16, 16-11) at North Carolina (33-20, 11-16)

Thursday’s probables – VT: Justin Wright (7-3, 3.14 ERA); UNC: Matt Harvey (6-3, 2.72 ERA)

Friday’s probables – VT: Matthew Price (7-3, 4.74 ERA); UNC: Chris Munnelly (2-2, 5.06 ERA)

Saturday’s probables – VT: Jesse Hahn (5-3, 3.06 ERA); UNC: Patrick Johnson (5-3, 3.53 ERA)

This series has the most impact of any taking place this weekend in the conference. North Carolina is one game behind NC State for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament, while Virginia Tech has a chance to move up to as high as third place in the league by Saturday.

The Tar Heels’ biggest concern is the fact that the Wolfpack are playing Duke, one of the three teams with no shot at the conference tournament. The ‘Pack likely won’t lose that series, so the Heels need a sweep of the Hokies realistically to have a chance at the postseason.

Virginia Tech on the other hand, trails Miami and Georgia Tech by three games in the standings. The Hurricanes could possibly be swept by Virginia (though not likely if Virginia clinches the conference by winning the first or second game). Georgia Tech is on the road against Boston College, a team the Hokies swept at the end of April. Right on the Hokies’ heels is Clemson, which is one game back from fifth place. If Tech falters in Chapel Hill, the Tigers could jump up to fifth place – they earn the tiebreaker between the Hokies.

North Carolina is coming off an emotional series at Virginia. The Cavaliers swept the Heels in three low-scoring affairs. Two of those games ended in walk-off hits. Harvey pitches with great command and is very good at getting batters out. He can get himself out of trouble and make it look easy.

Tech catcher Steve Domecus was named co-player of the week in the ACC this past weekend for his play against Duke. Domecus had at least three hits in every game against the Blue Devils, including four RBI in an 18-8 win on Saturday.

This series is crucial to both teams entering Thursday, and depending on how other games around the league turn out, it could change the landscape of this matchup as the weekend unfolds.

Other notable games

Georgia Tech (42-10, 19-8) at Boston College (28-24, 13-14)

There’s one statistic that speaks volumes about how explosive the Georgia Tech offense is. The Yellow Jackets have hit more home runs this season than Duke, North Carolina and Maryland combined. Tech is one of the more up-and-down teams in the league, and that inconsistency will surely plague them if it carries over into the postseason. However, Boston College’s pitching is less than stellar, and it’s hard to imagine them containing the powerful Tech lineup.

Player to watch: Deck McGuire, SP Georgia Tech

McGuire is the Yellow Jackets’ ace, with a 7-3 record and a 2.91 ERA. He is a projected first-round pick in next month’s MLB draft. When he’s on the mound, it’s hard to beat Georgia Tech. He was on the hill last weekend when Tech thumped Miami 14-3.

If Miami can sweep Virginia and Tech takes all three from Boston College, the Jackets would earn the top seed in the conference tournament. A strong start to the series would be ideal, and McGuire usually does a good job of that.

Florida State (39-13, 18-9) at Clemson (34-19, 15-12)

The top two teams in the Atlantic Division (which literally means nothing) meet up with Clemson needing a sweep to take the top seed in Division B for next week’s tournament.

Both teams are right in the middle of the league in terms of offense, and Florida State has better pitching. The Seminoles are a much better team at home than on the road, and Clemson is not an easy place to get road wins.

Keep an eye on the Tigers’ Kyle Parker, who is tied for the league lead with 18 home runs. He is the heart of the Clemson lineup, and the most powerful hitter in the ACC. How he finishes the season this week and in the postseason will go a long way in determining his pro baseball draft status, which will ultimately determine whether he returns to the football field next fall.

It’s going to be a great weekend to follow ACC baseball, and it’s very possible the standings will look nothing on Saturday night like they do Thursday morning. Hopefully a weekend of exciting baseball will be a precursor to next week in Greensboro.