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TNIAAM ACC Football 2013 Power Rankings: Week 11

Since Syracuse is part of the ACC, it would make sense for us to have some weekly power rankings here, wouldn't it? Well, we do!

Mike Ehrmann

Each week, the TNIAAM football staff will be ranking all 14 ACC teams in a completely subjective manner, just like everyone else on the internet. Feel like we're completely off base? Chime in with your own ACC power rankings below.

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This is getting monotonous. Every week, Florida State goes out onto a football field on Saturday. And every week they scorch the earth and leave that other team burning in a fire. So don't be shocked when you find out the same thing happened to Miami this past weekend. The 'Noles winning the ACC appears to be an inevitability at this point. That is, unless Duke shows up to the ACC title game and goes all #goacc on their asses...

Interested in seeing the individual voter breakdown? Check out the Google Doc here!

1. Florida State Seminoles (8-0) (6-0) (LW: 1)

Last Week: W, 41-14 over Miami; Next Week: at Wake Forest

Highest Position: 1; Lowest Position: 1

Even when Jameis Winston throws two interceptions, it ends up not mattering at all. Florida State's running game and defense more than picked up the slack for the Seminoles and the last legitimate obstacle to an unbeaten regular season appears to be over with. We'll have plenty to say about it before the 16th, but FSU is going to kill us.

2. Clemson Tigers (8-1) (6-1) (LW: 3)

Last Week: W, 59-10 over Virginia; Next Week: BYE

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 3

Finally, Clemson looks like the team they're supposed to be. Tajh Boyd absolutely lit up the Virginia secondary, and the Tigers might have finally recovered from getting thrashed by FSU. With just three games remaining, a BCS bid is still very much in play for Clemson (something that's been lost in the pro-'Noles narrative).

3. Miami Hurricanes (7-1) (3-1) (LW: 2)

Last Week: L, 41-14 to Florida State; Next Week: vs. Virginia Tech

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 3

Miami didn't just lose to Florida State, they lost a perception battle, and of course, Duke Johnson for the remainder of the year. There's still a lot of schedule left to figure out who this team is, but the 'Canes may not like what's up next. A reeling Hokies team screams trap game, while a resurgent Duke squad sends off the same alerts. Dallas Crawford should be a suitable replacement for Johnson, however, it's both that truly made the Miami backfield special.

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-3) (5-2) (LW: 4)

Last Week: W, 21-10 over Pittsburgh; Next Week: BYE

Highest Position: 4; Lowest Position: 4

Tech didn't look overly impressive against Pitt, but a win's a win, and if nothing else, the defense has been great for several weeks in a row now. The Yellow Jackets are still in the Coastal race, though they do not control their own destiny. A win over Clemson in two weeks isn't out of the question, and if they pull it off, it could rewrite this entire odd season.

5. Duke Blue Devils (6-2) (2-2) (LW: 6)

Last Week: BYE; Next Week: vs. NC State

Highest Position: 5; Lowest Position: 8

How is this happening? Duke can't be the fifth-best team in the ACC, right? Well, until another team asserts themselves, here we are. Given NC State's recent struggles, we could be looking at a 7-2 Duke team by next Saturday night... think about that. Syracuse, you're messing this scheduling thing up. Also, Dan and I totally called this back in June.

T-6. Boston College Eagles (4-4) (2-3) (LW: 10)

Last Week: W, 34-27 over Virginia Tech; Next Week: at New Mexico State

Highest Position: 5; Lowest Position: 7

This Boston College team scored its first marquee win of the Addazio era -- and one that sets them up very well to return to the postseason. Whether these players are incredibly talented or just good at being "dudes," it doesn't matter all that much. The rebuilding job appears to be going very well, and should things go south for the Orange, perhaps we're looking at Chestnut Hill with a bit of envy later this fall...

T-6. Virginia Tech Hokies (6-3) (3-2) (LW: 5)

Last Week: L, 34-27 to Boston College; Next Week: at Miami

Highest Position: 5; Lowest Position: 8

That time Virginia Tech was No. 14 in the BCS rankings THIS SEASON was fun. Now, well, the Hokies are in a bit of a freefall. The offense has been a problem all year, but now the defense is starting to show some signs of cracking. No offense to BC, but if you're allowing 34 to the Eagles, things are likely not going well for you right now.

8. Syracuse Orange (4-4) (2-2) (LW: 11)

Last Week: W, 13-0 over Wake Forest; Next Week: at Maryland

Highest Position: 6; Lowest Position: 10

Gonna be honest, I don't buy this jump for Syracuse. Yes, we won. But the first-half offense was deplorable and the Orange were greatly assisted by Michael Campanaro's early injury. SU is 4-4, but those wins are all couched by the general public, and the losses seem to look worse with each passing week. A win over a banged-up Maryland team won't help matters, though it's not as if I'll turn it down.

9. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4) (2-3) (LW: 8)

Last Week: L, 24-21 to Navy; Next Week: at Georgia Tech

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 11

Pittsburgh is the poster child for the middling "ACC bag of enigma" that every team from No. 4 through No. 12 inhabits in this conference. At times, they've looked downright competent -- a 58-55 win over Duke sticks out as pretty impressive in hindsight. But then there's the fact that the offense has turned into an absolute sham. Tom Savage gonna Tom Savage. And Pitt will forever be caught in a vicious spiral of not knowing what it is.

10. Maryland Terrapins (5-3) (1-3) (LW: 9)

Last Week: BYE; Next Week: vs. Syracuse

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 12

C.J. Brown should be back against Syracuse, which is unfortunate for the Orange. On the bright side (for us), still no Stefon Diggs and Deon Long, which means the SU secondary won't get tested as much as they would otherwise. The Terps look like a shadow of their former selves, but Syracuse can't really score. Again: ACC Bag of Enigma. There are very few outcomes that would surprise me here.

11. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-5) (1-3) (LW: 12)

Last Week: W, 27-19 over NC State; Next Week: vs. Virginia

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 12

Don't look now, but UNC is putting themselves in prime position for the postseason. Next week, the latest edition of the South's Oldest Rivalry provides another opportunity for a win against a subpar opponent. Seriously, why weren't we placed in the Coastal? Just trouncing fools all day over there sounds a lot more fun than getting placed in a body bag by Clemson and Florida State (pending). Of course, then we'd have to face Georgia Tech every year, so... nevermind.

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-5) (2-4) (LW: 7)

Last Week: L, 13-0 to Syracuse; Next Week: vs. Florida State

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 12

Last week was miserable for Wake because not only did they lose to Syracuse (congrats!), but they also lost leading receiver Michael Campanaro for the season (sorry, guys!). The Campanaro loss is what's going to really affect this coming Saturday, however. The Deacons may want to request a running clock, or just lay in the fetal position, or take intentional safeties or something.

13. NC State Wolfpack (3-5) (0-5) (LW: 13)

Last Week: L, 27-19 to North Carolina; Next Week: at Duke

Highest Position: 13; Lowest Position: 14

The Wolfpack appear dead set on making Syracuse's win over them look as unimpressive as possible. Now, no matter who's throwing the ball for State, it seems that the offense might as well not exist. The struggle with a new system and a host of new players was predictable. And yet, every "expert" thought this was an eight-win team this season. Let that marinate for a second, and then laugh uncontrollably.

14. Virginia Cavaliers (2-7) (0-5) (LW: 14)

Last Week: L, 59-10 to Clemson; Next Week: at North Carolina

Highest Position: 13; Lowest Position: 14

Virginia, it's going to get better. I don't know when. But it likely involves Mike London being forcibly removed from his position. This won't go well, since he's an ex-cop, but UVa administrators will try. This is the best I can do to make Hoos fans feel better about things. Humor cures most things, as every Syracuse fan can tell you from the Gerg days. Chin up, pals.