The 2011 college football bowl season is slated to include eight ACC teams, as there are eight ACC bowl tie-ins. However, it is possible for the ACC to snag more or less depending on the performance of the conference's teams. This year the ACC looks par for the course, though it is more likely to send fewer teams than more.
The two teams from The Commonwealth of Virginia were able to hold on to wins this week, as Virginia put together an impressive performance at Coastal Division foe Miami, coming away with a 28-21 win, and the Hokies were able to just squeak by the Duke Blue Devils in Durham Saturday afternoon.
As for Maryland, they allowed a previously FBS-winless Boston College team to come into College Park and embarrass them 28-17 in front of a home crowd eager to see the Terps make up some ground in the ACC Atlantic Division. The Terrapins fall to 2-6 (1-4), so their chances of going bowling in 2011-12 are effectively over.
Clemson was brought to its knees for the first time Saturday night in Atlanta by Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets may have just provided the gameplan for a Coastal Division team to beat the Tigers in the ACC Championship Game and advance to the Orange Bowl. The win allows Georgia Tech the opportunity to again control their own ACC destiny, including a home matchup for the Coastal Division title against Virginia Tech two weeks from now. The winner of that game will be meeting Clemson in the ACC Championship in a rematch with BCS implications. Below is how I have projected the ACC bowl teams provided they meet their eight tie-ins.
AdvoCare V100 Independence: Miami
Belk: Wake Forest
Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman: Virginia
Champs Sports: North Carolina
Franklin American Mortgage Music City: Florida State
Hyundai Sun: Virginia Tech
Chick-fil-A: Clemson
Discover Orange: Georgia Tech
Here is a full link to all of the bowls scheduled for the 2011-12 NCAA bowl season.