Two teams moving in opposite directions will face off for the ACC Championship next Saturday evening at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Virginia Tech Hokies (11-1, 7-1 ACC), champions of the Coastal Division and winners of seven straight games, will be matched up against the Atlantic Division-winning Clemson Tigers (9-3, 6-2 ACC), losers of three of four games after beginning the season 8-0.
Virginia Tech's lone loss of the season came at the hands of Clemson, a 23-3 defeat on October 1 that seemed to wake up the Hokies and begin their seven game winning streak. This championship game appearance will be Virginia Tech's fifth since joining the ACC, and they most certainly have revenge on their minds.
If Clemson were to right the ship and defeat the Hokies, it would be the Tigers first ACC title since 1991, and would give Clemson a 10-win season for the first time since 1990.
Clemson's recent struggles can be attributed mainly to poor offensive line play, as the Tigers have rushed for just 97 yards a game in going 1-3 to finish the regular season. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has been sacked 13 times in that span, including five times in Clemson's 34-13 loss to South Carolina on Saturday.
Those offensive line woes might cause major problems against a Virginia Tech team that held in-state rival Virginia to just 30 yards rushing Saturday, with the Hokies forcing 4 turnovers, in a 38-0 demolition of the Cavaliers.
For more news and notes on the Tigers, be sure to follow SB Nation's Clemson blog Shakin the Southland. For all your Hokies needs, visit SB Nation's Virginia Tech blog Gobbler Country.