Each week seems like an opportunity for the Clemson Tigers to regress to their typical form, playing down to their competition and losing games they shouldn't lose. It has been the season's road map for Clemson for years now - a talented team that just cannot be trusted to show up week in and week out. In 2011, the Tigers have managed to elude that trap game, going 7-0 through the first seven weeks of the season. Trailing 35-17 in the second half against Maryland last week, it looked like the Tigers would fall in College Park before Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins went off on the Terps.
In the Atlantic Division, Wake Forest trails the Tigers by one game after losing to Virginia Tech at home last weekend. At the mid-point of the conference schedule, it appears the Tigers and Demon Deacons will be the two teams challenging for a spot in the ACC title game. Florida State, Maryland, and NC State all have two losses in conference, while BC remains winless.
As has been the case with the ACC in recent years, the Coastal Division is a mess with four teams with one conference loss. After dominating Wake Forest, who was previously unbeaten in conference, Virginia Tech looks to be the class of the Coastal Division with Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets fell on the road at Virginia, their first loss of the season as the students charged the field in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers and Duke are both 1-1 in the Coastal, with Miami and North Carolina bringing up the rear of the division. Virginia Tech will host a lowly BC team in Blacksburg on Saturday afternoon.
Atlantic
Conf. Record
Overall Record
Clemson
4-0
7-0
Wake Forest
3-1
4-2
Florida State
1-2
3-3
Maryland
1-2
2-4
North Carolina State
0-2
3-3
Boston College
0-3
1-5
Coastal |
Conf. Record | Overall Record |
| Georgia Tech |
3-1 | 6-1 |
| Virginia Tech | 2-1 | 6-1 |
| Virginia | 1-1 | 4-2 |
| Duke | 1-1 | 3-3 |
| Miami | 1-2 | 3-3 |
| North Carolina | 1-2 | 5-2 |