Gerrymandering in Texas and California have been hot political topics this year. The Atlantic Coast Conference has managed to gerrymander its conference race.
Louisville beat Miami 2 Fridays ago in what may have been a contest between the ACC’s 2 best teams. Yet, a skewed schedule may prevent either from being in the ACC championship game because….
Neither Georgia Tech or Virginia have lost a conference game this year (Virginia’s loss to NC State was deemed a non-conference game). Both of their conference schedules are tissue soft compared to others. Inequities are to be expected in a 8-game conference format where you only play half of the other members. STILL, what happened to the schedules this year was shocking. Georgia Tech has already surmounted the Clemson hurdle and a pesky test at Duke. But, no Miami, Louisville or SMU on the Rambling Wreck’s schedule.
Similar to Georgia Tech, Virginia has already surmounted what was deemed to be its most formidable conference foe at Louisville. The Cavaliers needed 2 non-offensive TD’s to overcome an off day from Chandler Morris and Company. If nothing else, Virginia is clutch as they possess one of the more amazing stats: 3 overtime voctories. Of course, they have to show the world they can actually beat their in-state nemesis. While the Cavaliers also beat Florida State, notables not on their schedule include SMU, Miami, Pitt and Clemson.
Meanwhile, the conference must have been pissed that SMU went undefeated in ACC play last year. The Mustangs may have the most challenging conference schedule. Clemson, Miami and Louisville are on the schedule. It was ironic that their first conference loss since 1922 was inflicted by “none of above.” Last Saturday, the Mustangs succumbed to a Wake Forest squad that is worlds better than anybody thought. Further irony: How can a supposedly explosive SMU offense be the recipient of 5 Wake turnovers and score only 12 points. A blocked extra point was the margin in the 13-12 upset at the hands of the Demon Deacons.
Louisville’s conference schedule is also worlds more difficult than that of Virginia or Georgia Tech. The Cardinals slate includes Clemson, SMU, Miami and Pitt.
So, the ACC championship game may be entertaining but does not guarantee a “true” winner. What is championship caliber is the commentary duo of Mike Richt and Dave Clawson on the ACC network. The duo is a brilliant combnation of intellegent, self-deprecating and hilarious. Who would ever think that Richt, afflicted by Parkinson’s, would talk about how his lack of smell prevents him from knowing how hadly he farted?