Mr. College Football

By David A

August 27, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

I would love to see Clemson come away with a win Saturday but historically the odds are against the Tigers. They simply don’t fare well against SEC competition (excluding S. Car.), don’t play well in the Ga Dome (2-4), and it feels like Alabama is very focused on this game while Clemson is already looking ahead to the ACC championship.

By bb

August 27, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Again, I would like to see the same stats listed for the other major conferences. We know the SEC has done well in BCS games, but what is their record vs top 10, top 25???

I know that the SECs record against all BCS OOC opponents in the last 3 years is only slightly better than .500, so I have to assume their record against top 10 OOC and top 25 OOC opponents is somewhere south of .500.

Numbers please.

By GeoffDawg

August 27, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

Is Tony your secretary? Why don’t you do the research?

By KR

August 27, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Wake wins; NC State and Virginia lose; and it’s a toss-up between Clemson and Alabama.

Even if Clemson wins, 2 and 2 is hardly stepping up on the out of conference front.

By Laughable

August 27, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

The numbers aren’t there cause the SEC don’t play ranked OOC opponents! Unless you count Appy St!

By Old GT Nut

August 27, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

ACC is so clearly in FULL PR/SPIN mode for Clemson. Is it not BLATANTLY OBVIOUS the ACC leadership WANTs(NEEDs) Clemson to win the ACC for PR & money purposes?

FOLKS, THIS I GUARANTEE:

Clemson is going to get ALL the “help” they need along the way. In ACC play, especially vs. ACC-Atlantic teams, Clemson is gonna get the benefit of every bogus referee call, and questionable play…IN EVERY GAME…ALL YEAR LONG. I expect A LOT of “holding” calls vs. Clemson opponents. A LOT.

In 2007, the ACC PR machine was backing/hyping BC & Matt Ryan all year. In 2008, all you’ve heard since the July ACC Conference meeting was Clemson, Clemson, Clemson. And that’s ALL you’re gonna hear.

For all you GT fans, do you remember last year the two ridiculous referee calls against GT during BC game: the out-of-bounds call(directly in front of the sideline ref) on Greg Smith that nullified a first down; or that unbelievable pass interference call on Gary Guyton? Try youtube for a refresher. Both were disgusting.

ACC Commissioner John Swofford and the ACC leadership have painted themsevleves into a bad corner. Clemson had BETTER win the ACC or Swofford’s gonna pay dearly. Frankly, I would suggest the ACC hire someone from the SEC’s PR machine. They’re doing a much better job than the current ACC leadership. If you can’t beat’em…hire’em.

Gentlmen, go ahead and set your Tivo’s now cause you’re gonna see some real BS calls benefiting Clemson this year. Are you reading me, FSU & WF ??

By tbia

August 27, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Roswell Ed must be sick.

Six replies and no declaration of Auburn as the most unstoppable force in college football history?

Get well soon, big guy.

By ClemsonDude

August 27, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Clemson has a bad history in Atlanta or even in the the state of Georgia for that matter but can the Tigers step it up against Alabama. I should hope h#ll they do. I am so tired of losing to SEC teams ( SC is not a true SEC team). Clemson usaually plays very well against SEC schools but finds some way to lose to them. I beleive this is the year the Tigers can turn the tide around. Yes we can!!!!! Clemson 31 Alabama 17 GO TIGERS!!!!

By SugarHillDawg

August 27, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

I don’t see how the ACC is gonna be able to step it up. They aren’t and won’t get the blue chip players that the SEC gets(except for FSU and Miami) and those 2 teams have NOT been getting enough. They are gonna be the triple A league between 1-AA and 1-A.

By wes

August 27, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

The SEC has better coaching…NOT better athletes.

Just take a look at the last 3-4 years in the NFL draft. The numbers were basically identical.

The coaching in the ACC has been the pits. But bringing in Paul Johnson and David Cutcliffe versus keeping Chan Gailey and Ted Roof was a step in the right direction.

Next to go?

Al Groh and, hate to say it, Randy Shannon. Both high-character guys, both really bad coaches.

The ACC is FINALLY steering this whole football thing in the right direction.

This year, expect more of the same.

By wes

August 27, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

Just look at SugarHillDawg’s comments, Tony.

How IGNORANT can one possibly get?

The NFL drafted 33 guys from the ACC last year. I guess all those GM’s in THE LEAGUE have no eye for talent.

By Monty

August 27, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Spiller and Davis can’t do it alone for Clemson. Harper is vastly overrated. And, the OL stinks. I saw the BC, VT and Auburn games on TV last year and all I saw was an average club that got pushed around by better teams on the line of scrimmage. Spiller and Davis could not even find a hole to run through in those games. Same thing happens in the dome. The Crimson Tide roll all over Clemson on Saturday … 31-13.

RTR!!!!!!!!!!

By sc

August 27, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

The ACC will be a great conference when FSU and MIAMI are back to winning. It won’t be a great conference until then.

By marshdawg

August 27, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Alabama/Clemson? Being a Dawg fan, it is very hard to root for Clemson, one of UGA’s biggest non-conference rivals. And any team that wears orange colors really are not high on our list. Then you have the hated Nick Saban. Nobody roots for this guy. He seems to have no remorse in jumping from team to team for the most money he can get his hands on. So, do you root for Bama, just because they are SEC, and it will look better for UGA when we play them. They won’t have an ugly loss to Clemson on their early schedule. If Bama and Uga are undefeated when they meet it will give us a little more national buildup for remaining at the top of the AP standings. I really hate this, but gotta go for Alabama on this one. Nick Saban or not.

By Another Ed

August 27, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

On paper, there is no reason Clemson should not win. The projected champion of the ACC should always beat a mid-level SEC team. ‘Bama is projected as #6 or so in the SEC. Why should the ACC team slated to win the conference not win?

The one big difference is Saban is coaching ‘Bama and Tommy Bowden coaches Clemson. We just never know what we will get with Bowden. Saban still does not have the talent to be where he wants. Bowden is being listed a a national championship contender.

As a ‘Bama fan, I can hope they win, yet I figure Clemson wins by 10 or so.

By Another Ed

August 27, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

On paper, there is no reason Clemson should not win. The projected champion of the ACC should always beat a mid-level SEC team. ‘Bama is projected as #6 or so in the SEC. Why should the ACC team slated to win the conference not win?

The one big difference is Saban is coaching ‘Bama and Tommy Bowden coaches Clemson. We just never know what we will get with Bowden. Saban still does not have the talent to be where he wants. Bowden is being listed as a national championship contender.

As a ‘Bama fan, I can hope they win, yet I figure Clemson wins by 10 or so.

By saddlecreek

August 27, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

To be a good football team, conference, there are four things needed. Good quarterback play, good defense, a good running back, and a good coach. During the 1990’s, the acc had all of them(not all the teams, just the good teams-just like the sec today). Today, the sec has the best quarterbacks, defense and runing backs. The acc has not had a good quarterback(except Matt Ryan)in almost ten years. Georgia has them all today. If not for the tough skedule, Georgia would be a lock for the NC. Even with a great team, they have a killer skedule. The acc will catch up with the sec when talented qb’s decide to attend school there(if ever!). You must have all four to have great teams….

By GT GRAD

August 27, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

The ACC does need to improve; however, the same set of “numbers” for the SEC and the Big 10 would show that the ACC is not as far behind as this article implies. Also, the ACC plays stronger out of conference teams (overall top to bottom) than the SEC or the Big 10.

I am not making excuses……..just stating facts.

I will say again, the ACC does need to step it up and start having more success on the field if we want to be considered one of the top 1-3 conferences. I personally think we are heading in the right direction!!

By Elvis

August 27, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Old GT nut…a techie complaining about bad calls? That is rich. Your’ little ball club in Atlanta has had the benefit of some historically putrid calls in the past. You know the games…check youtube.

Leave it to a techie to insert conspiracy theories. You are masters of the inferiority complex.

Bama breaks clemsons heart in the 4th quarter. Clemson: It’s auburn with a lake. RIP Lewis.

By BuzzFactor

August 27, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Clemson should beat Bama, forget the numbers game. ACC needs that, I agree.
And an upset come Thanksgiving weekend in Athens would be great for the ACC as well…

By Elvis

August 27, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Old GT nut…a techie complaining about bad calls? That is rich. Your’ little ball club in Atlanta has had the benefit of some historically putrid calls in the past. You know the games…check youtube.

Leave it to a techie to insert conspiracy theories. You are masters of the inferiority complex.

Bama breaks clemsons heart in the 4th quarter. Clemson: It’s auburn with a lake. RIP Lewis.

By IM4BAMA

August 27, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

You know, I think were all surprised by those stats, especially since Va Tech, FSU,BC and Miami joining the confernce. At least Wake stepped it up and Va Tech backed up their play.

There’s really no question that the ACC does have talent. It just doesn’t seem to have good luck or good timing.

I just know I’m looking forward to Saturday night and hopefully Bama upsetting Clemson. That is a very real possibility even with all the talent that Clemson has. Bama will be a completly different and much better team this year. After that, I hope Clemson has a great year and does something special for their fans and Bowden, like win the ACC.

By PTC DAWG

August 27, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

To those who say the SEC never plays top 10 teams, UGA plays GT every year (an ACC team that is rarely ranked, much less in the top 10 unless they are playing failing out of school flunkies) and they play Clemson somewhat regularly, the latest meeting being UGA 30 Clemson ZERO @ Clemson. Is that UGA’s fault that those ACC teams aren’t/weren’t in the top 10? Is it Southern Cal’s fault that Virginia isn’t close to being ranked?

Oh and by the way, GT and their problems with a top 10 UGA football team aren’t exactly helping the ACC’s cause here.

UGA recently had to look outside the area to find a ranked BCS OOC team to play AZ STATE.

The ACC BCS Bowl Record speaks for itself. It’s HORRIBLE. Just face it, when it comes to Football, the ACC is 2nd tier. Maybe that’s the way the old time Basketball Schools want it.

By joe

August 27, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Bama is nowhere near the 5th best team in the SEC…more like 8 or 9. Ole Miss will take #3 in west with bama taking on MS St for #4 in west. Whoever wins that game will end up #4 and loser #5. Bama doesn’t have the depth it needs to put up a good year and will start off losing to Clemson.

By DeacinGA

August 27, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

So what does all of this mean? It means that for the sake of the ACC, Clemson needs to beat Alabama Saturday night. Clemson is the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC and the closest thing the league has to a national championship contender. Miami and Florida State are still at least a year away from competing for a championship. Virginia Tech is completely rebuilding its defense. Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Boston College, and North Carolina all have first or second year coaches.

Hey Tony, so what you’re saying is that those are the only schools who could ever potentially win a national championship from the ACC? I see Wake doing it before BC or UNC. Just sayin’…

By bamafan

August 27, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Give Miami and Florida St. time and North Carolina the ACC will be a great football conference just like the SEC. I hope coach Bobby Bowden retires this year so FSU can get back to the program it was in the 90’s. Butch Davis will have the tarheels winning games real soon and the hurricances have been recruiting very well lately. Clemson should beat the crimson tide, but the defense cord. for Clemson has lit a fire under the crimson tide team and fans. Clemson just has better players than Bama right now!! The ACC will be a basketball conference first and a football conference second. The SEC is a 24/7/365 day football conference and if Saban can turn the crimson tide program around the SEC will only get better!! ROLL TIDE AND GOOD LUCK VIRGINIA AGAINST USC, YOU WILL DID IT!!

By bb

August 27, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Here are some numbers.

But first, let me say that I think the SEC has clearly been the best conference the last two year AND the ACC has been down. However, I’m tired of hearing how bad the ACC is, it is just not as bad as most in the media (and on these blogs) would like to paint.

I don’t have access to who was ranked where each week so I can’t give number vs top 10, etc.

vs OOC BCS conference opponents Last 3 years (i.e. best ever for SEC and worst for ACC) SEC 33-27 ACC 32-41 Pac10 26-20 Big10 30-31 Big12 24-26 BigEast 27-31

Last 10 years SEC 95-92 ACC 111-111 Pac10 90-84 Big10 111-106 Big12 86-91 BigEast 86-103

Not the difference you might expect given the ACC bashing that goes on. Seems to me that all of the BCS conferences are pretty close.

The SEC is 67-5 against other Div 1-a conferences in the last 3 years, but I don’t think many Sun Belt teams have been near the top 25.

My bet is, every conference’s record against top 10 and top 25 OOC opponents is south of .500. To print only the ACC’s, seems to me self serving.

By Old GT Nut

August 27, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Elvis:

Jasper Sanks 1999. I get it. Let me remind you…those were SEC officials.

As for “rich” officiating: (2007 GT vs. UGA)how about the pass interference call on GT Morgan Burnett with UGA at GT 24 with 3 & 10? Now, THAT…was a thing of beauty. Even the TV crew flipped out over how blatantly bad that one was. SEC crew…got a make sure SEC/UGA money train doesn’t get de-railed.

By goober

August 27, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Defending Div. II national champion Valdosta State University (a team from GEORGIA) beat Fort Valley State University (another team from GEORGIA) 56-3 last Saturday night in the FIRST college football game in America this year. I read about this in USA Today, but not the AJC.

The AJC is losing money, staff, talent and prestige. The Cox family will sell it within two years and it will become a conservative paper again. Or, a huge cash-cow individual like Rupert Murdoch will start a new conservative daily in Atlanta and run the AJC out of town.

We sure are going to miss you, Mr. College Football.

By Eric1

August 27, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

For Ed of Roswell: Auburn is the most unstoppable force in the SEC. Clemson Tigers rock the Dome!! War Eagle!!!

By azcat225

August 27, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Amen to all of your points, goober.

By TrueCrimson

August 27, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

An Honest Assessment of the SEC West:

I think that LSU, Alabama and Auburn are all great unknowns this year.

I find it strange that both Auburn and LSU were given such high marks at the SEC Media Days. Auburn fans are outraged that some guy in North Carolina didn’t list them on his pre-season AP Top Twenty-Five Poll.

Auburn has had slightly better than mediocre seasons for the past 2 years. They have a new Offensive Coordinator and a new Defensive Coordinator. They bring in a new offensive scheme for which they have had only one year to recruit players to fit the scheme. They have one Quarterback with limited experience, another with no experience and they can’t seem to decide which one will be the starter. Aside from the Auburn brand name, what qualifies them to be ranked in a pre-season poll?

I have heard the argument that LSU is in the same situation. Not exactly. They won the National Championship last year. (I know that Auburn played them close last year — so did Bama.) They do have a new Defensive Coordinator and they did lose their starting Quarterback in the Spring.

But… and this is a big but. (pardon the pun) They don’t bring a radically new defensive philosophy. Auburn’s OC was fired for non-performance, not because he got a better offer from another school. Perrilloux had limited experience, but he was definitely the starter. That said, he was a known problem child and I doubt that the LSU coaches didn’t have backup plans all along in case he didn’t make it through the season. It was to their benefit to lose him in the Spring versus during the season. LSU has a lot of talent to surround a new, untested Quarterback. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if they have an off year in 2008.

Alabama? They have some good, young talent. The key word there is “young”. They had to endure yet another, in a long line, of coaching changes last year and they seemed to fall apart at mid-season. They also have a new Offensive Coordinator to adjust to this year. They have the advantage of an experienced, Senior Quarterback. You can poke fun at JP all you want, but he has put up some impressive numbers. He will be taking the field behind the most talented and experienced Offensive Line that has played for the Crimson Tide since at least 2005 (before JB Closner broke his leg). There is a decent stable of healthy, experienced Running Backs and a solid group of Receivers available to him.

The big question for Bama is the Linebackers. If some of these unknown players can match the performance of true Freshman Rolando McClain in the 2007 season, then they might do well. We’ll just have to wait and see. Bama has more depth at every position than they did last year and I anticipate an improvement in overall team chemistry.

Even with all of the unknowns surrounding Auburn, LSU and Alabama — I am of the opinion that these three teams represent the Best of the West. That seems to be the consensus view of most pigskin prognosticators. I think that trying to rank them beyond that is just guesswork. I look for Ole Miss to be the “Dark Horse” in the West. Sly Croom has done an impressive job at State, but they still aren’t ready to compete for a title. Arkansas is starting from ground zero.

If I had to hazard a guess as to the eventual winner of the Division, I would have to give the nod to LSU simply because of their performance last year. Then again, they had very good teams for the past two years and they will field a very different group of players this year. I think that we’ll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.

As for the Clemson game, Alabama’s chances for victory rest on Clemson’s inexperienced O-line. They aren’t Freshmen, but they haven’t played together as a unit in a real game. If Bama can keep the score low, then Leigh Tiffen’s leg could make the difference in the outcome of this game.

RTR!!!

By JRiser

August 27, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

To OLd GT Nut: Are you crazy? Do you recall a BS time out taken by Mr. Bad Ref himself, Ron Cherry, to measure when Clemson clearly didn’t have it. We were under a minute and Clemson was just trying to kill the clock. So time gets stopped, we (obvious to everyone in Death Valley) didn’t get first down and we get a bad snap which gives GT the ball with under 25 seconds to play. GT wins the game and Clemson again loses to Ron Cherry’s crew.

GT crying about bad calls just is laughable.

By You got to be kidding me

August 27, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Yeah the SEC doesn’t play ranked non conference opponents! We only play 3 SEC teams ranked in the top 10 and 2 more ranked in the top 25. Oh wait there is Arizona State ranking at 15! Hell, if Tech could field a decent team every now and then maybe they would get ranked and improve our strength of schedule! Keep gloating over your victories over Auburn and your Acc Championship appearance! Oh and good luck with that new wing-t offense you guys are installing… thats never been seen since… high school!

By Old Gold

August 27, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

I would love for the Tigers to win as well for the ACC, but I will be there not as a Tech fan like I will be suited up as tomorrow night at Bobby Dodd, but with my wonderful wife dressed in Crimson and White cheering on the Tide. She does the same for me, so I have to return the favor. Besides.. Clemson can eat a rotten peach.

By bamafan

August 27, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

TO ALL THE COW COLLEGE FANS (SORRY MR WAR EAGLE) Auburn and Lsu will take a back seat to the dawgs and gators this year!! AUBURN will have a rock solid defense this year, but your offense is nothing to write home about!! Coach Tubbs is a hell of a good coach and i would love to have him at Bama. I hope the tigers beat the crap out of L-Monroe this weekend, something Bama could not do last year!! ROLL TIDE!!

By Gen Neyland

August 27, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

As a Tennessee Vol, this game puts me in a pickle. How can I pull for the Red Elephants and how can I pull for an ACC team..? We need ( want ) Alleydamnbammey to lose all they can, in conference and out. Just makes us Volunteers happy to see them squashed. So, I’ll put my money on a 12 pack. That’s a win-win…Go Vols

By CU81

August 27, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Tony, you old Bulldog, there you go again.

I always enjoy reading your commentary on college football, but don’t always agree. If you’re a serious college football fan, you’d have to be stupid not to recognize that the SEC has consistently been the best football conference over the last decade. And no wonder, the SEC has been taking football seriously to the point of a religious experience since Bear Bryant wore diapers – well, maybe not that long since he was born before the conference was formed.

Respectfully speaking of the great legend, ponder where the SEC might be today if not for the conference’s most storied program, Alabama? In my opinion, the SEC owes its strength of reputation today to the foundation laid by the national stature of ‘Bama decades ago. In those days, the SEC on balance was looking up to the Big 10, PAC 10 and Big 12 (then Southwest) conferences. More recently, your Bulldogs have been the most consistent SEC standard bearer and deserves its # 1 preseason ranking. Whether the rest of the SEC deserves its lofty preseason rankings remains to be settled. I have my doubts.

With this history in mind, comparing ACC and SEC football is like comparing apples to oranges. The ACC, with the exception of Clemson and later Florida State when it was added, only began taking football as seriously as its basketball since the league expanded in 2003. Adding strong programs like Virginia Tech, Miami and BC has already made the conference more competitive. The ACC never expected overnight dominance, but it has built a solid foundation for a league that will consistently compete with the more traditional football powers.

As you pointed out, Tony, the financial success of ACC expansion has been a huge success. Admittedly, this is due more to the larger media markets within the ACC footprint than its success on the gridiron – some 75% of the U.S. population lives along the Atlantic Seaboard. But is the SEC really that far ahead of the ACC on the field, or is it more perception fueled by adoring media such as yourself?

Since ESPN began its Bowl Cup Challenge in 2003, the ACC has won it twice, while the SEC has never won it. This may not say the ACC was superior to the SEC, but it shows the ACC hasn’t been chump change by comparison either. Let’s look at some other key NCAA stats over the last decade:

• Conference bowl records since 1998: SEC # 2 in the nation with a .544 winning percentage; ACC # 3 in the nation with a .536 winning percentage. • National championships won by current conference team members since 1998: SEC # 1 with 3; ACC # 2 tied with the PAC 10 and the Big 12 with 2 each. • Talent comparison since 1998: most first-round NFL draft picks, SEC #1 with 60; ACC behind the Big 10 at # 3 with 48. What about all-time talent level of all conferences since 1936, the first year of the NFL draft? The Big 10 is # 1 with 292, the SEC is #2 with 278, and the ACC is number # 3 with 224.

When you objectively break it all down, the ACC isn’t too shabby and is right on the heels of the SEC. Who’s up and who’s down among all conferences varies from year to year. The ACC’s football stock is down right now, but with a slew of new coaches with winning track records, a stable of traditionally strong football programs and a flood of new financial resources that match any conference, the ACC is in very good shape.

It’s Clemson’s year. We’re now loaded with talent and depth after reaching into SEC territory to snag blue chip players from the grasp of the big SEC programs the last four years. Clemson can’t be too bad. After all, your guy and a favorite of mine, Mark Richt, sent his son to Clemson to play football. I agree with you wholeheartedly that the SEC is the better football conference, right now, and the Tigers do have something to prove, starting this Saturday in the Georgia Dome against the SEC’s most storied football program. But 2008-2009 by no means is a make or break year for Clemson or the ACC, both of which have a darn good football history and an even better long-term outlook.

Go Tigers!

By Elvis

August 27, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Old GT nut…

Check the 98 game when the techies were stomping Carters hands, awful intentional grounding call and the non fumbel call by pee-wee hamilton. ACC refs by the way. Those are just two examples that were as bad as it gets. They DECIDED the game, not just influenced it.

Yep. UGA does make some money doesn’t it!? Is that a bad thing now? With all the tradition and superior intellect techies claim, you would think the trade school in Atlanta could almost print money.

By Fort Worth Dawg

August 27, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

Clempson beats Bama 28-17 and leads throughout the game. Both teams improve significantly over the course of the year. Typical opening game problems for both teams.

By TrueCrimson

August 27, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Fort Worth Dawg,

That’s a reasonable guess. I don’t know how good Alabama is. But then, neither does anyone else.

I am confident that they will be better than they were last year. If that’s the case, then Georgia had better be better also.

By TrueCrimson

August 27, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Fort Worth Dawg,

That’s a reasonable guess. I don’t know how good Alabama is. But then, neither does anyone else.

I am confident that they will be better than they were last year. If that’s the case, then Georgia had better be better also.

RTR!!!

By Spike

August 27, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Translation in plain English: The ACC sucks.

By My Two Cents

August 27, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

Top ACC team vs. Middle of the Road SEC team. Sounds like a pretty even matchup to me. Should be a great game. Anything can happen and probably will.

I think Clemson wins a squeaker. Clemson has too many veterans that have played in big games before. Alabama just isn’t there yet.

By Marco

August 27, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Nobody cares about how much money the ACC makes - winning is the only thing true fans care about. As far as the coaches saying it’ll be a matter of time, be patient, etc, the ACC has sucked hind t** for 10 years! How long are they expecting their fans to wait?

Forget the lucrative deals and forget about Miami and FSU ‘coming back’. It’s up to the new coaches in the conference. FSU and Miami stink, Clemson is EXTREMELY overrated and overhyped (they will barf it up to Bama right out of the gate, you heard it here first), and VT hasn’t had an offense worth a crap since the Michael Vick days. It’s now up to UNC, GT and even Wake to carry the conference. Until FSU and Clemson dump the Bowden boys and VT actually recruits top offensive talent, the conference will continue to go nowhere fast.

Conservative coaching, the hallmark of the ACC, just plain sucks. Until that changes they’ll never win.

By Tedz

August 27, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

FSU and Miami have been decimated by injuries and attrition of late. Based on the coaching changes and very high recruiting, they’ll be back in a year or two for sure. By the way, no team makes extended runs (except for FSU’s 14-year Top 5 run). By the way, who were they beating all those years? That’s right , Spurrier who was winning the SEC. He NEVER won at Doak.

FSU, Miami, Boston College, Virginia Tech (some are predicting a NC run next yr), Clemson, soon-to-be NC, a rising WF (yes WF just like a decent Vandy can beat UGA)…GaTech (who has won a NC more recently than UGA)..all in all isn’t a bad conference.

Then you have decent Maryland, NC State, Virginia teams that are on par with an Ole Miss, Kentucky, Miss State, Arkansas teams. Duke weighs it down in football no doubt.

The ACC puts plenty of talent in the NFL, but it is Defense heavy and weaker on offense whereas the SEC is balanced.

Last thing, what conference did Matt Ryan, W Dunn, M Vick, K Brooking, D hall, etc… play in?

By Marco

August 27, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

No team makes extended runs? I take it you know nothing about USC’s extended dominance over the Pac-10. So yeah, teams do make extended runs. Even today.

Clemson is not a ‘soon to be’ anything except an soon-to-be choker. They will NEVER win an NC under Bowden (after all, they can’t win the ACC under him, yet you’re saying they are close to playing for an NC??? You need to be taken in for a drug test), FSU and Miami have been terrible (and still are, because obviously you haven’t been paying attention) and VT can’t win its bowl games. So please quit attempting to insult everyone’s intelligence. Maryland is decent, which goes to the problem — THEY’RE NOT GOOD. NC State dwells at the bottom of the Atlantic and Virginia had a lucky year last season.

Let’s not kid ourselves, the only reason ACC fans ‘care’ about NFL drafts is because that’s the only thing those fans can hang their hat on nowadays. It’s pathetic. They really don’t care about the draft, they never really have and they never really will. But I’ll humor you; yes the ACC has quite a bit of talent, but take a guess as to what the ACC’s missing link is? Coaching, which is exactly what I stated earlier.

Only BC and Wake get my respect, they’ve done much more with less. Everyone else in the conference is a more like a overly hyped non-Big Six team.

Forgot my sig before, so… Fight On!

By reebok

August 27, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Tech fans: First, complaining about the officiating is pathetic. Second, show up at Bobby Dodd tomorrow night and enjoy the game. New coach, new season, new era. GO JACKETS!

and if i had a daughter, sir, i’d dress her in white and french’s mustard yellow

By m

August 27, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Clemson is going to kick the crap out of alabammer just like FSU did last year. The sec is mainly hype. I would love to see an sec/ACC challenge between all 12 teams from each league. At best the sec would go 6-6.

By bb

August 27, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Still haven’t seen any numbers on SEC vs top 10 OOC or top 25 OOC.

I assume that means those numbers aren’t as good as Tony would want, so he’s not going to print them (they would help his slander of the ACC).

Stats are useless unless you have something to compare them to. Example, if I said a batter had only 33 hits in his last 100 at bats, that might look pretty bad until you compared it to other batters (then you would realize a .330 batting average is actually pretty good). Now I realize everyone recognized right away that was a pretty good average, but that is because we have something to compare it to.

I’m sure the SECs numbers are better than the ACCs, but I bet seeing them would lessen the ‘shock’ value of the ACC number (i.e. the ACCs record wouldn’t look near as bad).

By Dawg Fud

August 27, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

Tedz

what conference did the last three Super Bowl MVP’s play in?

By Dawg Fud

August 27, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

…and i might add that the first four teams mentioned in Tedz’s second paragraph were all added to the ACC recently. (Yes, I can remember when FSU was added as the 9th team in the ACC and did not lose a single conference game until UVA in 1995).

I grew in ACC country. The basketball is unbelievable. Football, not so much…but it is getting better every year.

The ACC was Clemson’s gig until FSU showed up. I don’t think the fact that FSU won roughly 70 conference games before being beaten is a credit to the overall strength of the conference.

FSU may have gotten the better of Florida most years but the Gators gave them a beat down in the national championship rematch in 1996.

Regardless, I like Clemson’s chances this weekend.

By PTC DAWG

August 27, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

In this very paper, there is a ranking of the 120 1-A teams.

Regarding the post about the SEC winning maybe 6 games, I would like to know which 6 they think the ACC would win in the following head to head matchups. Teams and rankings are listed here.

UGA #3 vs Clemson #5.

UF #6 vs Vt #14

LSU #6 vs FSU #25

AU #9 vs Miami #32

South Carolina #18 vs UNC #34

Alabama #21 vs Maryland #48

UT # 35 vs Wake #51

Ole Miss #44 vs Nc State # 53…possible ACC win

Ark #54 vs BC #61..another possible ACC win.

Miss State #60 vs GT #63..we’ll know soon enough

KY #65 vs Duke #91..

Vandy #67 vs Va #92…

It doesn’t look close to me, the average ranking for the SEC is 15 places higher than the ACC.

I think the ACC would do well to win 3 of those head to head matchups myself.

By Elvis

August 27, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

Tedz…

Did you really mean to list FALCONS to support your argument? Not very wise…

That is like using Ray Goff as an example of great Georgia coaches.

BTW..professional players/careeres are not the best way to evaluate a program or conference. Lots of players crucial to College teams successes never play pro ball.

By hedgeprunner

August 27, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

SEC SUCKS

By KR

August 27, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Looking at PTC DAWG’s match ups, it occurs to me that an SEC 12-0 shutout of the ACC would be entirely possible.

That’s gotta hurt…

By GT GRAD

August 27, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

PTC DAWG & KR,

This is VERY interesting. I have noticed for MANY MANY years that the SEC is ALWAYS over-ranked in the preseason and the ACC is ALWAYS heavily under-ranked in the preseason. If you look at the preseason rankings verses the rankings after the actual games have been played……..you will notice an undeniable trend. The ACC ALWAYS ends up with more teams ranked higher than their initial preseason rankings and the SEC ALWAYS ends up with more teams ranked lower than thier initial preseason rankings. If you do not believe; do a little internet search and you will see exactly what I am saying.

Perfect example……..in 1990, GT was not even ranked in the top 25 during the preseason rankings, but they finished ranked #1 and won a share of the National Championship. If Colorado had not been given 5 downs during a crucial game it would not have been a shared NC.

Teams that start the season with lofty rankings have an easier time staying in the top 10 or top 25 AND on the flip side, teams/conferences that are under-rated have to play extremely well to get noticed by the national media and coaches accross the country.

In time the ACC will earn the respect the conference deserves, but the SEC has been slightly better than all of the rest in the past 10+ years. The problem is that too many of the SEC fans have an inflated opinion of their teams. The SEC has a very successful approach; they play soft out of conference opponents so that most of the teams will have good winning percentages. Even when the SEC plays teams from other BCS conferences, they usually play the middle or lower level teams. The SEC is top heavy. The conference has 4-5 really good teams and 7-8 teams which rarely if ever even scare the better teams, but because the out of conference schedules are so freak’n weak, the 7-8 middle level and weak SEC teams still have decent records.

This is why two SEC teams have been skipped over and not selected to play for the National Championship in the past few years. The conference as a whole plays to weak of an out of conference schedule. This has been changing recently because the SEC does not want to be left out of the NC games any longer when they have an 11-1 team.

By coolaid drinker

August 27, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this

Why does Tony B think NC State will lose to SC because of home field advantage? I read and respect TB. Still my thinking is that NCSU is young and injured and SC has 5 first rounders on D.

Am I wrong, but Alabama should be favored staight up? Clemson has talented skill players that under achieve when up against physical teams. They never play well in GA as someone said. Alabama by 10. SC by 20.

By Rabun Dawg

August 27, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

Well, it is almost here, football 2008!! As an SEC homer, married to a “Roll Tider” I should be pulling for the Tide.Tough to do with the head man being who he is, probably a darn good coach, but leaves a little to be desired otherwise.However, living only 45 minutes from Tiger town, I almost have a little feeling to pull for them as they really do have a talented team that I root for on most occasions, and Bowden really needs a good year to keep the wolves off his doorstep again. All that being said, I think Ala. will be much improved over last year and this should be a great game and no more than seven separating them. The pressure on Clemson will be huge, and this reason just might make them very tight. But, as they say, “that’s why we play the games!” Somewhat tough to say, but RTR!!

By War Eagle

August 27, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

Clemson 28-ABC TV Bama 17

UGA unknown Ga southern 7 $500,000

Auburn 42 LaMonroe 14 $625,000

Tech 35 Jax State 14 $250,00

ALL IS HAPPY EXCEPT BAMA

By m

August 27, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

You sec fools crack me up. You think that what you think matters. It doesn’t. I am talking about what happens ON THE FIELD….not in your delusional minds. The sec would go no better than 6-6.

By desertdawg

August 27, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this

GT Grad—what are you smokin? Check the FINAL rankings to determine how good (SEC) or bad (acc) conferences are —not what team or teams are unranked to begin a season. That is insane.

By desertdawg

August 27, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

m—get off the blog and sober up

By desertdawg

August 28, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this

sorry, had to go get the kids— try 5 SEC teams in the final rankings —with the TOP 2— and 3 acc teams. gt grad—where are u? what the heck does pre season rankings have to do with anything? FINAL RANKINGS COUNT!!! DAWGS!!!!

By TrueCrimson

August 28, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this

m must be a GT fan. They used to be a part of the greatest conference in college football, but they couldn’t hack it.

SEC fans are used to the jealousy. It is inevitable when you’re the best. It’s only human nature to covet what you don’t have.

I work with an Ohio State fan who insists, once again, that this will be “their year”. It’s almost always their year to win their conference, because they don’t have much competition. But they have never beaten an SEC team in post-season play and they’ve never beaten Alabama in any game.

The Crimson Tide is on a path back to glory. We may not quite be there yet, but we’re going to be better than we were last year and next year we’ll improve over this year. You can hate on our coach all you want. We love him. He’s teaching our kids in the Crimson Jerseys how to be champions again. Hide and watch!

RTR!!!

By desertdawg

August 28, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this

m- I forgot to mention nobody cares what you think—-you must have some good smoke to think the acc would go 6-6 against the SEC—who would beat TN/GA/FL/AU/LSU/BAMA/ or SC/KY for that matter?

By KnoxvilleDave

August 28, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this

Hey ya’ll, Clemson is loaded. Forget what you read, they are even deep on the OL. They win in a blowout; it will be over in the first half.

By TrueCrimson

August 28, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this

KnoxvilleDave,

I bet that’s what you said about the Tennessee vs. Bama game last year.

Come to think of it, it was pretty much over in the first half, wasn’t it?

By TrueCrimson

August 31, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

KnoxvilleDave,

You were right about one thing. It was absolutely over in the first half.

It was really over after the first snap.

RTR!!!

By Roy Sanford

August 31, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

I guess you will do your home work a little better the next time you predict a winner of an SEC team playing an ACC team.

Please look at the statistics (game numbers) of each team in the ‘Chick-fil-A Kick-Off Classic’.

Your prejudice againist the Crimson Tide resulted in an embarrassment to your reporting and ‘picks’. Only time will tell if you learned a lesson or not.

Enjoy the football season. LOL