What Tech learned about itself, ACC

A look at how Georgia Tech and the ACC fared this week:

Tech’s hopes look better, but let’s not get carried away

The Jackets won a game that they weren’t expected to take against Boston College. They came from behind and displayed some mettle. Given the bear market that is the ACC, it doesn’t seem like any conference game is out of the Jackets’ reach.

But they’ve still got a long way to go. It was a game the Jackets could have as easily lost as won. And the result may ultimately say as much about Boston College’s state as Tech’s.

Virginia Tech wins, underwhelms

Georgia Tech’s next opponent did not look any less beatable Saturday than it did a week ago after losing to East Carolina — especially given the Pirates’ win over No. 8 West Virginia.

Hokies coach Frank Beamer said his team “hung in there” against Furman in its 24-7 win. Not exactly what you want to be able to say of your team against a I-AA opponent.

The Hokies led just 3-0 at halftime and had big help from Furman turnovers to put up 21 points in the third quarter.

Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech has the look of a defensive tussle.

Swank saves Wake’s, ACC’s bacon

ACC fans owe a debt of gratitude this week to Sam Swank, whose 41-yard field goal with three seconds remaining enabled Wake Forest to beat Ole Miss and keep the conference in the top 25.

It would have been no small indignity for a conference standard bearer to lose at home to an SEC team that went 0-8 in the conference a year ago.

The No. 20 Demon Deacons, who look like the favorite in the ACC Atlantic Division, are the only ranked team in the conference.

Wake Forest will have its biggest test of the season thus far Sept. 20 at Florida State. Wake has won two in a row against FSU.

Southern Conference learns the hard way: Don’t mess with the ACC

A week after a flurry of non-conference losses, the ACC bullied Southern Conference members Western Carolina (Florida State), Furman (Virginia Tech) and the Citadel (Clemson). Granted, the SoCon is the league of Appalachian State, which shocked Michigan a year ago, and at least the ACC won those three games.

Clemson, taking out the frustration of its humbling loss to Alabama last week on the Citadel, could and probably should reel off three more in a row. The Tigers, who will be at home against Tech Oct. 18, face N.C. State, South Carolina State and Maryland.

How many days until basketball starts?

The experts said this wasn’t going to be Maryland’s year. The experts, for a change, look like they nailed one.

A week after barely surviving against Delaware, the Terrapins was taken down 24-14 by mighty Middle Tennessee State, which a week ago lost to Troy.

The Terps will be at home next week against No. 23 Cal, which hung 66 points on the road against Washington State.

Yikes.

Meanwhile, down in Florida …

It would be premature to herald the return of Florida State and Miami, who both visit Bobby Dodd Stadium in November, but they bear watching.

The Seminoles demolished Western Carolina, which, granted, isn’t saying that much. But Florida State hadn’t put up 69 points on anyone since 1995, when they were at the height of their power.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, held in gamely against No. 4 Florida before giving way in the fourth quarter in a loss. Picked to finish third in the ACC Coastal Division behind Virginia Tech and North Carolina, Miami offered little reason to believe it can’t contend with them.