Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

ACC notes: Tigers bear down on crown

The No. 18 Tigers can guaranteed their first Atlantic Division title with a win against Virginia at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC).

But the Tigers can clinch their first ACC title game appearance before taking the field at Memorial Stadium.

North Carolina travels to Boston College (noon, ESPN2) and if the resurgent Tar Heels defeat the Eagles, Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) wraps up the division.

The Tigers, the ACC, and bowl officials are hoping for a Clemson-Georgia Tech rematch in the ACC title game.

THUMBS UP

Offense

Remember when the ACC was a defensive-minded conference? Quarterbacks Russell Wilson (N.C. State), Christian Ponder (Florida State), Josh Nesbitt (Georgia Tech), Kyle Parker (Clemson), Jacory Harris (Miami) and Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech) have all played at a high level this season, and all likely will be back next fall.

North Carolina

The Tar Heels are starting to look like everyone's preseason sleeper again -three consecutive conference wins including victories against Va. Tech and Miami. The Tar Heels are ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll.

Ryan Williams

Remember when 1,000-yard Virginia Tech back Darren Evans went down with a season-ending knee injury? Maybe not because Williams is 31 yards (1,235) from the ACC's freshman running back mark held by Evans.

THUMBS DOWN

Virginia's account balance

According to the Roanoke Times, UVa is paying millions in settlements to two former basketball coaches (Dave Leitao, $2.1 million, and Pete Gillen, $2 million) and it would cost $4 million to dispatch embattled football coach Al Groh.

Jacory Harris

Remember when Harris was in the Heisman mix in September? In Harris' past four games, the sophomore has thrown nine interceptions against eight touchdowns.

Maryland

The Terps have one win against a FBS team this season - against Clemson.

HE SAID IT

"I don't know what else we have to do to recognize what he's done. I am

going to officially change his name. He is officially 'Dos Ocho,' two-eight.

He is officially C.J. 'Dos Ocho' Spiller. Maybe some people will figure him

out then," - Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doubling at Spiller's Heisman

campaign manager.

BY THE NUMBERS

7 - Field goals by the Barth brothers last weekend. North Carolina sophomore Casey Barth connected on four field goals against Miami. Conner Barth, the older brother, kicked three goals for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a loss to the Miami Dolphins.

289.9 - Pass efficiency mark for Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt against Duke. Nesbitt completed six of 10 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns against the Blue Devils, leading the Yellow Jackets to a Coastal Division title.

9,000 - The ACC had not had two active quarterbacks reach 9,000 career passing yards until Duke's Thaddeus Lewis (9,375) and Wake's Riley Skinner (9,390) each eclipsed the mark this season.

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