A look at possible scenarios in the ACC
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
A look at the nine teams still in contention for two spots in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Dec. 6:
ATLANTIC DIVISION: Maryland
The Terrapins (7-3, 4-2) don't need help from anyone in the Atlantic. They'll be heading to Tampa for the title game with wins over Florida State and Boston College.
Boston College:
The Eagles (7-3, 3-3) are in the same boat as Maryland, assured of a spot in the title game if they can win their final two games against Wake Forest and the Terps.
Florida State
It's a convoluted scenario for the Seminoles (7-3, 4-3). First, they must beat Maryland in their ACC finale Saturday. They'll also need Wake Forest to lose to Boston College, since the Demon Deacons hold a tiebreaker edge. If those two games work out, FSU will be rooting for Maryland to win at Boston College on Nov. 29, which would give Florida State the title on a tiebreaker. There's also a chance of a three-way tie among FSU, Maryland and Wake Forest, but let's not even try to figure out that one out. Anyone got a coin?
Wake Forest:
The Demon Deacons (6-4, 4-3) must beat Boston College in their ACC finale on Saturday and pull for Maryland to lose its final two games, which would give Wake the division title over Florida State on a tiebreaker. There's also a chance of that aforementioned three-way deadlock, which we're still trying to figure out.
COASTAL DIVISION: Miami:
Only Coastal Division team in control of its own destiny. The Hurricanes (7-3, 5-2) have won five in a row and can wrap up the title by beating Georgia Tech on Thursday and North Carolina State on Nov. 29.
North Carolina:
The Tar Heels (7-3, 3-3) will be favored against North Carolina State and Duke, which along with Clemson are the only teams eliminated from the division races. They'll need to win those two and root for both Miami and Virginia Tech to lose at least one more time. Carolina wins head-to-head tiebreakers against either Miami or Georgia Tech, but doesn't want Virginia Tech in the mix; the Tar Heels squandered a 14-point, second-half lead to the Hokies in a 20-17 loss on Sept. 20.
Virginia:
After a miserable start, the Cavaliers (5-5, 3-3) still have a chance to pull out an improbable division title. But they'd need to beat Clemson and Virginia Tech, Miami would have to lose its last two games (the Hurricanes hold a tiebreaker edge) and North Carolina needs to lose one more time. Under that scenario, Virginia would beat out Georgia Tech on a tiebreaker. Still not confused? Let's say Virginia, Miami, Georgia Tech and North Carolina all end up 5-3 in the conference (it's possible). Virginia would win the four-way tiebreaker on the basis of combined head-to-head record among those teams, which would eliminate Miami (1-2) and Georgia Tech (1-2). The Cavs (2-1) would then get the nod over the Tar Heels (2-1) on the basis of a 16-13 overtime win on Oct. 18.
Virginia Tech:
The Hokies (6-4, 3-3) need to close out with wins over Duke and Virginia and get some help. Like their state rival, they also could win a convoluted four-team tiebreaker, assuming Georgia Tech beats Miami, the Hurricanes bounce back to win their season finale against N.C. State and North Carolina wins its final two games. To whittle it down from there, Miami (1-2) and Georgia Tech (1-2) would be eliminated on combined head-to-head record, which would give the title to Virginia Tech (2-1) over the Tar Heels (2-1) because of that comeback win two months ago.
Georgia Tech:
The Yellow Jackets (7-3, 4-3) need everything to fall perfectly. First, they must beat Miami. Even then, they'll need lots of assistance because they are on the wrong end of several tiebreakers. But Georgia Tech could get to Tampa if Virginia lost to Clemson on Saturday, then beat Virginia Tech the following week, assuming North Carolina also loses one of its final two games. If all that happened, the Jackets would either win the division outright or beat Miami in a tiebreaker.