Wednesday, November 5, 2008

FFM2M Podcast Week 11

To listen to the podcast Click Here

With only 4 weeks left in the regular season we'll take a step back from analyzing teams and check out who will win the ACC's offensive and defensive players of the year. I'm sure Hakeem Nicks, Trimane Goddard and Bruce Carter will get a ton of love on the show but names like Da'Rel Scott, Antone Smith and Jonathan Dwyer should get mention on the offensive side while Clint Sintim, Michael Tauiliili and Morgan Burnett are definitely up there battling for the awards.

Much like last week with the Coach of the Year we should get a spirited debate going as I've already got my list pulled and ranked for the ACC's player of the year awards.

Should be a good show so tune it tonight at nine.

As always on "Football From Mass To Miami"
-Recap of the week that was
-Reviewing of the ACC Standings, Rankings and Power Rankings
-Previews and Predictions for the Upcoming week

I look forward to seeing you all in the live chat during the episode and if you can't listen be sure to download episodes here:

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Official FFM2M ACC Bowl Predictions: Week 11

With five weeks left on the schedule the ACC already boasts four bowl eligible teams (UNC, Maryland, GT, Miami) and another five teams are just one game shy of reaching that bowling benchmark. Only two teams really look to be completely out of getting to the postseason; the Tigers and the Wolfpack. Duke's still got an outside shot with games against fellow cellar dwellers Clemson and NC State.

Last week's shake up with FSU, BC and UVA going down has shifted the weekly bowl predictions and a lot hinges on this week's games in Blacksburg, Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem and Tallahasee. The first three places because of the ACC Title Game implications and Tallahasee for the title game shot but also for the Tigers meager bowl hopes.

Let's run them down:

Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets caught a serious break in the their defeat of the 'Noles with the late game fumble into the end zone. Paul Johnson's boys have got the benefit of only having two ACC contests left before their end of the year showdown with interstate rival Georgia. If they can pull out wins over North Carolina and Miami they'll be sitting in the drivers seat all the way down to Tampa.

Peach Bowl: Maryland

Ralph's team has been very Jekyll and Hyde this year but, this past weekend they took a break following their NC State eek out win two weeks ago. With a date against Coastal foe Virginia Tech the Terrapins need to be able to hold serve Thursday night to keep their ACC title game birth alive. They're sitting in the driver's seat and as the lead dog in the Atlantic they've got a full game lead that will insulate them until the showdown against Florida State.

Gator Bowl: Florida State

Just when I move them up into the ACC title game spot as the champion of the conference they go out and lose in a physical battle to the Wreck in the Doak. Christian Ponder and Greg Carr need to bring back their down field passing game and get Antone Smith back on track this week against a Clemson team that has played very well against Bobby Bowden lately. The 'Noles should take care of business, their toughest games coming against BC, Maryland and the cross state rival Florida. Good thing I didn't fire up the Ponder Heisman bus.

Champs Sports Bowl: Virginia

Yes the Heels are just a game back from UVA but the Hoos have only the Hokies standing in their way as a game looking difficult. Their dates with Wake Forest and Clemson don't seem as sexy as they did preseason and Groh's team has a chip on its shoulder; especially Cedric Peerman, after dropping a game to a young Miami squad. Look for Peerman to continue his tear through the ACC and he'll continue to put up monster numbers.

Those are the four big boys and notice the subtle shake up with the rest of the bowl picture:

Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina

The Heels are making it hard to move them up but a win this week would all but guarantee the Heels a top four finish in the ACC and a bump to one of the upper tier bowl games.

Emerald Bowl: Wake Forest

With a win over Miami the Deacons are right back in the Atlantic race but they don't have enough in the tank to catch the Terps or the Seminoles.

Music City Bowl: Virginia Tech

Coming out of the bye week it looks like Sean Glennon will get the start and their Thursday night showdown could drop them from contender in the coastal to fighting with Duke for space at the bottom.

Humanitarian Bowl: Miami

The Canes put a stop to the Hoos winning ways but with dates left against the Hokies and at Georgia Tech Shannon's boys will most likely limp into their ACC finale against the Wolfpack.

Eagle Bank Bowl: Boston College

Just two weeks ago the Eagles looked like a lock to finish in that 5-7 range, now; after loses at Carolina and at home to Clemson the are fighting for their post season life. Dates with Notre Dame out of conference and interconference showdowns with Florida State, Wake and Maryland definitely have become BC's own personal murderers row.

The ACC's Week 11 Television Schedule

The ACC is back in the national spotlight twice this week; three times if you want to count the U as a national network. Kicking off the slate with our first Thursday night contest since FSU went up and beat the Wolfpack this is a very crucial weekend of ACC action. With four ranked teams hitting the field this definitely should be a solid encore to the unexpected suspense last weeks schedule showcased.

One Keith Jackson sized "WHOA NELLY" goes to ESPN and their decision to pick up the Clemson game as their three thirty appetizer; relegating the GaTech-UNC Coastal showdown to the noon Raycom game. We here at FFM2M understand the Bowden Bowl was big business and held national intrigue preseason but with flex scheduling you've got to get the ACC's two highest ranked teams on the network. No disrespect to Stevey Martin and the Doc but this game holds serious ACC title implications and needs to get put in front of the nation.

That being said all four of the interconference games have title game say-so and every serious ACC fan will be glued to their seat Thursday and Saturday to watch as the teams jockey for the pole position. Only Maryland can control their own destiny but with a little help from their friends in the conference VT, UNC, GT, FSU and Wake can all sneak their way into Tampa.

Outside of the heated ACC race there is a Boston College game that has a little national heat to it. The Eagles have beaten up on the Irish lately and with Weis' team looking improved and BC limping it will be interesting to see if the ACC can go 2-0 against the Golden Domers.

Thursday, November 6th

23 Maryland @ Virginia Tech (ESPN, 7:30pm)- Chris Fowler, Jesse Palmer, Craig James, Erin Andrews

Saturday, November 8th

20 Georgia Tech @ 19 North Carolina (Raycom, Noon)- Steve Martin, Rick Walker, Mike Hogewood

Clemson @ 22 Florida State (ABC, 3:30pm)- Terry Gannon, David Norrie, Todd Harris

Virginia @ Wake Forest (ESPNU, 3:30pm)- Doug Bell, Charles Arbuckle, Melissa Knowles

Notre Dame @ Boston College (ESPN, 8pm)- Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe