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Updated ACC Bowl Projections |
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Written by Shamus Williams
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Wednesday, 22 November 2006 |
With one week left in the season, and the
Championship Game the next week, here are my updated bowl
projections. I still have Georgia Tech in the Orange and Virginia
Tech in the Chic-Fil-A, but everything else has been changed.
This week will mean a lot as far as bowl bids go and positioning for
the final rankings.
Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia
The Yellow Jackets end up here as the winner of the
ACC Championship Game over Boston College. They aren’t the best
team in the world, but they get enough plays out of Reggie Ball to win
games. West Virginia ends up here as an automatic at-large for
finishing in the top 6 of the final BCS standings. This game
would be wildly entertaining, but GT still needs to win the ACC
Championship to end up here.
Chic-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
The Hokies have saved their season and will probably
end up going 10-2 in the regular season. They are the best team
right now in the ACC, plus they travel as well as anyone in the
country. A VT/UT match-up would be a sure sell-out because of the
proximity of the two schools.
Gator Bowl: Boston College vs. Nebraska
Boston College will beat Miami to close the season,
and after UMD beats Wake Forest, the Eagles will win the Atlantic
division and play GT in the Championship Game. The Eagles have
beaten VT, but expect the Chic-Fil-A Bowl to pass on them and send them
to the Gator. A match-up against Nebraska would be a good game,
and a tough for the Eagles.
Champs Sports Bowl: Clemson vs. Purdue
Purdue has already accepted a bid to play in
Orlando, and Clemson will more than likely be their opponent. The
Tigers have struggled since their defeat in Blacksburg, but are trying
to get it together. Clemson will draw well in Orlando, and have
had a very good season. The Tiger match up well against Purdue,
but it should be a pretty good game.
Car Care Bowl: Maryland vs. Navy
Maryland has had a great season, but they lose the
tiebreaker to BC, and therefore will fall just short of Jacksonville
and the Championship Game. This game will be a great draw as the
schools are fairly close to each other. Maryland will have a
difficult time in this one, but Charlotte will get a great crowd and a
terrific game.
Music City Bowl: Wake Forest vs. South Carolina
The Demon Deacons had a great season, but stumbled
against VT and will lose to Maryland. They fall to the Music City
Bowl, but you could have worse bowl places than Nashville visit.
It is not a far drive for the Wake faithful, and considering they
haven’t been to a bowl in quite a few years, they should draw very well.
Emerald Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona
The Seminoles have really fallen on hard times, but
not on hard enough times to send them to Boise. The ‘Noles fans
will probably not show up too much, but Arizona will and the game will
get national attention because of the popularity of FSU. At least
it isn’t Boise and at least you are going to a bowl, unlike that team
from South Florida!
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Virginia Tech 