ACC Football: What We Learned, Week 9

Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Not all of what Boston College Eagles football fans have learned during college football ninth week has been good. The Eagles are not the only team whose learning experiences have been negative this weekend.

North Carolina Tar Heels 34, Boston College Eagles 10
In this one, we learned that a week of rest and playing a team having a bad year does not necessarily combine to equal a win. North Carolina played like they wanted it, while the Eagles’ execution was as poor as it has been all season. Of their four losses to date, this is the first one where those not in uniform might have a legitimate gripe with the fact that they lost, and badly.

As for North Carolina, the season isn’t over, but at five losses, they’re still right on the brink.

Miami Hurricanes 24, Wake Forest Demon Deacons 21
Here, we learned that Miami’s ability to escape carries over from week to week. They should have lost to North Carolina, and probably should have lost to Wake Forest, but they’re pulling off some late magic.

We also learned that there’s a reason they’re a distant third in the theoretical power rankings for ACC’s best team.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 35, Virginia Cavaliers 25
Clearly, we learned here that being +4 in turnovers for the game does not mean you’re going to win. We also learned that David Watford can throw, seeing as how he was asked to do it 61 times on Saturday.

Navy Midshipmen 24, Pittsburgh Panthers 21
Here, about all we learned is that mediocrity beats mediocrity – it’s just a matter of who’s on the winning or losing end.

Florida State Seminoles 49, NC State Wolfpack 17
In this one, we learned that the worst team in the ACC Atlantic right now might very well play in Raleigh, North Carolina. Also, Florida State is miles better than everyone else in the conference at present.

Clemson Tigers 40, Maryland Terrapins 27
With three losses out of four (and four-straight lackluster performances overall), we’ve seen again why people weren’t buying Maryland to start the year. Granted, most anyone would lose to Clemson except for teams that play in cities that end in -allahassee, but ten penalties and four turnovers did not help their cause at all. Lose to Syracuse after the bye and the respect will really be drying up.

Duke Blue Devils 13, Virginia Tech Hokies 10
Here, we learned that for a basketball school, Duke is also decent at football and has been for a portion of the time in which David Cutcliffe has been their coach.