Compliments of OrangeEyes from the SU Scout Boaard.
It is interesting to me that some media folks are measuring the Acc's success against the BE.
August 15, 2008
10 games to decide the fate of the ACC
When was the last time an ACC team won a significant out-of-conference game? That's a really tough question to answer, even for the most dedicated ACC football fans.
The most recent "significant" OOC win turned out not to be all that significant, as Maryland defeated a Rutgers team that -- although ranked in the top ten at the time -- went on to finish the season in fifth place in the Big East.
Suffice to say, it's been a while.
The ACC, which boasts a 1-9 BCS bowl game record in the last ten years, needs to step it up in 2008.
Here are 10 games that will determine if the ACC has returned to the national stage:
1) Florida State vs Florida
For better or for worse, the Seminoles have been the gold standard for the conference. When the Noles are good, the ACC seems to get a fair shake on the national stage. When the Noles are bad, well... the last few years of "ACC in decline" talk should prove my point. This is FSU's best team in four years and -- despite the preseason hype -- the Gators may be ripe for the picking in 2008.
2) USC @ Virginia
No one in the country expects UVa to win, so let's not even go down that road, but it's important for the ACC that the Cavs don't get blown out at home. The ACC matched up pretty well against USC when represented by VaTech, so the Cavs need to do their part and make a game of it.
3) Cal @ Maryland
Cal may very well be a top three team in the Pac10 this season, while the Terps are likely middle of the pack in the ACC, but Maryland gets the Bears at home and needs to show up. The Terps looked bad against Oregon State in their bowl game... so a strong showing this season would help raise the ACC.
4) Va Tech @ Nebraska
A young Hokie team ventures into the sea of red... and ought to be able to pull off a win. Virginia Tech may be favored on the road against an improved Husker team. This would be a solid win for the ACC.
5) Clemson vs Alabama
There's a lot of hype around the 2008 Tigers and the opener on a national stage will be a significant opportunity for the ACC to man up against a middle of the pack SEC opponent. There's no way that the ACC can be taken seriously if the consensus pre-season pick can't knock off Bama.
6) UNC @ Rutgers
North Carolina needs to show it can win on the road, and this OOC matchup should be ripe for Butch Davis and the Tarheels. UNC has been tabbed as a sleeper pick in the ACC and absolutely needs to show up for the Scarlet Knights. This is the type of middle vs middle game that helps define the how the conference stack up at the end of the year.
7) South Carolina @ Clemson
Again, the pre-season pick can't go down to a middle of the pack SEC team, even if it is a rivalry game. Some people think the Tigers could be 11-0 at this point. Regardless, Clemson needs to seal the deal and knock off the Cocks before the ACC can even look for respect.
8) NC State @ South Carolina
Speaking of knocking off the Cocks, NC State will get their shot on the road. Another example of a middle versus middle game. The Pack need to swing this one into the ACC's favor.
9) UConn @ UNC
The defending Big East co-champ gave Wake Forest all it could handle in the bowl game, so UNC will have to be very careful not to look past UConn's lesser reputation.
Every game against the Big East is a must win for the ACC to return to credibility and this is no exception.
10) James Madison @ Duke
Let's be honest, I don't expect a whole lot out of Duke this year and neither do you. But the Blue Devils might be able to take new coach David Cutcliffe's system and score a season-opening win. Then again, the Dukes aren't just any FCS team - they're the pick to win the FCS championship. This is going to be a challenging game for the Blue Devils, but its a game that the ACC really needs to win. This is Duke's chance to do its part for the conference.
So there are 10 OOC games that can shape the season and the perception for the ACC. Of course, the conference could rattle off all ten and still manage to blow it in the postseason bowls, but....
What do you think? Where is the ACC going to rank this season? Can the ACC get back into the upper crust or is it another year of being the sixth best football conference?
Posted by Kevin Donahue
RE: 10 games to decide the fate of the ACC 
Similar to the way that you guys had in 2003/2004 when you thought the BE was a sinking ship. And we run accross these articles because they are all over the place. No one is spending time looking for these articles. They are a plenty, which adds to the fun. 
What it says is just a big of a kick in the balls for Big East football as it is for ACC football! Dude, it means the media thinks the Big East and the ACC are fighting it out for the dubious honor of being the worst BCS conference! 
