Spring Break
Week four: Ranking the Carolinas
Ronnie Woodward, Asst. Sports Editor
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: Sports
1. ECU
Record: 3-0
Last Week: Won at Tulane, 28-24
The Pirates found a way to win last Saturday in New Orleans, despite the classic trap game scenario. After beating two ranked teams to open the season, Tulane was sandwiched in the schedule, the week before playing archrival N.C. State. ECU didn't look great, making mental mistakes and lacking consistency on offense-but the bottom line is that it came away with a victory and remains unblemished in the loss column. A talented and hungry N.C. State is waiting this week in Raleigh, and the Pirates will have to play well to remain undefeated.
2. Wake Forest
Record: 2-0
Last Week: Bye Week
Wake Forest might actually be the best team in the Carolinas, but its wins don't even come close to the ones by ECU thus far. That can all change this week, however, as the Deacons play Florida State in Tallahassee. Florida State has looked good so far this season, but has yet to play a Division I-A team. This game could be a statement game for either team and it will definitely affect the ACC championship race.
3. North Carolina
Record: 2-0
Last Week: Won at Rutgers, 44-12
Props to Butch Davis. The UNC coach fooled all of us-or at least some of us. The Heels' dominating win at Rutgers last Thursday night proved a couple of things. One: UNC is for real this season and is poised for a breakout season. Two: UNC's season-opening 35-27 win over McNeese State meant one thing-it wasn't interested in playing that game and was already preparing for the Rutgers game, not the McNeese State team that was in front of it at the time. The Heels have a huge game this week, hosting defending ACC champion Virginia Tech. At that game, UNC will have to prove itself again.
4. Clemson
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Won vs. N.C. State, 27-9
Clemson has yet to look like a top-10 or top-15 team this season. We might not find out how good this team actually is for another couple of weeks, when they play the ACC's top teams in a short time span. Clemson's defense looked good against N.C. State, but we've already discovered that almost any defense looks good against an N.C. State offense. The Tigers host South Carolina State this week before actually playing some competition that can shed some light on the situation.
5. South Carolina
Record: 1-2
Last Week: Lost vs. Georgia, 14-7
South Carolina played its heart out against Georgia last Saturday, but a couple of mistakes cost it the upset. Luckily for the Gamecocks, they play Wofford and UAB in consecutive weeks so they can be paid a couple of wins before continuing its brutal SEC schedule. This USC team is talented and pretty good, but you just have to wonder how many wins it can pick up with the schedule that stands in front of it. If Duke continues to win games and USC continues to lose, the Blue Devils could shockingly sneak into these rankings-by default.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
Record: 3-0
Last Week: Won at Tulane, 28-24
The Pirates found a way to win last Saturday in New Orleans, despite the classic trap game scenario. After beating two ranked teams to open the season, Tulane was sandwiched in the schedule, the week before playing archrival N.C. State. ECU didn't look great, making mental mistakes and lacking consistency on offense-but the bottom line is that it came away with a victory and remains unblemished in the loss column. A talented and hungry N.C. State is waiting this week in Raleigh, and the Pirates will have to play well to remain undefeated.
2. Wake Forest
Record: 2-0
Last Week: Bye Week
Wake Forest might actually be the best team in the Carolinas, but its wins don't even come close to the ones by ECU thus far. That can all change this week, however, as the Deacons play Florida State in Tallahassee. Florida State has looked good so far this season, but has yet to play a Division I-A team. This game could be a statement game for either team and it will definitely affect the ACC championship race.
3. North Carolina
Record: 2-0
Last Week: Won at Rutgers, 44-12
Props to Butch Davis. The UNC coach fooled all of us-or at least some of us. The Heels' dominating win at Rutgers last Thursday night proved a couple of things. One: UNC is for real this season and is poised for a breakout season. Two: UNC's season-opening 35-27 win over McNeese State meant one thing-it wasn't interested in playing that game and was already preparing for the Rutgers game, not the McNeese State team that was in front of it at the time. The Heels have a huge game this week, hosting defending ACC champion Virginia Tech. At that game, UNC will have to prove itself again.
4. Clemson
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Won vs. N.C. State, 27-9
Clemson has yet to look like a top-10 or top-15 team this season. We might not find out how good this team actually is for another couple of weeks, when they play the ACC's top teams in a short time span. Clemson's defense looked good against N.C. State, but we've already discovered that almost any defense looks good against an N.C. State offense. The Tigers host South Carolina State this week before actually playing some competition that can shed some light on the situation.
5. South Carolina
Record: 1-2
Last Week: Lost vs. Georgia, 14-7
South Carolina played its heart out against Georgia last Saturday, but a couple of mistakes cost it the upset. Luckily for the Gamecocks, they play Wofford and UAB in consecutive weeks so they can be paid a couple of wins before continuing its brutal SEC schedule. This USC team is talented and pretty good, but you just have to wonder how many wins it can pick up with the schedule that stands in front of it. If Duke continues to win games and USC continues to lose, the Blue Devils could shockingly sneak into these rankings-by default.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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