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Thanks for joining me here and in the chat today.

Ben in Blacksburg writes: Heather, With USC's drop off last year, the current longest streaks of 10-win seasons belong to Virginia Tech(6) and Texas(9). 10 wins for the Hokies, do you see it happening for the 7th year in a row?

HD: Yes, I do. It's not unreasonable to think Virginia Tech could start the season 8-0 or 9-0, but I don't think the Hokies will get through their unforgiving November schedule unscathed. That three-game stretch against Georgia Tech, at UNC and at Miami will likely be where the Hokies trip up.

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Keith in Miami writes: Now with USC getting so many sanctions, do you see Seantrel Henderson leaving USC for Miami?

HD: Miami would love to have him, but he has to officially be released by USC before the staff can talk to him. The Canes do have a scholarship available for him, should he want it.

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Nick in Atlanta writes: Heather,I know you probably get a lot of questions about Florida States defense but I figure one more won't hurt. Given both Mark Stoops and Greg Hudson being brought aboard this year (and the improvements they brought in the first season with their previous teams), the new strength coaches, and the addition of a playbook what kind of improvements can we realistically expect out of FSU's defense this fall?

HD: I think fans will see a willingness to adapt to the personnel. This past spring Stoops told me they were working to build off of the base 4-3 front, which was the same scheme used by Mickey Andrews. The difference is Stoops will show more variations. Andrews mainly relied on man coverage while this year, fans might notice more zone coverage on the back end and more variety in the zone-coverage schemes.

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Ron in Ft. Washington, Md. writes: Hey Heather, There is a lot of talent in the ACC and most of the schools are better than Maryland on paper. Do you believe that the Terps can turn things around after last year's disappointing season? The runnig game should be better with Da'Rel Scott back in action along with Meggett and the rest of the RB corps.

HD: I don't think Ralph Friedgen has much of a choice, Ron, which is why I think the Terps will show improvement. Everyone on that staff is working hard, and you're right, the running game should be better, but more importantly, so should the offensive line.

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Jason in Asheville, N.C. writes: Heather,Love the blog. Gets me through everyday. One question, with all the "watch" lists coming out, does a player have to be on the watch list to win the actual award? GO NOLES!!!

HD: Thanks for reading, Jason. Players can be added or deleted from those lists as the season goes on.

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Nick in Chapel Hill, N.C. writes: Hey Heather,I figured that you would have more influence on getting an answer to this question than I would if I were to call up UNC and ask. What are the Tar Heels planning on doing about a video board for this upcoming year? With all of the construction they have torn down the only one we have. Also, how far along with the construction are they planning on being for the first home game? HD: Not really, Nick, but I did send an e-mail and ask. Kevin Best in the sports information department tells me there will be a temporary video board and sound system erected in the East End Zone near where the permanent one was. Exact dimensions are not final yet, but it will be slightly smaller than the permanent one that was removed. The construction schedule calls for most of the foundation and footing work to be done prior to Sept. 18, with temporary buildings erected for visiting team and officials, game day facilities for all six home games, while the steel and concrete is erected during the season.

Sure, there's a little March Madness going on, but college football beats the NCAA tournament anyway, so says Mike Bianchi.

• I'm a big fan of U2. The band. But this version should be pretty good, too. If you're a Miami fan, get ready for the sequel to 'The U.'
• FSU coach Jimbo Fisher discussed the second day of practices with reporters on Thursday.
• Miami fans will appreciate this one -- Bryce Brown is leaving Tennessee. And he decided to do it on the first day of spring ball.
• Former FSU receiver Preston Parker said his experience at North Alabama has made him "a better man."
• Former Virginia Tech defensive end Jason Worilds put up some good numbers during pro day on Thursday.
• Bobby Bowden wasn't the only longtime FSU coach missing at practice this week. Former defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews also left big shoes to fill.

Here's a quick look at some of the top highlights -- and lowlights -- of the ACC's 2009 bowl season:

Best story: Nothing can top Bobby Bowden’s sendoff against his former team, West Virginia, in the Gator Bowl. There was even a “wide right,” only this time it was in Bowden’s favor. The Seminoles weren’t given much of a chance to stop West Virginia and its star running back, Noel Devine, but FSU’s defense finally clamped down and helped rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel end the careers of Bowden and longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews with a 33-21 win.

Best quote: "We've got Heisman Trophies. We've got national championship trophies. We've got ACC trophies. I've got a box at home, must have 50 rings, must have 50 rings like that. I can't wear but one of them. … When I die, I can't take it with me. There are things in life more important. There are just things more important than that to me. That's why I'm at peace with myself." -- Former FSU coach Bobby Bowden after his final game.

Best coaching job: Frank Beamer. The Hokies had a great game plan, they showed improvement offensively, and played hard in all three phases against Tennessee. Virginia Tech’s win in the Chick-fil-A Bowl gave the program its first consecutive bowl wins, and the Hokies left no doubt who was the better team. Virginia Tech gave a complete, convincing effort against a neighboring SEC program and put the program in position to enter 2010 as a top 10 team.

Best stat: Virginia Tech’s defense hasn’t allowed any second-half points in its past five games, with the exception of Maryland’s fumble recovery in the end zone with 11:25 remaining on Nov. 14.

Best senior sendoff: Clemson running back C.J. Spiller went out a winner, breaking more records along the way. Spiller scored a touchdown and had 172 all-purpose yards, leading Clemson to a 21-13 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. He scored a touchdown for the 14th straight game, setting a school record.

Worst penalty: On fourth-and-2 from the North Carolina 30-yard line, Pitt tried to draw UNC offsides and it worked. Cam Thomas jumped, handing Pitt a first down. The costly mistake helped lead the Panthers to their fourth and final field goal, and a 19-17 win. UNC led 17-16 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Worst excuse: It was cold. So Miami had to wear long sleeves and play in 50-degree weather against Wisconsin. That doesn’t quite explain the 430 yards of total offense the defense allowed the Badgers, or the fact that Jacory Harris was sacked five times.

Worst stat: In two bowl games under coach Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech has been outscored 62-17.

Worst injury/field conditions: Miami running back Graig Cooper, the Canes’ leading rusher, could miss all of next season with a severe right knee injury, thanks in large part to a misstep on the poor field conditions on the Florida Citrus Bowl turf at the Champs Sports Bowl. Cooper was deciding whether or not to leave Miami early for the NFL.

Worst turnover: Boston College had been able to hang with USC for four quarters, and it was a winnable game for the Eagles until quarterback Dave Shinskie threw a costly interception early in the fourth quarter. The Trojans scored two plays later in what would be the final touchdown of the game to win 24-13.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- So much for Florida State's defense coming out fast and playing inspired on behalf of Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews.

Instead, FSU's defense looked like, well, FSU's defense.

Bowden could have been lined up at linebacker out there and West Virginia wouldn't have cared. They'd plow right past him, just like they did on their opening drive. It only took eight plays to move the ball 72 yards for the 7-0 lead. Sure, it's still early, very early, but somebody had to set the tone in this game, and the Mountaineers' offense did that.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Eventually, the celebrations have to end and the game must begin here at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Emotion will only carry Florida State so far as the Noles bid farewell to both Bobby Bowden and longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews. During their pregame warm-ups, the Noles were bouncing around, waving their arms in the air, and looked like they came to play.

The thing is, they still have to play.

Florida State’s defense -- which is statistically one of the worst in the country -- will have to show dramatic improvement from its unimpressive identity all season. West Virginia has outgained eight of its 12 opponents this year in total offense. The Mountaineers enter this game just 106 yards shy of tying last year’s total offense yardage, 4,685.

If Florida State is going to have any chance at sending Bowden off with a win, they’ll have to slow down Noel Devine, who rushed for a career-best 1,297 yards on 225 carries, a 5.8 yards per carry average. He had six 100-yard rushing performances, and had six carries of 50 yards or more. And it’s the final performance for West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown, a redshirt senior who racked up 2,552 yards of total offense this year.

There are no lineup changes for Florida State or West Virginia. Everyone who is supposed to be here is here. Including the largest crowd to ever fill this stadium, though it’s still filling up very slowly. What happens on the field today is secondary to the story on the sideline, where Bowden will be coaching for the last time. But it’s still Bobby Bowden, and he still wants to win. We’ll see if his defense can come through for him one last time.

Here's a quick preview of Friday's Konica Minolta Gator Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel. It’s only his fourth career start, and so far Manuel has been a bit unpredictable, which is to be expected. In his debut against Wake Forest, Manuel looked as if he made a seamless transition into the starting job in place of injured starter Christian Ponder. He has completed over 60 percent of his passes in each of the past three games, but has also thrown six interceptions and only two touchdowns. West Virginia leads the Big East and is No. 26 in the country in pass efficiency defense.

WHAT TO WATCH: Florida State’s run defense. It has to be better. Has to be. West Virginia is averaging 183.5 rushing yards per game, second best in the Big East and 32nd in the nation. FSU’s rushing defense is ranked 108th in the nation, allowing 203.3 yards per game. FSU’s defensive line will have some problems handling the Mountaineers up front, and they should be able to find some creases for Noel Devine.

WHY WATCH: If you don’t know, find a new hobby. Try knitting or something. It’s Bobby Bowden’s final game of his career, and it comes against his former team, as Bowden was the head coach at West Virginia from 1970-75, leading the Mountaineers to a 42-26 record (1-1 in bowls). Bowden (388-129-4) has won 388 games over 44 seasons, the second most among all FBS coaches behind Joe Paterno (393). As if that weren’t reason enough, it’s also the final game for longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

PREDICTION: The Seminoles will start of strong, fueled by the emotion surrounding the game, but West Virginia will win the battle up front, and Florida State won’t be able to contain Devine or quarterback Jarrett Brown for four quarters. The Noles’ defense has been FSU's problem all season, and that’s not going to change just because it’s Bowden’s final game. Manuel will play well enough to keep Florida State in the game, but in the end he’ll make a few rookie mistakes and West Virginia will win the turnover battle leading to a 35-24 Mountaineers win.

Florida State has hired Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops to replace longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, sources confirmed Friday. Stoops is in his sixth year at Arizona and has two decades of coaching experience. FSU fans can rest easy. This was a good hire.

Stoops joins Tennessee running backs/special teams coach Eddie Gran as Jimbo Fisher’s first two hires, but the staff changes won't take place until after the Gator Bowl.

Fisher has already told four members of the staff they will not be retained. Defensive line coach Jody Allen, running backs coach Dexter Carter, linebackers coach Chuck Amato and strength coach Todd Stroud must all be replaced. Offensive line coach Rick Trickett interviewed earlier today for the head coaching job at Marshall.

Sorry, guys, but there's nothing I can do about the fact C.J. Spiller has been left out of the most prestigious awards. Those comments were the bulk of the mailbag after last night. Also, I didn't forget Clemson in the team reviews on Wednesday, I forgot the tag, "ACC 2009 final team reviews" which linked them all together. Here's a sampling of what else is in the mailbag this week ...

Shane in Miami writes: In your season wrap up you alluded to the off the field incidents that have plagued UM in the past. Why does the national media always harp on Miami's off the field issues while UF's are swept under the rug? Outside of the Pata tragedy, the fact is there have been very few incidents during Shannon's tenure. UF has had close to 30 arrests since Meyer took over and the eye gouging incident for which Brandon Spikes was suspended one half. ONE HALF! If a UM player pulled that stunt and was suspended for a half the national sports media would have lost their minds.I know it's not your job to cover the SEC but could you please shed some light on this for me?Thank you and keep up the good work,Shane

Heather Dinich: Thanks for reading, Shane. The only reason I mentioned it was because it wasn't an issue. And that's a credit to Randy Shannon. I'm not just talking about players getting suspended (seven were suspended for the '08 opener, there was the FIU brawl, it's not like it was 20 years ago, guys ...) but there have been quarterback controversies, and a revolving door at the coordinator positions. When Shannon took over he had to figure out who wanted to be there and who didn't. This year was a quiet year is all, and that's a good thing.

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Nathan in Roanoke, Va., writes: Do you think that it is a slap in the face for Bobby Bowden that since he has announced his retirement Florida State has received a commitment from the top CB and ILB in Lamarcus Joyner, and Jeff Luc? Or do you believe it is because they want to be a part in rebuilding a once dominant program and proving that a school can prevail even when losing a legend?

HD: I think it's less of a slap in the face to Bowden and more of a vote of confidence in Fisher. Recruits and their parents like to have some guarantees about what their four years will be like. Now they have a much better understanding of that.

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Brian in Pelion, S.C., writes: who is Jimbo Fisher going to hire to replace Mickey Andrews? And who all is he firing from the rest of the coaching staff?

HD: My guess -- and really, it's only a guess -- would be Mark Stoops. And the only coaches I know of who haven't been retained are Todd Stroud, Dexter Carter, Jody Allen and Chuck Amato.

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Bob in Stamford, Conn., writes: It looks like there is a big outrage over the BC band not attending the Emerald Bowl. Take a look at Boston.com and the unusually large number of comments. Clearly, some members of the banded are irked. Hopefully, Mr. DeFilippo will change the current decision to not send even a small selection of the band. While it was the right decision to not force the band to travel on Christmas, it seems that a number of people are not happy.

HD: Nor should they be happy, Bob. The band is an important part of college football Saturdays. They should be rewarded, along with the players, for their efforts this season.

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J.P. in Miami writes: Heather you've done a phenomenal job this season but let's be real the best bowl game the ACC has is VT vs Tenn hands down. To say that the FSU vs WVU game is the best and most intriguing is almost as insulting as picking FSU to be in that bowl game in the first place. We all know FSU didn't deserve it but life is not fair and that is the way it goes no use in crying over it now te BCS doesn't work and how long have we (all of college football) been complaining about that.

HD: Thanks, J.P., and the Chick-fil-A Bowl should be a great game. I know it's a matchup Hokies' have been asking for, but because it's the final game of Bobby Bowden's career, I think that plot line will top whoever wins or loses in the other game. I'm not saying the Gator Bowl is the best matchup -- West Virginia will be favored, and it should be a big challenge for the Noles' struggling defense. But what will the atmosphere be like? How will the players and coaches respond to the emotional subplot? Will the defense have its game of the year for Bowden? Will the players fall apart because the staff already has? Will it take away from Bowden's final bow if the Noles lose convincingly? It might not be the best game, but it's almost impossible not to watch.

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Tom in central PA writes: How about a story on how good Maryland's Wrestling program has become? It is a story of leadership and vision that most ACC fans would enjoy.

HD: It's come to this in College Park ...

It’s hard to believe this team was picked by the media to win the Atlantic Division, as it unraveled early and eventually ended with the administration forcing legendary coach Bobby Bowden to retire. FSU’s 2-4 record to start the season tied the worst mark ever by a Bowden-led team since he took over the program in 1976, but the Noles were able to regroup and will send Bowden off into retirement with an appearance in the Gator Bowl.

Had Jarmon Fortson’s play in the end zone on the very last play of the season opener against Miami been ruled a catch, who knows what different turn this season might have taken for the Noles? They would have been 3-0 with a huge upset of No. 7 BYU heading into their home game against South Florida. Instead, the Noles went on a three-game losing streak heading into their Thursday night date with North Carolina, and a closed-door meeting of high-ranking university officials in October signaled a desire for change.

But Florida State’s impressive comeback win against North Carolina helped keep the postseason possibility alive. Despite one of the country’s worst defenses, the announced retirement of defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, and the season-ending injury to standout quarterback Christian Ponder, Florida State was able to beat Wake Forest on Nov. 14 to inch within one win of bowl eligibility with two games remaining. An ugly home win over Maryland sealed the deal, but the season ended on a sour note with an embarrassing 37-10 drubbing by rival Florida in the Swamp, and the announcement of Bowden’s resignation two days later.

Offensive MVP: Quarterback Christian Ponder: Despite missing the final three games with a shoulder injury, Ponder still leads the ACC in passing average per game, and is fourth in passing efficiency. He completed a league-best 68.8 percent of his passes for 2,717 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is No. 18 in the country in passing efficiency and No. 3 in total offense.

Defensive MVP: Free safety Jamie Robinson: He was the most consistently good player on a defense that struggled consistently, and he put up career-best numbers. Robinson was the team’s third leading tackler with 74, had one sack, three interceptions, and eight passes defended. He also had one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Turning point: The 41-28 win at Wake Forest snapped a three-game losing streak to the Deacs, and it showed a group effort that supported the first career start of backup quarterback E.J. Manuel. The win was key in extending the Seminoles’ season.

What’s next: Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has already begun to make his staff changes, and Bowden said he will clean out his office soon. It’s Fisher’s team now, and his many tasks include recruiting, reuniting the fan base, and beat Florida. First, though, FSU will try to bid Bowden farewell with a win over West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.

It’s the final week of the regular season, and the division winners have been determined in Georgia Tech and Clemson. The ACC has five teams ranked in the BCS standings, but I’ve got a slightly different order here which reflects the top two teams in each division.

To me, they finished the season as the best teams in the ACC and should be rewarded for it. There’s a drop-off after the first five, though, and that’s something that hasn’t changed much this season. In fact, there was only one position change in this week’s rankings, and that’s only because FSU squeaked out a home win while BC turned it over six times in a home loss.

Here are rankings for Week 13:

1. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) -- The Yellow Jackets had a bye week to relish their Coastal Division title and prepare for a downtrodden Georgia team. Paul Johnson said on his Sunday teleconference that there’s no sense of overconfidence, though, or looking ahead to the ACC championship game.

2. Clemson (8-3, 6-2; LW: No. 2) -- The Tigers played a complete second half against Virginia to earn the school’s first appearance in the ACC championship game and the first chance at the conference title since 1991. Now they face rival South Carolina on the road, and their next goal, coach Dabo Swinney said, is winning the state championship.

3. Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2; LW: No. 3) -- The Hokies humbled NC State in a 38-10 win in Lane Stadium, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t handle Virginia this weekend with similar ease, though the Cavaliers’ defense should pose a bigger challenge for Ryan Williams.

4. Miami (8-3, 5-3; LW: No. 4) -- They waited until the fourth quarter, but behind the leadership of quarterback Jacory Harris, the Canes were able to hold off a determined Duke team and win 34-16. It wasn’t as convincing as the score might indicate, though, and nothing will get easier on the road this weekend at South Florida.

5. North Carolina (8-3, 4-3; LW: No. 5) -- The Tar Heels get the award for most improved team in the second half of the season, and their defense has been simply outstanding consistently. Two defensive touchdowns in Chestnut Hill helped knock BC out of the running for the Atlantic Division, and UNC won its fourth straight game heading into NC State this weekend.

6. Florida State (6-5, 4-4; LW: No. 7) -- It wasn’t pretty, but the Seminoles managed to barely avoid an upset at home to a two-win Maryland team. It wasn’t the kind of defensive performance Mickey Andrews had probably hoped for in his final home game, but it was enough to get the job done and qualify the program for a bowl.

7. Boston College (7-4, 4-3; LW: No. 6) -- The Eagles’ home winning streak came to an end against UNC, and deservedly so after six turnovers. Quarterback Dave Shinskie has struggled in the past two games, but North Carolina’s defense deserves credit for disrupting him. BC has struggled all season long against stellar defenses, this time it just happened to occur in Chestnut Hill.

8. Duke (5-6, 3-4; LW: No. 8) --It was an admirable effort, but the Blue Devils likely won’t take much solace in any moral victories. Duke held a 16-10 lead against Miami early in the third quarter, and for the second straight year led by three points at the half, but the defense couldn’t stop the Canes from that point on and Duke’s bowl hopes came to an end.

9. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5; LW: No. 9) -- The Demon Deacons had the week off to either sulk about their disappointing loss to Florida State or start getting ready for Duke. Both teams will enter their season finale under a cloud of disappointment, but two of the ACC’s better quarterbacks will try to finish their careers on a winning note.

10. Virginia (3-8, 2-5; LW: No. 10) -- The Cavaliers’ 21 points against Clemson were the most Virginia had scored in each of its past four games, but it wasn’t enough, as the Tigers made good second-half defensive adjustments and Virginia ran out of tricks -- and Mikell Simpson. Al Groh likely has one more chance to beat rival Virginia Tech.

11. NC State (4-7, 1-6; LW: No. 11) -- It’s been a painful season for the Pack, and the Hokies continued to lay on the hurt. Defense was once again the problem, as NC State rolled out the red carpet for Williams. While UNC’s offense won’t be their biggest challenge of the season this weekend, the Tar Heels’ defense could be.

12. Maryland (2-9, 1-6; LW: No. 12) -- This team deserves credit for not quitting this season, not even until the very last play of the fourth quarter in Tallahassee. It was a much better performance against FSU than probably most of us expected, yet it wasn’t enough. Staff changes everywhere but at the top seem imminent in College Park.

As Maryland prepares to head to Tallahassee with the odds stacked against it on Saturday, there is no sense of defeat from coach Ralph Friedgen, despite the program’s worst record in over a decade.

At 2-8 overall, Maryland is down to its backup quarterback and backup punter, and will be facing a Florida State team desperately clinging to hopes of playing in a bowl game this year. The Terps, who have lost five straight games, will be pitted against an emotional defense playing for longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews in what will be the final home game of his 26-year career.

The one thing these two teams have in common, though, is stubborn coaches who are determined to keep coming back for more. Neither Friedgen nor Bobby Bowden has given any indication that this year’s struggles will keep him from coaching in 2010. For both coaches, much of that has to do with the talent, potential and character they see on their current rosters. While Bowden is on a yearly contract that is renewed each season, a buyout would cost Maryland roughly $4 million dollars -- an amount Friedgen would be foolish to walk away from on his own terms.

Instead, he seems to plan on earning it. Eventually.

Friedgen said he’s had to motivate more this year than in any past seasons, but it hasn’t been that difficult because the players have responded.

“I’m working and I’m praying that we can have some success and gain some confidence and grow from this whole experience,” Friedgen said. “This is different for me. It has not been easy on our fans, our coaches, our players, but to me, you have to sit down and evaluate everything you’re doing. But the biggest thing you have to do, is say, ‘Hey, is everybody working to get better, to strive to win?’ I’m really looking hard and trying to find some cracks, and there’s a play here and there, or a kid here and there, but overall, it’s pretty good.”

Friedgen said he has no problem with what he calls “honest play mistakes,” and he hasn’t seen many of what he calls “effort lack of interest mistakes.” Because he has such a young team, Friedgen said he thinks that once they get over the hump, they’ll have “a foundation to be able to win for a while.”

He said he hasn’t had any recruits back out of their commitments, nor have any of his current players deflected from the team concept.

“Normally it’s human nature not to take accountability, people start getting bad attitudes, start pointing fingers, but I haven’t had any of that,” Friedgen said. “I have a very special bunch of kids. It’s weird. The whole year has been very, very weird. The last two practices we’ve had this week have been very, very good. Normally when you’re in a rut like we are, sometimes you hate going to practice, you hate being around the kids. That’s not the case at all. But I do worry about things continuing because the more you lose, the easier it is for you to lose. Somewhere along the line, we’ve got to turn this around.

“I only know one way out of this, and that’s to keep working, keep trying to accentuate the positive. As long as my kids are working, I’m going to be hanging in there with them, and eventually we’ll punch through this thing.”

Anyone going to the Esso this weekend?

• Just when you thought Maryland couldn't lose anything else this year, the Terps lost their punter to a worse-than-expected finger injury.
• Thaddeus Lewis would like to beat Jacory Harris on Saturday, but he would also like to see his friend learn from his mistakes.
• Russell Wilson or Tyrod Taylor? The Hokies made their choice long ago, and it could prove to pay off longer than if they had chosen the dual-sport star.
• Clemson tight end Michael Palmer is a tough guy who has been determined to prove doubters wrong about his potential.
• It can never hurt to have the governor on your side, even when you're Bobby Bowden. Or, in this case, especially when you're Bobby Bowden.
• As Mickey Andrews prepares to coach his final home game after 26 years at FSU, former players fondly recall his tough love lessons.
• Miami will be without wide receiver Thearon Collier for the Duke game, the Sun-Sentinel is reporting.
• Cody Grimm is a funny guy. He's not laughing as much anymore, though, about a possible future in the NFL.
• Home-field advantage didn't mean much last weekend in the ACC.
• BC quarterback Dave Shinskie wants to help send the seniors out on a winning note.

Last week’s 4-2 record was adequate, but Miami’s loss at North Carolina and Wake’s loss to Florida State dropped my season pick percentage to 69.8. Wake Forest and Georgia Tech are both off this week, decreasing my chances at redemption.

I’ll be in Death Valley on Saturday, so why don’t we start there …

Clemson 28, Virginia 10 – Clemson is 19-3 against Virginia in Memorial Stadium, and their 20th home win in the series will clinch the Atlantic Division for the Tigers, not to mention give coach Dabo Swinney a hefty raise. Clemson has too much to lose to let this one get away. The Cavaliers’ have played well defensively all season, and will present a look that the Tigers are unfamiliar with, but will continue to struggle offensively as they have done all year.

Florida State 35, Maryland 17 – The Seminoles are one win away from bowl eligibility, and they’re not about to let it slip away to a 2-8 Maryland team that hasn’t won a game since Oct. 3. Not on Senior Day. Not on Mickey Andrews’ last home game of his career. Maryland will be on the road with its backup quarterback, and counting on a defense that has allowed a league-worst 32.7 points per game.

Virginia Tech 38, NC State 17 – Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson will play well in his home state, but the Hokies are 7-2-2 against the Pack at home, and are still shooting for a 10-win season. NC State’s defense, which is allowing 30.9 points per game, won’t be able to stop Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams. It's also Senior Day in Blacksburg.

Miami 38, Duke 24 - Miami’s defense has been struggling, as it gave up 33 points to an average UNC offense, but quarterback Jacory Harris will be fine at home and overcome his recent turnover slump. Thaddeus Lewis will throw for some yards, but the Blue Devils won’t be able to overcome the gap in talent and speed.

Still looking for the UNC at BC pick? Check the video …

The ACC race is close to being wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean the other teams aren’t worth watching this week. Here are a few things to keep an eye on in the conference:

1. Virginia’s defense vs. Clemson’s ground game. Since 1990, Virginia has won eight of 11 games when holding Clemson under 200 yards on the ground. Last year was an anomaly -- Clemson won despite only rushing for 56 yards. Virginia held C.J. Spiller to 18 yards rushing and a season-low 1.3 yards per carry last year.

2. UNC’s red zone offense in Chestnut Hill. UNC’s offense hasn’t exactly been prolific, but it’s gotten the job done inside the 20. UNC is first in the ACC and ninth in the country in red zone efficiency, converting 29 of 31 attempts. Carolina has converted its last 19 red zone opportunities. BC, though, is No. 2 in the ACC in red zone defense, holding opponents to a 76.7 percent success rate on 23 of 30 chances.

3. Super sophs. FSU running back Jermaine Thomas became the first FSU player since Greg Jones to rush for at least 100 yards in three consecutive games when he rushed for 149 last weekend against Wake Forest. Thomas has rushed for more yards in the last three games (454) than he did in the first seven games of the season (192) and has totaled nearly as many rushing yards over the past three weeks as he did in 12 games as a true freshman (482). BC sophomore running back Montel Harris needs just 19 yards to gain 2,000 in his career. Andre Callender was the last player to do it. He gained 2,971 yards from 2004-07.

4. The Bazooka. Speaking of BC’s Harris, the Eagles have been running their own version of the Wildcat formation this year with Harris, only they call it the Bazooka. It was extremely effective against NC State on October 17 as BC ran the formation five times and gained 167 yards. One of those rushes was a career-long 70-yard scamper down the right sideline for Harris, who set new Boston College records with 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns. That was NC State’s defense, though. UNC’s is significantly better, but Harris will still get his chances.

5. Final farewells. It will be Senior Day at several schools throughout the ACC, and there are two farewells that will be tougher for two particular fan bases. FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is retiring after 26 seasons and he and his family will be recognized before Saturday’s game against Maryland, and record-setting Clemson running back C.J. Spiller will give his final performance in Memorial Stadium. The emotion involved could be an added inspiration to both Clemson’s offense and FSU’s defense.

6. Turnovers in LandShark Stadium. Miami has hurt itself the past few weeks with turnovers, and enters this week with a minus-four turnover margin. Duke is plus three. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has accounted for nine interceptions in the past four games.

7. Broken records in Death Valley. DeAndre McDaniel is one interception away from the school record for picks in a season. Thomas Austin suffered an ankle injury against NC State and his streak of 33 consecutive starts is in jeopardy. And C.J. Spiller needs 140 all-purpose yards to reach 7,000 for his career. He also needs one more kickoff return for a touchdown to set an NCAA record.

8. The coin toss in Blacksburg. No, seriously. Virginia Tech is 0-for-10 this year in the coin toss (0-4 when calling the flip; 0-6 when the opponent calls it). The chances of losing 10 straight coin tosses are 1 in 1024 and it’s a 1 in 2048 chance of losing 11 straight. While not a stat tracked by the NCAA, Virginia Tech’s sports information director noted that Duke lost its first 10 coin tosses last year before winning the toss in its 11th game, which oddly enough came against Virginia Tech.

9. Hokies’ pass defense against Russell Wilson. Virginia Tech has the ACC’s No. 1 pass defense, holding opponents to 157.2 yards per game and seven touchdowns. Opponents are converting just 45.2 percent of their passes against Virginia Tech. Wilson, though, is completing 58.2 percent of his passes, and has thrown 26 touchdown passes. NC State is third in the ACC in passing offense.

10. Sacks in the Sunshine state. Maryland backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson was sacked six times last week against Virginia Tech. Miami has allowed 28 sacks this season -- only three more than Maryland.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Well, I'm a goofball, but you guys already knew that. One of my reporter friends pointed out to me this morning that if you click on the school in the USA Today report on assistant coaches' salaries, the entire list of assistant coaches' salaries pop up.

Worth noting in the ACC from the USA Today report:

• Florida State has four assistant coaches making over $300,000 -- Jimbo Fisher, Rick Trickett, Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato (in that order). Fisher, Trickett and recruiting coordinator James Coley are the only ones whose contracts extend longer than a year. That makes it pretty easy for a staff overhaul, no?
• Fisher is the highest-paid assistant coach in the ACC at $629,000.
• There are only three assistant coaches in the ACC making over $400,000: Fisher, Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin ($468,954) and Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster ($402,000).
• All of Virginia's assistant coaches are on one-year contracts. Again, an easy staff overhaul. So are Georgia Tech's, though.
• The disparity between Foster and Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring is $123,552.
• Only four coaches in the ACC are in the 300 Club: Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown ($307,440), Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele ($375,000), and UNC coordinators John Shoop and Everett Withers (both at $330,000). All of the other assistants, save for Fisher, Franklin and Foster, make under $300,000.