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At Duke, former scout team quarterback Sean Schroeder has been reciting the names of plays so he can spit them out a little easier in the huddle as the No. 1 signal-caller this spring. At Wake Forest, coach Jim Grobe would like nothing more than to say he feels good about his quarterbacks, but he hasn’t seen any of them play significant game time yet. And at NC State, backup Mike Glennon plans on working to unseat his friend and teammate Russell Wilson as the starter this spring.

Bring on the competition in the ACC.

All across the conference, uncertainty looms at quarterback heading into spring practices. The biggest transitions will occur at Duke and Wake Forest, where two of the ACC’s most accomplished quarterbacks -- Thaddeus Lewis and Riley Skinner -- have graduated. Virginia is also starting from scratch to replace Jameel Sewell, and nobody on the roster but Marc Verica has experience. Maryland's Jamarr Robinson has two starts ahead of the competition. Some schools, like North Carolina and Boston College, have experienced starters returning, but have welcomed an audition from the backups. At NC State and Clemson, the position’s future depends on whether or not starters Kyle Parker and Wilson decide to pursue their baseball careers.

“My goal is to prepare to be the starter, regardless of what decision [Wilson] makes, whenever he has to make a decision,” Glennon said. “… Once spring comes around, I’ll be getting all of those extra reps I wouldn’t have been given if he was there. Every ball I throw is really an advantage to me.”

Florida State is the only school in the Atlantic Division without any questions about who the starter is, as Christian Ponder will return from a shoulder injury and has the potential to factor into the Heisman race. The Coastal Division is a little more secure, with Georgia Tech’s Josh Nesbitt, Miami’s Jacory Harris, and Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor all established and on the brink of their best seasons yet. Whether or not that gives them an edge in the conference race will depend upon how quickly the league’s rookies can catch up.

“It’s always difficult to replace a guy who had the ability [Lewis] had,” said Duke offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper. “He’s obviously very, very talented, and then the experience factor. You don’t have a four-year starter very often ever at many positions, especially at quarterback.”

Boston College is in a much better position than it was this time a year ago, as the staff had no idea who its quarterback would be until 25-year-old Dave Shinskie arrived on campus. Shinskie is the front-runner heading into the spring, but Mike Marscovetra and two true freshmen -- Chase Rettig and Josh Bordner -- are on campus and will be given a chance.

“I think there should always be competition,” said offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Gary Tranquill. “It’s Shinskie’s job, and if they can unseat him, then they can unseat him.”

Duke’s quarterback depth took a hit after Lewis graduated and his backup, Sean Renfree, tore his ACL. Renfree is expected to be the Blue Devils’ starter this fall, but he will miss all of spring drills while he recovers.

Next man up? Schroeder.

“I’m expecting to really get a hold of the offense,” he said. “I’ve got a year under my belt as a redshirt freshman. That helped a lot. I’m looking to grow from that and master the offense and different schemes we have.”

Wake Forest has to replace the winningest quarterback in school history in Skinner. Truth is, there really is no front-runner. Not when the most experienced player, Ted Stachitas, has one series against Elon to fall back on.

“It is legitimately wide open,” said quarterbacks coach Tom Elrod.

The contenders include Skylar Jones, who was moved to wide receiver last year; Stachitas, who has had two shoulder surgeries on his right shoulder but said he feels almost 100 percent; Brendan Cross; walk-on Turner Faulk; and true freshman Tanner Price.

“I can’t tell you that I’m very confident, just because we haven’t seen the guys in live fire,” Grobe said. “I don’t know that we’ll feel good about them until they get a real game under their belt. I like what we’ve got – I like the kids who are playing quarterback for us, but even in practice and the scrimmages, it’s just really hard to tell who the guys are until they get out in games that really mean something.”

The one thing Grobe can take some solace in? He’s hardly alone this spring in the ACC.

Here's a breakdown of three issues facing each program heading into the spring:

BOSTON COLLEGE

Spring practice starts: March 18

Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

• How linebacker Mark Herzlich progresses. Herzlich, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer last May, has been going through winter conditioning with his teammates, and he plans on participating in spring drills. How quickly he regains his form will be worth watching, as he and sophomore Luke Kuechly could give the Eagles one of the most formidable linebacking corps.

• The quarterback battle. After one season, Dave Shinskie has the most experience on the roster, but he’ll get some competition from Josh Bordner and Chase Rettig, two early enrollees. There were times last season when Shinskie looked like the future of the position and there were others when he looked like any other freshman.

• Defensive linemen. For the second straight year, BC is looking for some stability up front. The Eagles have to replace left tackle Austin Giles and defensive end Jim Ramella. They return Kaleb Ramsey, Giles’ backup, and Brad Newman, Ramella’s reserve, but some young faces are likely to be seen in the rotation.

CLEMSON

Spring practice starts: March 7

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Life without C.J. Spiller officially begins. The backs behind him had a pretty good year, so there’s no need for full panic mode. Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington actually combined for a higher yards per carry average (6.1 to 5.6 yards). Clemson will also be looking to replace Spiller’s lost kickoff return yardage. The Tigers had a 13-yard advantage in average starting field position, as their start was their own 37-yard line compared to opponents’ 24-yard line. Ellington is a candidate in the return game.

• Kyle Parker’s batting average. No, really. How well Parker does this spring with the baseball team will help determine whether he remains Clemson’s quarterback or turns to the MLB draft. He didn’t have a great 2009 season, but he was still the fastest player to 25 home runs in school history. It remains to be seen this spring if he’ll become a high enough draft choice to give up college football.

• Secondary shuffling. It seems like eons ago since Crezdon Butler and Chris Chancellor weren’t the Tigers’ starting corners, as Butler started 40 straight games and Chancellor started 42. Butler finished his career second in school history in interception return yards. Now it’s time for a new duo. Will Marcus Gilchrist move to corner, which he’s capable of doing? Might Rashard Hall move to safety with DeAndre McDaniel?

DUKE

Spring practice starts: Feb. 14

Spring game: March 27

What to watch:

• Quarterback competition. Somebody has to take over for the graduated Thaddeus Lewis, but his backup – Sean Renfree – will miss the spring with a torn ACL. Redshirt freshman Sean Schroeder should be heavily in the mix to be the starter, pending Renfree’s recovery.

• Defensive line makeover. It’s wide open. Charlie Hatcher is entrenched at nose guard, but it’s really anyone’s game. The staff might move redshirt senior Wesley Oglesby, who played the majority of his career at defensive end, inside. Other options are defensive tackle Sydney Sarmiento, a redshirt freshman, and Curtis Hazelton, who played sparingly last season.

• Johnny Williams’ move from wide receiver to cornerback. He had 31 catches in 2009 – the fourth-best on the team. Now they need his help in the defensive backfield. Duke will lose starter Leon Wright and his 10 career interceptions, and the pass defense, which allowed 215.75 yards per game, could use a boost.

FLORIDA STATE

Spring practice starts: March 16

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Christian Ponder’s return from shoulder surgery. Ponder is expected to practice this spring, though it could be on a limited basis, at least early. He’s ahead of schedule, but the coaches won’t subject him to any risks now. Yes, E.J. Manuel is talented and played well at the end of the season, but make no mistake – Ponder is FSU’s starter and a potential Heisman Trophy candidate.

• The defense under first-year coordinator Mark Stoops. His secondary, in particular, will be interesting to watch, as will how quickly he can help the front seven generate a pass rush and plug the middle. Stoops has been a secondary coach, and the Noles lost three starters there. The fourth, Ochuko Jenije, could be pushed to retain his job.

• New faces, new opportunities. In addition to the fab freshmen who are coming in, FSU has a handful of unfamiliar players already on the roster who played sparingly or not at all. We'll see how they fit in this spring. RS-So DT Anthony McCloud and RS-So RB Debrale Smiley are both junior college transfers and former teammates. Physically, freshman linebacker Jeff Luc is already a man, but how quickly can he mature on the field? Two young wide receivers worth watching are Rodney Smith and Willie Haulstead.

GEORGIA TECH

Spring practice starts: March 29

Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

• The defensive transformation. The Jackets will switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4 under first-year coordinator Al Groh. In addition to learning the new scheme, the staff has to figure out who goes where. Linebackers might play defensive end and vice versa, safeties might play outside linebacker. It’s anyone’s guess as to how this team lines up in the spring.

• The replacements. From Georgia Tech’s coaching staff to the new faces who will be tasked with filling in for the Fab Four -- Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Morgan, Morgan Burnett and Demaryius Thomas -- the Jackets will need some “Hello My Name Is” tags this spring.

• The offensive line. Three offensive linemen redshirted who could start, and Georgia Tech might need them to, especially if guard Joseph Gilbert decides to transfer to pursue his MBA. The Jackets lose two starters on the offensive line, and Gilbert, who graduates this spring, would be a third if he leaves. Center Sean Bedford and tackle Austin Barrick return as seniors.

MARYLAND

Spring practice starts: March 23

Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

• The quarterback competition. Chris Turner has graduated, leaving Jamarr Robinson the top option going into the spring, but he has limited experience. The staff liked what he did when Turner was injured, but Danny O’Brien, Miami (Ohio) transfer Clay Belton and C.J. Brown will all be given an opportunity. Look for O’Brien to start the spring at No. 2 on the depth chart.

• Cornerback: Cameron Chism is the only returning starter in the secondary, but right now the staff has fewer concerns about the safeties. Maryland will have to find some bodies at corner, and Dexter McDougle, who redshirted as a true freshman last year, is one option. Michael Carter and Trenton Hughes, who was the third corner last year, are also among a handful of candidates.

• The offensive line. Losing Bruce Campbell to the NFL hurt, but the Terps also lost starter Phil Costa. Justin Gilbert, a redshirt sophomore, could inherit Campbell’s job. And there’s always Mr. Versatility -- Paul Pinegar. He has helped the Terps at both tackle spots and left guard, and this spring he’ll likely be given a shot at center.

MIAMI

Spring practice starts: Feb. 23

Spring game: March 27 (tentative)

What to watch:

• Tight end/offensive line: Jimmy Graham is gone, and the Canes don’t return any tight ends with any experience other than Richard Gordon, who was injured the majority of last season. Miami signed four tight ends in this recruiting class, but none of them were early enrollees. Miami has to replace three starters up front, including both tackles and the center.

• How the two young quarterbacks perform: The health of Jacory Harris was precious last year, as he had nobody behind him with any experience after the transfers of Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith. The depth has improved a bit with A.J. Highsmith, who played sparingly last year, and Stephen Morris, one of the early enrollees.

• Upgrade on the d-line? Progress up front began with the hire of Rick Petri as defensive line coach, and it’s up to Petri to help the Canes become better pass rushers. Miami will depend upon its two mainstays -- Allen Bailey and Josh Holmes. The right end position was a group effort last year, and Miami has to replace Joe Joseph and Eric Moncur.

NORTH CAROLINA

Spring practice starts: March 15

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Quarterback T.J. Yates. It’s his job to lose, and the coaching staff still has confidence in him, but Bryn Renner is waiting in the wings, and Braden Hanson will also be given an opportunity. The staff is looking for the offense to improve its passing efficiency and cut down on turnovers.

• The offensive line. It was a patchwork effort in 2009, thanks to injuries and inexperience, and will be a major key in how much UNC improves offensively this year. The Heels have to replace two starters, and Jonathan Cooper is likely to move from guard to center, and right guard Alan Pelc will miss spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery.

• Defensive line tweaks. There aren’t many questions on a defense that should be one of the best in the country, but somebody has to replace Cam Thomas and defensive end E.J. Wilson. Tydreke Powell is the frontrunner to take over at defensive tackle and Quinton Coples at defensive end. Both were backups last year at their respective positions.

NC STATE

Spring practice starts: March 9

Spring game: April 17

What to watch:

• Backup quarterback Mike Glennon. Russell Wilson is the starter, but he’s going to be playing baseball all spring. Keep an eye on his backup to see if Glennon can make it any more of a competition in Wilson’s absence.

• Chris Ward at punter. No, it’s not usually, the highlight of the spring, but in this case, it’s necessary. Ward is it -- he’s their only option right now, and it’s a position the Pack struggled with last year. Ward was expected to be the starter last season, but he was inconsistent. He’s definitely got the talent to be the guy.

• The recovery of linebacker Nate Irving. After being severely injured in a one-car crash last summer, Irving is hopeful he can go through spring drills. He has been lifting with the team and running with the sports medicine staff, but it’s still uncertain how limited his contact will be.

VIRGINIA

Spring practice starts: March 15

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Quarterback competition. Marc Verica is the only one with any experience, and first-year offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor hasn’t been in Charlottesville long enough to evaluate any of the candidates. That’s what the spring is for, and true freshman Michael Strauss is the lone incoming quarterback on campus, so he’ll have a head start on the playbook. Of the four quarterbacks Virginia signed in this year’s class, Strauss is the only one listed as a true quarterback. The Cavs also have Ross Metheny, who redshirted last year, and Riko Smalls, who redshirted in ‘08 and was No. 2 on the depth chart when Verica was out with a concussion.

• Coaching transition. First-year coach Mike London has hired almost an entirely new staff, and they’ll bring changes in philosophy and scheme. London has said he wants to get the defense back to the traditional 4-3, and revert to the tradition of featuring the tight ends, offensive linemen and running backs.

• Running back. The Cavs will have the help up front, but they need to replace their four leading rushers in Mikell Simpson, Rashawn Jackson, Vic Hall and Jameel Sewell. The staff will look at true freshman Kevin Parks, but also have Torrey Mack and Dominique Wallace, who had just seemed to be coming on at Southern Miss when he was injured and missed the rest of the season.

VIRGINIA TECH

Spring practice starts: March 31

Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

• Revamped defensive line. The Hokies have to replace three of four starters up front. The only defensive ends with significant playing time are Chris Drager, who the staff wanted to move back to tight end, and Steven Friday. Redshirt freshmen will be given a chance – Duan Perez-Means, Tyrel Wilson, James Gayle and J.R. Collins – but they’ve never played. Isaiah Hamlette is the only other end who’s played and that was a skinny minute. At defensive tackle, Antoine Hopkins will be the frontrunner to replace Cordarrow Thompson.

• Darren Evans’ comeback. Evans, the team’s leading rusher in 2008, is working his way back from a season-ending ACL injury, and one of the biggest questions in Blacksburg is how the staff will divide the carries in such a talented backfield that includes Ryan Williams. With two returning 1,000-yard rushers, will David Wilson decide to redshirt? The spring will help him in that decision.

• The evolution of Tyrod Taylor. He’s going to be a senior, and with so many questions on defense heading into the season, the offense will be leading the way. This should be a breakout year for Taylor, who by now should have mastered the offense and should consistently be a passing threat to compliment his running abilities.

WAKE FOREST

Spring practice starts: March 16

Spring game: April 17

What to watch:

• The quarterback competition. It’s the most glaring hole the Deacs have to fill this spring, as they’re tasked with replacing the winningest quarterback in school history, Riley Skinner, and his backup, Ryan McManus. Redshirt sophomores Ted Stachitas and Skylar Jones, and sophomore Brendan Cross, will compete with rookie Tanner Price for the top spot.

• Offensive line. The Deacs will take a huge hit here, as seven players in the two-deep depth chart were redshirt seniors, including all four tackles. Three starters have to be replaced.

• The interior defensive line. Nose guard Boo Robinson and John Russell have graduated, and Russell’s backup, Michael Lockett, was also a redshirt senior. The Deacs are in good shape at the ends, but will need some help inside.

It would be easy -- and accurate -- to name five ESPNU 150 players Florida State just signed as the newcomers to watch in the ACC this year, but let’s spread the wealth a little bit. There will be plenty of opportunities and position battles throughout the conference worth watching this spring and summer, but here are five players who should have a chance to make an immediate contribution:

FSU freshman linebacker Jeff Luc: The Seminoles need an upgrade on defense, and they didn’t bring an influx of talent in to sit and watch. Luc is a five-star player and the No. 1 overall rated inside linebacker by ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc. He’s the No. 11 overall player in the ESPNU 150 class. Anyone who is that good should be tough to keep off the field.

Wake Forest redshirt freshman quarterback Brendan Cross: The competition is open to replace Riley Skinner, and Cross should be considered a front-runner heading into spring ball. Cross finished his career at Chattahoochee High School in Georgia with 3,540 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes.

NC State freshman offensive tackle Robert Crisp: The Wolfpack are looking for some help up front, and Crisp will be given a chance to give some. He is a four-star, 300-pound tackle whose size will help him work his way in early. NC State lost three starters up front.

Miami redshirt freshman running back Lamar Miller: He didn’t play last year because of the talent in front of him, but with Javarris James graduated and Graig Cooper recovering from a knee injury, the chances are good that Miller will work his way into the rotation. He was a member of the ESPNU 150 and was ranked the No. 12 running back in his class by ESPN.com.

Boston College freshman quarterback Chase Rettig: The fact that he’s already on campus and will go through spring drills means that Dave Shinskie will have some competition. The California native is a four-star player and the No. 10 quarterback in his class, according to ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc.

Out with the old, in with the newcomers who hope to make a similar splash as their predecessors. With these five former players, it won’t be easy. Here’s a look at the ACC’s biggest shoes to fill heading into spring practices:

Clemson running back C.J. Spiller – He became the first player in college football history with 3,000 yards rushing, 2,000 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving and 500 in punt return yards. He left his name all over the school record books, as he established over 30 game, season and career records. He was a major reason the Tigers made their first appearance in the ACC title game.

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner – He made a name for himself his freshman year by taking the Deacons to their first ACC championship since 1970 and earning ACC rookie of the year honors. Four years and three bowl games later, Skinner ended his career as the top quarterback in Wake Forest history.

Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan – His early departure to the NFL leaves a gaping hole up front. In 2009, Morgan had 18.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. His career totals include 29.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, six fumbles recovered and five pass breakups.

Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas – Thomas had 46 of Georgia Tech’s 78 receptions. His 1,154 receiving yards this season were the second most in Georgia Tech history, trailing only Calvin Johnson (1,202 yards in 2006). Thomas had eight of Tech’s 11 touchdown receptions and averaged a remarkable 25.1 yards per reception.

Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis – Lewis finished his career with 48 school records, including career total offense (9,987 yards), passing yards (10,065), pass completions (877), pass attempts (1,510), touchdown passes (67), 300-yard passing games (11) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.68:1). In 2009, he completed 274 of 449 attempts (61 percent) for 3,330 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The regular season is officially over, but the most important game in the conference remains. Saturday’s ACC championship will determine which team is the best, but here in the power rankings, Georgia Tech remains at the top for the sixth straight week.

Voters in the Associated Press and USA Today coaches’ polls decided to jump Virginia Tech over the Jackets, but that didn’t make sense to me. The Hokies’ win over a 3-9 Virginia team didn’t warrant the move, especially when Virginia Tech lost to Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Here’s how the rest of the power rankings look after the final week of conference play:

1. Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) – The Yellow Jackets stumbled against rival Georgia and dropped to No. 10 in the BCS standings. Defensively, the Jackets looked unimpressive, and offensively didn’t execute as well as they had been. Still, this team is loaded with talent and will represent the conference well in the title game.

2. Virginia Tech (9-3, 6-2; LW: No. 3) – The Hokies ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak and are in position for one of the top tier bowls. Ryan Williams can’t be stopped, and he was a big reason they took home the Commonwealth Cup. Again.

3. Clemson (8-4, 6-2; LW: No. 2) – The Tigers’ offense disappeared against South Carolina, and while the Gamecocks’ defense was one of the best Clemson had seen all season, there is still room for improvement heading into the title game.

4. Miami (9-3, 5-3; LW: No. 4) – The Canes were one of the few ranked ACC teams to avoid an upset this weekend, and deserve credit for it. Quarterback Jacory Harris is ready to cap off an impressive first year as the Canes’ starter with a top-notch bowl, but will Miami be among the first teams selected?

5. North Carolina (8-4, 4-4; LW: No. 5) – The Tar Heels squandered their opportunity to move up the pecking order in the bowl selection process with their loss to NC State, and suffered another agonizing defeat to their in-state rival in the process. A bowl game is still a successful season, though, considering how it started for the Heels.

6. Boston College (8-4, 5-3; LW: No. 7) – It’s not always pretty, but the Eagles have found enough ways to win to be considered among the top half of the ACC this year. Not bad for a team predicted to finish last in its division.

7. Florida State (6-6, 4-4; LW: No. 6) – It got ugly early in the Swamp on Saturday, and the Noles were no match for the No. 1 team in the country. A shakeup in Tallahassee is expected soon, and it could be happening behind closed doors this morning. The only thing we know for sure is that Bobby Bowden wants to come back.

8. Wake Forest (5-7, 3-5; LW: No. 9) – The season finale against Duke was the only chance they had left to salvage their season, and with the help of quarterback Riley Skinner, who played with everything he had in a record-setting performance, the Deacs were able to go out on a winning note.

9. Duke (5-7, 3-5; LW: No. 8) – It was a disappointing end to a remarkable career for quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who wanted so desperately to take his team to a bowl game this year, but considering where the program has been and where it ended with Lewis at quarterback, it was undoubtedly a successful career.

10. NC State (5-7, 2-6; LW: No. 11) – The Pack used the emotion of the news of offensive coordinator Dana Bible’s leukemia in an inspirational way and beat the Tar Heels for the third straight year under coach Tom O’Brien. If the players remember nothing else from a season they’d most likely prefer to forget, they’ll remember they beat UNC.

11. Virginia (3-9, 2-6; LW: No. 10) – It was the final game of coach Al Groh’s career, as he was fired on Sunday after losing to in-state rival Virginia Tech. A coaching search has begun, though odds are this was a long time coming and athletic director Craig Littlepage already has a few names in mind.

12. Maryland (2-10, 1-7; LW: No. 12) – Odds are Terps’ fans want their inconsistent reputation back, as this is the fourth straight week Maryland has landed at the bottom of the power rankings. It was an abysmal season under coach Ralph Friedgen, whose future will now be evaluated. Much like Bowden, though, Friedgen isn’t ready to call it quits yet.

Here are the ACC's top five performers for the final week of the regular season:

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner: As far as performances go, Skinner couldn't have done much more in his final collegiate game. He passed for a career-high 372 yards and a school-record five touchdowns to help Wake Forest defeat Duke 45-34 on Saturday. He completed 28 of 38 passes without an interception.

NC State quarterback Russell Wilson: In what was the equivalent of their bowl game, Wilson completed 20 of 27 passes for 259 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers are par for the course for Wilson, but this time, they paid off in a 28-27 win against rival North Carolina.

Miami coach Randy Shannon:With the 31-10 win over South Florida on Saturday, Shannon led the program to a 9-3 record, its best finish since the 2005 season. It could have easily been a trap game for the Canes, but they got what they needed in every phase of the game and avoided the threat of a comeback by the Bulls.

Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams: Just when you thought he couldn't top himself, Williams rushed for a career-high 182 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries. He led the Hokies to a 42-13 win over rival Virginia in what began as a closer game than the final score indicated.

BC kicker Steve Aponavicius: OK, so he missed one. But it was just one. All season. And the Eagles would not have defeated Maryland 19-17 had it not been for the four field goals of Aponavicius. In fact, his 42-yard field goal with 3:59 left were the Eagles only points of the second half.

The ACC is keeping things interesting today in its early rivalry games. Here's a quick look at what's going on throughout the conference as the early games are at the half:

SOUTH CAROLINA 17, CLEMSON 7

Is Clemson looking ahead to Georgia Tech? That's one explanation for what's going on in Columbia, S.C. The other is that the Gamecocks are the better team until proved otherwise. I think Clemson will settle down in the second half, just like it did against Virginia, but in order to do that, the Tigers have to cut down on the mistakes and penalties, and use their defensive line to their advantage and start to get more pressure. Clemson turned the ball over twice in the first half, and both led to scores. Let this be a lesson in focus to Georgia Tech. South Carolina's defense is very good, plus they're playing at home on senior day and Eric Norwood is playing like it's his last game. Clemson needs to match that intensity in the second half.

UNC 24, NC STATE 14

T.J. Yates is having an incredible game. He's completed 6 of 8 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. No interceptions. And 25.1 yards per pass. Now that's what you call efficient. NC State has a bad habit, though, of making average quarterbacks look like pros. That's not a knock on Yates, but the Pack's defense hasn't exactly been its strong suit this year. The Heels have already racked up over 300 yards, but they've also got six penalties and a lost fumble. Those things will keep the Pack in the game. The defense has to continue to play sharp without giving away 15 free yards because Russell Wilson is good enough that he doesn't need them.

WAKE FOREST 21, DUKE 17

It's a battle of the quarterbacks, and so far, Riley Skinner is winning. Neither team can run the ball, and Duke only has nine first downs. Both teams are like mirror images of each other, and Thaddeus Lewis has a chance to get Duke to six wins for the first time since 1994. I've spoken to Skinner, though, since the loss to Florida State, and he really took it hard. This will be a game of emotion, but the better defense will win in the second half -- whichever can get more pressure on the quarterback and force a mistake.

It should be an entertaining rivalry week in the ACC. Here’s what to watch:

1. Turnovers in College Park. It can’t get much worse, can it? BC quarterback Dave Shinskie threw four interceptions last week against North Carolina, including one that was returned for a touchdown and another that came back to the BC 1-yard line. He also had a fumble returned for a touchdown. Overall, the Eagles had six turnovers. And Maryland made three interceptions last week at Florida State.

2. Sacks at South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ offensive line has been a weak link, and is ranked 109 in the nation in sacks allowed with three per game. Clemson is 11th in the country with three sacks per game. How many times can the Tigers get to Stephen Garcia on Saturday?

3. Florida State’s punt returns. Look out for Greg Reid, he’s been on a roll. Reid is averaging 39.6 yards per punt return over the past three games. He also had his first career punt return for a touchdown in the win over Wake Forest, and his final return against Maryland set up the Noles’ game-winning score. Florida is No. 8 in the country in punt return yardage defense, though, allowing just 3.25 yards per return.

4. Losing streaks. It’s the final chance for four teams in the conference to stop their losing streaks and end the season on a winning note. Wake Forest has lost five straight, Maryland has lost six, Virginia has lost five, and Duke has lost three. Three of those teams -- Maryland, Duke and Virginia -- will have home field advantage.

5. Dueling quarterbacks in Durham. Saturday’s game marks the first game in ACC history that will feature two quarterbacks who have thrown for over 9,000 career passing yards in Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis and Wake’s Riley Skinner. Both of their pass defense are almost identical on paper, but Duke has the better pass offense this year.

6. Takeaways in Raleigh. UNC has 14 takeaways in its current four-game winning streak, and are plus-eight in turnover margin during that streak. UNC didn’t have a positive turnover margin ranking until after the Miami game, the 10th game of the season. North Carolina leads the country with a school-record 508 interception yards and is tied for the national lead with four interception returns for touchdowns.

7. Running game in Atlanta. Georgia Tech has the No. 2 rushing offense in the country at 314.1 yards per game, and Georgia has the No. 3 rushing defense in the SEC with 120.5 yards per game, but the Bulldogs couldn’t stop the Jackets last year, and have been allowing almost 27 points per game. Over the past seven games, Georgia Tech has averaged 41.1 points, 343.9 yards rushing and 485.3 yards of total offense.

8. The endzone in Charlottesville. Virginia Tech’s defense has allowed just one offensive touchdown in the past three games, and Virginia hasn’t allowed a touchdown on first drive once this year. Virginia’s offense has been its biggest setback this season. Virginia has the No. 106 scoring offense in the country, averaging just under 20 points per game, but the Cavaliers found ways to score in the first half last week against Clemson. Will the tricks work against the Hokies?

9. Coaches on the hot seat. Al Groh and Ralph Friedgen could be coaching their final home games this weekend, and Bobby Bowden’s future is uncertain as well. Both Groh and Friedgen have declined to talk publicly about their futures, but Bowden has made it clear he would like to come back.

10. Miami’s defense. The Canes are going to make B.J. Daniels win the game with his arm, as Miami’s run defense has steadily shown improvement. Miami has allowed just two rushing touchdowns over the past six games, and is holding opponents to 88.2 rushing yards during that span. South Florida is averaging 169.7 rushing yards per game, but Daniels has matured into one of the Big East’s most efficient passers.

There are only two more weeks remaining in the regular season, which means there’s little time for anyone to make a serious move in the conference race. We know who is the best -- and who is the worst -- in the ACC. Georgia Tech is No. 1 until somebody proves otherwise. We’ll find out this week if Clemson will get that chance in the ACC championship game. Maryland remains No. 12.

Here’s how the ACC hierarchy looks heading into Week 12:

1. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) –The Yellow Jackets clinched the Coastal Division title with their convincing win over Duke, and have the bye week to enjoy it before hosting rival Georgia. They remain at No. 7 in the BCS standings this week, and have earned their spot as the top one-loss team in the country.

2. Clemson (7-3, 5-2; LW: No. 4) – With their win over NC State, the Tigers are finally in a position to make the program’s first appearance in the ACC title game. First they need to guarantee it with a home win over Virginia this weekend. It's been an impressive season for the Tigers in the first full year under coach Dabo Swinney.

3. Virginia Tech (7-3, 4-2; LW: No. 3) – The Hokies got a complete effort against the bedraggled Terps, and haven’t given up on their goal of a 10-win season. While it’s not the finish they had been hoping for this year, Virginia Tech deserves credit for regrouping instead of letting back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina snowball into a disaster.

4. Miami (7-3, 4-3; LW: No. 2) – The Canes have been struggling on both sides of the ball lately, and turnovers have been costly. This isn’t the same team that started the season with a 3-1 record, and the loss to North Carolina on Saturday ruined any remaining shot Miami might have had of receiving a BCS bowl bid.

5. North Carolina (7-3, 3-3; LW: No. 6) – The Tar Heels have reversed their fortunes, and now look capable of contending for the Coastal Division. Unfortunately for them, it’s too little, too late. Still, the program is capable of improving upon last year’s eight-win season and earned a bowl appearance. Hardly the disaster it started out to be. I know UNC just beat Miami, but I keep my power rankings the way my Top 25 looks, and I just sneaked the Tar Heels in this week at No. 24.

6. Boston College (7-3, 4-2; LW: No. 5) – The Eagles have found ways to overcome their weaknesses all season, and Saturday at Virginia was no different. BC picked up its first road win of the season, and kept its hopes alive to sneak into the ACC championship game. They’ll need some help from Virginia this weekend, though, as BC needs Clemson to lose.

7. Florida State (5-5, 3-4; LW: No. 9) – With Christian Ponder watching from the sidelines, backup quarterback E.J. Manuel made a smooth transition into his starting role, and everything was clicking on offense for the Noles in their win over Wake Forest. They seem to have salvaged their postseason hopes, but can’t afford an embarrassing slip-up now at home against Maryland.

8. Duke (5-5, 3-3; LW: No. 7) – Duke proved that there is still a significant gap in the Coastal Division between the best team and the Blue Devils, though the conference standings indicated Duke and Georgia Tech were closer. Duke still has a chance to become bowl eligible, though, and they’ll be catching Miami while it’s down.

9. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5; LW: No. 8) – It was a disappointing home finale for senior quarterback Riley Skinner, who had an uncharacteristically off performance in the loss to Florida State, and the Demon Deacons will be home for Christmas. Wake has a bye week this week, but it does the Deacs little good now.

10. Virginia (3-7, 2-4; LW: No. 10) – If athletic director Craig Littlepage hasn’t begun to think about the program’s future without Al Groh, now is probably the time to start. With only one home win this season -- against Indiana -- the Cavaliers’ fans have had little to cheer for. The only hope left is to play spoiler against Clemson and beat rival Virginia Tech.

11. NC State (4-6, 1-5; LW: No. 11) – The Pack has lost five of its past six, but this one stung particularly hard because it ended NC State’s hopes at bowl eligibility. It won’t get any easier as the Pack will face a ranked Virginia Tech team on the road this weekend.

12. Maryland (2-8, 1-5; LW: No. 12) – The best news for the Terps is that there are only two weeks remaining. They’ll have to face a Florida State team on the road this Saturday during a game in which the Seminoles are still playing for something. Even if Ralph Friedgen were to lose his job -- a costly $4 million option for Debbie Yow -- little would change in 2010.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Hey, watch this ...

1. Backup quarterbacks. E.J. Manuel will get his first career start in place of injured Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder at Wake Forest, and Maryland backup Jamarr Robinson could start in place of injured starter Chris Turner against Virginia Tech. For Manuel, a bowl bid is still at stake. Florida State has won 14 of its last 15 games with a first-time starter under center. Wake quarterback Riley Skinner, though, has led the Deacs to three straight wins over the Seminoles.

2. Three scoreboards. If Georgia Tech and Clemson win, and Boston College loses at Virginia, we will know who is playing in the ACC championship game this week, as Clemson and Georgia Tech can both clinch their divisions. If Clemson and Georgia Tech lose, though, it opens the door for Boston College in the Atlantic Division and several teams in the Coastal.

3. The infielder vs. the outfielder. This will be the first time Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker and NC State quarterback Russell Wilson are on the same football field, but it’s not like they haven’t competed against each other before. Parker, a starting outfielder or designated hitter for the Tigers, and Wilson, a starting second baseman, have played baseball against each other the past two years and will be juniors in baseball this spring. Parker has already set a Clemson record for wins by a starting freshman quarterback and threw four touchdowns in the win over Florida State last week. Wilson is second in the ACC in passing efficiency and leads the ACC in touchdown passes with 24.

4. UNC tailback Ryan Houston. He’ll be the main man in the Tar Heels’ running game now that Shaun Draughn is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, and they’ll need him to continue UNC’s recent progress in the running game against Miami. The Tar Heels are averaging 163.5 rushing yards in their six wins and just 98.0 in their three losses. Houston gained a career high 164 yards on 37 carries in Carolina’s 19-6 win over Duke.

5. Maryland kickoff returner Torrey Smith. Now he’s breaking his own records. Last weekend at NC State, Smith returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown, the third of his career and second of the season. Smith also broke his own ACC single-season kickoff return yards record (1,089 in 2008) and now has 1,113 this season. With 1,806 all-purpose yards this season, Smith is also within striking distance of the ACC single-season mark (2,054 by Virginia’s Thomas Jones in 1999). Virginia Tech is second in the ACC in kickoff coverage.

6. Virginia’s defense vs. BC running back Montel Harris. The Cavaliers have one of the better passing defenses in the conference, but they've struggled to stop the run. Harris ranks second in the conference in rushing yards per game with 103.3. Harris has now gained 930 yards on 183 carries and has 13 touchdowns. Virginia is 10th in the ACC, allowing 166.7 rushing yards per game.

7. Receivers in Durham. Sure, Georgia Tech is going to run the ball, but the ACC’s top receivers will be on the field Saturday when Duke hosts Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech’s Demaryius Thomas (86.1 ypg) leads the league in receiving yards per game. Duke freshman Conner Vernon leads the ACC in receptions per game (5.12) and Donovan Varner (74.9) ranks second behind Thomas in receiving yards per game.

8. Uniforms in College Park. While Virginia Tech will unveil its spiffy new Nike uniforms, Maryland will be dressed for a cause – the Under Amrour / Wounded Warrior Project. The Terps will be wearing customized black and desert camouflage jerseys and cleats featuring the Wounded Warrior Project logo. In addition, warrior core value embellishments such as Duty, Honor and Courage will replace the athletes’ last names on each jersey. Former U.S. Army Captains Ferris Butler and Ryan Kules, as well as retired U.S. Army Specialist Adam Mattis are all from the state of Maryland and have been selected as honorary captains. Two of the three Iraq veterans, Kules and Mattis, attended Monday’s practice and will participate in the ceremonial coin toss at the beginning of the game on Saturday in honor of the U.S. Armed Services.

9. UNC defensive end Robert Quinn vs. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris. Quinn was able to get to Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and sack him three times last weekend. He also had six quarterback pressures. There have been times this season -- like when he was sacked six times by Central Florida -- that Harris hasn’t gotten the protection he needed. He’ll need it against this defense. Miami has allowed 26 sacks this season. Only Virginia has allowed more.

10. Florida State’s running game. With Manuel making his first career start, odds are the Seminoles bank on their experience, and that’s in the running game. Sophomore running back Jermaine Thomas enters Saturday’s game against Wake Forest with 979 career yards and needs only 21 yards to reach 1,000 for his career. Thomas has been on a roll with 305 total rushing yards in the past two games.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

For the second straight week, the top five teams in the ACC held onto their positions. That has to be a first. It’s no coincidence that those five teams are the ACC’s only bowl-eligible teams so far. There were a few other tweaks, but nothing drastic:

1. Georgia Tech (9-1, 6-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) -- The Yellow Jackets continue to find a way to win, and pulled out a close one in overtime against Wake Forest. They’ve now won seven straight and have earned the No. 7 ranking in the BCS standings. Paul Johnson is looking at an 11-win season, if not better.

2. Miami (7-2, 4-2; LW: No. 2) -- The Hurricanes returned to their September form in the second half of their 52-17 romp over Virginia and remain one of the country’s best teams. Now that the Canes are No. 14 in the BCS standings, they qualify to be invited to a BCS bowl. It’s more likely, though, that they wind up facing Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl, especially if Georgia Tech heads to the Orange Bowl.

3. Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-2; LW: No. 3) -- It wasn’t pretty, but Virginia Tech’s 16-3 win over East Carolina helped the Hokies shake off back-to-back Coastal Division losses that changed their season. A 10-win season is still possible, and the Hokies should pick up another win on Saturday in College Park against a struggling Maryland team. There is still room for improvement with Virginia Tech on both sides of the ball.

4. Clemson (6-3, 4-2; LW: No. 4) -- The Tigers’ toughest opponents are behind them, but now they have to avoid getting knocked off track, and NC State has the potential to be the spoiler this week. Clemson will need to keep C.J. Spiller healthy this week, as his hip and toe were bothering him after the FSU game, but he said he’d be good to go for Saturday.

5. Boston College (6-3, 3-2; LW: No. 5) --The Eagles had a bye week, and are still waiting for Clemson to screw up down the stretch. A second-place finish in the Atlantic Division would hardly be considered a disappointment, though, after all of the adversity this program has had to overcome.

6. North Carolina (6-3, 2-3; LW: No. 8) -- The Tar Heels have taken a step forward each of the past two weeks, and the defense is finally getting just enough help out of the offense. Despite its losing record in conference play, UNC is capable of an upset this weekend against Miami because of its defense and home-field advantage.

7. Duke (5-4, 3-2; LW: No. 6) -- It’s not over yet for the Blue Devils, but it’s not going to get any easier, either, as Georgia Tech is up next, followed by Miami. Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis is motivated by getting his team to the postseason, and the Yellow Jackets’ defense should have some confidence after making good adjustments against Wake quarterback Riley Skinner.

8. Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4; LW: No. 9) -- If there’s one team in the conference that is better than its record indicates, this is it. The Deacs have the numbers they need everywhere but the scoreboard, and unfortunately for them, that’s where it counts. They get a break this week against an FSU team that will be missing starting quarterback Christian Ponder.

9. Florida State (4-5, 2-4; LW: No. 7) -- Without Ponder, the Noles are all but doomed. He’s been the one bright spot for this team on and off the field, and now, with a separated shoulder, he’s become a part of the team’s bad news. A bowl season now seems unlikely. The only good news? E.J. Manuel will get some valuable experience for the future.

10. Virginia (3-6, 2-3; LW: No. 10) -- The Cavaliers have nullified their three-game winning streak with a three-game losing streak, and appear to be headed for their second straight bowl-less season under coach Al Groh. The question is whether athletic director Craig Littlepage will do anything about it this time.

11. NC State (4-5, 1-4; LW: No. 12) --The Pack started their mini four-game season with a 1-0 record against Maryland, and now they needs to keep it up against Clemson in order to keep their bowl hopes alive. It’s certainly not out of the question, but if the Tigers’ defense could fluster Ponder, they’ll be able to pressure Russell Wilson, too.

12. Maryland (2-7, 1-4; LW: No. 11) -- Hapless and hopeless it seems, though technically, if the stars align and the Atlantic Division implodes, the Terps could still work their way into the championship game. It’s more than a stretch, but hey, these guys needs something to keep them going.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Live and learn ...

1. Clemson has gotten over the hump. Admit it, Clemson fans, you were waiting for it -- the self-destruction following the win over Wake Forest. There were hints against Miami, and plenty of missed opportunities against Florida State, but the Tigers have been able to overcome their mistakes this year and put themselves in prime position to win the Atlantic Division and play for the ACC championship. Their toughest opponents are behind them -- and so is their one "Clemson flop." It came against Maryland. You can stop waiting for it now.

2. Even the best quarterbacks can’t do it alone. Riley Skinner. Thaddeus Lewis. Christian Ponder. Three of the ACC’s most productive, efficient passers and leaders all lost this past weekend. It certainly wasn’t for lack of effort. Skinner couldn’t shake Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan. Lewis got tied up with UNC defensive end Robert Quinn. And Ponder threw as many interceptions (four) as he had all season. All three of them are still searching for bowl eligibility, but for seniors Skinner and Lewis, it’s their last chance at the postseason.

3. C.J. Spiller is a Heisman Trophy candidate. For the second time in three weeks, Spiller had more than 300 all-purpose yards. He surpassed the 3,000-yard mark with 3,074 career rushing yards. Against Florida State, he earned his first two-point conversion of his career. He breaks a record literally almost every week. Against FSU he became just the second player in school history to go over 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. He moved ahead of Reggie Bush on the all-time NCAA all-purpose list with 6,702 yards. He rushed for a career-high 165 yards, and had his 20th career touchdown of 50 yards more, his eighth this season. Spiller is one of the best players in college football. Period.

4. Bowl fates still murky in the Atlantic Division. Clemson is eligible. BC is eligible. NC State, Florida State and Wake Forest are still livin’ on a prayer. Maryland, however, is not. The Terps needed to win out and not only did they lose the game to NC State, their starting quarterback, Chris Turner, suffered a knee injury in the process. It’s time for Maryland to start playing for the future, while half the Atlantic Division is still trying to become bowl eligible. With its overtime loss at Georgia Tech, the Deacs now have to win out in order to become bowl eligible, as does NC State. The Seminoles only need two more wins, but their season finale is against Florida, who, like Clemson, has a defense. The twist? FSU and Wake play each other on Saturday. Somebody’s gotta lose.

5. Paul Johnson is fearless. We always knew he was a fourth-down kind of guy, and you don’t need to talk to him long to sense his confidence that often tilts the scale toward arrogance. But those traits are the keys to his success. His players pick up on it, and that’s why, on fourth down, when it’s on the line, he wins.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

NC State defensive coordinator Mike Archer hasn’t exactly been sleeping too well these days, and he knows he’s not winning the People’s Choice award right now in Raleigh. But he’s working tirelessly nonetheless to improve NC State’s defense. He’s certain the problem isn’t effort. Long story short, it’s a combination of injuries, inexperience and, at this point, a lack of confidence.

NC State’s defense has given up an average of 482 yards of total defense in its four ACC games, the worst mark in the league by almost 30 yards. In conference games, the Wolfpack ranks last in the league in total defense, scoring defense, passing defense and ranks 11th in rushing defense. The only position on defense that has started the same unit in every game is the defensive line.

	Tim Steadman/Icon SMI
	Willie Young has been one of the mainstays on the NC State defense this season.

Here are the highlights of our recent conversation:

Man, another tough year for the D.

Mike Archer: It is what it is. You and I talked this summer, we got off to a rough start with what happened to Nate [Irving]. And then Dominique [Ellis] left the team and Jimmaul Simmons left the team, and Javon Walker, who started five games for us in 2007, and got injured in the Miami game, we were very hopeful he would be back for this year. We were counting on him being one of the safeties and he’s done with football.

You take those four guys, and three of them played on one side of the field, it’s been tough. But it’s part of the game. No one feels sorry for us. Everybody has injuries. It’s been frustrating and it’s been hard. The way we started, the South Carolina game, we played very well and held them to seven points, but realistically they weren’t quite sure of what we were going to do. We played with a true freshman corner and a redshirt freshman corner in that game, and we played a lot of Cover 2. But as the year goes on and that film goes out, people find them. When we were in Tallahassee, I look out there Saturday and we have a true freshman corner, a true freshman safety, a redshirt freshman safety and a junior corner on the field with two freshman linebackers.

It is what it is. You’re not going to be just stoning people when you’re playing young kids. We have to understand that and continue to move forward and keep improving. That’s our job as players and as coaches.

I remember last year when the defense was struggling, you challenged them. Remember that? It was a pretty public thing. Have you guys had a talk like that, or is this not the case for it?

MA: I’ve thought about that and we’ve talked. During the open date after the BC game, we sat down and looked everything we’ve done and it really comes down to execution. We’ve got a good system in place when our guys execute it. When we have the right guys out there, we’re pretty good. We have to execute. That’s what’s been frustrating.

It started in the second half of the Wake Forest game. We were not very good on third downs against Riley Skinner and it ended up costing us the game. The following week at Duke, third downs just killed us. They were 13-of-19 and could not get off the field on third down and picked us apart. Those two quarterbacks are awfully good. They were smart. They went after our freshman corners and our freshman safety. That’s their job as coaches. They get paid, too. They’re on scholarship. But third down has not been what it was early in the season. We were good in the South Carolina game, we were pretty good in the third down against Pitt. But we’ve lost our execution edge and the biggest thing in my opinion, we’ve lost confidence, obviously. It’s become mental.

On the bright side, I would think Willie Young has been one of the guys who has played consistently.

MA: Our front four kids, the four seniors, Alan- Michael Cash, Willie, Shea McKeen and Leroy Burgess have really done a good job all year. All year. When you look at us on defense, there are four seniors and everyone else is freshmen and sophomores. There’s a big age gap there. They’ve done a good job of being positive leaders and keeping everyone’s chins up. Nobody feels sorry for us and we don’t want anybody to feel sorry for us. It is what it is. It’s part of sports. It’s like [head coach] Tom O'Brien] said, we’ve lost 11 guys this year for the year. We thought we had it bad last year. It’s worse this year.

Why? Why does that happen to you guys?

MA: If I knew, I wouldn’t be coaching. I’d be a doctor or a sports psychologist. I’d have your job. ... Everyone says it’s a curse. It’s the way it is. I wish I knew so we could prevent it, but like Todd Rice says, if we knew, we’d prevent it.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Last week was all about redemption. North Carolina got it. Florida State got it. I got it. It was one of my better weeks, having picked six of the seven games in Week 9 correctly. My one error? The Hokies on Thursday night. So it goes. For the season I’ve picked 69 percent of the games right. Let’s see if this week doesn’t help give me a boost into the postseason. I need to get to a bowl game ...

NC State 31, Maryland 17: The Terps have had a bye week to prepare for this game, so there should be signs of improvement and they can keep it close early. Russell Wilson will be too much for this struggling defense to overcome in the second half, though, and the Wolfpack will pull away for their first conference win of the season.

North Carolina 24, Duke 21 (OT): FSU quarterback Christian Ponder exposed weaknesses in North Carolina’s pass defense, and Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis will, too. He’ll get his yards and put up impressive numbers, but the Tar Heels will keep the Blue Devils out of the end zone when it matters most.

Miami 41, Virginia 10: This should be a name-your-score kind of game. The Canes got their wake-up call last week against Wake Forest and should put forth a more complete, disciplined effort at home. Miami has stressed defensive improvement this week, but Virginia has been inept on offense this year and should make the Canes look good.

East Carolina 21, Virginia Tech 20: Here’s your upset special of the week. The Hokies are down after back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina, and Ryan Williams thought the world was coming to an end after his fumble. ECU on the other hand is leading Conference USA and coming off of back-to-back wins. Plus, the Pirates have home-field advantage and confidence from last year’s win over the Hokies.

Georgia Tech 31, Wake Forest 10: Even if I knew Riley Skinner were playing in this game (which I don’t), I’d still pick the Jackets to win, but I tried to pick a score that would fit with or without Skinner and it was hard to do. If Skinner’s in, I think they’ll score more points considering how inconsistent the Jackets’ defense has played. Regardless, Paul Johnson will wear out the Deacs’ defense and that will be the difference no matter who is starting at quarterback for Wake.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

There are plenty of things worth keeping an eye on this week in the ACC. Here are a few of them:

1. Injured quarterbacks. Wake Forest’s Riley Skinner is listed as day-to-day for the Georgia Tech game with a mild concussion, and FSU’s Christian Ponder is expected to play through the pain of bruised ribs at Clemson. Whether or not Ponder’s pain will be noticeable will have an effect on the outcome of the game, and Wake’s chances of beating Georgia Tech increase significantly if Skinner is in the game. Their health, though, is the first priority, and right now neither is 100 percent.

2. Teams of destiny. Georgia Tech, Duke and Clemson each control their own fate if they win out, and while Georgia Tech is favored heavily to beat Wake Forest, the other two games are less convincing. If Duke pulls off the win at rival UNC, it sets up a showdown next week against the Yellow Jackets in the Coastal Division. And right now, the Atlantic Division is the Tigers’ to lose, but FSU has momentum -- and Ponder -- on its side. If there’s going to be a shakeup again in the conference standings, it starts this week in Death Valley and Chapel Hill.

3. Final bowl chances. For NC State and Maryland, who happen to be playing each other on Saturday in Raleigh, this is it. Both of them have to win out in order to become bowl eligible, but somebody’s gotta lose. The Terps (2-6) need four more wins, as does the Pack (3-5), which needs seven wins for bowl eligibility because it scheduled two FCS schools. Whoever comes out on top keeps their bowl chances alive for at least one more week. Right now, they’re on life support.

4. Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel. He is tied for the national lead in interceptions with seven in eight games. He also leads Clemson in tackles and is trying to become the first Tiger to lead the team in both categories in the same year since 1982 when College Football Hall of Famer Terry Kinard accomplished the feat. McDaniel will be a great matchup for Ponder, who averages an ACC-best 306.6 passing yards per game.

5. Duke’s Killer V’s. Sophomore Donovan Varner and freshman Conner Vernon, former high school teammates at Gulliver prep in Miami, have been instrumental in Duke’s three-game winning streak. Over the past three games, Varner has caught 22 passes for 387 yards and one touchdown while Vernon has 22 receptions for 291 yards and two scores. On the season, Varner has a team-best 42 receptions for 660 yards and five touchdowns while Vernon has set a new Duke freshman record with 38 receptions for 562 yards and three touchdowns.

6. Virginia Tech’s time of possession. Part of the Hokies’ problem over the past two losses was that they couldn’t sustain drives and their defense was on the field for too long. In the past two games, opponents have run 141 plays to the Hokies’ 101 while controlling the clock for 74:36 to the Hokies’ 45:24, a difference of 29:12. Can Virginia Tech stop that trend against East Carolina?

7. Virginia’s pass defense vs. Jacory Harris. The Cavaliers’ defense hasn’t been their problem this year. They’ve allowed just four passing touchdowns all season, including one to Duke last week, and the Blue Devils entered the game with 18. Only Air Force, Penn State and Nebraska have allowed fewer (three). Miami is averaging two touchdown passes per game and offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has kept things entertaining with throwing downfield whenever the mood strikes him.

8. Third downs in Atlanta. Both Georgia Tech and Wake Forest are two of the ACC’s best teams when it comes to converting third downs. The Jackets lead the ACC with 54.2 percent and the Deacs are third with 45.3 percent. It’s no coincidence then, that Georgia Tech and Wake Forest rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the conference in time of possession. Both defenses have struggled this year, so the one that’s on the field the longest will have the uphill battle.

9. Records in Death Valley. C.J. Spiller needs one reception to become Clemson’s career leader in receptions by a running back, and he needs one kickoff return for a touchdown to set an all-time NCAA record. Kyle Parker needs one touchdown pass to break Charlie Whitehurst’s record for touchdown passes by a Clemson freshman in a season. He also needs just 132 yards passing to break Whitehurst’s freshman passing yardage record. He can also break the school record for starting wins by a freshman quarterback.

10. Ryan Williams’ rebound. Williams was so devastated by his costly fourth-quarter fumble in last week’s nationally televised Thursday night loss to North Carolina that he didn’t go to classes on Friday. How he responds against East Carolina in another nationally televised Thursday night game will be critical.