Beyond the ACCtion: The Final Stops on the Road to Tampa Bay
Your map to the ACC Football Divisional Races.

Nov. 19, 2008

Beyond the ACCtion"Beyond the ACCtion" is a special feature of theACC.com which offers insight in to the Atlantic Coast Conference, away from the field of competition.

This week, take a look at ACC Football on the Road to Tampa Bay with Michael Kelly.

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It's been an exciting season of ACC Football. We've seen a lot of competitive games and balance throughout the year. It's hard to believe that here we are with just two weeks left on the Road to Tampa Bay and eight teams are bowl eligible, the other four still have a chance to gain bowl eligibility and nine of our 12 teams still have a chance to play in the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game.

The biggest question on most fans minds is "What has to happen for my team to get to the championship game in Tampa Bay?" While there are many scenarios, some very complex, three teams control their own destiny and two could event clinch this weekend.

In the Atlantic Division, both Maryland and Boston College control their own destiny. Boston College needs to win it two remaining games (at Wake Forest and vs. Maryland). Maryland can also claim the division by winning out (vs. Florida State and at Boston College), but the Terps could clinch this weekend. If Boston College falls at Wake Forest in Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game, then the Terrapins could take the field against the Seminoles knowing that a win on Saturday night would clinch a ticket to Tampa Bay.

In the Coastal Division, only Miami controls its own fate. The Hurricanes will earn a championship game spot if they win out, but they will have to do so in a pair of road games, at Georgia Tech on Thursday and at NC State next week. If Miami does win in Atlanta on Thursday, the Hurricanes can clinch the Coastal Division this weekend if North Carolina falls to NC State or if North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech all win on Saturday.

By Sunday morning, the championship picture should be at least a little bit clearer. But if this week is as unpredictable as the rest of the season has been, those tickets to Tampa Bay may have to wait another week.

We'll see you at the end of the road.

Michael Kelly
Associate Commissioner for Football