The ACC has had a roller coaster of a season as we're clearly at the season's halfway point and coming down the stretch there are three teams with a shot at a BCS birth; VT, GT and Miami. Neither team truly controls their own destiny but they all do sit squarely in the drivers seat in terms of giving themselves a shot at the BCS payday.

While the Coastal leaders are thinking about the grandiose nature of an Orange Bowl or Sugar Bowl the Atlantic Division is a hodge podge of circumstantial ineptitude dressed up with surprising performances to generate a false sense of accomplishment. BC shellacking NC State, Clemson dominating Wake Forest; there is no real rhyme or reason to the madness that has taken place in the ACC's Atlantic.

Entering week 8 the league features six games with NC State and Virginia Tech licking their wounds during a much needed bye weekend. The major stories entering this week include the Tar Heels hosting their first ever Thursday night game at Kenan Stadium, BC traveling to South Bend for a showdown with the Irish and Wake playing Navy for the third time in thirteen months. Clemson heads down to Miami for the game of the week in the league as the Tigers' vaunted defense does battle against Miami's explosive offensive unit led by Jacory Harris.

Florida State @ North Carolina

The Tar Heels trot out their elite defensive unit against a Florida State offense that has put up big numbers for the bulk of the season. It will be strength on strength as UNC attempts to shut down FSU's sharp shooter Christian Ponder and his myriad of weapons. Jimbo Fisher's offensive squad has moved the football against both Georgia Tech and Miami and looks to show the country on national television that their win over BYU wasn't a fluke. For the Heels their defense aims to show America that Butch Davis is building a stellar foundation in "the old north state."

However; the other side of the ball is where the trouble pops up for both teams. While most people revel in "the immovable object vs the unstoppable force" this battle between the UNC Offense and FSU defense is more like "the unmoving object vs the easily stoppable force." The Heels offensive numbers rank near the bottom of the league while the Seminoles defense occupies the same space in their respective rankings. If Mickey Andrews team decides to tackle or cover OR John Shoops boys decide to block and catch this will be the most crucial point to the game.

North Carolina 24 Florida State 17

Georgia Tech @ Virginia

The Wahoos have caught fire after looking like the worst team in America for the season's first four weeks. They've ripped off three in a row and Al Groh's job is once again closer to safety than hot seat. With a 3-3 record including a blow out of Indiana and a hard fought win over UNC the Hoos confidence is soaring. Sophomore Austen Paztor and the rest of the Virginia line are opening up holes and protecting the quarterbacks which has been the key to Virginia's resurgence.

For the Yellow Jackets they've also got their feet underneath them following their beat down at the hands of Miami. The Wreck is sitting at the twelve position in the BCS rankings and coming off a win over Virginia Tech they are the ACC's second most likely BCS contender with just one loss. Paul Johnson' offense has been ridiculously explosive, putting up huge numbers as Nesbitt, Dwyer, Allen and Jones run as a fine tuned machine into Charlottesville.

Georgia Tech 31 Virginia 10

Maryland @ Duke

The Blue Devils are a 5.5 point favorite over the Terrapins and Cutcliffe's unit is four games away from bowl eligibility. Thaddeus Lewis has been playing lights out and after his last outing against NC State there is no wonder Coach Cut told Greg Paulus to keep looking if he expected to play quarterback. Cut's switch to a no-huddle, pass-centric offense has kept defenses off guard, forced the issue and helped Duke take advantage of the mismatches created through tempo.

For Friedgen this season has been even more disappointing than originally expected. Alumns are calling for not only the head man's head but also for James Franklin, the coach in waiting, dismissal. They've had a rough go of it, suffering blow outs to Cal and Rutgers although the win over Clemson was their lone bright spot. This week the woeful season will likely continue as the Devils have their mindset on remaining successful.

Duke 27 Maryland 13

Boston College @ Notre Dame

BC has beaten the Irish each of the last five times they've played and Frank Spaziani enters coming off of a break out win over the NC State Wolfpack and mentor Tom O'Brien. The Eagles' Montel Harris blew through the Pack to the tune of 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground as BC put up over 50 points. This week against a quite porous Notre Dame defense BC is going to attempt to continue their assault on bad tackling.

Weiss and Notre Dame entered 2009 with high expectations, however with 3-losses before November their BCS bowl hopes seem eliminated and Weiss' seat grows increasingly hotter. A loss to BC would be unacceptable to most ND fans however the Eagles have owned the Irish during Weiss' tenure and with Notre Dame's inability to hold opponents below 30 this game should be a barn burner.

Boston College 31 Notre Dame 24

Wake Forest @ Navy

Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs suffered a leg injury in the Midshipmen's win over Southern Methodist and is still questionable for this contest in Annapolis. Navy's back up quarterback, Kriss Proctor, has yet to attempt a pass and has only seen action in the Naval Academy's 63-14 thrashing of Rice. In his limited duty Proctor did amass 82 yards on the ground over 14 attempts and scored three touchdowns, he's no major drop off.

For Wake the Deacons look to get back on track following an embarrassing showing down in Picken County, South Carolina. The Clemson Tigers took Riley Skinner, Jim Grobe and Co to the woodshed as they manhandled the smaller Deacons to the tune of a 38-3 beat down. In squaring off agains the Naval academy for the third contest in a short time frame the Deacs should be prepared for the triple option attack. Look for Wake to get back on track here against the Midshipmen in a hard fought contest between two familiar rivals.

Wake Forest 27 Navy 21