Eleven ACC teams have division title hopes

CLEMSON — It's the first week of November, and 11 ACC teams still have legitimate hope of winning their divisions.

That's right. Eleven.

Hard to believe, but it's been one of those seasons in a conference that's thrown a parity party in 2008.

In the Coastal Division, five of the six teams have two losses. In the Atlantic, Clemson is 2-3 but still has an outside shot at winning it.

Even Duke, at the bottom of the Coastal with a 1-3 league record, is still alive. The only team that's out? North Carolina State, at 0-4 in the conference and in the gutter of the Atlantic.

Maryland (6-2, 3-1) is the frontrunner in the Atlantic, but this is the same team that lost by 10 at Middle Tennessee and was crushed 31-0 at Virginia. Wake Forest (5-3, 3-2) figured to be in the driver's seat after an Oct. 9 win over Clemson, but the Demon Deacons have looked less than stellar against Maryland (loss), Miami (loss) and Duke (overtime victory).

Our best bet for the ACC title game in Tampa, Fla.: Florida State and Georgia Tech.

But check back next week.

Holt could start tonight

The quarterback situation at Virginia Tech is unclear with Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon nursing high ankle sprains.

The Hokies (5-3, 2-2) play host to Maryland tonight, and coach Frank Beamer is preserving the element of surprise.

"Both got some work in practice and are listed as questionable right now," Beamer said Wednesday. "We'll know more tomorrow night."

If Taylor and Glennon aren't able to go, fifth-year senior Cory Holt will be thrust into the mix. Holt had yet to play a meaningful snap over his career before he was forced into duty in a 30-20 loss at Florida State on Oct. 25.

He completed three of six passes for 28 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown throw.

"He's done well," Beamer said. "He came in the Florida State game and managed and threw the ball well and practiced since then. He's throwing the ball well, and he's very knowledgeable. He's been around here for a while."

Johnson gets last laugh

Lots of folks were writing off Georgia Tech over the summer, and Paul Johnson hasn't forgotten it.

The first-year coach got in some jabs after last week's 31-28 win over Florida State, a victory that improved the Yellow Jackets' record to 7-2 and 4-2 in the conference.

In July, media covering the ACC picked Georgia Tech to finish fourth in the Coastal. Sports Illustrated forecast a 3-9 and 1-7 record.

Oops.

"Everybody, when the season started, wrote us off and said we were going to win three games, four games," Johnson said. "Then we started real good, then everybody jumped on the bandwagon. And then we lost last week (to Virginia), they couldn't get off fast enough.

"So it was good for the guys to win. I don't know if we'll win another game, but I know this: We've won seven and that's more than anybody thought we would."

Game ball

Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller: He totaled 242 all-purpose yards in the Tigers' 27-21 win over Boston College and turned the game around with a 64-yard kickoff return. Kid is special. But you probably already knew that.

Game of the week

Georgia Tech at North Carolina: Johnson returns home to the Tar Heel State. The Jackets' coach was born in Newland, N.C.