Seminoles proving difficult to read

CLEMSON -- Didn't you used to be Florida State?

No. 22 Georgia Tech (4-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) travels to Tallahassee at 8 p.m. Saturday trying to keep pace with the Joneses in the Coastal Division, while the Seminoles -- the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Division -- attempt to avoid a contention-crippling loss.

While Clemson Nation is displeased about an inexplicable loss at Maryland, Florida State (2-3, 0-2) suffered a similar setback against Boston College last week.

Perhaps no team in the conference has been as difficult to read as the Seminoles. Even Bobby Bowden, who is being pressured by some corners to resign (see quote of the week), has noted the difficulty he's had in keeping Florida State playing with consistent focus.

Three up

Tyrod Taylor

If the Virginia Tech sophomore can keep this up, the Hokies might get another shot at Alabama -- in a more meaningful game.

Taylor appears to be growing into a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, enjoying a 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. Taylor threw two touchdown passes against seven interceptions last season.

Against Duke on Saturday, Taylor threw for a career-high 327 yards and two TDs.

Miami's offensive line

Most thought Florida State had the best offensive line in the ACC. It appears that distinction goes to Miami, which is anchored by left tackle Jason Fox. Fox, who didn't allow a sack last season, picked up ACC lineman of the week honors this week.

Here's why Fox earned the award: Oklahoma entered having allowed just 122 total rushing yards through three games, before Miami back Javarris James bettered that himself (150 yards) on 15 carries Saturday.

Power players

It was said the ACC needed a national title contender to boost its image. Well, it looks like the conference has two in Virginia Tech (ranked fifth in both polls) and Miami (ranked 11th in both polls). The Sagarin Ratings have the ACC as the third-best conference in the country behind the SEC and Pac-10.

Three down

The Atlantic Division

The Atlantic has morphed into a bizarro world. Maryland in first place, Florida State sixth? Boston College and Wake ahead of Clemson?

Clemson's offense

Two touchdowns in 13 quarters has this unit under great scrutiny.

North Carolina's offense

A lot of people liked the Tar Heels in the preseason, including Sports Illustrated, which ranked the Tar Heels as the 20th best team in its preseason poll. While the defense has been as advertised (league-best 14.6 ppg), the offense is averaging a league-worst 18.6 ppg, including a three-point showing against Virginia on Saturday.

By the numbers

10 -- Clemson has played the 10th most difficult schedule in the country, according to the Sagarin Ratings.

10.17 -- The average margin of victory in the 12 ACC conference games to date. The slimmest average margin of victory occurred in 1965 (10.19). It is more evidence of the ACC's parity and unpredictability.

379 -- N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson's impressive interception-less streak ended Saturday at Wake Forest. The streak is the longest in NCAA history.

Quote of the week

"My hope is, frankly, that we'll go ahead and, if we have to, let the world know that this year will be the end of the Bowden era. I do appreciate what he's done for us, what he's done for the program, what's he done really for the state of Florida. But I think the record will show that the Seminole Nation has been more than patient. We have been in a decline not for a year or two or three, but I think we're coming up on seven or eight. I think enough is enough. … We're not paying to support an average or mediocre program. We're paying for a quality program, and we're not getting that right now," -- Jim Smith, chairman of the Florida State board of trustees, as quoted in Monday's Tallahassee Democrat.

Trav's take

--Miami is ranked 11th in both polls, but should be a top 10 team based off of strength of schedule. According to the Sagarin Ratings, the Canes have played the toughest schedule this season. The poll system is ridiculous, as Miami is simply not ranked higher because it began the season unranked. No team has a more impressive resume.

--Location, location, location gives hope to Clemson. We're still not buying Maryland, Boston College or Wake as an Atlantic Division champ. Oh, Virginia Tech is also not on the Tigers' schedule and FSU travels to the Upstate.

--Quarterback play has been very good for the most part in the ACC. Not only are Taylor and Miami's Jacory Harris much improved, but FSU's Christian Ponder threw for 341 yards last week, Georgia Tech's Josh Nesbitt threw for a career-high 262 yards against Mississippi State and Riley Skinner also tied a career-high with 361 yards. And Wilson continues to perform at a high level (14 TDs/2 INTs).

HIGH FIVE

Ranking the ACC's top five teams going forward

1 - Virginia Tech - If Taylor continues like this the Hokies will be tough to stop.

2 - Miami - Miami might be favored in the rest of its games. Here's the U's remaining schedule: Florida A & M, at Central Florida, Clemson, at Wake, Virginia, at UNC, Duke, at South Florida. Can the Canes or Hokies secure both the ACC's automatic BCS berth and an at-large berth?

3 - Georgia Tech - The defense still might be a liability, but there is not a better 1-2 offensive punch in the league than Demaryius Thomas and Jonathan Dwyer.

4 - Clemson - Is Warren Buffett's strategy applicable? "Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful."

5 - Florida State - Another buy-low candidate.