The enigma we call the ACC schedule (UPDATED!)

Update: The site VegasWatch.net has a nice article observing the idiosyncrasies of in-conference scheduling, mainly the imbalances of every big conference minus the Pac-10 (which is still a round robin). They highlight 5 teams in all: VaTech, Wisconsin, WV, NCSU, and Illinois.

I don’t think this gets enough attention; people compare teams’ records within the conference, and don’t look at the context of these records. So I thought I’d look at the teams who have played the easiest and most difficult schedules, relative to the other teams in their conference.

Virginia Tech
The Hokies are on the bubble, mostly on the strength of their 9-6 ACC record. Do not be fooled by this. With 12 teams and an a 16 game schedule, they have played two games against five of the other 11 ACC teams. As we all know, there are only three good teams in the ACC- Duke, UNC and Clemson. Virginia Tech has been lucky enough to play each of those teams only once. If the Hokies had doubled up against those teams instead of BC, Wake, and UVa, I doubt we’d be talking about them sneaking into the tourney.

NC State
This team is terrible, and obviously their schedule is not hindering their tournament chances, which are non-existent. But they sure have had it rough. As mentioned previously, in the ACC you double up against five teams. NC State is the anti-Va Tech; they’ve played Clemson, Duke and UNC twice each. This doesn’t really effect anything, but it really sucks for them.

Anyways, point is, it isn’t just us State fans the recognize how we got the short straw this season. I am starting to believe that the ACC should go to a divisional system in basketball too. Of course, even if it’s not beneficial for us we WANT to play UNC and Duke home and away (well, just home if we could) each season. Unfortunately, that recently results in 3-4 losses.

Countdown to Football

I just read this, not sure how many people are aware.

NC STATE plays at South Carolina on Thursday night August 28. You know what that means, yes, it will be on ESPN.

Wolfpack back in Top 25 / ACC – B10 Challenge

NC State is back in at number 24 in the latest AP Poll. Villanova has dropped out.

Yet, in the USA Today / ESPN poll, Villanova merely dropped from #19 to #21, and State remains unranked?!?! Even IF they watched the game and judge on that, wouldn’t one think both teams are equal? The score was 68-67 before the perhaps controversial foul at the end.

How big is the game Wednesday night gonna be?? #24 NCSU at #10 Michigan State! Spotlight game.

I implore everyone, pull for every ACC team in the Challenge. Come tourney time, these wins will matter. Yes, even pull for Carolina (or at least be impartial). For Carolina to lose would severely tarnish the image of the ACC. Trust me, we have much much more to gain from Carolina winning than losing. Also be pulling for Duke as the host #20 Wisconsin.

Wins: WF over Iowa (Monday), Clemson over Purdue, Virginia over NW, Duke over Wisconsin, BC over Michigan

Losses: Indiana over GT, Minnesota over FSU

Toss ups: NCSU – MSU, UNC – Ohio St, VT – Penn St., Illinois – Maryland

If the sure wins and losses hold true, we need 2 more wins to claim victory as a conference from the toss up games. Of course we are looking for State to upset MSU, but also look for Maryland to challenge Illinois. VT will probably lose to Penn State. If Maryland loses, we need UNC to win.

TUESDAY UPDATE: WF beat Iowa. VT will beat Penn State. That gives us a 6-2 edge on paper. Ballgame for the ACC. A Wolfpack win will be icing. Actually, icing, candles, party hats, favors, napkins, etc.

ALOHA means.. Victory?

The News and Observer is reporting that Sid and the boys will be headed to Hawaii next year, I’m guessing in the Maui Invitational? Also in the article:

Lowe, addressing the Raleigh Sports Club, said the decision to go to Hawaii would push back a scheduled game against Arizona. The Pack and Wildcats were to play next season, but the game will be pushed back at least a year, Lowe said.

Lowe said NCSU also has had preliminary discussions with Kentucky, UCLA and Florida about possibly setting future games.

Sounds good!

On Gardner-Webb

Everyone is blogging on the scheduling of Gardner-Webb University. I don’t really care, but as a former student I guess I’ll throw my two pennies in with everyone else’s.

First, here’s a list of GWU players drafted (NFL) that I can think of
1982 Ralph Warthen DT Washington
1982 Tony Suber DT Buffalo
1994 Gabe Wilkins DE Green Bay
1996 Terry Guess WR New Orleans
2004 Jim Maxwell LB New York Giants (still active)