ACC Football Basketball School Rankings: Hoops and Helmets 2019-2020

Which ACC schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball?

[jwplayer eniJo7Qb]


Which ACC schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball? Which fan bases got the glory, and which ones didn’t have any fun?


Contact @PeteFiutak

On the field and court – whose fans had the most fun?

Of course every school has sports outside of the big two that matter and generate revenue, but when it comes to what athletic departments need, it’s really all about college football and men’s basketball.

Which ACC schools had the best and worst seasons?

Here’s how these rankings work.

1) The top-ranked schools with teams that went to a bowl game and would’ve played in the NCAA Tournament.

2) The next group had stronger football seasons and were okay in basketball. The superstar basketball schools get credit – that’s obviously a huge deal in the ACC – but football is the bigger revenue generator.

3) One or the other. Usually there’s a disparity with one good season in one sport an a clunker in the other. It’s sort of a catch-all before …

4) The disasters. No bowl game, there wouldn’t have been a trip to the NCAA Tournament, no fun.

The worst-to-best ACC schools in 2019-2020 in college football and college basketball …

ACC Hoops and Helmets: Losers In Both Sports

These schools suffered the indignity of failing to come up with a winning season in either of the two major sports. The fans didn’t get to have any fun.

14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 85
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 114
Football: 3-9 overall, 2-6 in conference, 7th in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 17-14 overall, 11-9 in conference, 5th in ACC

13. Syracuse Orange

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 21
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 75
Football: 5-7 overall, 2-6 in conference, 6th in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 16-15 overall, 10-10 in conference, T6th in ACC

12. NC State Wolfpack

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 37
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 14
Football: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in conference, 7th in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 20-12 overall, 10-10 in conference, T6th in ACC


ACC Hoops and Helmets: Good In One Sport, Not The Other

11. Boston College Eagles

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  86
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 55
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 13-19 overall, 7-13 in conference, T10th in ACC

10. Miami Hurricanes

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 83
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 8
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 15-16 overall, 7-13 in conference, T10th in ACC

9. North Carolina Tar Heels

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  64
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 67
Football: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 14-19 overall, 6-14 in conference, T13th

8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  77
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 74
Football: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 13-18 overall, 6-14 in conference, 14th in ACC

7. Pitt Panthers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 65
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 117
Football: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 16-17 overall, 6-14 in conference, T13th in ACC

6. Duke Blue Devils

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 12
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 15
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in conference, 6th in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 25-6 overall, 15-5 in conference, T2nd in ACC

5. Virginia Tech Hokies

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 22
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 17
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in conference, 2nd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 16-16 overall, 7-13 in conference, T10th in ACC


ACC Hoops and Helmets: Bowl and probably would’ve made the NCAA Tournament

OR, if something massive happened in one sport – like football – for one particular school.

4. Florida State Seminoles

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 53
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 16
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 26-5 overall, 16-4 in conference, 1st in ACC

3. Louisville Cardinals

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  75
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 46
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in conference, 2nd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 24-7 overall, 15-5 in conference, T2nd in ACC

2. Clemson Tigers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 6
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 2
Football: 14-1 overall, 8-0 in conference, 1st in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 16-15 overall, 9-11 in conference, 9th in ACC

1. Virginia Cavaliers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  1
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 20
Football: 9-5 overall, 6-2 in conference, 1st in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 23-7 overall, 15-5 in conference, 2nd in ACC

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Path To The Playoff: Clemson’s 5 Steps To The College Football Playoff

What’s does Clemson have to do to get to the 2020-2021 College Football Playoff? What’s the path?

[jwplayer fxjdgLLO]


What’s does Clemson have to do to get to the 2020-2021 College Football Playoff? What’s the path?


The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl will be played on January 1st, 2021, and the College Football Playoff National Championship will be in Miami on Monday, January 11th.

What does Clemson have to do to get into the fun for a sixth straight season? What are the five steps in the Path to the Playoff?

Path to the College Football Playoff, Step 1

The every-other-year pattern isn’t a bad thing.

The 2016 team went into the offseason really, really mad.

For all the fun and games around Dabo Swinney and the program, there appeared to be a serious business attitude that offseason after Deshaun Watson and company lost a thriller of a national championship to Alabama. There was a loss to Pitt along the way, but the Tigers went on to roll through Ohio State and then beat Bama for the CFP championship.

The 2017 team was good enough to earn the No. 1 playoff seed – despite a loss at Syracuse – and was dumped by the Crimson Tide in the CFP semifinal Sugar Bowl.

The 2018 version got back an ultra-motivated defensive front, welcomed in Trevor Lawrence, and ripped through just about everything in its path – at least after a scare from Syracuse – for a 15-0 season and a national title.

So last year’s team came up short against an epic-hot LSU team in a dream season – hardly any shame losing to that team.

Clemson knows how to dial it up that extra notch a year after a disappointment, and all that national title loss might mean is that the beast is angered.

Of course, it helps when you come up with great recruiting class after great recruiting class to restock the shelves. Even so …

NEXT: The area the Tigers need to work on will be …

ACC Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 14

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 14 of the ACC season.

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]


Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 14 of the ACC season.


How are the ACC predictions so far?
Straight Up: 76-26, ATS 43-44-2, o/u: 52-38


Click on each game for game preview & prediction

Friday, November 29

Virginia Tech at Virginia

12:00 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Virginia Tech -2.5, o/u: 47.5
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

Saturday, November 30

Clemson at South Carolina

12:00 ESPN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Clemson -27.5, o/u: 51
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line  

Georgia at Georgia Tech

12:00 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Georgia -28, o/u: 46.5
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

Louisville at Kentucky

12:00 SEC Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Kentucky -3, o/u: 53.5
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

Wake Forest at Syracuse

12:30 ACC Network X | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Wake Forest -3.5, o/u: 67.5
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

Boston College at Pitt

3:30 ACC Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Pitt -9, o/u: 52
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

[lawrence-related id=502045]

Miami at Duke

3:30 ESPN2 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Miami -8, o/u: 45.5
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

North Carolina at NC State

7:00 ACC Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: North Carolina -10, o/u: 55
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

Florida State at Florida

7:30 SEC Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Florida -17.5, o/u: 53.5
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Clemson vs. South Carolina Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Clemson vs. South Carolina fearless prediction and game preview.

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]


Clemson vs. South Carolina fearless prediction and game preview.


Clemson vs. South Carolina Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 30
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Network: ESPN

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Clemson (11-0) vs. South Carolina (4-7) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM


Why Clemson Will Win

No, really. Have you noticed what Trevor Lawrence has done over the last month?

No, you probably haven’t – most of America checked out on Clemson because of its not-its-fault awful schedule. The world is more interested in Burrow, and Jalen, and Fields, and Tua before he got hurt, but the 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick has gone off.

Over the last four games, Lawrence is hitting over 75% of his passes and averaging close to 12 yards per throw with 13 touchdown and no picks. He’s been flawless.

With three touchdown passes or more in each of his last six games, the Clemson offense has cranked up the production to a whole other level since the 21-20 scare over South Carolina.

The offense is humming in all phases, and that includes not screwing up.

South Carolina has to come up with takeaways to win, and that’s not happening. Clemson has turned it over just six times all year, and it’s third in the nation in turnover margin. The Gamecocks have given it up 23 times so far and is a near-lock to be a -2 in the turnover battle.

“Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released

Why South Carolina Will Win

The Gamecock offense is just good enough to make this interesting.

It might not have the explosive element like Clemson brings, but it’s been balanced enough at times to at least stay in games against some of the better teams on the slate.

For this to work, USC has to keep Lawrence and company on the sidelines, and that comes from the offense doing its part, and it needs the defensive line to get into the backfield on a regular basis.

Tackles for loss don’t guarantee anything for the Gamecocks – the defensive line did a strong job in losses to Appalachian State and Missouri – but they’re a must to at least have a shot.

The O is great on third downs, its passing game is putting up 200 yards on a consistent basis, and the attack is grinding out the clock just enough to run 80+ plays a game on a regular basis over the last month.

Want a 2nd opinion on who to bet in the Clemson vs South Carolina game?
Click here to get WinnersAndWhiners.com’s predictions on the side, total, first half, and exotic bets! All Free!

What’s Going To Happen

It’s South Carolina’s bowl game, and its season.

The last win in the series came back in 2013 – handing Clemson one of its two losses on the season – and this time around, a win would be devastating.

There’s an outside chance Clemson can lose this, obliterate Virginia or Virginia Tech from the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship, and still get into the College Football Playoff if the committee goes with the four-best-team belief, but … no.

With the weak all-around schedule, it would be a nearly-impossible sell.

There won’t be any worries about that.

South Carolina’s defense will keep this from getting out of hand early, and the slow-and-go style will shorten the game, but Clemson will get on a roll late in the first half, and it won’t stop.

Lawrence and the passing game will hit two big home runs to open up a tight game, and South Carolina won’t have the ability to respond.

[lawrence-related id=502045]

Clemson vs. South Carolina Prediction, Line

Clemson 41, South Carolina 14
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Clemson -27.5, o/u: 51
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3

5: The fried chicken sandwich of your choice (and side)
1: All things Thanksgiving dinner

Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

ACC Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 13

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 13 of the ACC season.

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]


Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 13 of the ACC season.


How are the ACC predictions so far?
Straight Up: 69-25, ATS 41-39-2, o/u: 46-36


Click on each game for game preview & prediction 

Thursday, November 21

NC State at Georgia Tech

8:00 ESPN | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: NC State -2.5, o/u: 47
Bet on this with BetMGM 

[lawrence-related id=501162]

Saturday, November 23

Liberty at Virginia

12:00 ACC Network X | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Virginia -17, o/u: 54
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Boston College at Notre Dame

2:30 NBC | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Notre Dame -19.5, o/u: 63.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Mercer at North Carolina

3:30 ACC Network X | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: COMING
Bet on this with BetMGM 

[lawrence-related id=500899]

Pitt at Virginia Tech

3:30 ESPN2 | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Virginia Tech -3.5, o/u: 46.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Syracuse at Louisville

4:00 ACC Network | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Louisville -10, o/u: 62
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Miami at FIU

7:00 CBS Sports Network | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Miami -20.5, o/u: 49.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Duke at Wake Forest

7:30 ACC Network | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Wake Forest -7.5, o/u: 49.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

ACC Predictions, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 12

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the ACC season.

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]


Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the ACC season.


How are the ACC predictions so far?
Straight Up: 64-24, ATS 38-36-2, o/u: 43-33


Click on each game for game preview & prediction

Thursday, November 14

North Carolina at Pitt

8:00 ESPN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Pitt -3.5, o/u: 50.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Saturday, November 16

Alabama State at Florida State

12:00 ACC Network X | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: No Line, o/u: No Line
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Wake Forest at Clemson

3:30 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Clemson -34.5, o/u: 60.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech

3:30 ACC Network X | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Virginia Tech -5.5, o/u: 50.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Syracuse at Duke

4:00 ACC Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Duke -10.5, o/u: 54.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Louisville at NC State

7:30 ACC Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Louisville -3.5, o/u: 55.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Clemson vs. Wake Forest Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Clemson vs. Wake Forest fearless prediction and game preview.

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]


Clemson vs. Wake Forest fearless prediction and game preview.


Clemson vs. Wake Forest Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
Network: ABC

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Wake Forest (7-2) vs. Clemson (10-0) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM


Why Clemson Will Win

The Tigers might not be playing anyone who’s all that great, but they’re able to rip through their light scrimmages playing exactly like they’re supposed to.

Dog the slate all you want – and you should, even if it’s not their fault – but they’re improving with all the practice. There’s no drama, there’s no concern, and now the team is able to experiment a little bit and keep everyone rested for the bigger games – like this one.

Very, very under the radar, the lines are now built back up after all the big personnel changes from last year’s team. And now everything is humming.

That includes a pass rush that’s coming from everywhere. The linebacking corps, the secondary, and the young defensive front all have guys who can bring pressure on QB Jamie Newman, who won’t have top receiver Sage Surratt to go to. The 66-catch, 1,001-yard, 11 touchdown star is done for the year with a shoulder injury.

The Demon Deacon offense is still going to be just good enough to provide a push, but the defense won’t be able to hold serve if this gets into any sort of a shootout.

The Wake Forest run defense has been hit for 225 yards or more in three of the last five games, but …

“Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released

Why Wake Forest Will Win

Bombs away.

Even without Surratt, the ACC’s second-best offense and top passing game isn’t going to stop pushing a Tiger secondary that hasn’t been tested for theist several weeks.

Statistically, the Clemson pass defense is amazing – allowing one touchdown pass, to option-running team Wofford – in the last four games, but it hasn’t seen anything like this since dealing with Kellen Mond and Texas A&M in Week 2.

The talent is there to pull this off without the Tigers being a little bit down, but the Demon Deacons are great at controlling the clock and the tempo when needed – they lead the ACC in third down conversions – and they have better offensive playmakers than they get credit for.

Even without Surratt.

[lawrence-related id=499899]

What’s Going To Happen

This should actually be a wee bit of a test for the Tigers. Wake Forest has the passing game to keep on pressing even if it gets down fast, and there’s a good enough pass rush and defensive front to at least apply a little bit of pressure on Trevor Lawrence.

Clemson is humming now, though, and it’ll win without too much of a concern. The offense will get up fast, but Wake Forest will score just a wee bit to keep this from being a total embarrassment.


Clemson vs. Wake Forest Prediction, Line

Clemson 48, Wake Forest 17
Bet on Clemson vs. WF with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Clemson -34.5, o/u: 60.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5:
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: XX

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]