BleedGopher
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per Athlon:
ACC, Big Ten West resurgence: It was a trendy storyline in August to think that the ACC had turned the corner and was on the upslope. Yes there was Clemson being among the national elite but a lot of the positive vibes around the league were centered on the rest of the conference stepping up and putting together big seasons. The middle class with teams like Boston College and Florida State and Wake Forest and Pitt (and even Syracuse) could take a step forward. Miami and Virginia Tech were top-25-caliber.
What has happened instead? ACC Coastal Chaos has reared its ugly head (we were one Hokies drive away from a four-way tie) and the Atlantic is filled with teams not quite meeting expectations. NC State could sneak their way into a New Year’s Six bowl given how their schedule sets up but nobody is yet putting the Wolfpack into the elite of the league given how untested they are. In short, there’s not corner turned, it’s just the same ol’ ACC we’ve been used to.
The same is true for the B1G West. Wisconsin was supposed to be a playoff contender but is hitting the halfway mark with two losses. Northwestern, at 3-3 overall, is in first place in the division. Purdue lost to Eastern Michigan and yet might be the most exciting program offensively in the division. Iowa is sneaky good and has the potential to reach the New Year’s Six if the Hawkeyes keep winning, but that’s balanced out by Nebraska being winless with their new staff. And at Minnesota, the boat has been rowed to an 0-3 mark in league play. In short, not quite what we expected after all the signs of progress in the offseason.
https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...en-surprises-disappointments-midway-mark-2018
Go Gophers!!
ACC, Big Ten West resurgence: It was a trendy storyline in August to think that the ACC had turned the corner and was on the upslope. Yes there was Clemson being among the national elite but a lot of the positive vibes around the league were centered on the rest of the conference stepping up and putting together big seasons. The middle class with teams like Boston College and Florida State and Wake Forest and Pitt (and even Syracuse) could take a step forward. Miami and Virginia Tech were top-25-caliber.
What has happened instead? ACC Coastal Chaos has reared its ugly head (we were one Hokies drive away from a four-way tie) and the Atlantic is filled with teams not quite meeting expectations. NC State could sneak their way into a New Year’s Six bowl given how their schedule sets up but nobody is yet putting the Wolfpack into the elite of the league given how untested they are. In short, there’s not corner turned, it’s just the same ol’ ACC we’ve been used to.
The same is true for the B1G West. Wisconsin was supposed to be a playoff contender but is hitting the halfway mark with two losses. Northwestern, at 3-3 overall, is in first place in the division. Purdue lost to Eastern Michigan and yet might be the most exciting program offensively in the division. Iowa is sneaky good and has the potential to reach the New Year’s Six if the Hawkeyes keep winning, but that’s balanced out by Nebraska being winless with their new staff. And at Minnesota, the boat has been rowed to an 0-3 mark in league play. In short, not quite what we expected after all the signs of progress in the offseason.
https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...en-surprises-disappointments-midway-mark-2018
Go Gophers!!