ACC Championship Game: Georgia Tech and Wake Forest Overcame Toughest Schedules to Reach Championship

Strategic Insights -

In a fiercely contested Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship game, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest have advanced to the final stage, having navigated some of the toughest schedules in the conference. Meanwhile, Clemson, despite having a stronger team, fell short in the Atlantic Division due to its grueling schedule. According to a ranking of the ACC teams by their opponents' record against other ACC teams, Clemson had the toughest schedule, with its opponents registering a 33-23 record against other ACC teams. In contrast, Virginia and Wake Forest had the easiest and third-easiest schedules, respectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ACC championship game will feature No. 23 Georgia Tech and No. 16 Wake Forest, who have both overcome challenging schedules to reach the final stage.
  • Clemson, despite being the only Atlantic team to have to play both Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, fell short in the Atlantic Division due to its grueling schedule.
  • The Tigers' opponents were 33-23 against teams other than Clemson, seven games better than Wake's opponents.
  • Georgia Tech had the best ACC record with a 7-1 record, but Wake Forest won the better division by going 6-2.
  • Atlantic teams went 12-6 against Coastal teams, reversing the 10-8 record of the Coastal division against the Atlantic last season.
  • Running back Tashard Choice of Georgia Tech has stated that the team has already turned the disappointment from Saturday's loss to Georgia into motivation for the ACC championship game.
  • Defensive lineman Adamm Oliver of Georgia Tech added that attitudes had changed quickly, with no one "really moping" on Monday.

Statistics:

  • Clemson's opponents were 33-23 against teams other than Clemson, seven games better than Wake's opponents.
  • Georgia Tech had the best ACC record in the Atlantic Division with a 7-1 record.
  • Wake Forest won the better division with a 6-2 record.
  • Atlantic teams went 12-6 against Coastal teams.
  • Virginia had the easiest ACC schedule, with a combined record of 24-32 against other ACC teams.
  • Clemson had the toughest ACC schedule, with a combined record of 33-23 against other ACC teams.
  • The combined record of each team's ACC opponents in ACC games against other schools ranked from easiest to toughest:

1. Virginia: 24-32

2. Florida State: 25-31

3. Georgia Tech: 26-30

4. Wake Forest: 26-30

5. Boston College: 27-29

6. Miami: 27-29

7. North Carolina: 27-29

8. Duke: 28-28

9. Virginia Tech: 30-26

10. N.C. State: 31-25

11. Maryland: 32-24

12. Clemson: 33-23

Sources:

  • Brant Sandelrin / Staff, photo caption, The Augusta Chronicle (undated)