ACC Nation

Only a couple of conference series this past weekend — and FSU still has one game left with Clemson later today — and two teams had the week off. The rest of the teams has light schedules because of exams.

We now have two weekends left in the regular season and the ACC Tournament field is starting to take shape. I took a quick look, so I could be wrong (meaning you might want to figure this out yourself before making travel plans to Jacksonville), but it appears that Florida State and NC State are the top two seeds in the Atlantic, while Miami and North Carolina should have that honor in the Coastal.

The top two seeds from each division get into the tournament. The other four teams will be determined by best conference winning percentage, regardless of division.

Virginia (13-11) could still edge Carolina for one of the top two spots with a miracle — the Cavs would have to sweep their final two ACC series and Carolina would have to lose all six of its remaining conference games — but we’ll assume that won’t happen, even though it doesn’t matter too much. Virginia is a lock to make the tournament, even if it drops the rest of its conference games. Georgia Tech (12-12) is close to a lock as well, with series left against Clemson and at Virginia.

Clemson (10-15-1) has just one series left, but could really use two wins against the Yellow Jackets. Just one win or a series sweep by Georgia Tech, and the Tigers may be in danger. Lurking just behind Clemson are Wake (8-15) and Duke (8-14-1). They play each other next weekend before Wake finishes at BC and Duke wraps up the regular season at Virginia Tech. Both or either could leap the Tigers.

It doesn’t look promising for Maryland or BC, both 8-19, but if one of them can sweep their final series — Maryland plays NC State and BC plays Wake – and Georgia Tech sweeps Clemson, then the Terps or Eagles would be in Jacksonville. They could also get there if Wake or Duke falls apart down the stretch.

If I had to make a guess, I like the eight teams in Jacksonvile to be FSU, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Duke and Clemson. Of course, that means Wake, BC and Maryland will all find their way into the tournament.

This week’s rankings: 

12. Virginia Tech (4-20, 20-27) — lost at VMI 8-7, won two of two against Presbyterian (7-1, 6-5 (10 inn.))

11. Wake Forest (8-15, 18-28 ) — won at UNC-Greensboro 11-6, beat Davidson 10-0

10. Maryland (8-19, 26-24 ) — lost three of three at BC (1-8, 4-5 (10 inn.), 5-7)

9. Boston College (8-19, 24-23) — won at Dartmouth 8-5, won three of three against Maryland (8-1, 5-4 (10 inn.), 7-5)

8. Clemson (10-15-1, 24-22-1) — lost first two of three to FSU (8-9 (10 inn.), 4-13) — third game of series to be played Monday

7. Virginia (13-11, 33-15) — beat Mount St. Mary’s 11-1

6. Duke (8-14-1, 31-14-1) — no games played this week

5. N.C. State (15-8, 32-14) - beat Campbell 8-2, split two with High Point (6-9, 4-2)

4. Georgia Tech (12-12, 33-14) – won two of three against Coastal Carolina 10-6, 9-10, 11-4)

3. Florida State (21-5, 39-7) — won two of two at Stetson (13-3, 6-3), won first two at Clemson (9-8 (10 inn.), 13-4) — third game of series to be played Monday

2. North Carolina (18-5, 38-8 ) — no games played this week

1. Miami (20-2, 39-5) — won three of three against St. Mary’s (10-6, 5-0, 15-3)