Here's what going on this week in the world of ACC/SEC College Football.

IN THE ACC

Duke (4-6, 1-5 in the ACC) at Virginia Tech (6-4, 3-3 in the ACC)

David Cutcliffe and the fading Blue Devils have about lost all of the tines on the pitchfork this year, but they've got two chances left to get to bowl-land - and they gotta win both of 'em. Well, it ain't gonna happen. Frank Beamer and the Hokies are average this year, but average will be much better than Duke on Saturday. Tech...big.

Rod's Reject - Duke


Boston College (7-3, 3-3) at Wake Forest (6-4, 4-3)

This week's contestants in the Who Wants To Win The ACC wheel of fortune sees the Birds from Boston College flying south to Winston-Salem to try to spook Jim Grobe and the Preachermen. The Deacons will try to defend the home turf and I ain't sure Boston College will have the gumption to do much about it.

Rod's Reject - in a close one - Boston College


North Carolina State (4-6, 2-4) at #22 North Carolina (7-3, 3-3)

Tom O'Brien and the Wild Dawgs head into Chapel Hill for a High Noon showdown - and the Wolkpack will try to take a big bite out of the Blue Billy Behind. But Butch Davis knows this is a big game and the Tar Heels will be on full alert for a Wild Dawg attack. This one is much closer than any Tar Heel wants it to be.

Rod's Reject - NC State


Florida State (7-3, 4-3) at #25 Maryland (7-3, 4-2)

You could say this is an elimination game for the ACC Atlantic as Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles invade Terp-ville and try to climb the ladder to ACC stardom. Ralph Friedgen and the Ground Crawlers will prove to be a tough shell to crack, but that ain't gonna stop the Tribe from trying. Never figured out Maryland all year - don't see why this week will be any different.

Rod's Reject - Maryland


IN THE SEC

The Citadel (4-7, 2-6 in Southern Conference) at #4 Florida (9-1, 7-1 in the SEC)

Urban Meyer and the Gators are claws and teeth above everybody else in the Southeast right now, and things ain't gonna change Saturday at the Swamp when the Charleston Bullies come to the Sunshine State for a nice paycheck - and a little bit of a whoopin'. Wish it would be different, but it ain't gonna be. The Bulldogs go to the Swamp with good intentions - and that will about be all the good that comes out of this one for 'em.

Rod's Reject - The Citadel


Tennessee (3-7, 1-5) at Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3)

Phil Fulmer and the Volunteers have two weeks of football left and would like to go out with a bang. But that's gonna be real tough for the Knoxville Knockers after trippin' up most of the season. Bobby Johnson and the Ship Steerers ain't in much better shape, though, as they have lost 4 out of their last 5 games (though the win last week got them bowl eligible for the first time since I was in the 11th grade (geez I'm gettin' old). At this point in the season, you look at records - they tell the story for the most part. Usually, come November, the better teams win the games. So it will be Saturday in Nashville.

Rod's Reject - Tennessee


Arkansas (4-6, 1-5) at Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5)

See above - usually in November, the teams with the better records win. Ooops, may not work in this case. Bobby Petrino and the Wild Hawgs tumble into Starkville for an afternoon brawl with Sylvester Croom's Bullies. What comes out of that tussle is anybody's guess. Watchin' both of these offenses and defenses will be gist like watchin' molasses flow - but their fans love them anyway. I gotta think the Hawgs have got enough offense to eek this one out.

Rod's Reject - Mississippi State


Mississippi (6-4, 3-3) at LSU (7-3, 3-3)

Houston Nutt and the Rebels will be in full upset mode when they hit the Louisiana border today, and Les Miles and the Bayou Bengals better be on full alert. These are the kinds of games where Houston puts together a perfect gameplan, but that might not be enough Saturday. LSU has its own problems (too many interceptions, for one) and that will be a key stat in this game. If LSU protects the ball, they will win. That's a big if.

Rod's Reject - in a tight one - Mississippi


THE BIG TWO

South Carolina - idle - next week at Clemson


Clemson (5-5, 3-4) at Virginia (5-5, 3-3)

Showdown in Charlottesville for both of these teams as bowl hopes still hang in the balance for the Tigers and the Cavaliers. Dabo Swinney and the Pickens County Cats are on the prowl and head into the Virginia game with some new-found offense (e.g., CJ Spiller is now being used more) and I'm not sure the Sword Toters will have a lot of answers for that. Al Groh and his band of Ship Captains need to find some offense in this one, and that's been a problem for them all year long. Just got that feelin' that the Tigers will be able to put up more points than Virginia, though both teams play a pretty tough brand of defense. And so it will be.

Rod's Reject - Virginia