ACC Could Easily Get Swept In Top-Tier Bowl Games

As 99 percent of you know by now, the ACC has one team in the College Football Playoff (Florida State Seminoles) and another in a “New Year’s Six” Bowl (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets). Unfortunately, both of these bowls are a tough draw for the ACC’s top two representatives.

Even though it’s awesome to have dual-representation in the College Football Playoff and the New Year’s Six, both Georgia Tech and Florida State are serious underdogs in their contests — Georgia Tech being given seven points against Mississippi State, and Florida State currently an 8.5-point underdog to the Oregon Ducks. The Big 12 would kill for this kind of placement, and they just might get favorable consideration next year if the ACC underperforms this time around.

Florida State has been surviving all year, while Oregon has been thriving since their shorthanded loss to the Arizona Wildcats on Oct. 2. Georgia Tech’s season has been up and down, but so has Mississippi State’s; the key difference here is that Mississippi State was once ranked No. 1 in the country.

With nearly a month of rest, all of these teams could realize their full potential. While it may benefit Florida State the most, it should definitely be worrisome for Georgia Tech. Three-plus weeks to prepare for the option and time to heal could have Mississippi State looking like the best team in the country again, and any reprieve for Oregon can still hurt the Seminoles since it is so hard to prepare for speed.

One win in either of these games should make anyone with an ACC alliance proud. These draws are tough, and according to anyone not named Jimbo Fisher, perhaps merciless.

Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter at @Jerry2Landry or add him on Google+.