Duke-UNC game
Coming Saturday, we'll get a Blue Devils-Tar Heels clash that warrants outside attention, without the worry that "The Worldwide Leader in Sports" will inflict round-the-clock Dick Vitale coverage from Tobacco Road. Both teams can taste a bowl bid and go into this weekend hoping to strike a near-fatal blow to their rival's bowl prospects.
Boise State
Sure, the Broncos' schedule after the opener against Oregon is Downy soft (although unlike the three Triangle teams, they played only one FCS team), but they keep taking care of business, the latest a 45-7 win over San Jose State. Two speed bumps as they chase TCU in the BCS standings: Idaho and Nevada, both games on the blue turf.
World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
Remember when the annual Florida-Georgia game meant something beyond an opportunity to genuflect before the Almighty Tebow? Not only did the decidedly ordinary Bulldogs get thrashed 41-17 in their 17th loss in this rivalry's past 20 editions, they also watched the Gators' QB break Herschel Walker's SEC record for career rushing touchdowns. Obviously, Georgia's wardrobe malfunction - black helmets AND black pants? - didn't strike fear in Florida.
Wake Forest can't stand prosperity
The Demon Deacons, coming off a loss to Navy in which the Midshipmen grounded their aviators and never threw a pass, led Miami by 13 in the fourth quarter, in the rain, at home - and lost. Losing quarterback Riley Skinner to a concussion in the midst of the Hurricanes' comeback hurt, but that alone shouldn't have doomed the Deacons to defeat. Wake will have to win out to make a bowl game, although it's a moot point if Skinner misses any more time.
Ranking the ACC: The clear-cut top ...
1. Georgia Tech: Just two weeks ago, the Yellow Jackets were part of a three-way (four-way? five-way?) mix atop the ACC. They have done nothing but win while Miami and Virginia Tech have fallen behind. See you in Jacksonville.
And bottom
12 (tie). N.C. State and Maryland: Only one win separates four teams at the top of the Atlantic Division. These two, a combined 1-7 in the ACC, play Saturday in a game with worldwide coverage on ESPN8 - "The Ocho" - written all over it.
Coachspeak-to-English translation
"It was a real mess for us tonight. ... Oregon did everything that they wanted to do."
Southern California coach Pete Carroll after Oregon racked up 613 total yards in a 47-20 win over the Trojans, the worst loss in Carroll's tenure at USC.
Translation: "The Ducks are my daddy. ... Now we can stop talking about how we could have been a contender minus that mess-up at Washington."
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As Austin Rivers comes down from his adrenaline rush of Wednesday night, the person who may have the best idea of how Rivers' one shot will affect his Duke legacy is Jeff Capel. 
Austin Rivers' final shot in Duke's remarkable 85-84 comeback victory over UNC on Wednesday night was supposed to be a two-pointer. Not a three. That was the plan. 
With 2:38 remaining, Harrison Barnes hits a jumper to give the Tar Heels a comfortable 10-point advantage. 
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Rockies outfielder Todd Helton have been working out at Duke this week, an athletic department spokesman says Thursday. 
For 39 minutes Wednesday night, almost everything broke Tyler Zeller's way. But at game's end, Zeller had the most miserable single minute of his athletic career. 
While he watched the final moments between Duke and North Carolina unfold in front of him Wednesday night, North Carolina coach Roy Williams crouched in front of the bench. 
There have been some wild, crazy endings to North Carolina-Duke games over the 233-game history of the rivalry, and Duke's 85-84 victory Wednesday night at the Smith Center will take its place as one of the craziest and most memorable of all - if not the most. 
Right about the time the Smith Center crowd was mouthing "O'er the ramparts we watched," 700 miles away, Jordan Daniels was sinking the free throw that changed what the game would mean entirely. Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
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