Eagles need win, help

Three to watch

North Carolina at Boston College

Noon, ESPN2

Coordinator John Shoop has rejuvenated North Carolina's offense just enough to allow the defense to win games for the Tar Heels. Boston College needs wins this week and next plus a Clemson loss to Virginia to capture the Atlantic Division's bid to the ACC Championship Game.

Duke at No. 21 Miami

Noon, ESPNU

The production of quarterbacks Thaddeus Lewis of Duke and Jacory Harris of Miami has fallen off a bit in recent weeks. The Blue Devils still can become bowl eligible if they win today and next week against Wake Forest. Miami's hopes of a BCS bid are long gone, as are thoughts that the U is on the way to reclaiming its past glory.

Virginia at No. 18 Clemson

3:30 p.m., WTVD, WCTI

It has been 18 years since Clemson last won an ACC title. The Tigers will take a big step toward ending that drought; a win over Al Groh's floundering Cavaliers would clinch a bid to the ACC Championship Game and a rematch with Georgia Tech on Dec. 5 in Tampa, Fla.

Observations

Pack not playing flag football

When Florida State used to dominate the ACC and get flagged for lots of penalty yards, a theory was advanced that aggressive penalties by players hustling to make a play weren't always a bad thing.

Now N.C. State seems to be proving that cutting down on penalties doesn't always bode well for a team. The Wolfpack is averaging 43.7 penalty yards per game, the fewest in the ACC.

N.C. State is averaging 65.5 yards in penalties by its opponents per game - highest in the ACC. But those extra 21.8 yards per game aren't helping the Wolfpack much in the win column.

Hokie leads strong rookie class

The candidates for the ACC's rookie of the year award are unusually strong this season.

In any other year, Duke wideout Conner Vernon's ranking as the league's second-leading receiver in terms of receptions per game (4.89) might have made him a shoo-in for the award. Boston College's Luke Kuechly, who leads the ACC in tackles per game in conference games (11.8), also would have a shot at winning in another year.

But Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams' ACC-leading 123.5 rushing yards per game makes him the overwhelming favorite.

Whose 'D' is best?

There's some debate in the ACC about whether North Carolina or Clemson has the conference's best defense.

North Carolina is ranked ahead of Clemson in scoring defense and total defense, but the Tigers have forced more turnovers.

Although turnovers are one of the most important statistics in football, you would want North Carolina's defense on the field if you needed to stop one drive to win a championship. Clemson's defensive backs have a slight edge over North Carolina's, but the Tar Heels have a better line and better linebackers.

ACC scoring surges

Preseason predictions that a large number of veteran quarterbacks and running backs would cause the ACC to become a less defense-dominated conference have proven true.

Twenty-eight times this season, an ACC team has scored 40 points or more. The previous high of 25 performances of 40-plus points occurred in 1999.

Numbers to know

20 Interceptions this season for Clemson, which leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in that statistic.

1,173 Kickoff return yardage in 2009 for Maryland's Torrey Smith, who has broken the ACC season record he set last season with 1,089 yards.

101 Tackles for Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, a school freshman record.

What's at stake

Every game this week, except for N.C. State at Virginia Tech, has some impact on the ACC Championship Game or bowl eligibility for at least one of the teams involved. The postseason scenario for ACC teams should be much more settled after this week.