Since the ACC and Big East had their mix and match party, the ACC has underachieved and disappointed as a whole.  Save for a few good Virginia Tech teams and a good Wake Forest team, there hasn’t been much to crow about in the ACC.  Is it because expectations were too high?  It is about time this super-conference steps it up a notch.

In case you missed my other grades here are the links: Big XII, Big 10(+1), SEC, Pac-10, and Big East.  The criteria I am taking into consideration are as follows:  The expected level of play of the ACC team, the expected level of play of the opponent, FBS (Div-1A) opponents, FCS (Div-1AA) opponents.  I do not take into account how good a scheduled team was when the game was contracted.  Conversely, I will give credit for recently improved teams like Rutgers and South Florida.  Let’s take a look at the last BCS conference’s out-of-conference (OOC) schedules for me to grade.

Virginia – USC, Richmond, Connecticut, Eastern Carolina.  USC is a total monster to have on a OOC schedule.  Period.  End of story.  I will gladly overlook the lousy Richmond game because of the cajones it took to put USC on the schedule.  The other two game are not bad either.  UCONN, nine game winners last year, should put up a good fight for Virginia.  The Cavaliers dropped an easy game last year against Wyoming.  Could ECU be this years Wyoming?  Maybe.  I love this schedule, and I have to give credit for having USC up there.  Grade: A

Miami – Charleston Southern, Florida, Texas A&M, Central Florida.  This could have been one of the best, if not the best, OOC schedule, if it were not for that Charleston Southern game.  That game really takes away from what they are trying to do in Miami.  All that I am saying is schedule an FBS team like Arizona, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, or Baylor.  Why do you have to go out of the FBS?  Anyway, the Florida game will be a monster for Miami.  It should show us where Miami will be this year.  The A&M game is important because Miami should win, but the Aggies are always formidable.  The UCF game will be really good.  I assure you that the players from Miami do not want to lose that game.  I will also assure you that the UCF players are gunning for the Canes.  Grade: A-

Duke – James Madison, Northwestern, Navy, Wake Forest. As far as I know, Duke has never been confused with being good at football.  I may be wrong, but Duke is usually really bad.  I’m confused because last year didn’t Notre Dame celebrate wildly after a last minute win over Duke?  Maybe that was a dream.  Dream or no dream, this is a pretty good schedule overall for Duke.  James Madison is an FCS team, but I can overlook that due to the fact that it is Duke.  Wake Forest is certainly a formidable foe.  The Navy and Northwestern games should be challenging for the Blue Devils.  Overall, not bad.  Grade: A-

North Carolina State – South Carolina, William and Mary, Eastern Carolina, South Florida.  This one could have been an “A” if it weren’t for that danged W&M on the schedule.  Wow, this is still pretty good.  South Florida should still be good this year with Leavitt there to incite that violent defense.  Darth Visor and the Gamecocks are formidable for NC State and most other teams.  ECU is a quality team that will make you earn a win over them.  Then, there is that W&M staring you in the face like a wounded puppy-dog.  Why?  Why did they have to ruin a perfectly good OOC schedule?  Grade: B+

North Carolina – McNeese State, Rutgers, Connecticut, Notre Dame. Three years ago you would have looked at this schedule and scoffed at the lack of competition outside of Notre Dame.  What a difference three years makes, huh?  Rutgers is here to stay with Schiano at the helm.  UCONN had a very good season last year and shouldn’t lose too much.  Notre Dame is a big question mark.  Will they be bad or really bad?  It would have been nice to see a Baylor or New Mexico State on the schedule instead of McNeese State, but that seems to be a trend here in the ACC.  Grade: C+

Maryland – Delaware, Middle Tennessee State, California, Eastern Michigan. This is not too, too bad.  Cal is certainly a great game to have as the most challenging game on the OOC-schedule.  Middle Tennessee State and Eastern Michigan are ok games.  They are moderately good teams that lack the depth to really beat you in the fourth quarter.  They will challenge you throughout the game, but you are in no real danger of losing if you are reasonably deep.  Actually, Delaware isn’t too bad.  Sure they lost their hot-shot QB, but if you are going to go out of the FBS you could do much worse than Delaware.  Grade: C

Wake Forest – Baylor, Mississippi, Navy, Vanderbilt. I like this schedule because all the teams are from the FBS.   I don’t like this schedule because none of the teams are really good.  When Navy may be the hardest team on your schedule, then you have a weak schedule.  Vandy and Baylor are perennial cellar-dwellers.  That leaves Ole Miss.  They were probably the worst team in the SEC last year.  Granted, the SEC is a tough conference, but when your only wins are against Memphis, LA Tech, and Northwestern State, you may have problems.  The only thing good about this schedule is what I have already mentioned.  Grade: C-

Boston College – Kent State, Central Florida, Rhode Island, Notre Dame. This really stinks up the place here.  UCF is a pretty good team and will challenge BC, but in no way should it be the most challenging game on the schedule.  Notre Dame may put up a fight at the end of the year against BC, but it is unlikely.  Kent State should have been the weakest game on the schedule, but BC needed to schedule Rhode Island.  Really?  Rhode Island?  This is very disappointing coming from a team that won ten games last year.  Grade: D

Florida State – Western Carolina, Chattanooga, Colorado, Florida.  This is another disappointing OOC schedule that had promise.  Having Colorado and Florida on the schedule is phenomenal.  That is gutsy and I give a lot of credit for that.  The problem is that FSU went outside the FBS for their patsies.  Again, what is wrong with an Ohio, Baylor, Western Michigan, Vandy, or Iowa State on the schedule?  Why do they have to go so far down the food chain?  It doesn’t do any good for FSU except to all but guarantee a win.  Isn’t that win all but guaranteed with a Buffalo or a New Mexico State?  Deplorable.  Grade: D

Clemson – Alabama, Citadel, South Carolina State, South Carolina. Here is an example of a OOC schedule that had potential, but ultimately failed.  Alabama to start the season is a very bold and tough game.  The rivalry game with Darth Visor and South Carolina at the end of the year is very, very respectable.  What is up with the ####-stain in the middle?  Citadel and South Carolina State?  I’m sorry, but one of those two would have been bad enough.  Clemson is a good team, and should try to do a better job challenging themselves.  It is really tough for me to give a bad grade to Clemson because of the Alabama game, but fair is fair.  Grade: D-

Georgia Tech – Jacksonville State, Mississippi State, Gardner-Webb, Georgia. The game with Georgia is a monster and I give credit for being a rivalry game.  The Mississippi State game is respectable, and MSU should be pretty good this year.  The rest of the schedule is trash.  This is very disappointing.  I think they could have done a much better job.  I think they should have done a much better job.  There is no excuse for two non-FBS teams to be on the OOC schedule.  Grade: D-

Virginia Tech – Eastern Carolina, Furman, Nebraska, Western Kentucky.  Ok, I get it.  To be in the ACC you must beat up on Div-1AA teams.  It must be a requirement because just about every ACC team has one on the schedule and four teams have two.  Not cool.  If this year’s Nebraska was the Nebraska of old, then I may have been inclined to overlook one of the two patsies on the list.  Such is not the case.  Nebraska may be the most challenging team on the schedule, but that is not saying very much at all.  ECU is fine if they are not the “big game” on the OOC schedule.  This may be the case.  Western Kentucky recently came up from Div-1AA. Ok.  This is VT here not Duke.  Grade: F

(For WarBeagle a good football fan who happens to like Colorado)

Why are BCS teams still afraid to schedule decent OOC (out-of-conference games)?  What is the deal here?  I am of the oldskewl belief that, win or lose, playing good teams makes your team better.  There is no reason for a good team in a BCS conference not to schedule two good opponents OOC.  Period!  

It is embarrassing to fans of good teams to watch their team pummel Western Kentucky, Southeastern Louisiana, and Buffalo (sorry Turner) in consecutive weeks.  There was a strategy before the advent of the BSC, but now it is moot. Teams in a BCS conference will get an automatic bid to a BCS game if they win their conference.  It is as easy as that.  A two-loss LSU proved that to be true last year and rightfully so, they were in the National Championship game. However, there is a reason to schedule nothing but patsies if you are a Non-BCS conference team.  Example:  2007 Hawaii.  I’m not trying to pick on the Warriors.  I understand that Hawaii has been efforting to schedule better teams as of late, but who can not say that Hawaii was exposed last year in the BCS game? 

Here are my thoughts on the OOC scheduling for the Big 12 this year.  I am looking at the strength of the scheduling team, FBS (Div-1A), and current success of the scheduled team.  I am not factoring in past schedules.  In case you missed my other grades here are the links: ACC, Big 10(+1), SEC, Pac-10, and Big East.

Colorado – Colorado State, Eastern Washington, West Virginia, Florida State.  Colorado has managed to make their OOC schedule rather competitive.  The rivalry game with Colorado State is always a tough game for Colorado.  Eastern Michigan is a tune up game, and Eastern Washington is a patsy.  West Virginia made minced-meat of the vaunted Oklahoma defense last year, but we must remember that Colorado also handed OU a loss last year.  This year's WVU may not be quite as good as last year's with out R-Rod there.  Florida State is loaded with talent and controversy.  Grade: A

Baylor – Wake Forest, Northwestern State, Washington State, Connecticut.  Baylor has a monster OOC schedule, but I think it may have been an accident.  WF and UCONN are quality teams as of late, but PAC-10 Spoiler Washington State is not a patsy.  Northwestern State is though.  I am willing to overlook the Northwestern State game because it is Baylor we are talking about.  Baylor will need to play better than they have in the past in order to get to conference play 1-3.  Grade: A

Oklahoma – Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Washington, TCU.  Chattanooga is a patsy and should not be on the schedule.  Cincinnati has improved and they are coming off a stellar season, but for Oklahoma they should be no problem.  Washington is a BCS conference team that may have a good game a few times a year, but they have not been consistently good since the early to mid 90’s.  TCU is one of the most consistently good non-BCS conference teams out there.  When I see TCU on an OOC schedule, I consider that a decent test for any team.  The problem I have with this schedule is the Cattanooga game.  You are OU.  Schedule Div-1 teams.  Grade: B-

Nebraska – Western Michigan, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Virginia Tech.  Nebraska must subscribe to the philosophy that supports only scheduling one quality team OOC.  Very disappointing, but with the way the Huskers played defense last year some of these game should be closer than expected.  You have to give Nebraska credit for the VA Tech game.  VA Tech has been in the Top-10 consistently over the past decade.  That game is certainly a great OOC game.  The pass-happy Aggies from NMSU have a legitimate shot at an upset here if the Blackshirts don’t turn it around.  Any other year, for Nebraska, Western Michigan and (Do you know your way to) San Jose State would be considered patsies, but Nebraska can’t take any team for granted anymore.  Grade: B- (that is all VA Tech)

Texas – Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Arkansas, Rice.  Texas likes to keep their OOC games close to home with UTEP and Rice.  Both of which are bad teams, very bad.  When this game was scheduled, I am sure that Florida Atlantic was considered just as bad as UTEP or Rice, but what a difference a few years makes.  FAU is not a bad team.  Not real good, but not bad.  Arkansas is an old SWC rivalry we all miss.  This year without McFadden, Texas should be able to handle the Razorbacks easily.  I am sure Arkansas will be up for this one.  Grade: C (only because FAU has turned it around)

Texas A&M – Arkansas State, New Mexico, Miami, Army.  Like Nebraska, there is only one team on this schedule that is of any worth competing with a BCS conference school.  New Mexico did shut out Nevada in a bowl that was created just for them last year.  Arkansas State is a patsy.  Army is a mismatch, but there is Miami.  They are talent-laden and needing to make a comeback in a big way.  Grade: C- (that is all Miami’s potential)

Missouri – Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Nevada, Buffalo.  Mizzou has scheduled a monster by accident with Illinois.  How great was that game last year!?!  Nevada is improving, but they still can’t hang with the big boys.  SM St and Buffalo are patsies (sorry Turner).  Missouri is set up really nice to repeat as the Big 12 North Champs, but it has nothing to do with their OOC scheduling.  Grade: D (that is all Illinois)

Iowa State – South Dakota State, Kent State, Iowa, UNLV.  Iowa State has not had much of a team for quite a while now.  I don’t really blame them for going so soft, but it is disappointing when they can’t even beat the patsies on their schedule.  South Dakota State should lose, but nothing is for sure.  Iowa should win, but the Hawkeyes are having problems with the law in Iowa City.  UNLV and Kent State have legitamate shots at getting a win over a BCS conference opponent here with ISU.  ISU did come on strong at the end of last season, but there is no indication that they will carry that momentum into this year.  Grade: D

 Kansas – Florida International, Louisiana Tech, South Florida, Sam Houston State.  Kansas tried really hard not to schedule any real tests OOC, but they got unlucky with South Florida.  I guess 3-4 isn’t too bad.  I will all but guarantee you that when South Florida was added to the schedule, they had never been ranked #2 in the country.  Neither was Kansas.  They both had spectacular years last year and I will be looking forward to this game.  La Tech can score a bit, but they are still a patsy along with Sam Houston State and FIU.  FIU is the only Florida team to get a bad rap from me.  Grade: D- (dumb luck getting South Florida on the OOC schedule.)

Kansas State – North Texas, Montana State, Louisville, Louisiana-Lafayette.  Louisville without Brian Brohm is no good at all.  They proved that last year’s pre-season hype was just that.  All these teams are patsies this year.  K-State should change their mascot from the Wildcats to the Scaredycats.  North Texas is ok sometimes.  With the way Louisville played defense last year, KSU has a legit shot to get an OOC win over a BCS opponent.  Grade: F

Texas Tech – Eastern Washington, Nevada, Southern Methodist, Massachusetts.  Congratulations!  We have a winner!  The Red Raiders have managed to win the patsy lottery in their OOC scheduling.  They were the only team to manage to avoid another BCS conference team and not get unlucky enough to get a team that has any potential at having a good season.  The best team, by far, is Nevada.  PEA-YOU!!  This is very disappointing because they will have a great season and contend for the Big 12 this year.   They will have to defend a constant onslaught of criticism over their OOC schedule.  It serves them right.  I am acutally getting physically ill looking at their OOC schedule.  I'm going to go barf now.  Grade: F-

 The first week is in the books.  Now, we can start to answer some questions about some teams' performances.  These are some of the more interesting games for me.

Miami at Oklahoma - Can Miami execute on Oklahoma’s Defense?  Is Oklahoma’s offense that good?  Is this the same Miami team from last year?  How well is Oklahoma’s QB going to hold up under some real pressure?  You can’t knock either of these teams’ scheduling.  Who would want to play either of these teams if you had title hopes? 

Nebraska at Wake Forest – Will the defending ACC Champs go 0-2 to start the season?  Can the new Nebraska run the ball like the old Nebraska for another week?  Was the devastating loss to Boston College a product of looking ahead to the Big Red?  Will the Big Red be looking ahead to USC?  Can the Demon Deacons muster any running attack?  Is Sam Keller as good as advertised?  Nebraska has to win this one for anyone to take them seriously next week.  Wake needs a win if they hope to repeat as champions of the ACC and save face.

California at Colorado State – Will California be hampered by the altitude and a good Colorado State offense?  Can Colorado State stop anyone?  How ####ed up is Cal after the complete domination o####ood Tennessee team last week?  Can Colorado State stop anyone?  Cal should roll, but I expect Colorado State to score more than a couple times.

Oregon at Michigan – Do the Ducks stand a chance in the Big House after all that has happened?  Is Michigan really that bad?  Can Oregon kick a wounded Wolverine while it is down in it’s own house?  Is Michigan really that bad?  We will all find out if Michigan is going to be worth watching for the rest of the season.

Notre Dame at Penn State – Penn State should roll.  You know that the Golden-Domers are going to surprise at least one team this year.  Is it going to be Joe Pa and his boys? 

I have saved the best for last!

Virginia Tech at LSU – Tigers and Cajuns and Creoles oh my!  At night, on the Bayou, surrounded by a mass of yellow and purple clad drunk, crawdad eating, psychopaths, screaming things only a native can understand.  I love watching LSU home night games!!!!  That is the cream of the crop of the SEC venues.  Do the heartfelt Hokies stand a chance?  Were they looking ahead to LSU last week?  For their sakes, I hope so.  Dem boys can play some o’dat fooseball down dair in Louisiana.