What today's results mean
North Carolina and Wake Forest now need to win their remaining games and receive considerable help in order to advance to the ACC championship game.
For the Demon Deacons, elimination could come as soon as tonight. If Florida State defeats Maryland, Wake's out. There is only one combination of subsequent results that would put the Deacs in, and here it is: Boston College beats the Seminoles tonight; Wake beats BC next week; and Maryland loses to FSU and BC. If all that happens, the Deacs are in. Otherwise, a lower-tier bowl awaits.
Carolina (3-3) needs to finish at 5-3. The Heels would win tiebreakers with Miami (4-2) and Georgia Tech (4-3), which play in Atlanta on Thursday. They have no interest in being even with Virginia and Virginia Tech, both of which are 3-3. UNC lost to the Hokies and Cavaliers, who play in two weeks.
In order to get to Tampa, the Heels probably require this unfolding of events:
1) Georgia Tech beats Miami;
2) At least one of these two: a Clemson win over Virginia or a Duke win over Virginia Tech
3) The Heels beat N.C. State and Duke.
Other combinations could get the Heels to the title game, but you'd get a headache contemplating them.
COASTAL
Miami 4-2 (@ Ga Tech; @ N.C. State)
Ga Tech 4-3 (Miami)
Va Tech 3-3 (Duke; Va)
Va 3-3 (Clemson; at Va Tech)
UNC 3-3 (N.C. State; at Duke)
Key results for tiebreaker purposes:
Va Tech def. UNC
Va def. UNC
UNC def. Ga Tech
UNC def. Miami
The Heels welcome ties with the Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets and disdain draws with the Cavaliers and Hokies.
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