CLEMSON – While both Florida State and Clemson took circuitous routes to Saturday’s 7:45 p.m. showdown at Death Valley on ESPN, at stake is what many thought would be this summer – ACC Atlantic championship ramifications.

Both teams possessed losing records three weeks ago. Both coaches have their critics.

But with a win, either team would be in excellent shape to advance to Tampa Bay.

After an 0-3 start in the conference, the Seminoles (4-4, 2-3 ACC) have won two games in a row and can score with any team in the country. Dabo Swinney’s bunch is out to prove this is a different Clemson team. The Tigers (5-3, 3-2) lost their grasp on the Atlantic in 2006 and 2007. As a subplot, Bobby Bowden might be extra motivated in a return to Clemson, which allegedly forced out his son last fall. Bowden downplayed the revenge factor Wednesday.

“Tommy’s got no hard feelings,” said Bowden, who added he’s “gotten pretty good” at being gracious to coaches replacing his sons, as three of them – Tommy, Jeff and Terry - have been fired.

Thumbs Up

The talented Mr. Cutcliffe and the Blue Devils

The last time the Blue Devils were rolling like this, Steve Spurrier was running the show. David Cutcliffe has Duke in second place in the Coastal Division, which while not uncharted waters, are long-since traveled ones.

The Blue Devils (5-3, 3-1 ACC) are a game back of Georgia Tech, and a half game ahead of Miami and Virginia Tech. Duke is one conference win away from its 2000-08 ACC aggregate win total.

Cutcliffe can coach – especially quarterbacks. Just ask Thaddeus Lewis or former pupils Peyton and Eli Manning.

Jimbo-ball

Mark Whipple’s offense at Miami has received a lot of praise but Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel said it’s not even in the same league as Jimbo Fisher’s.

The Florida State offensive coordinator runs perhaps the most diverse offense in the Southeast, utilizing sets from the I-form to the spread. The unit should be one to be reckoned with for a while, provided Fisher does eventually take over the head role.

Christian Ponder (aka Jimmy Neutron)

Speaking of Florida State’s offense, their quarterback, Ponder, has performed better than the preseason of quarterback troika of Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. And the scary news for ACC defenders is Ponders says he’ll be back next season.

Ponder has an NFL arm and runs like an 1970s style option quarterback, according to Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. Ponder is also smart. He’s working in his master’s degree, and is choosing from multiple play calls at the line of scrimmage.

Clemson middle linebacker Brandon Maye likened him to a boy-genius cartoon character Jimmy Neutron this week.

Thumbs Down

Florida State’s defense

The struggles continue defensively for the Seminoles, which will have to find a replacement for long-time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who announced Tuesday he will retire at the end of season.

Not only is Florida State allowing nearly 10 yards per pass attempt, the Seminoles are giving up 4.8 yards per rush on the ground. That’s a full yard worse than last season (3.8), which was FSU’s worst mark since 1995.

The Bowden brand

A decade ago, Tommy and Bobby Bowden met in the first Bowden Bowl. Tommy was in his first season at Clemson, coming off a perfect season at Tulane. Bobby was in the midst of guiding the Seminoles to a national title, and a season earlier Terry Bowden had led Auburn to an SEC West title.

Now they are calling for Bobby Bowden to resign. Tommy Bowden is out of coaching and Terry Bowden is coaching Division II North Alabama.

Snake-bitten N.C. State

With 11 players lost to season-ending injury, the Wolfpack is 0-4 in the ACC and has allowed 176 points during its four ACC games (44 points per game).

N.C. State needs to win out to be bowl eligible. The good news is N.C. State faces Maryland this week.

By The Numbers

6,641 – Days since Duke’s last ACC title.

Spurrier led the Blue Devils to a 41-0 win over North Carolina on Nov. 18 1989, to clinch a tie for first place with Virginia.

13,933 – Days since Bobby Bowden’s first win at a FBS school.

West Virginia defeated William and Mary, 43-7, on Sept. 12, 1970.

14,229 – Days since Dabo Swinney’s birth – Nov. 20, 1969.

Swinney is the youngest head coach in the ACC. Swinney and Miami’s Randy Shannon (43) are the only ACC head coaches younger than 50.

He Said It

“I hope I’m the next one who’s hurt. I’ll take one for the team if it keeps somebody else healthy.” – N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien on his injury-ravaged team. O’Brien is off to one of the worst starts of his 13-year career.

TRAV’S TAKE

FSU quarterback Christian Ponder has passed for more yards, more touchdowns, fewer interceptions and completed a higher percentage of passes than his pass-throwing peer to the east - Tim Tebow.

Just saying.

Despite Ponder, the computers like Clemson this week and so do I. Even without Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson should be able to affect the banged-up Ponder (bruised ribs) more than any defense the Seminoles have faced this season. FSU’s defense is a sieve and the Tigers have home-field and C.J. Spiller advantages.

Mark Ingram is first in ESPN’s Heisman watch. C.J. Spiller is seventh.

I’m pretty sure Nick Saban would take Spiller over Ingram. I’m not sure if Spiller is the best player in the country, but he’s certainly in the top five and deserving of a trip to New York, a trip that is unlikely to happen. The Heisman needs voting reform.

High Five

Ranking the ACC’s top five head coaching jobs this season

David Cutcliffe, Duke – Underrated coach. Was the first head coach at Ole Miss to record at least seven wins in his first five seasons. Now he’s on the verge of surpassing Duke’s ACC win total of the previous nine years in one season.

Paul Johnson, Ga. Tech – Has won everywhere he has gone, and has the Yellow Jackets in the top 10 without a defense.

Frank Spaziani – No Matt Ryan. No B.J. Raji. Yet, the defending Atlantic champs remain in the picture in the Atlantic.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson – He might be changing the culture in Tiger Town. Clemson has held fourth-quarter leads against three top-15 teams this season.

Frank Beamer, Va. Tech – Hokies can’t seem to get over the national title-contending hump.

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