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If you had to predict the two participants in the ACC
championship game, your best guess might be Maryland and Miami. Just make sure
that the mortgage, the loved ones, your dignity and any sum over $20 are not at
stake.

This past Saturday's results
didn't officially eliminate any of the nine contenders in the 12-team egalitarian
enclave known as the ACC. So with two weeks to go, here's a look at things.

Atlantic Division

Wake Forest is alive but will
need a very specific combination of results - none of which is impossible on
its own - to make its second ACC championship game appearance in three years.

                The Demon
Deacons will go if and only if they beat Boston College; Florida State beats
Maryland; and BC beats the Terrapins next week.

Similarly, the Seminoles advance
to Tampa if and only if they beat Maryland and the Eagles lose this week and
next.

Maryland doesn't need any
external assistance. It's going to Tampa if it wins its last two games, which
are at home with FSU and at BC. The Terps will be in as soon as this Saturday
if they dispatch the Seminoles and Wake takes care of the Eagles.

Curiously, anything can happen
to the Terps today. They can lock up the title, they can extend the issue until
the regular-season finale or they can be eliminated. Their hopes end if they
lose to FSU and Boston College defeats Wake.

The Eagles' situation is the
most straightforward. If they win their final two regular-season games, they'll
represent the Atlantic for the second straight year. One more loss and they're
done.

If the Eagles and Terps win on
Saturday, their meeting next week will be the de facto division championship
game.

Coastal Division

This half is more clouded than
Seattle in November.

Miami can make this easy. If the
Hurricanes win their last two games (at Georgia Tech on Thursday, at N.C. State
on Nov. 29), they're going to Tampa. Period. The Canes also wrap it up this
week if they beat the Yellow Jackets and North Carolina loses to N.C. State.

Carolina lost its chance to take
firm control of things when it fell at Maryland. Now the Tar Heels must win
their last two (home with N.C. State and at Duke) and get help.

Specifically, Miami, Virginia
and Virginia Tech will all have to lose at least once apiece. The Cavaliers and
Hokies square off in Blacksburg on Nov. 29, which is convenient for Carolina,
but if the winner of that one also prevails this week, the Heels are out. (The Cavs
host Clemson and the Hokies welcome Duke on Saturday.)

The Cavaliers and Hokies must
win twice. It's almost certain that they'll need two Hurricane losses as well.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com