Path to the ACC Championship (Apr. 30)

A look at the final three weekend series for the bottom four teams in the ACC.

With nine conference games left, Boston College sits on the outside looking in at the ACC Championship. The league takes the two division winners and 10 at-large bids for its end-of-season conference tournament and the Eagles find themselves in the cellar at No. 14 at the moment.

They’re a half-game behind Wake Forest and three games back of Duke, who current holds the 12th and final spot in the ACC Championship. The other team hovering near elimination is Virginia, who only leads the Blue Devils by 2 1/2 games. Ultimately, it’s a cluster of four teams looking for two spots, as the rest of the league is at .500 or above.

With that being said, there’s three weekends of conference play left (there’s technically four, but each team has a weekend off). This edition of path to the postseason takes a look at these four teams and their respective schedules.

Virginia (20-19, 11-16 ACC)

Home: 3 games (12-11 on the season)
Away: 6 games (7-8)
Opponent Conf. Winning %: .370 (27-46)

On March 28, the Cavaliers—a team that received five preseason votes to win the Coastal Division—were just 4-11 in conference play. Since then, they’ve gone a more respectable 7-5, clawing back with series wins over Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Duke. They also took one of three from conference heavyweight Louisville during that stretch. Virginia is currently the 11th seed, and could only strengthen that claim with the easiest remaining schedule by conference winning percentage. Still, if the Cavaliers slump, they only have a slim 2.5-game lead over 12th place Duke.

Duke (18-18, 9-15)

Home: 3 games (12-7)
Away: 6 games (6-11)
Opponent Conf. Winning %: .577 (41-30)

It’s been a tough season for the Blue Devils, who were picked to be a middle of the pack team in the Coastal Division. Instead, they’re firmly in the cellar and have just a 2.5-game lead over the eliminated teams. Duke missed a chance to pass Virginia this pass weekend, dropping two of three, and have won just one of its previous six weekend series. It doesn’t get easier for them down the stretch, either, as the Blue Devils have some tough opposition in store. Duke has to go to No. 7 Louisville and Clemson and also hosts Virginia Tech. It’s the toughest schedule by conference winning percentage of the bottom four.

Wake Forest (14-20, 6-17)

Home: 6 games (6-9)
Away: 3 games (7-11)
Opponent Conf. Winning %: .493 (37-38)

The Demon Deacons have been one of the most disappointing teams in the ACC this year as they were the preseason No. 17 team in the country. Wake Forest has won one series all year—against Florida State—but enters this coming weekend on a five-game conference skid. The Demon Deacons have a tough schedule to contend with as they face a NC State team that’s swept two of its last three series and close out the year against Pittsburgh. That Virginia series will be plenty interesting as it’s between a team

Boston College (17-21, 6-18)

Home: 6 games (6-11)
Away: 3 games (10-10)
Opponent Conf. Winning %: .506 (39-38)

The second-hardest rest of season schedule belongs to the Eagles, who host Miami and Virginia and have a road trip to Pittsburgh in between. The Hurricanes and Panthers both have 14 conference wins, with the latter the top team in the Coastal Division. BC has to avoid sweeps in both of those—and try to take at least one of those series—to set up a huge season-ending series with Virginia. The Cavaliers have a four-game lead on the Eagles right now, but if that dwindles should UVA slump, that final weekend of the year could be huge for both teams.

Featured Image Courtesy of BC Athletics