SB Nation Boston - ACC Championship Game 2011, Virginia Tech Vs. Clemson: Hokies Battle Tigers For Orange Bowl Berthhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2011-11-30T13:29:04-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23644412011-11-30T13:29:04-05:002011-11-30T13:29:04-05:00ACC Championship Game 2011, Virginia Tech vs. Clemson: Hokies Streaking, Tigers Limping
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/virginia-tech-hokies">Virginia Tech Hokies</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/clemson-tigers">Clemson Tigers</a> met two months ago, but now the stakes are larger and the teams are moving in opposite directions.</p>
<p>When the two football clubs meet again on Saturday for the 2011 ACC Championship, Virginia Tech will be the streaking favorites and Clemson the limping conference power nursing a two-game losing streak.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech has not lost since falling to Clemson, 23-3, in early October. Since then, the Hokies <a href="http://www2.vteffect.com/sports/2011/nov/29/1/tdsport01-hokies-tigers-on-divergent-paths-enterin-ar-1502428/">have rattled off seven straight wins</a>, the most recent a 38-0 domination of then-No. 24 Virginia. </p>
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<p>"(The Clemson loss) was a wake-up call. After that game, we were like, 'This is ACC play,' " Hokies senior free safety <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38934/eddie-whitley">Eddie Whitley</a> said. "Obviously, we knew how it was going to be, but I guess we got caught off guard a little bit.</p>
<p>"But after that, everybody woke up, and we knew what we had to do for the rest of the season, and that's why we've been winning since."</p>
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<p>Clemson is traveling in the opposite direction. The Tigers won another three straight immediately following the victory against Virginia Tech, but have since lost three out of four, all losses by double digits. </p>
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<p>"We've just not done some of the things well that we were doing well," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "We're missing some plays, we're not protecting quite as well, and there's a combination of things. We've got a few guys that aren't playing quite as well as maybe they played earlier in the season." </p>
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<p><i>For more coverage of the ACC championship game, visit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/28/2592187/acc-championship-2011-clemson-virginia-tech-game-schedule-score">our StoryStream</a>. </i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2011/11/30/2600415/2011-acc-championship-game-football-virginia-tech-vs-clemsonJay_King2011-11-27T08:01:25-05:002011-11-27T08:01:25-05:00Virginia Tech Vs. Clemson, ACC Championship Game 2011: Hokies Battle Tigers For Orange Bowl Berth
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<p>The Virgina Tech Hokies will face the Clemson Tigers in the seventh annual ACC Championship game, Saturday, Dec. 3. The winner advances to the Orange Bowl. SB Nation Boston has a brief preview.</p> <p>The pairings for the seventh annual Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game was decided Saturday, as Virginia Tech routed the University of Virgina, 38-0, to win the league's Coastal Division title. The Hokies (11-1, 7-1) will face Clemson University (9-2, 6-2), which last week clinched the Atlantic Division, in the title game, Saturday, Dec. 3, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The contest will be televised on ESPN. The winner will earn the right to play in the Bowl Championship Series' Orange Bowl, Jan. 4.</p>
<p>For Virginia Tech, ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and No. 6 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, will be playing in its fifth ACC championship contest. The Hokies won the title game in 2007, '08 and '09. Meanwhile, Clemson, ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 17 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, will be making its second appearance in the championship game. In '09, the Tigers lost to Georgia Tech, 39-34.</p>
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<h3>Next Game</h3>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/virginia-tech-hokies">Virginia Tech Hokies</a> <br><span>@ <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/clemson-tigers">Clemson Tigers</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/events/84516">Saturday, Dec 3, 2011, 8:00 PM EST</a><br> ACC Championship - Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC</p>
<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/events/84516">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2011/11/27/2588951/2011-acc-championship-game-footbal-virginia-tech-hokies-clemson-tigerslJared Smith