Local football fans will be all revved up this week. Lots of big games with enormous ramifications.
    And, it all kicks off Thursday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium for a nationally televised ESPN game as tenth ranked Virginia Tech battles the Yellow Jackets. What's on the line? How about the ACC Coastal Division championship and a trip to Charlotte to play in the ACC Championship Game? A win doesn't guarantee that will happen, but it makes it extremely likely. At the moment, the Hokies sit atop the division with a 4-1 record in the ACC, 7-1 overall. Georgia Tech sits right behind at 4-2 in the ACC and 7-2 overall. Virginia is still in the picture at 3-2 and 6-3. To see the complete standings, go to our Current Issue online and click on page 5. Page 4 will give you the complete ACC season schedules and results to date for every team except Georgia Tech, which is on page 12.
     The victory last week over the then #5 ranked Clemson Tigers gave the Yellow Jackets the chance they needed. Now, a win Thursday night and they will be 5-2, moving ahead of the Hokies at 4-3. The Jackets would still have to follow with a road win at 1-4 Duke, but that seems like a slam dunk. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, has a home game with North Carolina and road game at Virginia. So, VT seems taken care of.
      The only minor concern is Virginia. They have a much tougher schedule. Duke visits this weekend. No problem, but then they go on the road to an improving Florida State team, then host Virginia Tech for the season finale. I think they lose two of those three. If that scenario takes place, then they're gone as well. If, on the other hand, they win out, that would make them 6-2, tying the Jackets, assuming they win Thursday and at Duke. The first tie breaker is head to head competition and, unfortunately, Georgia Tech blew a close one on October 12 at Virginia 24-21. Winner of the ACC Coastal Division would be the unlikely Cavaliers.
      But, none of that calculating is necessary if the Yellow Jackets don't take care of business Thursday night. If they do, then, the odds are definitely in their favor for a possible rematch with Clemson with the winner going to the Orange Bowl.
      Now, let's look at the next huge game two days later in Athens. Georgia started the season with a terrible 0-2 start, losing at the Georgia Dome to #5 Boise State and to South Carolina, now #13. Since then, however, they have led a charmed life. Seven straight wins included a few patsies like Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State, where the Bulldogs combined for 122 points against their 16. And, it really wasn't that close.
      Included in that streak was a big win in Jacksonville. Helping that to happen was a floundering Gator team that is the worst Florida has seen in years with a wounded quarterback who is struggling to get back to normal after a month on the disabled list.
      Part of the charmed life was the demise of the Gamecocks. First, Steve Spurrier kicked starting QB Stephen Garcia completely off the team  on October 11. The next week, their star running back Marcus Lattimore was lost to the season with a sprained knee in the fourth quarter of South Carolina's win against Mississippi State.
      The team has played valiantly ever since, but couldn't keep up with Arkansas on Saturday, losing 44-28. The team had been tied with Georgia for the lead in the SEC Eastern Division with both at 5-1. But, the Gamecocks had the tie breaker due to their win earlier against UGA. This knocked them back to 5-2 and put the Bulldogs in the driver's seat. 680 The Fan's John Kinkaid was squawking about people using the phrase, "they control their own destiny" saying it's impossible since destiny is predetermined. Makes sense, but they're definitely in the driver's seat. No complaints with that phrase, I think. He would find something, I'm sure.
       All UGA has to do is knock off Auburn Saturday at 3:30 in Athens, televised on CBS. Like Tech, the championship is on the line as long as they take care of visiting Kentucky the following week. Like Duke, the Wildcats pose no threat.
      So, needless to say, everything is on the line for Tech Thursday night and Georgia Saturday with great rewards to follow is success is achieved.
      But, like the TV pitchmen always seem to say...there's more!
      Still another enormous game follows on Sunday at the Georgia Dome. It's always a big one with the Saints come to town. But, even more so this season. For years, this has been a lopsided rivalry. Either the Falcons were good and the Saints weren't or New Orleans was on the rise while Atlanta sputtered.
      Not in recent years. Both teams are among the NFL elite and a first place spot in the NFC South is on the line for Sunday's winner. When the Falcons clobbered the Colts Sunday, they moved their record to 5-3. Prior to that, Atlanta was in third place behind Tampa Bay. But, the Bucs didn't begin to look ready against Drew Brees and company in a 16-27 loss in New Orleans. That loss moved them behind the Falcons and kept the Saints a half game in first place.
       Now, the Division Duel at the Dome. Thought that sounded nice!  A win here by the Falcons and they're at 6-3 with New Orleans at 6-4. Even more important, it gives the Falcons a key win within the Division, usually a crucial tie breaker at the end of the season and could determine whether Atlanta is the Division winner or a Wild Card team.
        The Falcons second half is much easier than the first with five of the eight games at home, highlighted by a second Monday Night Football game in New Orleans. But, apart from that, they have home games against struggling teams like Tennessee, Minnesota, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. Road games at an improving Carolina Panthers and a good Houston Texans mark the only real challenges.
        If they play like they did Sunday in Indianapolis, they're on the way to the Super Bowl. But, apparently, no one else is as bad as the Colts, at least if you judge teams by their records.
        So, Thursday on the Flats, Saturday in Athens and Sunday at the Dome. Quite a week for rivalries and ramifications.
        Lots of football remains for both teams...a whole second half, to be exact. But, what happens on Sunday will lay the groundwork for a team advantage as the season continues.