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wire servicesCORAL GABLES - All the talk of a complicated three-way tiebreaker to decide the ACC championship can end.
If Miami beats Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes essentially are assured the title.
Miami's 52-7 win over Wake Forest on Saturday helped the Hurricanes stay within one loss of the Hokies in the ACC standings - and the Hurricanes' hopes were enhanced when Florida knocked off Florida State 20-13. So, barring some unrealistic jostling by the computers that help shape the BCS rankings, Miami would claim the ACC title by beating Virginia Tech on Dec.4.
"The plot thickens," Miami coach Larry Coker said Sunday. "It was certainly a good day for us."
Miami (8-2, 5-2) climbed three spots to No.9 in the Associated Press Top 25; Virginia Tech (8-2, 5-1) is two spots back. Florida State (8-3, 6-2) fell 11 to No.19. Virginia Tech thumped Miami 31-7 last year.
If Virginia Tech beats Virginia Saturday then Miami beats the Hokies and the ACC comes down to a three-way tiebreaker at 6-2 involving FSU, Miami and the Hokies, BCS standings come into play. FSU held the edge until losing to the Gators, virtually ensuring the Seminoles will fall below Miami in the BCS standings and lose any realistic title shot.
BRAWL UNDER REVIEW: The SEC and ACC will review tapes of the fight that broke out in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Clemson-South Carolina game before deciding on penalties. SEC commissioner Mike Slive said he expected to have a decision today. "There is no place in intercollegiate athletics for this kind of conduct and no excuse for it, rivalries not withstanding," Slive said. "This conduct runs counter to everything we value in athletics and will not be tolerated."
ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL: After a week of sharing the No.2 ranking with Auburn, Oklahoma edged the Tigers in the Top 25. Oklahoma has nine first-place votes, one more than last week, and 1,541 points. No.3 Auburn got two more first-place votes, increasing its total to eight, and 1,536 points.
LIBERTY BOWL: Boise State is in line to take Utah's spot, now that the No.5 Utes have all but locked up a spot in the BCS. The Liberty Bowl has a contract with the Mountain West that requires the league's champ to play the winner of Conference USA in Memphis on New Year's Eve. Officials with the Liberty Bowl started discussions with the WAC and Boise State to have the Broncos (10-0, 7-0) fill the vacancy left by MWC champ Utah.