Wake Forest a player in Atlantic race

That Wake Forest beat Florida State on Saturday isn't such a surprise to some eyes, as the Demon Deacons have played quite well this season and were trending in a positive direction.

That Wake is in control of its destiny in the ACC's Atlantic Division is a somewhat of a shocker, though.

This is the same program that last season finished with a league-worst 1-7 mark, and overall was just 3-9. In addition, Wake had been on a gradual decline since winning the ACC title in 2006 and playing in the Orange Bowl.

But last year's nightmares, which included a defense that was routinely shredded, have become this year's dreams. And if not for quarterback Tanner Price going down with an injury in the fourth quarter at Syracuse with Wake owning a 15-point cushion, the Deacs would be 5-0 and climbing in the national rankings.

On Saturday, Wake hosted an FSU team that had lost consecutive games but was coming off an open date, so the Seminoles had plenty of time to prepare for the Deacons' quirkiness on both sides of the ball. And to think Jimbo Fisher's team would have ventured to Winston-Salem overconfident would be an indictment on Fisher and the staff.

With the 35-30 victory, Wake has now beaten FSU four times in the last six seasons. Thus, it's safe to say FSU was ready to play and understood the danger and importance of the contest. The defeat means the 'Noles likely are be out of the ACC title picture, especially with streaking Clemson upping its record to 6-0 on Saturday, including 3-0 in the ACC. And that Clemson already owns a win over FSU means the Tigers have to lose three conference games while FSU wins out in order for the 'Noles to advance to Charlotte, site of the ACC championship game.

Wake Forest now enters the picture with a 4-1 overall mark and 3-0 ACC record – its best ACC start ever. So, FSU needs both Clemson and Wake to lose three games to have a shot at the Atlantic Division title. It's probably safe to say the Seminoles are out of the race.

That means it's pretty much a two-team tussle. Maryland has just one ACC defeat, but the Terrapins will find a way to lose a few more times, if not more. N.C. State is 0-2 and has already lost at Wake, and Boston College is 0-3 in the league and headed for its worst season since joining the ACC.

Clemson, which may be without starting quarterback Tajh Boyd for a period of time, visits Maryland next week before hosting 5-1 North Carolina, which comes a week before an Oct. 29 date at Georgia Tech, which remains unbeaten, but plays in the ACC's Coastal Division.

From there, the Tigers host those Demon Deacons before closing with games at N.C. State and a nonconference clash at rival South Carolina.

Wake has a more difficult road than it appears on paper. The Demon Deacons visit a Duke team next week that hasn't lost since Sept. 10 before visiting talented UNC. Following that is a home game with Notre Dame a week before visiting Clemson. The danger in the emotional investment toward the Irish could be a factor heading to Death Valley on Nov. 12.

Jim Grobe's team concludes the regular season at home versus Maryland and a non-ACC contest against Vanderbilt.

History suggests the odds are strongly against Wake Forest in contending for the ACC title. But the odds weren't great this team would have turned it around so much from a year ago and taken out the hungry Seminoles on Saturday, either.

If you're Wake Forest football, you can't ever care about odds, because they will rarely tilt in your favor. Being the smallest school among the BCS conferences (enrollment 3,950) and owning perhaps the worst overall football history among that same group are factors that make succeeding a bit more challenging and affect perception.

That doesn't matter when they lace up the cleats and take the field, though. That attitude is quite obvious part of what drives the Demon Deacons.