Get Your Tickets
Posted November 29th, 2009, 8:46 AM ET

I'm sure the folks at the ACC headquarters and the Tampa ticket office have to be thrilled.

This week, the ACC Championship game takes place for hopefully the last time in Tampa, and both contestants come to town after humiliating losses to their SEC arch-rivals.

Both Clemson and Georgia Tech will live under the hype of the SEC title game, not to mention that both teams are still smarting after being decked by the Cocks and Dawgs, respectively.

I was interested to see their approaches to the "rival game", with a championship game looming a week later. Well, I guess we got the answer.

Neither Clemson nor Georgia Tech looked emotionally ready for an opponent that was ready to play. It's not an excuse, since both South Carolina and Georgia looked like the better-prepared teams in both games.

They were big wins for both Steve Spurrier and Mark Richt, along with their programs. Both coaches were catching heat from their fans for late season swoons and disappointing years, based on expectations. Even with 7-5 records, both Georgia and South Carolina fans will smirk at their in-state rivals as they battle for a BCS bid this weekend in Tampa.

Georgia's defense has been awful all year, but they did a great job getting the Jackets to play from behind.

South Carolina withstood a dash of CJ Spiller to open the game, and then proceeded to dictate the tempo for the
rest of the afternoon with smart play-calling and a defense that looked rejuvenated from a two-week rest.

For the SEC, it was a perfect weekend.

Not only did USC and Georgia pull off the upset surprises, but Florida beat up on another ACC rival in Florida State.

The 37-10 rout was also the end of the Tebow Era at the Swamp.

As we all get ready for the massive showdown between Florida and Bama at the Georgia Dome, I can't help but imagine what awaits in Tampa.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech.....in prime time.

The good news is that either the Tigers or Yellow Jackets will be taking home some hardware, a BCS bid and an 18-million dollar check, after their Tampa appearance.

Welcome to the big-time.