2017 ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings week 11

Last Dollar

The song ‘Last Dollar’ is about the simple things of life that really can’t be bought, especially when you are broke. Virginia is in this place after having clinched a bowl game last week.

The Cavaliers entered the game against Louisville with an outside chance of winning the Coastal Division. It would’ve required a total meltdown of Miami as well as a win over Virginia Tech, but it wasn’t outrageous.

Instead, the Cavaliers took their last dollar (bowl win) and went out and played like they had done all they intended to do this season; reach a bowl game for the first time since 2011.

The Cardinals beat Virginia 38-21 and outscored them by 14 in the second half. Kurt Benkert had an alright game, throwing for 214 yards but completing only 52 percent of his passes. This was the fourth straight game he failed to complete 55 percent of his passes.

Benkert also fumbled the ball three times, though he lost only one of them.

The defense also struggled to keep Lamar Jackson in check. The reigning Heisman winner had 342 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. He also had very little pressure as the Cavaliers only got to him four times on 26 dropbacks (15 percent).

With the Coastal crown now belonging to Miami, all Virginia has left to play for is bowl positioning. With their next game at Miami, they will need to have a much better philosophy than footloose and fancy free if they want to win that game.