Round and round she goes, where the ball stops, nobody knows ...

This week's bet. Georgia Tech. I effectively declared this feature dead last week, so certain was I that Virginia Tech had the Coastal Division in a firm sleeper hold it could tighten right on out to the end. I actually wrote, "I'm not sure I can keep up the 'chaos' meme," days before the Hokies lose to Boston College, similarly reliable Wake Forest bites it hard against Maryland and I'm casting the conference as a surrealist spider web. Georgia Tech now owns the league's longest winning streak and assumes a half-game lead in the race to a half-empty stadium in Charlotte Tampa.

Let 'em Ride.Statistically, the Jackets are the most complete team in the conference, not only leading the ACC in rushing -- which you'd expect behind Paul Johnson's flexbone, still producing about 50 runs per game to a dozen passes -- but also in pass efficiency, which you would not expect, especially with two extremely young, run-oriented quarterbacks pulling the trigger on most of those throws. The defense is in the top 20 nationally in every defensive category, and in the top six in pass efficiency, total and scoring D; it's also the best in the country in tackles for loss and the top pass-rushing defense in the ACC. The pressure was always attributed to ex-coordinator Jon Tenuta's aggressive, heavy-blitzing style, but it certainly hasn't followed him to Notre Dame, while the Jackets still thrive in opposing backfields.

Tech wiped out potential upstarts Mississippi State and Duke, came from behind to win tight, tough road games against equals Boston College and Clemson, and Paul Johnson is right on track for all that coach of the year stuff. This has probably been the ACC's best team through the first two months, gimmicky offense, injured quarterbacks and all.

Bet the Field. By virtue of their loss in Blacksburg, the Jackets still need another Virginia Tech loss to offset the tiebreaker, even they were to run to the table. And by virtue of appearing here, Tech is doomed to defeat Saturday against Virginia, the suddenly hot outfit jockeying with Maryland for title of "Most Bizarro Team" in the nation's most bizarro conference -- every other team featured in "Championship Roulette" to date has lost within two weeks of looking like the surest bet. Tech's offense has gone through a revolving door of banged-up quarterbacks already, bogged down the last two weeks, and barely squeaking by Gardner-Webb, especially, was a baffling disappointment. What kind of team plays two I-AA cupcakes in the same year, anyway?

Payout. 10-to-1. Based on my actual respect for the way Tech has played to date, it would be a better number, but any team that needs help and still has to beat Florida State, North Carolina and Miami is wishing. Coincidentally, this is also the ratio on campus. Shame, dude.

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â¨Previously on ACC Championship Roulette: North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Virginia Tech again.