It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fightRisin’ up to the challenge of our rivalAnd the last known survivor stalks his prey in the nightAnd he’s watching us all with the eye of the tigerEye of the Tiger-SurvivorThanksgiving gave and it took away for many men’s basketball teams during feast week and the ACC was no different as schools either squandered or took advantage of resume building opportunities.With Feast Week concluded, the ACC moves into the annual challenge tradition of early December. For 24 wonderful seasons, that meant ACC squads going up against their midwestern brethren in the Big Ten. However, as conferences expanded and money became a bigger deal, that tradition rotated from the Midwest to the South with the SEC. This season marks the third season of that new challenge with the SEC leading the overall series 1-0-1.So as the ACC looks to even things up against a very strong conference, let’s see where everybody ranks before the game.1. Duke Blue Devils (8-0)Last week: won 80-71 against ArkansasThe Blue Devils jump to the top spot this week thanks to another neutral court win over a ranked team. The win over the Razorbacks, combined with wins over Kansas and Texas, gives Duke the early lead for best resume a month into the season. For the second year in a row, the Blue Devils get to host their SEC opponent as they welcome in the Gators, before traveling to take on a very dangerous Spartans team in East Lansing.This Week: vs Florida (12/2), at Michigan State (12/6)2. Louisville Cardinals (7-0)Last Week: won 104-47 against NJITThe Cardinals drop a spot this week as beating the Highlanders by almost 60 just really isn’t that impressive in the grand scheme of things. Louisville does still have that win over Kentucky, but otherwise is lacking anything of substance outside of a win over Cincinnati. That all changes on Wednesday when the Cardinals travel to take on the Razorbacks before heading to Indianapolis to take on the Hoosiers.This Week: at Arkansas (12/3), vs Indiana (12/6)3. SMU Mustangs (8-0)Last Week: won 87-81 against Mississippi State in OTThe Mustangs don’t have much to their resume currently, though a road win over the Bulldogs is nothing to raise one’s nose at (nor is a home win over another set of Bulldogs from Butler). SMU, however, does continue to climb these rankings regardless thanks to being just one of three unbeaten teams left in the ACC. The Mustangs will take on two SEC teams this week, first traveling to take on the Commodores in the challenge and second taking on the Aggies in Arlington for an early Texas showdown.This Week: at Vanderbilt (12/3), vs Texas A&M (12/7)4. North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1)Last Week: won 85-70 against St. Bonaventure, lost to Michigan State 74-58The Tar Heels drop a couple spots this week after splitting their games in Fort Meyers, winning against the Bonnies, but falling to the Spartans. North Carolina will travel to Lexington in their challenge game to take on a Wildcats team that is winning the games it should but not the ones it needs thus far. The Tar Heels then will return home to take on a dangerous Hoyas team on Sunday.This Week: at Kentucky (12/2), vs Georgetown (12/7)5. California Golden Bears (6-1)Last Week: won 80-72 against UCLAThe Golden Bears were one of the teams during feast week to take advantage of their opportunity to improve their resume by beating the Bruins. California, who is one of two ACC schools to miss out on the challenge (there are only 16 SEC schools, but 18 ACC schools), will look to add to that win when they invite the Utes and Tigers to Berkley this week.This Week: vs Utah (12/2), vs Pacific (12/6)6. Clemson Tigers (7-1)Last Week: won 92-56 against Alabama A&MThe Tigers stay in sixth this week with another impressive home win over an overmatched opponent in the Bulldogs. Clemson will look to make it two straight wins over teams from the Yellowhammer State when they travel to take on the Crimson Tide on Wednesday.This Week: at Alabama (12/3)7. Virginia Cavaliers (6-1)Last Week: won 94-69 against Queens UniversityThe Cavaliers also stay put like Clemson did after doing the same thing the Tigers did, beating an overmatched opponent at home badly with their win over the Royals. Virginia will look to add some quality wins this week when they travel to take on the Longhorns in the challenge before taking on a quality Flyers team in Charlotte.This Week: at Texas (12/3), vs Dayton (12/6)8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-2)Last Week: won 99-51 against Campbell, won 86-53 against NortheasternKeeping with the theme, the Demon Deacons join the Tigers and Cavaliers in staying in the same spot thanks to two blowout wins over the Camels and Huskies. Wake Forest will look to get some quality wins this week when they host the Sooners in the challenge before travelling for a “neutral” court game against the Mountaineers in Charleston, WV.This Week: vs Oklahoma (12/2), vs West Virginia (12/6)9. Miami Hurricanes (6-2)Last Week: lost to BYU 72-62, won 78-65 against GeorgetownThe Hurricanes move up five spots this week after finally getting their signature win by beating the Hoyas after they came up short against the Cougars. Miami will look to take two from the Magnolia State this week when they travel to take on the Rebels before returning home to take on a Golden Eagles team that hasn’t won on the road yet this season.This Week: at Ole Miss (12/2), vs Southern Miss (12/6)10. Stanford Cardinal (6-1)Last Week: won 72-68 against Minnesota, won 78-77 vs St Louis, won 94-72 against PortlandThe Cardinal move up six spots this week thanks to wins over the Gophers, Billikens and Pilots, but remain the lowest one loss team (even lower than some two loss teams) thanks to their one loss still being to Seattle University. Stanford, who is the second ACC team to miss out on the challenge (lots of hate for the California schools here), will look to improve their record with a home game against the Rebels.This Week: vs UNLV (12/7)11. NC State Wolfpack (5-2)Last Week: won 81-70 against Boise State, lost to Texas 102-97The Wolfpack remain in the 11 spot this week after going 1-2 in Maui with losses to Seton Hall and the Longhorns sandwiched around a win over the Broncos. NC State was the only ranked team in Maui yet finished in sixth place overall. Will Wade’s team will look to get back on track when they travel to take on Auburn in the challenge before returning home to take on the UNC Asheville on Saturday.This Week: at Auburn (12/3), vs UNC Asheville (12/6)12. Virginia Tech Hokies (6-2)Last Week: won 66-64 against Colorado State, lost to St. Mary’s 77-66, Lost to VCU 86-68The Hokies drop seven spots this week after going 1-2 in the Battle for Atlantis with the two point win over the CSU Rams followed by double digit losses to Gaels and the VCU Rams (a team NC State beat btw). Virginia Tech will also look to get the season back on track when they travel to play the Gamecocks on Tuesday before taking on an undefeated Patriots team at home.This Week: at South Carolina (12/2), vs George Mason (12/6)13. Florida State Seminoles (5-2)Last Week: won 89-59 against Cal State Bakersfield. Lost to Texas A&M 95-59The Seminoles finish off the two loss teams section of the ACC, dropping three spots after splitting their games this past week, beating the Roadrunners at home before getting trounced by the Aggies in Tampa. Florida State will look to get their first win over an SEC school this week (they are 0-2 so far) when they welcome in Georgia for the challenge before heading to Houston for another “neutral” court matchup with the Cougars.This Week: vs Georgia (12/2), vs Houston (12/6)14. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-3)Last Week: won 67-66 against Ohio StateThe Panthers climb three spots this week thanks to their impressive home win over the previously unbeaten Buckeyes. Pittsburgh will look to make that two impressive wins in a row when they welcome in the Aggies on Tuesday before hosting the Pride on Sunday.This Week: vs Texas A&M (12/2), vs Hofstra (12/7)15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-3)Last Week: won 68-63 against Rutgers, lost to Houston 66-56The Fighting Irish drop three spots this week after going 1-2 in the Players Era Festival with losses to Kansas and the Cougars sandwiched around a win over the Scarlett Knights. Notre Dame gets a home game in the challenge this year as they welcome in the Tigers before travelling to play a very dangerous Horned Frogs team that won the Rady Children’s Invitational (with wins over Florida and Wisconsin) and who almost beat Michigan earlier this season.  This Week: vs Missouri (12/2), at TCU (12/5)16. Syracuse Orange (4-3)Last Week: lost to Kansas 71-60, lost to Iowa State 95-64The Orange also tumble this week falling seven spots after going 0-3 in the Players Era Festival opening with an overtime loss to Houston followed by a double digit loss to the Jayhawks and a blowout loss to the Cyclones. Syracuse has one of the hardest matchups in the ACC/SEC challenge getting a home game against a highly ranked Volunteers team coming off their first loss of the season.This Week: vs Tennessee (12/2)17. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-3)Last Week: lost to DePaul 75-61, lost to Drake 84-74The Yellowjackets tumble two spots this week as they continue to struggle in most games they play, this time resulting in losses to the Blue Demons and Bulldogs. Georgia Tech will take on their fourth Bulldogs team this week (they are currently 1-2 against such teams) when they play Mississippi State in the challenge before taking on a Hawks team Friday led by former UNC point guard King Rice.This Week: vs Mississippi State (12/2), vs Monmouth (12/6)18. Boston College Eagles (4-4)Last Week: won 73-60 against HarvardThe Eagles found a way to get back to .500 with their win over the Crimson this past Thanksgiving Eve. Boston College will look to get back over .500 when they welcome the Tigers and Chargers to Chestnut Hill this week.This Week: vs LSU (12/3), vs New Haven (12/6)