Predicted Order of Finish:
Atlantic Division:
1.) Florida State - Call me biased, go ahead. "Lank picked the Seminoles just because that's his favorite team." Whatever. The 'Noles will have the best offensive line in the conference first the first time in a long time, solid quarterback play for the first time in a long time, and a solid defense for the first time in...well, Mickey Andrews' units are always top-notch, so scratch that last one. QB Christian Ponder, a redshirt junior, has finally shown signs of consistency in spring and summer workouts. His TD-to-INT ration of 14-13 tells you all you need to know about his erratic play. However, FSU will need him to be solid because his receiving corps is a mess. Greg Carr and Preston Parker, last year's best WRs, are gone for different reasons (Carr to the NFL, Parker to expulsion), but are gone nonetheless. Taiwan Easterling, a projected starter, tore his Achilles in the spring, but may return in time for the season. Richard Goodman faces criminal charges stemming from a fight in the student union last fall, and Rod Owens has faced a series of nagging injuries during his time in Tallahassee. The last men standing appear to be Bert Reed, a diminutive speedster, and Jarmon Fortson, a big, strong receiver who played well last year as a freshman. True freshmen Willie Downs and Willie Haulstead may be called on to contribute immediately. The running game should pick up some of the slack, however. RBs Jermaine Thomas and Ty Jones will fill the void left by the graduation of Antone Smith, with one of them (Thomas) possibly getting to 1,000 yards along the way. The offensive line returns completely intact, and should be among the best in the nation, with G Rodney Hudson leading the way. Defensively, the Seminoles need a DE to step up to replace Everette Brown (now with the Carolina Panthers), but Kevin McNeil and Markus White appear to be up to the challenge. Kendrick Stewart and Budd Thacker will be tough against the run in the middle. The linebacking corps should be very good this year before becoming fantastic in 2010. Dekoda Watson is the best player on the defense, but sophomore Nigel Bradham may be the most talented. Those two, along with steady junior Kendall Smith, form a unit that will be tough for opposing offenses to deal with. The secondary is the weak link in this defense, but if Korey Mangum and Jamie Robinson are able to produce at safety, it could improve quickly. CB Patrick Robinson is a star and should challenge for All-ACC honors. Going on the road to BYU and Florida is going to suck, but the conference schedule isn't too bad. Miami and NC State come to Tallahassee, and road trips to Clemson and North Carolina will test the 'Noles. How they fare in those two games could dictate the bowl destination for Florida State.
2.) Clemson - I'm going to waste my time and give you a detailed preview of Clemson, but here's really what you need to know: they're going to win a couple of games they shouldn't, and lose a couple of games they shouldn't, thus putting them at roughly 8-4 or 7-5. QB is the big question mark. Willy Korn was supposed to be the savior, but he's already been dethroned after one (half) season of mediocrity. In steps Kyle Parker, a freshman who has a cannon of an arm and loads of potential. His group of receivers is very green, but WR Jacoby Ford should have a career year as the featured wideout. Xavier Dye has talent, but may take a few games to get acclimated to regular reps. At the running back position, things start and end with C.J. Spiller. Spiller has shown flashes of brilliance in his career at Clemson, but has been inconsistent. With James Davis finally gone, Spiller will get all the carries he can handle and then some. Backups Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington should get carries as well. The good news is that the Tigers return 4 starters to the offensive line, which should make everyone's life easier. On defense, there is a lot of talent. DEs Ricky Sapp and Da'Quan Bowers are as talented as they come, but need to produce more. On the whole, the linebackers are average, but starters Kavell Conner and Brandon Maye should have good years. The secondary is a good group, led by CBs Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler. They'll lock down the corners while safeties DeAndre McDaniel and Sadat Chambers round into form. Clemson has quite the slate ahead of them. Game two is a road game at Georgia Tech, game four is a home matchup against TCU, and road games at Miami, NC State, and South Carolina await the Tigers. At least Florida State comes to Clemson.
3.) NC State - For the Wolfpack, 'tis quite simple: keep QB Russell Wilson healthy. When Wilson plays, they are very good. When he doesn't, they are very bad. Once he returned to the lineup last season after an injury caused him to miss a few games, NC State responded with a 4-game winning streak that made them bowl eligible. WRs Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams provide Wilson with solid targets, but aren't considered gamebreakers. The running backs are a deep group, led by Jamelle Eugene, a shifty back with loads of quickness. Toney Baker, the top backup, should get plenty of carries as well. The offensive line returns 3 starters and should pave the way for a good season from the Wolfpack offense. On defense, NC State brings back 7 starters to a unit that was mediocre last season. However, with a year of seasoning, the defense could surprise. The loss of star LB Nate Irving hurts a lot, but Ray Michel will keep the group playing at a high level. The secondary is thin, but CB DeAndre Morgan should keep the wraps on opposing receivers. The defensive line is an experienced bunch (four senior starters), and DE Willie Young could very well lead the ACC in sacks. Road games against Florida State and Virginia Tech are troublesome, but the Wolfpack catch a break by getting Clemson and North Carolina at home. This is a team that could surprise in coach Tom O'Brien's 3rd year at the helm.
4.) Wake Forest - The Demon Deacons will find out this season whether or not they've truly established themselves as a quality program. Don't get me wrong, coach Jim Grobe has done one of the best turnaround jobs I've ever seen (he took Wake Forest to the Orange Bowl, people!), but must replace a lot of talent this year. Do the Deacs have the players to step up and contend? Sort of. The offense must run the ball effectively if Wake is going to compete. RBs Josh Adams and Kevin Harris provide a superb one-two punch, and with an offensive line that returns 4 starters to run behind, both backs should put up big numbers. QB Riley Skinner is back for his 10th season in Winston-Salem, but will need to break in new targets. WRs Marshall Williams and Devon Brown are talented, but need to prove that they can be consistent in game situations. On defense, the Demon Deacons must rebuild (reload?). Last year's unit was tremendous, but only 4 starters return. The front four will excel behind the play of DTs Boo Robinson and John Russell. The linebackers are all fresh faces and could see a deep rotation of players get action until a dependable few emerge. The secondary is led by CB Brandon Ghee, a shutdown corner, and S Alex Frye. ACC name of the year nominee Cyhl Quarles will have the first crack at the starting strong safety position. The conference schedule could be worse. Road games against Georgia Tech and Clemson are tough, but Duke and Boston College should both be victories. Hold serve at home, and the Demon Deacons will be bowling once again in 2009.
5.) Boston College - What a weird offseason for the Eagles. Former coach Jeff Jagodzinski (yep, spelled it on my own) was fired for flirting with the Jets, so defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani gets the big seat now. Former offensive coordinator Steve Logan wanted the big seat, so he left when he didn't get it, and now the Eagles are starting from scratch at both coordinator spots. QB Dominique Davis was erratic in his limited time last season, but maybe a fresh start is exactly what he needs to get in synch with the new staff. WR Rich Gunnell is a stud and someone that Davis should lean on early and often. RBs Montel Harris and Josh Haden are a talented duo of sophomores and should find plenty of room to run behind a big, experienced offensive line. On defense, the Eagles will attempt to replace do-everything LB Mark Herzlich, last year's ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Herzlich was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the offseason and is out for the year. The defensive line, led by DEs Austin Giles and Jim Ramella, will put pressure on the quarterback, but will struggle against the run. The linebacking corps, in addition to losing Herzlich, lost starter Mike McLaughlin to an injury in the spring, but they hope he can return to action by the fall. If not, an inexperienced group loses a valuable leader and a very productive player. The secondary posted 26 interceptions last year, and returns several key components, including S Wes Davis. This is the strongest unit on the defense. The conference slate is tough, featuring road dates at Clemson and Virginia Tech. The Eagles will take a step back in Spaziani's first year, but a bowl game should still be in play.
6.) Maryland - The Terrapins are quite young this year. 61 scholarship players have at least three years of eligibility remaining. That's a lot. QB Chris Turner returns, and should provide a steady performer for the offense to count on. However, RB Da'Rel Scott is the real deal and should improve on the 1,133 yards he gained on the ground last year. A repeat apperance on the All-ACC team seems probable. The offensive line only returns 2 starters, but is fortunate to have experienced skill position players to take the heat off of them. WRs Torrey Smith and Ronnie Tyler will attempt to replace the production of first-round draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey. On defense, the Terps only return three starters, but luckily one of them is LB Alex Wujciak, who led the ACC with 133 tackles last season. The defensive line is relatively thin, but I'm hoping that ACC name of the year nominee Masengo Kabongo really comes into his own for obvious reasons. The strength of the defense is the secondary, which returns S Terrell Skinner and CB Anthony Wiseman. The unit is deep, talented, and experienced so expect them to lead the way for the rest of the defense. Maryland's schedule begins with an interesting trip to Cal, which will be a loss. After that, the only road games are at Wake Forest, Duke, NC State, and Florida State. The Terps will need to spring an upset or two to become bowl eligible, but as we all know, weird things tend to happen in Byrd Stadium.
Coastal Division:
1.) Georgia Tech - Ok, Paul Johnson, what're you doing for an encore? The Yellow Jacket head coach won 9 games in his first season and brought with him a unique triple-option offense that brought back memories of the wishbone. RB Jonathan Dwyer thrived in the new system, leading the conference in rushing and winning ACC Player of the Year last season. He's back to improve on his 1,395 yards, and don't be surprised if he does. QB Josh Nesbitt has the athleticism to keep defense honest in the option offense, but needs to improve his passing. If he becomes a more complete passer, the Jackets offense is going to be even more scary. A-back Roddy Jones will also contribue plenty to the rushing attack. The offensive line still resembles a square peg in a round hole after being recruited for a different scheme, but with 3 starters returning, the unit should be much improved. If GT had last year's defensive line this year, they'd be unstoppable on defense. Unfortunately, they lost not one, not two, but three All-ACC performers along the defensive front. The new guys are skilled, especially DE Derrick Morgan, but the line may be a work-in-progress for a while. The linebackers are a solid, experienced group and should be able to compensate for any mishaps from the front four. The secondary, led by leading returning tackler FS Morgan Burnett, should be superb. CBs Mario Butler and Jerrard Tarrant will provide excellent coverage to help the pass rushers get to the quarterback. Georgia Tech must travel south to face both Florida State and Miami on the road, but get North Carolina and Virginia Tech at home. Those divisional games could prove the difference between an ACC Title game appearance and a trip to the Champs Sports Bowl.
2.) Virginia Tech - Prior to losing RB Darren Evans for the season with a knee injury, the Hokies were thinking big. Like national title big. Now, with freshman Ryan Williams subbing in Evans' spot, their dreams are a bit scaled back. The conference title is still there for the taking, but Williams must be good right off the bat, and QB Tyrod Taylor needs to show everyone why he was such a highly-touted recruit a few years ago. The offense returns a ton of starters, but they were so anemic a year ago that it doesn't really mean anything. Taylor needs to find a way to pass the ball downfield, plain and simple. Yeah, it's kinda cool when he takes off and runs, but 2 passing TDs in a season isn't going to get it done. Even option quarterbacks threw more than that last season. The wide receivers were young a year ago, and are somewhat less young now. Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale are only sophomores, but at least have some game experience this time around. The offensive line returns 3 starters, led by standout LG Sergio Render. On defense, the Hokies are what they are. Very good. Bud Foster's units have been in the top 10 nationally for years, and this year should be more of the same. DEs Jason Worilds and John Graves should be very good, as will ACC name of the year nominee Cordarrow Thompson at defensive tackle. The linebackers are inexperienced, but Cam Martin is back for this third year as a starter, which will help the younger guys in their maturation. The secondary is led by safeties Dorian Porch and ACC name of the year nominee Kam Chancellor. If this unit plays up to its potential, it could be dominant despite the loss of Macho Harris. Hokies, your season essentially comes down to one game: October 17th at Georgia Tech. Win that and you're in the driver's seat with North Carolina, Miami, and NC State coming to Blacksburg. Playing Alabama and Nebraska in the non-conference is impressive, too.
3.) North Carolina - Did you know that Butch Davis has only won 10 games in a season once in his coaching career? Just making sure. The Tar Heels will be good this season, but optimism should be reserved until 2010. UNC is a young bunch that, despite the presence of some talented players, will need a year to break through in the ACC. If QB T.J. Yates stays healthy, he should have a very good year. Yes, WRs Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate are off to the NFL, but Greg Little, Dwight Jones, and Joshua Adams give Yates a talented, if inexperienced, group to throw to. Yates' accuracy has been inconsistent in the past, but if he's able to put his receivers in good spots, they'll make plays. The running game, led by RBs Shaun Draughn (pronounced 'drone' not 'drawn') and Ryan Houston, will be very productive. Interestingly, Draughn is also the Heels' leading returning receiver with 16 receptions last year. The offensive line returns four starters and should pave the way for Draughn to challenge for 1,000 yards...if Houston doesn't vulture too many carries, that is. Defensively, North Carolina is going to be good. How good depends on the front four. When right, DTs Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas can be trouble. However, the defensive line only accounted for 11 sacks last year, worst in the ACC. The linebacking trio of Bruce Carter, Quan Sturdivant, and Zach Brown may be as good as it gets in the conference, north of Tallahassee. There is speed to burn in this unit, and Sturdivant especially excels from sideline to sideline, amassing 122 tackles last year. The secondary should be a strength for the Tar Heels. CBs Kendric Burney and Charles Brown may challenge for All-ACC honors, while safety Deunta Williams is easy to find...he's always around the ball. Schedule-wise, UNC has a tough trio of road games that will define their season. Going to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and NC State will make the difference between an 8-4 campaign and a 10-2 campaign.
4.) Miami - Two words, 'Canes fans: not yet. In 2010, Miami should be ready to rock, as coach Randy Shannon continues to bring in the necessary talent to build a champion. However, both coordinators are new and there are too many young players with responsibility to expect an ACC title. QB Jacory Harris showed flashes of his playmaking ability last year as a freshman, throwing for 12 TDs. However, he was inconsistent and couldn't lead the offense on prolonged drives. His development will be crucial to the success of the Hurricanes' season. His receivers are almost all back from last year, but are not quite seasoned enough yet to make significant contributions. The running game, led by RBs Graig Cooper and Javarris James, should be a strength. Now upperclassmen, look for these two to buoy the offense until Harris comes around as a passer. On defense, Miami returns 6 starters and could be sneaky good. Despite being 28th in the country in total defense last year, you never got the sense that Miami was dominant on that side of the ball. The front seven lacks experience and depth, but DT Marcus Forston and LB Sean Spence, last year's ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, will keep the group from being too mediocre. The secondary only picked off two passes last year, a concern for new defensive coordinator John Lovett. There is raw talent at his disposal, but until these guys get a few more reps in game situations, they will be unable to put their stamp on the defense. The Hurricanes face a treacherous schedule this year. In addition to ACC road games against Florida State, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina, Miami also plays at South Florida and UCF in the non-conference, and welcomes Oklahoma to South Beach. Uhh, good luck with that.
5.) Virginia - Grouchy Al Groh is back as head coach, but his seat is a bit warmer after a 5-win season in 2008. He made a smart move and hired former Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon to resurrect an offense that was downright awful to watch last season. Brandon developed the spread attack he uses with Urban Meyer at BGSU and should open things up for the Cavaliers. QB Vic Hall, a converted cornerback, was a bad fit for Groh's old pro-style attack, but could be productive in Brandon's new scheme. Mark Verica and Jameel Sewell are also challenging for the job, but none has taken the reins as Groh would've hoped. This could be a revolving door all year. The offensive line returns 4 starters, which is good news, but the skill positions need some work. RB Mikell Simpson returns after an injury-plagued 2008, but must prove that he is fully healthy. The wide receivers have some talent, but are an inexperienced group that will be hindered by the uncertainty at quarterback. On defense, UVA will rely on a defensive line that should be good, led by NT Nick Jenkins and DE Matt Conrath. The linebackers are all new, but Denzel Burrell and Aaron Clark have experience. The secondary is led by ACC name of the year nominee Ras-I Dowling and Chris Cook at cornerback. This is a deep group that should keep the defense competitive.
6.) Duke - Despite what may happen this year in Durham, coach David Cutcliffe has the program headed in the right direction. The mere fact that we're using the terms "bowl game" and "possible" in the same sentence are proof of that. The deck is stacked against the Blue Devils, but Cutcliffe is confident that senior QB Thad Lewis can lead his team to the postseason. When right, Lewis is one of the better quarterbacks in the conference. However, he must work on his consistency. WRs Johnny Williams and Donovan Varner will attempt to replace last year's leading receiver Eron Riley, but it won't be easy. RB Re'quan Boyette is back after missing all of 2008 with an injury. His production is desperately needed on a team that finished 103rd in the country in rushing offense last year. Defensively, Duke wasn't terrible last year and should be better this year. DT Vince Oghobaase is a stud and will provide steady play for the Blue Devils up front. Finding a pass rusher to complement him is the key, and ACC name of the year nominee Ayanga Okpokowuruk may be up to the task. LB Vincent Rey led the team with 109 tackles last season and should be productive again this year. The secondary lacks size, but has a decent amount of speed. SS Catron Gainey is the only returning starter, but many of this year's starters have seen time in the past as backups. Duke's schedule features two D1-AA teams, so that should be two wins of the seven required to go bowling. Games against Army, Maryland, Virginia, and Wake Forest will go a long way towards determining the Blue Devils' holiday plans.
Disappointing Team: Miami
Surprise Team: NC State
Top Players: RB Da'Rel Scott, Maryland; RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech; G Rodney Hudson, Florida State; LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina; QB Russell Wilson, NC State
Players to Keep An Eye On: RB Jermaine Thomas, Florida State; QB T.J. Yates, North Carolina; RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson; RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech; QB Jacory Harris, Miami
Key Games: Miami at Florida State, September 7th; Georgia Tech at Florida State, October 10th; Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, October 17th; Florida State at North Carolina, October 22nd; North Carolina at Virgina Tech, October 29th
Coolest Jerseys: Florida State Seminoles
~~ Lank
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