One of these years the ACC is going to have to shake off the "mediocre" label it has earned as a league over the past decade. Will this be the year? I'm not counting on it. About the only way to shake it right now is to straight up beat the SEC in everything. That includes a national title. With expansion not working out quite as well as hoped (it has done well with the money coming in) its looking like the conference has stagnated and is in danger of either being passed by, or picked apart by other conferences looking to expand.
Duke: David Cutcliffe is a great coach. Look at what Tennessee and Ole Miss have been through since his departure. However, this is still Duke where if it ain't basketball, your sport will not get much support from the administration. Its quite sad, it takes more than a coach to get a program rolling like this. That being said Cutcliffe can at least start a few things, and some are predicting a bowl game this year. I don't quite see it, 5 wins at best.
North Carolina: With the firing of Butch Davis so late off-season, the school just effectively killed the team for this year. I don't quite understand the timing of it all, but I'm not one who has to make these decisions. That being said I'd be surprised if the team wins more than four this year. Unstable coaching situations usually lead to poor on-field performance.
Virginia: Second year coach Mike London is optimistic for his team, but he has to be. Last season UVA won a single conference game, and that was an upset of Miami. UVA didn't even beat Duke. This season they may beat Duke and probably North Carolina in conference, but that's about it. With four winnable non-conference games (William and Mary, Indiana, Southern Miss and Idaho) that may be enough to go to a bowl game, which is a start.
Miami: As of this writing, Miami has suspended eight players for the involvement with the booster/convict Nevin Shapiro. As per usual thinking, they have appealed and expect to play against Maryland in the opener for both teams. I think they're full of themselves even if the appeal is heard before the games start. We're not exactly sure who the eight are (one is Jacory Harris, starting QB though) it will not be easy for Miami to win many games without them. If you recall a few years back when Miami players got involved in a massive fight with FIU players, the school suspended 13 (few starters) for the Duke game. Duke was wretched that year but nearly won in the last minute. With eight (and the rumors are that several are starters) suspended already this could be an ugly year for the Hurricanes.
Georgia Tech: As my Alma Matter, I'm highly biased toward the Yellow Jackets. Last year was highly frustrating as a fan to watch. Games that should not have been lost were, and other games appeared that the team was sleepwalking through them. The team suffered a lack of leadership on the field and it showed in those games. From what I've read on message boards (which means about 100% accurate, 10% of the time) that won't be an issue this year. So will the team return to the 9 win level like three years ago, the 11 win ACC title level like two years ago, or the same 6 win level like last year? Well that depends on the talent on the field. Overall I feel like there is less talent on the field than last year, most of it at the Quarterback position. We saw what the team was like without Nesbitt for a good chunk of the season, and it was not pretty at all. Tevin Washington was barely able to beat Duke at home, and lost to Virginia Tech, Georgia and Miami in the regular season, and Air Force in the bowl game. I am hoping he plays better this year than what we saw at the end of last season. I'm guessing eight wins for the team this year.
Virginia Tech: Ah, the most consistent ACC team in the past decade, well since they joined at least. The schedule sets up favorably for the Hokies, the only tough road game will be against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Miami, Clemson, Boston College and North Carolina all have to come to Blacksburg. Florida State is not on the schedule. Virginia Tech should roll right through this and play in Charlotte against the Atlantic Division winner. As usual, the Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech game will decide the Coastal Division.
Wake Forest: Jim Grobe is a fine coach who should have taken the opportunity years ago to coach somewhere else. Still, he is the highest paid coach in the ACC. Sadly he had the poorest record in the conference last year and that may not change this year. Wake is a tough place to succeed at and this year will be no different.
Maryland: I believe that Maryland is going to regret firing Friedgen after last season. I could understand if the AD did it after the 2-10 2009 season, but doing it after an 8-4 finish last year? I believe the department has forgotten how the football team was before Ralph showed up. It takes a special coach to succeed regularly at Maryland and I have no idea if Randy Edsall is that special. The man did well at UConn, but nothing really spectacular. Winning the Big East last year is an accomplishment but UConn was still just 8-4, 5-2 in conference play. I see Maryland having a bad year this year, maybe a good one in year two.
North Carolina State: NC State seems to be unable to get over the hump, win the division, and play in the ACC title game. They've come close a few times but can't quite get there. This year will be no different, in fact the team may be worse than last year. Russell Wilson is no longer here and new QB Mike Glennon takes over. Wilson threw the ball all over the place last year but still completed less than 60% of his passes. Glennon could be more efficient and effective, but is there a running game to support this system? NCSU should be bowl eligible but that's about it this year.
Boston College: BC has been under respected for a long time and continually beats expectations. This is a program that has been to bowl games for twelve straight seasons. There are few teams that can claim that. It does appear that the program has been slipping a bit lately since going to two straight ACC title games. I think that Boston College has the schedule to turn it around a little bit, get to the 9 win mark for the first time in a few years.
Clemson: Ah, say hello to the ACC's perennial underachiever. This program should have at least one if not two ACC titles since FSU's decline in 2001. Yet it has zero, only been to the title game once, and has issues with Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech from the Coastal Division no matter when they play. Dabo Swinney has to be on the hot seat this year, and Clemson is going to see why they should have hired someone better. Look for a losing season without a bowl game this time around.
Florida State: The rest of the media has appointed them as "back." Nobody is ever going to match the run that FSU had in the late 80s and 90s. Fourteen straight Top-Five finishes is about as untouchable as it gets in the College Football world. Now this team should be good. FSU will be in the title game in Charlotte again. I do think that EJ Manuel is a good quarterback, but he isn't Ponder, and FSU will lose a few games this year. I believe FSU is overrated at #5, top 20 is more like it.
So the ACC Title game should have FSU and Virginia Tech in it again, just like last year. I think FSU wins it this time around though.
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