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ACC Preview
By Jimmy Sirody
Don Best senior writer The Atlantic Coast Conference hasn't had a contender for the national title since 2000, when Florida State lost to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. If the ACC is going to be the powerful conference its officials once envisioned, the Seminoles and Miami have to resurrect their once proud programs. It doesn't look like that's going to happen in 2008, although Florida State does have a pretty easy schedule and could surprise. Clemson looks like the top team in the conference and could be a National Title contender but they always seem to find a way to disappoint.
Here's a brief look at how the conference shapes up.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Clemson
Projected Record (11-1, 7-1)- Coach Tommy Bowden has failed to win 10 games or qualify for a major bowl in his nine years at Clemson. However, everything is in place for the Tigers to finally win the ACC title. Bowden had one of his best recruiting classes, led by defensive end DaQuan Bowers, who served notice this spring that he is ready to shine from day one. Clemson returns eight starters on each side of the ball. Offensively the entire backfield returns and that is a very good thing. Senior quarterback Cullen Harper and running backs James Davis and CJ Spiller are as lethal a combination as there is in the entire nation and senior Aaron Kelly heads a very talented receiving corps. The Tigers will have to navigate a November schedule that includes trips to Atlantic Division rivals BC and Florida State but their schedule isn't that difficult with only four true road games.
Florida State
Projected Record (9-3, 6-2)- Florida State looks to emerge from the wreckage and return to glory after back-to-back 7-6 seasons and a lingering academic scandal. Once again the 'Noles' defense will be the strength, but the offense must take a giant leap forward. Most of the unit that managed to score just 23 points per game in 2007 returns. Incumbent quarterback Drew Weatherford sat out the spring game, giving Christian Ponder an opportunity to show Coach Bobby Bowden that he may be ready for prime time if Weatherford falters again. Senior middlelinebacker Derek Nicholson was the team's leading tackler in 2007 and is back to lead the defense. The Seminoles play just four road games with a date against Colorado scheduled to be played in Jacksonville. That's eight home games for the Seminoles this season. If they can go .500 in their road games, they should have a very solid record at the end of the season.
Wake Forest
Projected Record (8-4, 4-4)- Look for Wake Forest to once again be in the thick of the chase for the division crown. The Demon Deacons will feature a steady running game, a low-risk passing attack marshaled by Riley Skinner and a vastly underrated defense that led the ACC with 35 takeaways last season. Wake Forest also boasts two of the best corners in the league in Alphonso Smith and Brandon Ghee. The defense has nine starters back from last year and eight prospective senior starters so they should one of the better units in the conference.Coach Jim Grobe will have to replace Kenny Moore's 98 catches and more than 1,000 yards receiving. Last year's leading rusher, 2nd Team All-ACC running back Josh Adams also returns alongside Skinner in the backfield. In addition to visiting Florida State on September 29th, the Demon Deacons biggest contest should be when they host Clemson on Thursday, October 9th. If they can find a way to win both of those games, they could have a huge season.
Maryland
Projected Record (6-6, 3-5)- Maryland has settled into the ACC's mid-section, where it is likely to remain this season. Coach Ralph Friedgen is counting on new offensive coordinator James Franklin to light a fire under a unit that hasn't averaged more than 24 points a game since 2003. However, the former Kansas State assistant inherits a muddled quarterback situation with juniors Chris Turner and Josh Potts and senior Jordan Steffey competing for the top spot. The Terrapins also have a gaping hole in the backfield without running backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball, but the offensive line should be a solid unit. The defense returns just five starters led by senior middle linebacker Dave Philistin, who had 124 tackles last season.
Boston College
Projected Record (4-8, 3-5)- Boston College got to the ACC title game last year and went 11-3. Look for the Eagles to take a big step back to the pack without quarterback Matt Ryan. Senior Chris Crane is the heavy favorite to start the opener on Aug. 30 after completing 18 of 35 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown in the spring game. The 6-foot-4, 236-pound Crane had the luxury of being Ryan's understudy the past two seasons. The Eagles are looking for somebody to replace four-year starters Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth at running back. Coach Jeff Jagodzinski is counting on true freshman Josh Hayden to fill the void. Overall, with just 10 starters back from last year's team, there are a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball and that should doom the Eagles to the bottom of the conference.
North Carolina State
Projected Record (4-8, 2-6)- Tom O'Brien piloted North Carolina State to a 5-7 record in his initial year at the helm. The Wolf Pack will be lucky to match that mark in 2008 thanks to big holes on both lines and erratic quarterbacks. Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck are battling for the job of field leader. The aforementioned pair and Justin Burke combined to throw a league-high 23 interceptions a year ago. North Carolina State is loaded at running back with Jamelle Fugene, Andre Brown and Tony Baker, but they may have a tough time finding open holes unless the offensive line improves. Three starters return so they should be a veteran group. That is something that can't be said of the defense, which has only four starters back and just four seniors figure to see much time on that side of the ball at all. The schedule won't help the -Wolfpack, as their non-conference schedule includes a trip to South Carolina to open the season and a visit from South Florida on September 27th. COASTAL DIVISION
North Carolina
Projected Record (9-3, 6-2)- Coach Butch Davis played a ton of underclassmen in 2007, which could pay off this year. North Carolina has experience everywhere, including at quarterback, where sophomore T.J. Yates begins his second season as starter. The Tar Heels must improve their running game and they certainly can't afford to have more interceptions (23) than touchdowns (14). The schedule will force young players to learn on the fly, as it includes trips to Rutgers and Miami (Fla.) in two of the first four weeks. North Carolina looks to be building a monster program in the ACC. There are 10 starters back on offense and eight back on defense from a team that played a number of close games last season. Sophomore defensive tackle Marvin Austin could be a force up front while the secondary has all four starters back. Look for the Heels to be very good this season and come away with the Coastal Division crown.
Miami
Projected Record (8-4, 5-3)- The honeymoon is over for Randy Shannon after a 5-7 debut season but Miami has assembled one of the nation's best hauls of young talent and now it's time for Shannon to prove he can do more than recruit. The Hurricanes are hoping that redshirt-freshman Robert Marve will be the consistent playmaker at quarterback they have lacked in recent seasons. The running game should be strong with their top four rushers back from last year. The defense will be led by an athletic defensive line and linebacker Colin McCarthy, the Hurricanes' leading returning tackler. There is a lot of talent on hand in Coral Gables but much of it is inexperienced. If Shannon can coach this team up to it's potential, they could be very strong. We believe they'll be able to step up and find their way back into a bowl this year.
Georgia Tech
Projected Record (7-5, 5-3)- Paul Johnson takes over at Georgia Tech after putting the Navy program back on the map. This looks like a transition year for the Yellow Jackets as Johnson tries to establish his system with an eye towards 2009. Georgia Tech loses three of last year's four all-leaguers and has just nine total starters back from last year's 7-6 squad. The Jackets' top returning player is All-American defensive tackle Vance Walker, who had 8.5 sacks and 45 tackles last season. Offensively, the Yellow Jackets two primary quarterback contenders are sophomore Josh Nesbitt and Auburn transfer Calvin Booker. It may take a while for them to master the intricacies of Johnson's option offense and that is probably true of the entire team. Still, there is talent and is Johnson can find a way to get a winning record with Navy's talent he can certainly do the same with Tech's
Virginia Tech
Projected Record (7-5, 3-5)- Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has to decide whether Tyrod Taylor will pass Sean Glennon and take the lion's share of snaps for the young Hokies this season. Only six starters are back on offense and four on defense from last year's ACC champs. Of course, the Hokies are a football factory and will just reload but they will take a step back. With 25 lettermen lost, they have little to no experienced depth. The schedule isn't that tough and that should help but trips to North Carolina, Nebraska, Florida State and Miami won't be easy. After winning at least 10 games each of the last four seasons, look for the Hokies to drop off, but still find their way into a bowl.
Virginia
Projected Record (5-7, 3-5)- Virginia won six games last season by five points or less and may have to rebuild this season, with just six offensive and five defensive starters from last year's 9-4 team. With Chris Long and Branden Albert headed to the NFL, Virginia took huge hits on the defensive and offensive lines, respectively and those were the strengths of the team last season. Senior Eugene Monroe figures to take the helm from Albert on the offensive line but there is no heir apparent for Long. Linebacker will be the defenses strength with three starters returning. The Cavaliers also have one of the toughest schedules in the nation, facing USC, Connecticut and East Carolina in non-conference tilts. Head coach Al Groh could be facing a long year in Charlottesville.
Duke
Projected Record (3-9, 1-7)- New head coach David Cutcliffe brings instant credibility to a floundering program but it will take some time to establish a winning program in Durham. Duke has won four games in the last four years and hasn't beaten an ACC team since 2004. Cutcliffe may be a quarterback guru but the Blue Devils are going to have to establish some semblance of a running attack after averaging just 64 yards a game on the ground during last year's 1-11 campaign. Three starters return on an offensive line that allowed 45 sacks, but there is some depth there. The Blue Devils will be better this year than they have been in the past and they could actually be 3-0 when they host Virginia on September 27th. If they can win that game it could be the beginning of good things to come for Duke.
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