Conference Rankings

4. ACC

I love the ACC this year. With eight teams having a legitimate shot at winning the league, it will be the most competitive league in the nation. All teams figure to be better than they were last year, when last year several teams showed improvement. While the league lacks a big time team to compete for the national title, it would be wrong to think that the league is short on talent.

The weak spots of the conference will be Duke and Virginia. Duke would have gotten some of its first publicity if basketball player Greg Paulus decided to play for them (if he could?), but decided to try out at Syracuse instead. That pretty much sums up the state of Duke football. Virginia is two years removed from a New Year's Day bowl, and played several teams close last year. They beat UNC and Georgia Tech when they were both ranked, and lost to Virginia Tech by 3.

Boston College starts year 1 of the Frank Spaziani era. THe long time defensive coordinator has a few nice pieces on defense, including LB Mark Herzlich and S Wes Davis. Weapons are scarce on offense, including at QB, where the Eagles are having an open competition for the starter. Maryland just seems to win every year, no matter who they have. The team somehow posted an 8-5 record last year, including a loss to Middle Tennessee. Despite losing the overdrafted Darius Hewyard-Bey, the Terps return some firepower on offense; QB Chris Turner and RB Da'Rel Scott make up a nice backfield. The defense is being rebuilt. With a soft schedule, outside of a week 1 match up in Berkley, Ralph Friedgen should find the terps in the post-season again, but not too much beyond that.

Wake Forest has fallen far quickly. One of my sleeper picks from last year fell on their face losing to Navy (who they would later beat in a bowl), and then struggled all year, beating Duke in OT, and losing to Maryland and Miami. Luckily for WF, they have one of the best coaches in the nation in Jim Grobe. He has several offensive starters returning, including QB Riley Skinner, and the entire offensive line. The back 7 of the defense must be re-built, especially linebacker after losing Aaron Curry. Wake has most of their difficult games at home, and a division title isnt out of the question, but unlikely. Clemson needs to learn consistency. They have tons of potential on offense this year; with RB CJ Spiller and WR Jacoby Ford. Allegedly, the two finished 2nd and 1st respectively at the 100 yd dash at the ACC conference championship for Track & Field. Speed kills. New coach Dabo Swinney promises to instill toughness into the Tigers, going as far to go old-school and implement an I-Formation set. What needs to be tough is the offensive line, which was horrendous last year, and features 4 sophomores this year. Is DE Da'Quan Bowers ready to emerge as a superstar? There were signs of it last year, and other DE Ricky Sapp can be just as terrifying. IF this team can put it together, toughen up, and play to their potential, they are as good as anyone in the ACC.

Miami is starting to come together under Randy Shannon. Despite this, there is a new offensive and defensive coordinator in Coral Gables, and not much time to figure it out. They open with a brutal schedule of @ FSU, Ga. Tech, @ Va. Tech, Oklahoma. They need to go at least 2-2, but 0-4 isnt unrealistic. QB Jacory Harris has the potential to be something special. The team, defense especially, showed great promise with a 5 game win streak last year capped off with a win vs Virginia Tech. They proceeded to collapse and lose to Ga Tech, NC State, and California down the stretch. Miami could find itself in the ACC title game if they survive September.

Consider N.C. State to be a team knocking on the door of greatness. Sophomore QB Russell Wilson is a stud. He and WR OWen Spencer should combine for a lot of yards. But it is Tom O' Brien's Defense that will be the story in Raleigh this year. Linebackers dont get as good in the ACC as Nate Irving, and the D-Line has stars in Alan-Michael Cash and Willie Young. The team got hot late last year, and the momentum should carry them into 2009. Down tobacco road is North Carolina. Butch Davis has wasted no time turning things around. The offense must run the ball this year after losing Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate. As with the Wolfpack, the defense is the strength here. The D returns 9 starters including CB Kendric Burney DE Marvin Austin, and LB Quan Sturdivant. The defense has the potential to take UNC to the BCS.

Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Florida State will all be featured more in-depth when the rankings countdowns come out.

Final Prediciton: (I had to look up these divisions, as they make no sense whatsoever. They are not seperated by geography as with the Big12 or SEC, and dont seem to be seperated by anything. Beyond that, and I realize this will change year to year, but this year, the "Coastal" division figures to be much better than the "Atlantic" division. If they swapped V.Tech and Virginia with Clemson and FSU, it would kinda even out the talent level, and kinda make the divisions South and North, but, whatever. Also, this was the hardest conference to make predictions for, as a team I have in 4th in their division could win the ACC, and I would not be surprised (Miami)).

Atlantic.. Coastal

1. N.C. State 1. Georgia Tech
2. Florida State 2. North Carolina
3. Clemson 3. Virginia Tech
4. Wake Forest 4. Miami
5. Boston College 5. Virginia
6. Maryland 6. Duke