After years of being perched on the precipice of greatness, prognosticators far and wide are predicting that Tommy Bowden and his Clemson Tigers will finally break through the glass ceiling in 2008. Can the Tigers get it done? Will Florida State or Miami ever reassert themselves? Will the Hokies and Frank Beamer roll on? And can Butch Davis keep the Carolina program rolling in the right direction? Plus, what impact will Paul Johnson have on Georgia Tech and the conference as a whole? These are just a few of the compelling questions posed by the ACC this year.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
1) Clemson (6-2, 3-2 Division) – Clemson returns 7 starters on each side of the ball, and are poised to break through with Senior QB Cullen Harper this year. A tough road schedule includes visits to Wake Forest, Florida State, Boston College, and Virginia, but VaTech is absent from this year’s slate. Clemson squeaks by, winning the Atlantic Division by just a hair.
2) Florida State (5-3, 5-0 Division) – The Seminoles are due for at least a slight resurgence in 2008. Their divisional games are all cake except home contests vs. Wake and Clemson, both very winnable games. FSU drops games at GaTech, at Miami, and vs. VaTech, but all in all, a successful campaign for the ‘Noles.
3) Wake Forest (5-3, 3-2 Division) – Wake Forest just knows how to get results. This team is not that talented, but will grind out victories in the weak ACC. Another bowl trip for the Demon Deacons.
4) Boston College (3-5, 2-3 Division) – BC suffers after losing Matt Ryan. A down year for the Golden Eagles, but still on the borderline of a bowl game. They edge out Maryland in 4th because of a head to head victory in the last game of the season.
5) Maryland (3-5, 2-3 Division) – The Terps go bowling on the strength of a weak schedule in the non-conference. Early-season wins against Delaware, Middle Tennessee, and Eastern Michigan propel an otherwise mediocre squad into an always mediocre bowl game.
6) North Carolina State (2-6, 0-5 Division) – The Wolfpack is, simply put, a bad football team. They will beat Duke though…. Down with the Blue Devils!
COASTAL DIVISION
1) Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2 Division) – The Hokies reload as Frank Beamer’s system and emphasis on defense are vindicated in a slightly down year for the program. Losses at North Carolina and at Miami.
2) North Carolina (5-3, 3-2 Division) – Sophomore QB T.J. Yates progresses under Butch Davis’ tutelage, becoming a superstar in his second year at the helm. The Heels still lose some games they should have won, but the program is improving, moving towards consistent success.
3) Virginia (5-3, 4-1 Division) – Returning a starter at QB, Virginia bounces back from a tough non-conference opener against USC to have a strong run in the ACC, starting 5-0 in the conference before dropping their last three games. Solid running attack helps the offense, and the defense excels. A solid team.
4) Miami (4-4, 2-3 Division) – The ‘Canes continue to look for land, flailing around and playing inconsistent football just like in 2007. Could see some coaching staff changes here in the near future.
5) Georgia Tech (4-4, 3-2 Division) – Paul Johnson shows people in major college football that THE OPTION STILL WORKS folks. The Jackets play exciting football…. It’s just too bad that Reggie Ball and Calvin Johnson aren’t still around. Ball would have been a perfect fit for Johnson’s new offense, and Calvin Johnson would have been a terror in an option scheme.
6) Duke (0-8, 0-5 Division) – Duke does what Duke always does in football… wait until November and the start of basketball season.
Virginia Tech and Clemson meet for a lackluster conference championship game. Bowden’s Tigers win an ugly game dominated by defense and ride towards a drubbing at the hand of a far superior SEC team to be named…
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