With less than a week to go now before the college football season kicks off, it’s time for The Dirt to make some predictions. Beginning with conference standings and conference winners, I’ll take a look at all six BCS conferences (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC). First up, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC):
ACC
· Preseason Top 25 Teams
AP Poll Dirt Poll
6. Florida State 8. Florida State
13. Virginia Tech 10. Virginia Tech
· Predicted Finish
Atlantic Division Coastal Division
1. Florida State 10-2 (7-1) 1. Virginia Tech 11-1 (7-1)
2. Maryland 8-4 (6-2) 2. Georgia Tech 7-5 (4-4)
3. Clemson 8-4 (5-3) 3. North Carolina 5-7 (3-5)
4. Boston College 6-6 (4-4) 4. Miami (FL) 5-7 (3-5)
5. North Carolina State 5-7 (3-5) 5. Duke 5-7 (2-6)
6. Wake Forrest 2-9 (1-7) 6. Virginia 4-8 (1-7)
· Bowl Teams: (6)
o Florida State
o Virginia Tech
o Maryland
o Clemson
o Georgia Tech
o Boston College
· ACC Championship Game
§ Florida State over Virginia Tech
· ACC Champion: Florida State Seminoles
· Key Games
o 9/17: #6 Florida State Vs #1 Oklahoma
o 11/10: Georgia Tech Vs #13 Virginia Tech
o 9/17: Maryland Vs #24 West Virginia
o 9/24: Clemson Vs #6 Florida State
o 10/1: #13 Virginia Tech Vs Clemson
· ACC Summary:
The 2011 season is shaping up to be more exciting than any from recent memory for the ACC. With two teams in the preseason AP Top 25 poll; Florida State and Virginia Tech, the conference boasts two legit National Title contenders. However, both teams need to replace NFL drafted Quarterbacks; Christian Ponder from Florida State and ‘human highlight’ reel Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech. For the Seminoles, E.J Manuel is expected to step in and take over right away; though an early season matchup with Oklahoma will be a good test. Besides for the Sooners, Florida State will also have to beat instate rival Florida. As for Virginia Tech, the Hokies don’t have a single team on their schedule that’s ranked in the preseason Top 25. That easily could equal an undefeated season, though I expect they drop at least one game.
The rest of the conference doesn’t quite look as stunning. Maryland, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Boston College are the second tier of teams the ACC has to offer, but none should win nine games. The bottom of the conference is also looking pretty bleak. North Carolina and Miami are going through coaching changes and off field issues; as the Hurricanes just had to suspend 11 of the current players. It will be interesting to see how those teams bounce back. North Carolina State, Wake Forrest, Duke and Virginia will bring up the ACC caboose, and will struggle to finish at .500.
The conference title game should be a good one, I’m predicting the two ranked teams finish where they are picked. Virginia Tech and Florida State will be a great showdown in Jacksonville; and I think E.J Manuel will be the difference sending the Seminoles back to a BCS game with an automatic berth. If Virginia Tech can finish with 11 wins and a conference title game loss, they could be in the running for an at-large bid themselves.
All in all, the ACC should be intriguing. If Florida State can get by Oklahoma; and if Virginia Tech can beat the teams they’re supposed to, each could be in the national title hunt come November. The rest of the conference, well, not so much.
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