2005 ACC Football Predictions

Here are my picks for this year's ACC football standings:

Atlantic Division
The race in the Atlantic should be an exciting one, as I could see any of the top 3 picks here going to the Championship game. The bottom teams here stand a better shot at knocking off one of the top ones than they do in the Coastal.

1. NC State
   I'm going out on a limb with this one, as BC and Florida State appear to be the popular picks. Still, I think it's undoubtable that the Wolfpack will be a contender. They return the core of a spectacular defense from last season, and over the past couple seasons they've been quite a formidable road team. They'll upset Tech in the season opener and take one of two out of their consecutive trips to Boston and Tallahassee.
2. Boston College
   Being the fabled final piece to the ACC's 12 team puzzle, the Eagles are the team I know least about. While I believe they might be as good as some people say, I think the ACC will provide them with more rigorous competition than they're used to in the Big East. Of course, that's what everyone said about Virginia Tech last year...
3. Florida State
   It brings me great pleasure to rank the Criminoles this low, but I think it's a legitimate spot for them. Leon Washington will be a force at running back and the defense will be strong, but their lack of a quarterback will make FSU one-dimensional.
4. Clemson
   It's an odd-numbered year, so Clemson might stand a chance at being good. Charlie Whitehurst would do well to try to duplicate his sophomore season and ignore the one he had last year, which earned him the timeless brand of "overrated."
5. Wake Forest
   Last year, Wake was within a few plays of beating some really great teams, yet ended up with a losing record. Their talent isn't good enough for talk of a title, but the team that finishes second in this division may be the one that loses to them. I'm glad they aren't on the Hoos' schedule.
6. Maryland
   Yes, I hate them. Yes, they'll also be worse than last year, losing more than they'll gain on defense and having no forseeable breakout stars to undo the effects of last year's fat and slow Ralph Friedgen offense.
   

Coastal Division
This division seems to be a fair bit more predictable than its counterpart. I pretty much agree with the official preseason media poll.

1. Virginia Tech
   Yes, I hate them. Yes, it's also impossible to deny that the team that won the conference last year returns the bulk of its starters and is just about every publication's pick. If Marcus Vick can curb his perverse desire for 15-year-old tail long enough to actually concentrate on football, they might not even miss 2004 Player of the Year Bryan Randall. Bear in mind, though, I'm hanging this pick on the strength of Vick's supporting cast, not the virtues of the dimwitted heir to the throne himself.
   
2. Miami
   The Canes are no doubt a team on the decline, and I don't have a clue who their quarterback is. Nevertheless, they're still loaded with four-star recruits, and a down year for Miami still equates to a banner year for most.
3. Virginia
   As much as I hope otherwise, I can't see how a team who had 7 players drafted by the NFL in the off-season gets better than 8-4 and rises to challenge the current powers of the ACC.
   
4. Georgia Tech
   They'll run neck and neck with Virginia until their meeting in Charlottesville on November 12, where they haven't won since 1990. If any team in the division rises as a sleeper, however, it'll be this one. They have a load of potential on offense with Reggie Ball at QB, Calvin Johnson at WR, and PJ Daniels at RB.
5. North Carolina
   The Heels were impressive in the second half of last season, but in all likelihood they'll be back to their old tricks this year. They haven't had a defense in years, and last year's playmaker on offense, Darian Durant, is gone.
6. Duke
   VMI better be scared over this matchup on Sept. 17. Everyone else can breath easy.

ACC Championship
Virginia Tech will avenge their season opening loss to defeat NC State and move on to the BCS. And then it's on to another offseason of scandal! Go Chokies!!!