College Football Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

By Andrew Musur on July 24, 2015

With the college football season approaching quickly, I felt it was necessary to break down all 11 conferences, with a heavier focus on the five power conferences.

First up we have the Atlantic Coast Conference, or ACC for short. It seems every year the ACC is decided by a team from the Atlantic division. The last time a team from the Coastal division within the ACC won a conference championship was back in 2010 when Virginia Tech took care of a pesky Florida State team.

This year’s ACC seems a bit down in talent, but there are plenty of teams that may jump up and surprise a few people. Let’s take a look at the ACC.

Atlantic Division

No. 1 Florida State 

2014 Record: 13-1 (8-0)

2015 Prediction: 11-1 (7-1)

The Skinny: It is hard to pick against a team that has 27 games in the past two seasons; granted, the Seminoles did this with the number one overall pick in the NFL draft, Jameis Winston. Florida State won’t have Winston under center this season, as he tries to make a name for himself in the NFL, and they won’t have the exceptionally talented De’Andre Johnson.

Johnson was looked at as being the next in line for the Florida State quarterback position, but due to a legal incident over the summer Johnson was asked to leave the team. There are a lot of question marks surrounding the Noles, especially on the defensive and offensive lines.

Many thought Everett Golson, a quarterback transfer from Notre Dame, would take the reigns of this offense, but as of now coach Jimbo Fisher has Golson listed as the third string QB going into the next season. Look for junior Sean Maguire to be the Noles starter this season.

No. 2 Clemson

2014 Record: 10-3 (6-2)

2015 Prediction: 10-2 (7-1)

The Skinny: Clemson is one of the most hyped up college football teams every season. The Tigers always have the coaching and talent to put together a pretty darn good football team, but the last time Clemson played in the ACC championship game was in 2011. I would like to say the Tigers will have a better year this season, but there is no telling what product they put on the field.

However, there is one thing I am pretty sure about: the Tigers will have the most exciting player in the ACC under center next season. Deshaun Watson was a talented freshman last season putting up some impressive numbers before he was injured. A healthy Watson could make Clemson a contender in the ACC.

No. 3 North Carolina State

2014 Record: 8-5 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)

The Skinny: North Carolina State is a team that has been improving immensely over the past few seasons. The Wolfpack return 14 starters on both sides of the ball and look to compete for a possible top 2 division finish. The offense will be loaded and should take care of business in a lot of the Wolfpack’s games, but their defense is expected to still be a little susceptible at times.

North Carolina State continues to climb up the ACC rankings, so next year is a huge year in maintaining that progress.

No. 4 Louisville 

2014 Record: 9-4 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (5-3)

The Skinny: Louisville is a team that used an extremely sound defense to surprise a number of people last season. The Cardinals ranked 6th in total defense, but will have to rebuild and retool a handful of players. With a defense that is rebuilding there will be a little more pressure on their offense to put up points.

Unfortunately for coach Bobby Petrino, the Cardinals don’t have much certainty on who their starter will be next season. Petrino said he was going to give all five of his scholarship quarterbacks a share of the first-team reps when practice beings on August 6th. It should be a competitive quarterback race.

No. 5 Syracuse

2014 Record: 3-9 (1-7)

2015 Prediction: 4-8 (2-6)

The Skinny: Syracuse’s defense will look completely different next season, as only three starters from a year ago will return. For such an inexperienced defense it is going to take time to learn the ropes of college football. The orange will have to rely heavily on their New York native quarterback, Terrel Hunt.

Hunt looked pretty decent last season at times, until he broke his leg. The dual-threat quarterback will have a lot of work to do if this Syracuse team hopes to be competitive, but with so much uncertainty surrounding the defense and a healthy Hunt, it may be a long, tiring year for Orange fans.

No. 6 Boston College

2014 Record: 7-6 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (2-6)

The Skinny: Boston College has a huge rebuilding job to do before they reach opening kick-off this season. The Eagles lost 12 starters on offense and defense, including their starting quarterback. Boston College will have a tough time protecting their young quarterback this season, as they will have a very inexperienced line. Give this BC team a couple of years to find its groove and it could be making a run for a divisional championship, but this is definitely not the year for that.

No. 7 Wake Forest

2014 Record: 3-9 (1-7)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (1-7)

The Skinny: Wake Forest is a team with a lot of players returning next season, but there are a lot of problems surrounding this team. For starters, their offense was abysmal last season and will have to greatly improve if they hope to get to that lucky number six in their win column.

The biggest positive for Wake Forest going into next season is that they have six of their front seven guys returning, which will make for a solid defense. The Demon Deacons will have their work cut out for them, but with a little luck, they may be sitting better than at the bottom of the Atlantic division.

Coastal Division

No. 1 Georgia Tech

2014 Record: 11-3 (6-2)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (6-2)

The Skinny: If there is one team that knows exactly what they will get on the offensive side of the ball, it is Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets ran their trademark triple-option attack last season and ranked second nationally in total rushing. Georgia Tech will have to repeat their success on the ground if they hope to win the Coastal Division and be crowned ACC champions.

The only problem for Georgia Tech this year is their scheduling. The Yellow Jackets have one of the toughest schedules in all of college football as they take on the likes of Notre Dame, Clemson and Florida State. If Georgia Tech can steal at least one of those three games they should be in an okay position.

No. 2 Virginia Tech

2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

The Skinny: It is crazy to think Virginia Tech knocked off the eventual national champions in the second week of last season. That Hokie team was all over the map as they struggled to make anything of their early season upset. The problem with Virginia Tech has been their defense. The Hokies have relied on their strong defense presence for years, but that defense continues to digress. Many think it is almost time for the great Frank Beamer to hang up his hat.

The Hokies do return 16 starters and will have enough talent to be competitive in the Coastal Division, but I don’t think they will have enough talent to get them where they hope to be. Hey, no one thought they would knock off the Buckeyes last season, so there is plenty of reason to believe in this Virginia Tech team.

No. 3 Pittsburgh

2014 Record: 6-7 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

The Skinny: Pittsburgh will have an enormous amount of offensive tools this season, something they will have to rely on if they plan on leaving their mark on the ACC. The Panthers’ running back, James Conner, set the school’s single-season rushing record last season and plans to be even more of a threat coming into this year.

Conner will be huge asset for Pat Narduzzi as the Panthers try to make their fifth bowl appearance in a row.

No. 4 North Carolina

2014 Record: 6-7 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (4-4)

The Skinny: North Carolina brought in former Auburn coach, Gene Chizik, in hopes of revamping a defense that was pitiful last season. The Tar Heels are focused on defense this season, but will have to rely heavily on their offense that returns 10 starters.

Quarterback Marquise Williams will have to continue what he did last season as he threw for 21 touchdowns. The senior has to realize this may be his last season playing football and it is time to leave it all on the field. North Carolina has the talent to make a surprise run in the ACC, but with such a questionable defense it may be a bit more difficult than many think.

No. 5 Duke

2014 Record: 9-4 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (3-5)

The Skinny: Duke has been one of the most surprising college football programs over the past couple of years. The Blue Devils used to live at the bottom of the ACC standings year in and year out, but after three straight bowl games this Duke program is rising quickly.

Unfortunately for Blue Devil fans, this Duke team might be a little disappointing. With a lot of missing pieces from last year’s team, which won nine games, the Blue Devils will have to hope their strong team bond pushes them to a school record, fourth straight bowl game appearance.

No. 6 Miami

2014 Record: 6-7 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (3-5)

The Skinny: It always amazes me when I watch ESPN’s 30 For 30s on the Miami football team and then look at their current team. The Hurricanes used to be dominant in the college football landscape, but have yet to get momentum going since the early 2000s. Miami will have a tough time on offense this year, especially without star running back, Duke Johnson.

Unless quarterback Brad Kaaya can get the passing game going, it could be another long year for Hurricane fans. Al Golden is on the hot seat coming into this year and if Miami fails to make a bowl game I am sure we won’t be seeing Golden back next season.

No. 7 Virginia

2014 Record: 5-7 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 4-8 (2-6)

The Skinny: Virginia has the toughest non-conference schedule in all of the ACC. The Cavaliers have to play the likes of UCLA, Boise State and Notre Dame. If Virginia can’t get lucky in any of those three games they may be in for a long season. It is tough to predict how the Cavaliers will fair in the conference part of their schedule, but with so many other talented teams it almost seems impossible Virginia gets to the six-win mark this season.

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Conference Championship Prediction: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

Conference Champion: Georgia Tech

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