We're finally another day closer to the 2015 Season and one day closer to another season of the wild and wacky ACC. With no true front runner like this conference has had the past couple of years, it's conceivable that number of teams are within reach of grabbing the 2015 ACC Crown. Naturally the media has it's fair share of darlings this off-season in both the Atlantic and the Coastal, but I've tried my best to not get lost in the hype. With the Coastal as unpredictable as ever and with the gap closing on Florida State's dominance, if a team gets hot, any number of teams could hoist the ACC Championship trophy the first Saturday of December.
To flask back to last year, I wasn't terribly off in my predictions expect for well, the Coastal, again.
Atlantic Division
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Florida State
Predicted Record: 11-1 (7-1 in conference)
3 Key Games: vs Louisville October 17th, at Georgia Tech October 24th, at Clemson November 7th
Nole's Summary: The Noles come off one of the most successful two year runs in recent memory in the ACC, with a winning streak in the conference that dates back to 2012. As much as the Noles have lost on the roster over the last couple of years one must remember how talented and deep this program is. Fisher and Company have recruited at an elite level since arriving in Tallahassee in 2010. I don't expect much of a drop off on this team simply because of the talent in the program and Fisher's ability to develop it. Noles are the ACC's best chance at reaching the College Football Playoff.
2. Clemson
Predicted Record: 9-3 (6-2 in conference)
4 Key Games: at Louisville September 17th, vs Notre Dame October 3rd, vs Georgia Tech October 10, vs Florida State November 7th
Tigertown's Summary: After Clemson's finish in 2014, many around TigerTown see this as the year that Clemson returns to the National Championship discussion with much of FSU's roster from their incredible run moving on. Not so fast, Clemson fans. Let's point out the sheer amount that your program lost from the last couple of years: record setting quarterback and skill players, and most ofa defense that was head and shoulders the best in the ACC. While Clemson has the ability to reload as well as anyone, their schedule does not set up well for them to make a trek back to Charlotte. Losses to Georgia Tech, Florida State and Louisville send the Tiger faithful back down to earth.
3. Louisville
Predicted Record: 7-5 (4-4 in conference)
4 Key Games: Opener against Auburn, vs Clemson September 17th, at NC State October 3rd, at Pittsburgh November 21st
Papa John's Summary: Lousiville and Virginia Tech will simply have the best defenses in conference if not east of the Mississippi. Behind a re-vamped offense expect Louisville to surprise some folks this year, but in typical Petrino coached fashion, expect the Cards to drop a few they have no business dropping. Louisville's on the cusp of being in the Atlantic discussion, just not this year.
T4. West Raleigh U.
Predicted Record: 7-5 (3-5 in conference)
4 Key Games: vs Louisville October 3rd, at Virginia Tech October 9th, at Boston College November 7th, vs Carolina November 28th
Best Players: #Jacoby4Heisman Quarterback
#Wolpfack U's Summary: As the #Jacoby4Heisman banners line the West Raleigh streets, an outsider may mistakenly view this school as an ACC Championship contender
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLWUT
NC State will get pummeled back down to earth early on during the ACC schedule and will be bowl bound due to their joke of an Out Of Conference schedule.
T4. Boston College
Predicted Record: 6-6 (3-5 in conference)
4 Key Games: vs FSU September 18th, at Duke October 3, vs Virginia Tech October 31, vs NC State November 7th
BC's Summary: THE DUDE, Steve Addazio plays a style of ball that I'd wish upon any program. Physical, hard nosed and punishing run game on offense followed by a fundamentally sound and swarming defense. If Boston College could get the athletes they'd give opponents more than just fits, they'd beat em.
6. Syracuse
Predicted Record: 4-8 (2-6 in conference)
4 Key Games: at UVA October 17, vs Pitt October 24th, at NC State November 21, vs Boston College
Cuse's Summary: In the last couple of years the Orange defense did everything they possibly could to keep the team in every ballgame only to have the offense and special teams ruin their efforts. The Defense should remain stout and hopefully the influx of young talent on offense can begin to turn this thing around for the Orange. The schedule doesn't do this team any favors in 2015 for that turnaround. Cuse is a few wins away from Wake territory and hat's not a good thing.
7. Wake Forest
Predicted Record: 2-10 (0-8 in conference)
4 Key Games: at Army Sept 19th, vs Indiana Sept 26th, at BC October 10th, at Cuse Sept 12th
Wake's Summary: Oh Wake Forest I have nothing but high hopes for your program with the addition of Dave Clausen. He's helped create a culture of swarming defense with an opportunistic offense. One problem: that opportunistic offense was historically awful. With only 5 seniors expected to start on this team, the hope is that 2-3 years from now we're talking about a bowl bound team.
The Coastal
1. Georgia Tech
Predicted Record: 9-3 (6-2 in conference)
4 Key Games: at Notre Dame September 19, at Clemson October 10, vs FSU October 24, vs Virginia Tech November 12th
The Bees Summary: Paul Johnson. How bout him? The man has figured out a way to not only piss off every defensive coordinator in the country by running a offense that should have never left the 1950s, but he's figured out a way to get solid players to buy in to the system.The result: a BCS win over an SEC opponent. Johnson return quite possibly the best questerback he's ever had run his offense plus 9 of 11 starters on defense. Do the math: Expect GT to be back in Charlotte the first weekend.
T2. Virginia Tech
Predicted Record: 8-4 (5-3 in conference)
4 Key Games vs Ohio State Sept 7th, at Miami October 17th, at Boston College October 31st, at Georgia Tech
The Hokies Summary: Death, Taxes and Virginia Tech winning 10 games. The certainty that everyone expected has fallen by the way side as Virginia Tech fans have suffered through the effects of lack luster recruiting years and a couple team decimated by injury. Heading into 2015 many believe VT will have the one of the best defenses in the country, if not the best. If the offense can control the clock, with the turnover battle and keep the defense fresh, the 10 win season that Hokie Nation became accustomed to is very, very possible in 2015.
T2. Carolina
T2. Pitt
Predicted Record: 8-4 (5-3 in conference)
4 Key Games: at Virginia Tech October 3rd, at Georgia Tech October 17th, vs UNC October 29th, vs Miami Nov 27th
Pitt's Summary: Another year and once again another Coach for Western Pa.'s team. The Panthers, let by Defensive Coordinating Guru Pat Narduzzi will be known for their offensive firepower in year one rather than the smothering defense Narduzzi has been known to produce. With the best running back and best wide receiver in the conference and an efficient quarterback on your roster, expect lots of points. The hope for 2015 is the Pitt squad can stop opposing offenses.
5. The U
Predicted Record: 7-5 (4-4 in conference)
4 Key Games: at FSU October 10th, vs VT October 17th, vs Clemson October 24th, at UNC November 7th
The U's Summary: One has to wonder when Miami plans on getting back to the heights of yesteryear. It seems like a roster this talented, led by a Coach I can't speak enough about will eventually make it to Charlotte for a shot at the ACC title. Until that happens, I predict nothing but mediocrity out of Florida's most overrated football program.
6. Duke
Predicted Record: 7-5 (3-5 in conference)
4 Key Games: vs Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech, vs Miami, at UNC
Duke's Summary: Duke's had a hell of a run since Coach Cut took over the program. Many believe there's staying power among being considered the best the coastal has to offer as long as Cutcliffe is at the helm. I don't disagree. He's elevated the recruiting to unprecendented levels for Duke's football program and continues to run a clean ship. I see the ball not bouncing Duke's way in the ACC like it often has the last few years. Too many injuries to starters and the program lost a bunch of the core that cranked out those notable seasons.
7. UVA
Predicted Record: 2-10 (1-7 in conference)
4 Key Games: at Pitt, at UNC, vs GT, vs Duke
#MikeLondonFarewellTour:
All of the stops along the #MikeLondonFarewellTour are as follows:
at UCLA September 5th
vs Notre Dame September 12th
vs Bill and Mary September 19th
vs Boise State September 26th
at Pittsburgh October 10th
vs Syracuse October 17th
at Carolina October 24th
vs Georgia Tech October 31st
at Miami November 7th
at Louisville November 14th
vs Duke November 21st
vs Virginia Tech November 28th
I SHOULD MAKE T SHIRTS
How I see it. 75 MINUTES TILL FOOTBAW
GO HEELS
WFP
No comments:
Post a Comment