2011 ACC Football Predictions
Written by Steve Janus
The ACC has struggled to keep up with the other power conferences over the last few years. They haven’t had a national contender in years. Virginia Tech is the only team that has won in a BCS bowl since 1999 back in 2008. As a conference they are just 13-21 in bowl games over the last four years. There are some signs that the conference is headed in the right direction. The ACC had 35 players selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, and sent nine of their 12 teams to a bowl game last year. Both Florida State and Virginia Tech will come into the season highly ranked, and both appear to have the talented need to compete for a National Championship.
While the conference hasn’t been up to par to the level many expected it to be at, it has resulted in some pretty close races in both divisions. Over the last three seasons there have been at least seven teams to finish at .500 or better in conference play. Here is a look at how I see both division shaping up this year, plus my 2011 ACC Championship Game prediction.
ACC ATLANTIC PREDICTIONS
1. Florida State – While the Seminoles lose starting quarterback Christian Ponder, they have a great replacement in junior E.J. Manuel waiting to take over. They are loaded at the skill positions and figures to be extremely strong on the defensive side of the ball again this year. They also draw a very favorable conference schedule, as they play both Virginia and Duke out of the Coastal. I’m calling for a perfect 8-0 regular season conference record for the Seminoles.
2. North Carolina State - The Wolfpack stunned everyone with how good they were in 2010, and I think they are going to be right near the top of this division again in 2011. They lose starting quarterback Russell Wilson, but junior Mike Glennon should have the offense rolling again. I have them rated slightly ahead of Clemson, due to the fact that they get the Tigers at home this year.
3. Clemson Tigers – The Tigers suffered through their first losing season since 1998 (6-7), but many of those losses could have went the other way. They will also have to make a change at quarterback and lose one of the best defensive players in the conference in Da’Quan Bowers. The big concern for the Tigers is the fact that they have just five starters back on defense and have to play both Virginia Tech and North Carolina out of the Coastal division.
4. Maryland Terrapins – I think it’s a toss up between BC and the Terrapins for the No. 4 spot in this division. Maryland has the easier schedule of the two and also get the Eagles at home. I am excited to see what sophomore quarterback Danny O’Brien can do in his second season. New head coach Randy Edsall has done a great job of getting the best out of his players, and could have the Terrapins finishing much higher than I have them predicted.
4. Boston College Eagles – I had a hard time picking the Eagles this low in my predictions, but when you look at their schedule it is going to be hard for this team to compete for a division title in 2011. They have to go on the road to face Clemson, Maryland, Miami, and Virginia Tech. They also have two difficult home games against Florida State and NC State. I’m also not sold on the quarterback position. The three quarterbacks that played in 2010 had just 13 touchdowns to 19 interceptions.
6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – Even though the Demon Deacons have 17 starters back for the 2011 season, I still think this team is headed for the basement in the Atlantic. Their only conference win in 2010 came against Duke early in the year, and they barely won that game (54-48).
ACC COASTAL PREDICTIONS
1. Virginia Tech Hokies – Since joining the ACC the Hokies easily have the best record of any team in the ACC at 46-10. Some might have the Hokies down a notch this season with the loss of quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running backs Ryan Williams and Darren Evans, but I don’t think that will be the case. Virginia Tech gets what figures to be an easy road win at Wake Forest and Boston College at home out of the Atlantic, and get both North Carolina and Miami at home out of the Coastal.
2. Miami Hurricanes – The Hurricanes have really disappointed with all the talent they have had over the last few years. It will be interesting to see if new head coach Al Golden can finally get this school back on top. While I don’t think they are all that far behind the Hokies talent wise, they draw the much tougher schedule. Not only do they have to go on the road to take on Virginia Tech, but they also have to play Florida State on the road as well.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels – The Tar Heels 8-5 season in 2010 was really remarkable when you look at all the players this team either lost to injuries or suspensions. They will have to deal with losing their starting quarterback and top three running backs from last season. If they can find a way to beat Miami at home, they could jump up into the No. 2 spot.
4. Virginia Cavaliers – Even though the Cavaliers went just 4-8 overall and only 1-7 in the ACC last year, I believe they are going to surprise a lot of people with how well they play in 2011. Virginia enters into the second season under Mike London and this is the year when new coaches start to show some results. The Cavaliers have 18 starters back from last year, and I’m calling for much better numbers all across the board.
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -The Yellow Jackets are coming off a disappointing season where they went just 6-7, and enter 2011 without running back Anthony Allen and quarterback Joshua Nesbitt. The schedule just doesn’t set up well for a rebound, as their two easiest games against Virginia and Duke are both on the road.
6. Duke Blue Devils – While it normally is a given that the Blue Devils will finish last in the ACC Coastal division, I had a hard time picking them to finish this low in 2011. Head coach David Cutcliffe appears to have his best team since taking over the program in 2008. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Blue Devils win six games and make their first bowl game since 1994.
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION: Florida State defeats Virginia Tech
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