Oh, the team I love to hate, with the coach I completely adore. Coach Paul Johnson will lead Tech to an ACC title and a BCS bowl. However, it will not come for at least the next three years.
Georgia Tech has too many things going against it this season. They return only nine starters and are implementing a completely new offense with players who were not recruited to play in this type of offense.
Everyone wants to know if Tech is still going to throw the ball, and Johnson impressively showed off how Josh Nesbitt can gun it 60 yards in spring practice. However, he has no targets. Also, his defense is returning starters on the front line, but only two at LB and in the secondary.
Remember that Jacksonville St. is where former LSU QB Ryan Perrilloux found a home. It could be a long day for the Jackets if they can't find some players on defense. Also, their schedule is atrocious with all the improvements in the conference.
Aug. 28 Jacksonville St. W Oct. 18 @ Clemson L
Sept. 6 @ Boston Col. L Oct. 25 Virginia W
Sept. 13 @ VA Tech L Nov. 1 Florida St. L
Sept. 20 Miss. St. L Nov. 8 @ North Carolina L
Oct. 4 Duke W Nov. 20 Miami (FL) L
Oct. 11 Gardner-Webb W Nov. 29 @ Georgia L
6. Duke: 2-10 (Offense 7, Defense 10, ST 2)
Duke will remain a bottom feeder for at least the next two years, but these other teams need to take notice that David Cutcliffe's team will not remain there. They are beginning to get the athletes in place, and the current players in shape, to play an SEC brand of football in the ACC.
If a team does not prepare for this Blue Devil team, they will stumble and maybe even fall once or twice. However, I don't see that occurring until Cutcliffe gets more of his type of players at Duke. They do return nineteen starters off a team that finished 1-10 last season.
Look for the Blue Devils to make some noise against Virginia, Vanderbilt, and NC State. Cutcliffe may only win two games in his first year at Duke, but it could be three or four depending on how this team responds.
Aug. 30 James Madison W Oct. 25 @ Vanderbilt W
Sept. 6 Northwestern L Nov. 1 @ Wake Forest L
Sept. 13 Navy L Nov. 8 NC State L
Sept. 20 Virginia L Nov. 15 @ Clemson L
Oct. 4 @ Georgia Tech L Nov. 22 @ Virginia Tech L
Oct. 18 Miami (FL) L Nov. 29 North Carolina L
Key Players
Offense
1. James Davis, RB, Clemson
2. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
3. Riley Skinner, QB, Wake Forest
4. Jason Fox, T, Miami
5. Preston Parker, WR, FSU
Defense
1. Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
2. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
3. Myron Rolle, SS, FSU
4. Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
5. Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Games to Watch
Sep. 20 Wake Forest @ Florida St.
Sep. 20 Virginia Tech @ North Carolina
Oct. 9 Clemson @ Wake Forest
Nov. 8 Clemson @ Florida St.
Nov. 13 Virginia Tech @ Miami
These five games will determine the winners of each division. They will also show whether Miami and FSU have made it back to the top of the league, and if North Carolina truly is a contender in the conference race.
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