College Football Predictions & Preview (Part 1): ACC Atlantic Division

Clemson Tigers  12-1 (8-1 ACC)
ACC Champions
Atlantic Division Champions

Wins:

Alabama, Citadel, North Carolina State, South Carolina State, Maryland, at Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, at Boston College, Duke, at Virginia, South Carolina, Virginia Tech (ACC Championship)

Loss:

at Florida State

Outlook:

Clemson comes into the season as a National Title contender.  They are notorious for falling short.  This year will be no different.  Somewhere along the way the Tigers will stumble, most likely at Florida State.  The Seminoles should be full strength by then with all of there suspended players returning, ready to defend their home field.

There is no question that Clemson has returning talent and a recruiting class to make them a contender.  Although they only lost four starters on offense, they were all on the offensive line.  This is the only question mark on an offense that returns QB Cullen Harper, WR Aaron Kelly, and RB's James Davis and C.J. Spiller.

The defense only lost three starters that left a big hole at the LB position.  The rest of the defense will be tough as DE Ricky Sapp, CB Chris Chancellor, and S Michael Hamlin return.  Top recruit DaQuan Bowers will contribute right away at DE.

Clemson will fall short of their goal to reach the BCS National Championship game, but will be rewarded for winning the ACC with a trip to the Orange Bowl.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons  10-2 (6-2)

Wins:

at Baylor, Mississippi, at Florida State, Navy, at Maryland, Duke, Virginia, at North Carolina State, Boston College, Vanderbilt

Losses:

Clemson, at Miami (FL)

Outlook:

Wake Forest will once again be a factor in the ACC.  The Demon Deacons will win one more game than last year with their only two losses to Clemson and Miami (FL).  They will benefit by playing Florida State early in the season when the Seminoles will be missing a major chunk of talent due to suspensions.

Wake Forest return only five starters on offense led by QB Riley Skinner and RB Josh Adams.  They lost WR Kenneth Moore and C Steve Justice.  They also lost both of their TE's.  The Deacons will need players to step up and fill these holes.

The defense will be strong as all but two starters return.  The DE position needs filled with the departure of Jeremy Thompson.  Aaron Curry returns to lead the LB's.  The secondary will be very tough, especially with CB Alphonso Smith returning.

Wake Forest will have a good year.  They will fall just short of the ACC Championship game and a BCS berth.

Florida State Seminoles  8-4 (5-3)

Wins:

Western Carolina, Chattanooga, Colorado, at North Carolina State, at Georgia Tech, Clemson, Boston College, at Maryland

Losses:

Wake Forest, at Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, Florida

Outlook:

Florida State begins the season very short-handed.  Six starters are suspended for the first six games.  With this in mind, the Seminoles will perform better than expected.  They benefit by playing four of those games at home.  However, one of them is against Wake Forest.  Despite the suspensions, they should be able to hold off Colorado at home and beat an inferior North Carolina State team on the road.  The players will return and lose to a better Virginia Tech team, but should be able to rebound two weeks later and upset Clemson at home.

The Seminoles return seven starters on each side of the ball, but not all of them will see action until at least week seven.  On offense, they return QB Drew Weatherford, WR Greg Carr, C Ryan McMahon, and RB Antone Smith.  Junior College transfers RB Tavares Pressley and WR Corey Surrency will look to contribute.  They do lose WR De'Cody Fagg and Preston Parker has a pending suspension.  A major concern is the offensive line as all starters will be either freshmen or sophomores.

The defense lost LB Geno Hayes and DT's Andre Fluellen and Letroy Guion.  Junior College transfer DE Markus White will contribute and the LB position is deep.  Florida State needs to replace PK Gary Cismesia to boost special teams.

Boston College Eagles  7-5 (3-5)

Wins:

at Kent State, Georgia Tech, UCF, Rhode Island, at North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Maryland

Losses:

Virginia Tech, at North Carolina, Clemson, at Florida State, at Wake Forest

Outlook:

Boston College will start out the season strong with an easy non-conference schedule.  They will fall well short of last year's 11-3 season though.  They should start the season 5-0 but could lose five of their last seven.  Three of them will be on the road against better teams.

The eagles only return six on offense.  Among them are TE Ryan Purvis, OT Anthony Castonzo, and WR's Rich Gunnell and Brandon Robinson.  They lost key players that led to their success last season.  QB Matt Ryan, WR Kevin Challenger, OT Gosder Cherilus, and RB's Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth.  A brand new backfield will lead an offense that will be far less successful than last year.

The defense also lost talent leaving some holes to fill.  The secondary lost CB DeJuan Tribble and FS Jamie Silva.  The LB position will be a strong point even though Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Tyronne Pruitt are gone.  Brian Toal and Mark Herzlich return.  Boston College will have to replace both DE's as well including Nick Larkin.  They need to replace P Johnny Ayers also.

Maryland Terrapins  6-6 (2-6)

Wins:

Delaware, at Middle Tennessee, California, Eastern Michigan, at Virginia, North Carolina State

Losses:

at Clemson, Wake Forest, at Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, at Boston College

Outlook:

Maryland will come out strong in non-conference play and beat California at home.  They will start to stumble at Clemson and could lose six of their last eight games as the schedule gets tough.  Clemson and Virginia Tech, their two hardest opponents, are both on the road.

The Terrapins could have a very good offense as all but two starters return.  They lost OG Andrew Crummey and their two best RB's in Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore.  A new RB will have to step in and flourish behind the rest of the offense.  Key returners are QB Chris Turner, FB Cory Jackson, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, C Edwin Williams, and LT Scott Burley.  Besides at RB, WR's need to step up this season.

The defense is the reason why Marlyand will only have a .500 season.  Only five starters return.  LB Erin Henderson, SS Christian Varner, and DT's Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano are gone.  Despite these loses, the secondary and LB position should be strong.  These positions are led by CB Kevin Barnes and LB's Moise Fokou and Dave Philistin.  The defensive line will be a major question entering the season.

North Carolina State Wolfpack  3-9 (1-7)

Wins:

William & Mary, East Carolina, at Duke

Losses:

at South Carolina, at Clemson, South Florida, Boston College, Florida State, at Maryland, Wake Forest, at North Carolina, Miami (FL)

Outlook:

The outlook is not good for North Carolina State.  They may only manage one conference win, against the worst team in the Coastal Division in Duke.  A tough non-conference schedule doesn't help.  They have to play at South Carolina and a good South Florida team.  If players don't stay healthy this season, it is going to be very ugly.

The Wolfpack only return six on offense including TE Anthony Hill and RB's Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene.  The offensive line is poised to be good this season, but without a sure QB behind them.  Perhaps Mike Glennon, younger brother of Virginia Tech QB Sean Glennon, can step in.  Players not returning are FB Pat Bedics, TE Marcus Stone, and WR's John Dunlap and Darrell Blackman.

The defense returns a decent amount of starters at seven.  CB Jeremy Gray, DE Willie Young, and DT Alan-Michael Cash will lead.  There are some questions as DT DeMario Pressley, SS DaJuan Morgan, and LB's Ernest Jones and James Martin are gone.

Tom O'Brien will not improve in his second season as head coach after last year's 5-7 record.  The schedule is too strong as most of the opponents will be more talented, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

ACC Coastal Division coming soon.