ACC Football: Predicting How Every Conference Team Will Finish in 2013

2012 saw the ACC have a bit of a return to success. Both Florida State and Clemson finished in the top 10 of the coaches poll. The Seminoles throttled Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl to win their first BCS Bowl in quite some time.

This year, the league has two teams ranked in the preseason top 12, as both Clemson and FSU push to be the football powers the league needs.

Miami, a team that has found top-level success hard to come by since joining the ACC, is hoping 2013 is the season it has been waiting for since expansion. The Hurricanes play in a Coastal Division that is wide open; Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and UNC all have flaws that can be exploited. 

For the ACC, this season is about building on last year's success. Florida State has a new quarterback, while Clemson is hoping to get better on defense. The ACC as a whole is looking for a team that can get a title shot.

Coastal Division: Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia returns a lot of experience on both sides of the ball in Mike London's fourth season, but it still lacks a true identity as a program. Kevin Parks will again set the tone on the ground, hoping to reach the 1,000-yard mark. He will be helped by Taquan Mizzell, an incoming burner of a running back.

But the question is, will the quarterback play stop teams from loading up the box?

David Watford is the No. 1 quarterback heading into camp, a sophomore who took a redshirt last season. Watford has to be consistent moving the ball downfield to make teams respect the Cavaliers' passing game.

On defense, consistency is the Holy Grail that continues to elude Virginia. An offense getting first downs will help the unit out, but ultimately this is a team that has to get on the same page defensively and get stops. There is some talent at every level of the defense; it is about getting consistent production at this point.

Win-Loss Prediction: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)

Coastal Division: Duke Blue Devils

Last season, Duke got a bowl game for the first time since 1994. In 2013, the Blue Devils will need to win early and steal a game or two, much like a season ago, to get back into the postseason.

Quarterback Sean Renfree has graduated, leaving the offense in the hands of Anthony Boone, a versatile quarterback.

Jela Duncan will set the tone on the ground, but with Boone capable of running and passing, look for Duke to try and tax teams with designed quarterback runs, the read-option game and pushing tempo. The passing game should still be prolific with Jamison Crowder and Issac Blakeney returning at wide receiver.

When it comes to stopping people, Duke is still going to have trouble, especially with Walt Canty gone. The nucleus of the defense is intact, but it remains an undersized and under-talented unit.

5-7 (1-7)

Coastal Division: Pittsburgh Panthers

Pitt was a team that, last year, following losses to Youngstown State and Cincinnati, everyone wrote off. Yet first-year coach Paul Chryst was able to circle the wagons and guide the team to a six-win season and somewhat unexpected bowl berth.

2013 is Year 2 for Chryst, and the young men in that locker room have bought into what Chryst has been selling. There aren't a lot of household names on the Pitt two-deep, but what you find is a group of hardworking guys who will do what their coach asks of them to win ballgames, and that can go a long way.

Tom Savage gets the start in the opener, but the defense will be where this team's bread is buttered. Players like Lafayette Pitts and Aaron Donald will have to set the tone as the Panthers move from the Big East into the ACC.

5-7 (2-6)

Coastal Division: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Vad Lee gets the unquestioned reins to the Yellow Jackets offense. The quarterback is ready to show what he can do. With the presence of Lee, look for Paul Johnson to expand the offense, including more shotgun looks as the season progresses.

Ted Roof, the former Duke head coach and Penn State's 2012 defensive coordinator, has returned to his alma mater to lead the Jackets' defense. The unit has a lot of starters back and plenty experience. Roof will get the defense playing well, which will help the offense when it struggles at times against sound opposition.

This should be a team that, provided it can move the ball through the air when necessary, should play plenty of close games. The difference between being a six-win team and getting to double-digits will be turnovers and close plays for Paul Johnson's group.

7-5 (5-3)

Coastal Division: North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina was 1-2 when scoring below 30 points in 2012. Yet the Heels absorbed two more losses, games where the offense put up 34 and 50 points, respectively.

In 2013, with an offense that will continue to improve under quarterback Bryn Renner, it is all about the defense doing its job.

In ACC play, UNC surrendered 32.9 points per game, a number that was good for 10th in the conference. This year, Vic Koenning and Dan Disch have to work on blending their systems in a way that helps North Carolina get out of the defensive doghouse. With a wide-open Coastal Division, some key stops could put UNC into the ACC Championship Game.

High-energy coach Larry Fedora is looking to rev up the tempo of his offense even more in 2013. A team that put up 40.6 points a game on the season is looking for even more. Wide receiver Quinshad Davis and tight end Eric Ebron give the Heels a nice inside-outside combination through the air, and backs AJ Blue and Romar Morris should power the run game.

9-3 (6-2)

Coastal Division: Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season, Virginia Tech experienced a down year by its standards, going 7-6 and 4-4 in the ACC. The Hokies struggled against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Russell Athletic Bowl, but they pulled out a win.

2013 is when Frank Beamer hopes to get back on the right track.

Defensively, the Hokies are revamping the unit, getting back towards a more physical look to focus on stopping the run. After being gashed by North Carolina and Pittsburgh, stopping the run returns to the front of Bud Foster's mind. His team should respond.

Offensively, Scot Loeffler is the new coordinator. While many will point to the Auburn disaster, Loeffler is a solid fit for the Hokies. Expect the new coordinator to use Logan Thomas' big frame in the run game, find a running back to ride with power and zone runs, and take shots downfield as they come.

9-3 (6-2)

Coastal Division: Miami Hurricanes

After tying for first in the Coastal Division last season but electing to sit out the postseason, many expect the 'Canes to break out in 2013. Everything, save for experienced running back depth, is in place for the offense to be among the nation's best.

The question marks for Miami are the defense, and more importantly, getting production out of the defense. Miami surrendered big points, was ineffective at putting consistent pressure on the quarterback, and had a tough time getting off the field on third down.

With an infusion of talent on both sides of the ball, and a coaching staff that is pushing the players to believe the sky is the limit, Miami will be close to that double-digit win plateau that has evaded it for quite some time.

10-2 (6-2)

Atlantic Division: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Wake Forest started 3-1 and then struggled through the rest of the year as the lack of depth and talent caught up with it throughout ACC play.

Tanner Price, the quarterback, is back for another season. He will be looking for help from stud receiver Michael Campanaro.

Unfortunately for Wake Forest, there will be some tough uphill sledding.

The Demon Deacons' rushing game was ineffective last season. While Josh Harris should be healthy, finding holes against a rapidly improving ACC will not be easy.

Defensively, the levy broke several times in 2012. Although there is plenty of experience returning, stopping high-powered offenses will still be an issue. Winning close games will be the key to the Demon Deacons getting back to a bowl game.

5-7 (2-6)

Atlantic Division: Boston College Eagles

Going 2-10 and missing another bowl game was the final straw for a once-proud Boston College program. The Eagles dumped Frank Spaziani and brought in Steve Addazio to fix the issues, of which there are many.

On the positive side, there is Chase Rettig, one of the ACC's most underrated players. Rettig is a quarterback who can make all the throws, but he goes into the year with the fifth offensive coordinator of his career. Ryan Day will be pulling the strings on a BC offense that will have to grind it out and make its own breaks against defenses that have more top-end talent.

Don Brown heads to BC to run the defense. With a lot of experienced players on that side of the ball, his technically sound approach to stopping teams should see some success. BC's hallmark has been making teams earn every yard. Brown's approach will help get the team back to its defensive roots.

5-7 (3-5)

Atlantic Division: Syracuse Orange

Ryan Nassib, Shamarko Thomas and Doug Marrone are all gone to the NFL, leaving the Orange to replace a starting quarterback, a safety and a head coach.

On the plus side, 'Cuse has an optimistic feel about joining the ACC coming off a beating of West Virginia for the ages, and new coach Scott Shafer helps keep some continuity within the program.

Defensively, Syracuse is going to look to continue what it has been building towards under Shafer in the last four seasons. That means sound football technique, great game-planning and good tackling. Thomas is out, but the Orange have plenty of experienced players back for Shafer and new defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough.

While everyone points to the quarterback question, Syracuse's offensive answer will come on the ground with Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley. Add in Adonis Ameen-Moore, and the Orange have a loaded backfield that will set the tone for the offense.

6-6 (4-4)

Atlantic Division: Maryland Terrapins

Maryland spent 2011 and 2012 as the butt of many people's jokes. The uniforms, the transfer situation and Randy Edsall's 6-18 record drew ample criticism. While many laughed, the Terrapins were busy improving the talent on the roster and finding a way to be explosive on offense.

Last year, Maryland could not stretch its offensive legs with all of the injury woes at the quarterback position. This season, with a healthy quarterback, look for the Terrapins to have a more consistent offense to go with their defense.

Running back Wes Brown is suspended for the season, but Stefon Diggs, the ACC's most explosive player this side of Sammy Watkins and Duke Johnson, is poised for a breakout season.

Defensively, Maryland fought hard in 2012. Coordinator Brian Stewart will look to continue that fight while replacing some talented players. If the Terps can get some offensive help, this defense will keep them in games.

That should translate into more wins and a bowl season.

Atlantic Division: North Carolina State Wolfpack

The humdrum of Tom O'Brien gives way to the energy and fast-paced approach of new head coach Dave Doeren. Doeren is coming off a two-year stint at Northern Illinois in which he helped lead the Huskies to a BCS bowl berth in 2012.

2013 will be a year of transition. NC State's roster has to learn how to play faster, and Doeren has to find a quarterback to lead the way. Doeren has a host of options, including Pete Thomas, a Colorado State transfer, Brandon Mitchell, an Arkansas transfer, Manny Stocker, Bryant Shirreffs and Josh Taylor. Shirreffs and Taylor are both freshmen.

Defensively, Dave Huxtable, the new defensive coordinator, is going to try and simplify the defense to get more out of the players he has. Last season, NCSU boasted a unit that looked great at times, but other times proved to be confused and easily exposed, especially against tempo-based attacks.

The 'Pack will take some lumps, but Doeren's approach will work.

8-4 (4-4)

Atlantic Division: Clemson Tigers

Clemson is gunning for three straight double-digit win seasons. Fueled by an 11-win campaign in 2012, including a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over ninth-ranked LSU, the Tigers enter 2013 as a top-10 team. The offense should continue to hum like a well-tuned machine. 

Replacing "Nuke" Hopkins will be on the shoulders of 2011's star, Sammy Watkins, while Roderick McDowell looks to fill the void left by Andre Ellington. Watkins is one of the ACC's most explosive players. In 2013 it will again be his show, after Hopkins rose into the spotlight in 2012. McDowell is a capable back with good vision who runs tough.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd has a sound offensive line, plus Watkins, McDowell and a host of other weapons waiting to get their turn.

On the defense, with his second year at Clemson, coordinator Brent Venables hopes to see some growth out of his players. Stephone Anthony and Tony Steward have to step up at the linebacker position, while incoming freshman Mackensie Alexander could be the talent infusion the secondary needs.

10-2 (7-1)

Atlantic Division: Florida State Seminoles

Loaded is the best way to describe Florida State—on both sides of the ball.

Yes, the Seminoles lost some talent, but Jimbo Fisher and his recruiting wins over the last few years have kept the 'Noles with a stocked cupboard.

Jameis Winston gets the reins of the offense, but the weight will be on the running game as the young quarterback finds his way.

Devonta Freeman and James Wilder are battling for carries in the backfield. Wilder, a beast of a running back, seems poised to explode. On the edge, Rashad Greene is back to lead a stocked receiving corps. Winston just has to get his playmakers the ball and let them do the rest.

The biggest question for Florida State is going to be what the defense looks like. New coordinator Jeremy Pruitt comes to Tallahassee after three years at Alabama. Expect 4-3, 3-4 and 4-2-5 looks as Florida State tries to get all of its talent on the field and attacking the opposition.

11-1 (8-0)