Atlantic
1. Florida
State—The national title contending Seminoles will rely on a suffocating
defense to achieve their dreams of raising the crystal football in Miami. The
defense returns nine starters from a year ago in which the unit ranked 4th
nationally in total yards and points per game. Defensive end Brandon Jenkins
returns after a stellar 2011 in which he racked up 41 tackles, 12.5 tackles for
a loss, and eight sacks. Alongside Jenkins will be end Bjoern Werner and five
tackles who boast starting experience from a year ago. The linebacking corps
also returns two starters, and the secondary is one of the strongest in the
nation and will terrorize opponents passing games all season. Let’s review: the
Seminoles defense is terrifying and will dominate the conference yet again. On
offense, dual-threat quarterback EJ Manuel returns for his senior season and
will look to improve on his 2,666 yard, 18 touchdown performance in 2011. In
the backfield, the duties will be split between senior Chris Thompson and
Devonta Freeman, both of whom have breakaway speed. This team is loaded on both
sides of the ball, and even returns their All-American kicker. The Seminoles
should be on the short list for national title contenders. Final Prediction: (12-0, 8-0, BCS National Championship)
2. Clemson—The
Tigers are fielding one of their strongest teams in years, unfortunately for
them, so is Florida State. But there is still hope with the return of
playmaking wideout Sammy Watkins (1,219 yards, 12 touchdowns) to go along with
quarterback Tajh Boyd (3,828 yards, 33 touchdowns) and senior running back Andre
Ellington (1,178 yards, 11 touchdowns). In short, the Tigers’ offense will be
outstanding and is one of the most explosive in the country. The other side of
the ball is undergoing a face lift with the hiring of Brett Venables who is
simplifying the scheme and that should help the Tiger’s unit, which struggled mightily
last season despite having outstanding athletes. Clemson’s season comes down to
two games; September 22nd at Florida State and October 20th
when they host Coastal favorite Virginia Tech. If the Tigers can escape Tallahassee
with a win, the Hokies game is very winnable and it could be the Tigers instead
of the Seminoles on top of the conference. Final Prediction: (10-2, 7-1, Orange Bowl)
3. NC
State—After an excellent eight-win 2011, the Wolfpack are hungry for more.
Quarterback Mike Glennon is back after throwing for 3,054 yards and 31 touchdowns
last season. If the Wolfpack want to have any chance in the competitive Atlantic
division, the line must improve after allowing 38 sacks last season and
anchoring a rushing attack that finished 109th nationally. David Amerson
set an ACC record with 13 interceptions last season and heads up a secondary
that returns all four starters which should help compensate for a linebacker
corps that lost all three starters (one to graduation, one to the NFL, and one
to NCAA suspension). The Wolfpack are an excellent squad and could end up with
ten wins if they get a few breaks along the way. Final Prediction
(9-3, 5-3, Russell Athletic Bowl)
4. Maryland—Head
coach Randy Edsall will have to rebound from an embarrassing 2011 in which the
Terps won two games after winning eight in 2010 under former coach Ralph
Friedgen. The Terrapins will now also have to replace both of their starting
quarterbacks from a year ago as Danny O’Brien is now the starter at Wisconsin
and CJ Brown suffered a torn ACL. Under center this season will be true
freshman Perry Hills who came to college park as a highly touted recruit, time
to see if he can match the expectations. Hills will be throwing to a solid receiving
corps, Maryland’s definite strength, that is headlined by senior Kevin Dorsey (45
catches, 573 yards) and stud freshman and five-star recruit Stefon Diggs who
will also return kicks and punts. On defense, Joe Vellano (94 tackles, 7.5 for
a loss) will lead the defensive line after garnering All-American honors last
season. Defensive end AJ Francis is also a force in the middle and will help
the Terrapins stay in games, a feat they struggled with in 2011. Final Prediction: (5-7, 2-6, no bowl)
5. Wake
Forest—Tanner Price threw for over 3,000 yards last season and is the key
returner for the Demon Deacons. Price also threw 20 touchdowns against 6
interceptions and will look to keep that excellent ratio going. The rest of the
offense is question mark however, with the return of only two experienced players
on the offensive line. Running back Josh Harris will have to regain his 2010
form if he wants to remain the starter after a rocky 2011. Defensively, the
Demon Deacons’ strength will be the secondary which returns three excellent
starters and will allow the front seven to focus on the run and improve the
defense as a whole. This team is still far behind the top of the conference and
will need a group of unknowns to step up if they want to achieve the success of
the squad that made the Orange Bowl in 2007. Final
Prediction: (4-8. 2-6, no bowl)
6. Boston
College—The worst team in the conference by a decent margin, the Eagles will
now have to deal with installing a new running game, after star running back
Montel Harris was kicked off the team. Junior quarterback Chase Rettig (1,960
yards, 12 touchdowns) hopes to take another step forward and could be the key
to a decent season, something that has been missing in recent years. The Eagles
also lost loads on defense with the departure of Luke Kuechly (2x
All-American), graduation of top lineman Brian Holloway and top cover corner
Donnie Fletcher. In short, the Eagles are too inexperienced to make any real
noise and will struggle to win one conference game. Final Prediction: (2-10, 0-8)
Coastal
1. Virginia
Tech—The Hokies had a gut-wrenching 2011, losing in the ACC title game in embarrassing
fashion and then getting their heart ripped out in the Sugar Bowl after what
looked like a touchdown catch was ruled incomplete. 2012 is a new day for the
Hokies however, and they should remain on top of the ACC Coastal. Quarterback
Logan Thomas (3,013 yards, 19 passing TDs, 15 rushing TDs) returns and showed
steady improvement throughout last season and should continue that upswing.
Replacing eight starters, including David Wilson (to the New York Giants) and
Danny Coale (Cowboys), will be difficult but the Hokies cupboard is full as
usual. On defense, eight starters return and look to capture the suffocating defense
of old. Returning the entire defensive line should help, especially since they
led the ACC with 41 sacks last season. The linebackers and secondary have a bit
of an injury problem, but if they stay healthy the Hokies will undoubtedly
remain the class of the ACC Coastal. Final
Prediction: (10-2, 6-2, Chik-fil-A Bowl)
2. Virginia—The
Cavaliers made one of the best hires in recent memory by bringing in head coach
Mike London in 2010. London has revitalized the program and will continue their
ascension in 2012. Mike Rocco looks to have a firm grip of the starting job but
must stay focused and avoid mistakes or London could quickly make the change to
David Watford, as he did at times in 2011. Perry Jones (915 yards, 5
touchdowns) is solid and will be the go-to option out of the backfield.
Defensively in 2011, the Cavs are led by fifth-year senior linebacker Steve
Greer who racked up a team-leading 103 tackles in 2011. The secondary is a
question mark however and will be tested throughout the year. With an improved
offense, the Cavaliers could find themselves in the thick of another division
title hunt and will most certainly find themselves in another bowl game. Final Prediction: (9-3, 6-2, Sun Bowl) 
3. North
Carolina—The Tar Heels hired Larry Fedora away from Southern Mississippi after
last season and hope that he can bring his mid-major success to Chapel Hill.
Quarterback Bryn Renner (3.086 yards, 26 touchdowns) will lead the Tar Heels
offense. Along with Renner will be sophomore running back Giovani Bernard who
rushed for over 1,000 yards as a true freshman. Erik Highsmith (51 receptions)
will lead the receiving corps and will be counted on as a third down threat. On
defense, the Tar Heels are installing a new 4-2-5 scheme that will look to
confuse opposing offenses with unconventional sets and blitzes. The Tar Heels
have had outstanding defenses in years past, but the team is lacking on the
star power from years before, but if Fedora can get his new scheme to stick and
Renner can continue his torrid pace, the Tar Heels will find themselves in the
thick of the Coastal race. Final Prediction: (8-4, 5-3, Belk Bowl)
4. Georgia
Tech—Paul Johnson’s spread option offense gives teams fits as they try to
prepare for it on a week to week basis. Playmaker Orwin Smith racked up 615
yards on only 60 carries last season and will look to continue his torrid pace
in 2012. 2011’s starting quarterback Tevin Washington is back as well but must
improve his decision making after failing to throw a touchdown in the Yellow Jackets’
last seven games. Former UVA head coach Al Groh leads the defense into the
third year of his 3-4 scheme which should improve now that Groh has been able
to lock down players that fir into the scheme. The Yellow Jackets are still a
year or two away from returning to their ACC title heights but Johnson is an
excellent coach and could return them to the postseason sooner than originally thought.
Final Prediction: (6-6, 4-4, Music City
Bowl)
5. Miami—The
Hurricanes are far removed from their glory days when they were consistent
national title contenders. Currently, the team is led by quarterback Stephen
Morris, who had a decent 2011 but must make a recovery from a back surgery that
kept him out of spring practice. The team must also rebound from the loss of
over half of their receiving yards from 2011, three starters from the offensive
line, and the team’s leading rusher from last season as well. The defense is a
bit stronger, especially sophomore Denzel Perryman (69 tackles, 6.5 for a loss)
who was second on the team in tackles as a true freshman. The defense must also
replace All-American safety Ray-Ray Armstrong who was kicked off the team in
July after repeated violations of team rules. The Hurricanes are a few years
away from returning to their former glory and with the emergence of Virginia Tech
and UVA, it could be even longer. Final
Prediction: (4-8, 2-6, no bowl)
6. Duke—The
Blue Devils, a consistent punch line in the ACC, have been steadily improving
under head coach David Cutcliffe. Sean Renfree (2,891 yards, 13 touchdowns) is
an excellent quarterback and will help the Blue Devils compete in more games
than ever before. The offensive line has also improved and will give Renfree
more time to pass and should also be the key to an improved rushing attack. On
defense, the Blue Devils must rebound from the loss of All-ACC safety Matt Daniels
to graduation. The secondary is still strong though with the return of starters
Russ Cockrell and Walt Canty. The Blue Devils are improved from recent years
and are not even the worst team in the conference anymore. Cutlcliffe is slowly
building the program and improvement should continue into the future. Final Prediction: (3-9, 1-7, no bowl)
ACC Title Game: Florida State vs. Virginia Tech--The Seminoles defense will prove to be too much for the inexperienced defense and EJ Manuel will lead the 'Noles over the Hokies and back to the national title game. Winner: Florida State
Offensive Player of the Year: Sammy Watkins, WR/KR, Clemson
Defensive Player of the Year: Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
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