Before I get into this preview, let me just say that this is the most wide open conference out there aside from the Big East this year in my opinion. Both sides of this conference have at least 3 teams on each side that have a legit chance at winning their division. Don't be handing the crown to Virginia Tech just yet.
Clemson
I see three teams that have a chance to win this division: Clemson (who I am picking), Florida State and NC State. I'm not being facetious whenever I say that I am sad to see Tommy Bowden go at Clemson. He was great fade material. And, for a gambler, that was a plus to know that it was consistently a good bet. The same can't be said for Swinney, because for the most part, we don't know that much about him. But, let me tell you what I do know: After Tommy Bowden started this team out at 3-3 and got fired last year, Swinney took the team to 4-2 in regular season and barely lost the Gator Bowl game to Nebraska. The thing I noticed is that Swinney seemed to have a great deal of confidence as the HC and he wasn't afraid to make changes. He fired the OC and the DC quit. Since the season ended, he made a great hire hiring Kevin Steele as his DC. Bowden was never able to get the talent he had to perform to their potential. In the short time Swinney was the coach last year, he seemed to get the Tigers to do just that. Swinney is a grad off the National Championship Alabama team. He knows what it takes to win, so will he be able to relate that to his players? We'll see.
Swinney definitely has the personnel to go far this season and prove that he is a good coach. The offense brings back 7 offensive starters and several experienced players while the defense brings back 8 starters and several experienced players. Spiller is a national class RB and Swinney will have two fully capable QBs to choose from for the starting job. The best thing yet is the fact that he has an offensive line that is healthy and experienced at multiple positions after being shifted around last year due to injury and other reasons. There is a great amount of depth at this position and the reason why I am giving Clemson the nod for Champs of this division. The receiving corps can consider themselves the weak corp on the offensive side, however, we need to watch Jacoby Ford who is a track star and has blazing speed.
Defensively, this team is solid all through the lineup. Their strength is going to be stopping the run. They will need to show that they have the talent to rush the QB and produce some sacks as this has been a weakness. However, the backfield is solid and should do a decent job against the pass. As has already been mentioned, Kevin Steele is highly respected nation wide for his defensive prowess and he will make this defensive unit tough for any opposing offenses.
Play-On Games:
September 19th Clemson vs. Boston College -- Boston College has some hurdles to overcome this season. They have to find a starting QB, they have to play under a new coach (although the schemes should stay the same), they have to find a new starting QB, their number 2 tackler of last year will likely not be ready to play this game because of injury (Mike McLaughlin, MLB) and Dominique Davis, one of the best options at QB, has transferred. This will be the first road game for whoever the starting QB will be. Clemson will come into this game very seasoned with their early schedule and should be ready. My prediction: Clemson 28 and Boston College 7.
October 17th Clemson vs. Wake Forest -- This was a deciding game last year -- it was the game Clemson lost to inferior team and caused Tommy Bowden to be fired. This year, WF returns 9 starters on offense -- an offense that was "offensive" to everyone who watched it last season. Defensively, WF loses a lot and brings back only 4 starters. Clemson will be coming off a bye-week while WF will be in the kidst of a 7 game stretch without a rest. My prediction: Clemson 31 and Wake Forest 10.
November 7th Clemson vs. Florida State -- This game could very well decide the Atlantic Division champion. Florida State has this game sandwiched between stiff competition in NC State and WF. Last year, Florida State beat a Swinney coached team by 14 points. I think this is a different situation this year with very different results. I expect a short line. My prediction: Clemson 24 and Florida State 17.
Clemson
I see three teams that have a chance to win this division: Clemson (who I am picking), Florida State and NC State. I'm not being facetious whenever I say that I am sad to see Tommy Bowden go at Clemson. He was great fade material. And, for a gambler, that was a plus to know that it was consistently a good bet. The same can't be said for Swinney, because for the most part, we don't know that much about him. But, let me tell you what I do know: After Tommy Bowden started this team out at 3-3 and got fired last year, Swinney took the team to 4-2 in regular season and barely lost the Gator Bowl game to Nebraska. The thing I noticed is that Swinney seemed to have a great deal of confidence as the HC and he wasn't afraid to make changes. He fired the OC and the DC quit. Since the season ended, he made a great hire hiring Kevin Steele as his DC. Bowden was never able to get the talent he had to perform to their potential. In the short time Swinney was the coach last year, he seemed to get the Tigers to do just that. Swinney is a grad off the National Championship Alabama team. He knows what it takes to win, so will he be able to relate that to his players? We'll see.
Swinney definitely has the personnel to go far this season and prove that he is a good coach. The offense brings back 7 offensive starters and several experienced players while the defense brings back 8 starters and several experienced players. Spiller is a national class RB and Swinney will have two fully capable QBs to choose from for the starting job. The best thing yet is the fact that he has an offensive line that is healthy and experienced at multiple positions after being shifted around last year due to injury and other reasons. There is a great amount of depth at this position and the reason why I am giving Clemson the nod for Champs of this division. The receiving corps can consider themselves the weak corp on the offensive side, however, we need to watch Jacoby Ford who is a track star and has blazing speed.
Defensively, this team is solid all through the lineup. Their strength is going to be stopping the run. They will need to show that they have the talent to rush the QB and produce some sacks as this has been a weakness. However, the backfield is solid and should do a decent job against the pass. As has already been mentioned, Kevin Steele is highly respected nation wide for his defensive prowess and he will make this defensive unit tough for any opposing offenses.
Play-On Games:
September 19th Clemson vs. Boston College -- Boston College has some hurdles to overcome this season. They have to find a starting QB, they have to play under a new coach (although the schemes should stay the same), they have to find a new starting QB, their number 2 tackler of last year will likely not be ready to play this game because of injury (Mike McLaughlin, MLB) and Dominique Davis, one of the best options at QB, has transferred. This will be the first road game for whoever the starting QB will be. Clemson will come into this game very seasoned with their early schedule and should be ready. My prediction: Clemson 28 and Boston College 7.
October 17th Clemson vs. Wake Forest -- This was a deciding game last year -- it was the game Clemson lost to inferior team and caused Tommy Bowden to be fired. This year, WF returns 9 starters on offense -- an offense that was "offensive" to everyone who watched it last season. Defensively, WF loses a lot and brings back only 4 starters. Clemson will be coming off a bye-week while WF will be in the kidst of a 7 game stretch without a rest. My prediction: Clemson 31 and Wake Forest 10.
November 7th Clemson vs. Florida State -- This game could very well decide the Atlantic Division champion. Florida State has this game sandwiched between stiff competition in NC State and WF. Last year, Florida State beat a Swinney coached team by 14 points. I think this is a different situation this year with very different results. I expect a short line. My prediction: Clemson 24 and Florida State 17.
