This is by far, the most talented conference in the ACC, and perhaps the closest division within a conference in the BCS. Any one of 4 teams can win it all. Here is what it looks like:
Last year we said the Paul Johnson was the brightest coach in the ACC, and he rewarded us and GEORGIA TECH with an ACC Championship. This year should be no different. With Josh Nesbitt leading a powerful offense, Tech will once again score almost at will. The defense loses Derrick Morgan and just one other starter, and must improve for Tech to take the next step. The road schedule is tough, with games at Clemson, UNC, Va. Tech and Georgia. Still, another ACC Championship is in the cards.
VIRGINIA TECH may have finally found an offense behind QB Taylor and RB Evans. There was a tremendous improvment in their offense last year. If anything, the defense slumped a bit. The defense could be a problem this year with 6 starters and two others on the two deep list gone. Va. Tech plays a critical game against Boise State in Landover Md. this season. This should tell us just how good both Va. Tech, and the ACC really are.
MIAMI and QB Harris got off to a flying start last year, defeating Florida State and Ga. Tech. Then reality set in and and 'Canes finished the season with 4 losses including an embarrasement against Wisconsin. The offense will once again be led by Harris, but loses most of it's line. The defense returns all but 4 starters. Last year, consistancy was a major problem for Miami. This year, with two early games at Ohio State and at Pitt, Miami will be tested immediately.
Butch Davis has done a great job of recruiting at NORTH CAROLINA, but must take the next step this season. Part of that is defeating N.C. State, which he has never done. This team was too good to lose 5 games last season. The big culprit was the offense, which scored only 81 points in 5 losses. That unit loses 3 starters on the OL and 4 overall. The defense, which is the heart of the team, loses two starters and some depth on the DL, but that is about it. UNC opens in Atlanta against LSU. That game will tell us a lot about this years version of UNC.
How good is DUKE? Aparently good enough for HC Cutcliffe to turn down the Tennessee HC job. Cutcliffe will have his work cut out for him this year, losing his starting QB and 3 others on offense, and 6 starters on defense. That still leave a lot of starters returning, especially on offense, where Duke will have to do it's damage. Alabama takes Richmond's place on the schedule this year. It is too bad that Duke plays in the Costal Division, where they really have little chance of winning.
VIRGINIA is a mess. They get a new HC and coachig staff, and a new backfield. They also replace their starting RT, but the rest of the offense returns intact.The defense loses 5 starters. Virginia showed some spurts of life last season early, but were a disaster at the end. A new coach should pump some new life into this team, but the defense will have to show massive improvment. Try as they will, it is very difficult to see more than 4 wins for this team in 2010.
Next up: Big East.
Last year we said the Paul Johnson was the brightest coach in the ACC, and he rewarded us and GEORGIA TECH with an ACC Championship. This year should be no different. With Josh Nesbitt leading a powerful offense, Tech will once again score almost at will. The defense loses Derrick Morgan and just one other starter, and must improve for Tech to take the next step. The road schedule is tough, with games at Clemson, UNC, Va. Tech and Georgia. Still, another ACC Championship is in the cards.
VIRGINIA TECH may have finally found an offense behind QB Taylor and RB Evans. There was a tremendous improvment in their offense last year. If anything, the defense slumped a bit. The defense could be a problem this year with 6 starters and two others on the two deep list gone. Va. Tech plays a critical game against Boise State in Landover Md. this season. This should tell us just how good both Va. Tech, and the ACC really are.
MIAMI and QB Harris got off to a flying start last year, defeating Florida State and Ga. Tech. Then reality set in and and 'Canes finished the season with 4 losses including an embarrasement against Wisconsin. The offense will once again be led by Harris, but loses most of it's line. The defense returns all but 4 starters. Last year, consistancy was a major problem for Miami. This year, with two early games at Ohio State and at Pitt, Miami will be tested immediately.
Butch Davis has done a great job of recruiting at NORTH CAROLINA, but must take the next step this season. Part of that is defeating N.C. State, which he has never done. This team was too good to lose 5 games last season. The big culprit was the offense, which scored only 81 points in 5 losses. That unit loses 3 starters on the OL and 4 overall. The defense, which is the heart of the team, loses two starters and some depth on the DL, but that is about it. UNC opens in Atlanta against LSU. That game will tell us a lot about this years version of UNC.
How good is DUKE? Aparently good enough for HC Cutcliffe to turn down the Tennessee HC job. Cutcliffe will have his work cut out for him this year, losing his starting QB and 3 others on offense, and 6 starters on defense. That still leave a lot of starters returning, especially on offense, where Duke will have to do it's damage. Alabama takes Richmond's place on the schedule this year. It is too bad that Duke plays in the Costal Division, where they really have little chance of winning.
VIRGINIA is a mess. They get a new HC and coachig staff, and a new backfield. They also replace their starting RT, but the rest of the offense returns intact.The defense loses 5 starters. Virginia showed some spurts of life last season early, but were a disaster at the end. A new coach should pump some new life into this team, but the defense will have to show massive improvment. Try as they will, it is very difficult to see more than 4 wins for this team in 2010.
Next up: Big East.
