This will be the first in a series of very early looks at the BCS Conferences and what they may have to offer this season: In alphabetical order, so we lead off with the ACC.
Atlantic:
1. Florida State. A no brainer here. With 17 returning starters, all the 'Noles need do is develop a good QB and Florida State should cruise in this division. Many think the E.J. Manuel is that QB. A schedule with no Va. Tech or North Carolina on it, and N.C. State and Maryland at home make Florida State the easy pick here. The toughest game they may have could be against Oklahoma. Loook for N.C. asperations here.
2. North Carolina State. The Wolfpack finally got ontrack last season, and finished the year with 9 wins. To repeat that success, N.C. State's QB Wilson will have to depend on some new WR's as the pack loses 3. The defense must find replacements on the line. Still, with a schedule that is very user frinedly, look for the possibility of 10 wins for the Pack this season.
3. Maryland. New H.C. Randy Edsel inherits a team that shocked everyone last season with 9 wins. This year promises to be more difficult, with the loss of RB Scott, two WR's and two LB's. The schedule promises to be a lot tougher also, with games at Florida State, North Carolina State, and Georgia Tech, plus a game in Landover with Notre Dame. Maryland should be bowl bound, but 9 wins is a lot to ask this season.
4. Wake Forest. The Deacons had a very poor 2010, but return 9 starters on offense, and 8 on defense. H.C. Grobe has done very well with teams like this, who fly under the radar. The schedule is difficult, but look for Wake to surprise a few teams.
5. Boston College. This team needs to find some scoring punch, now that the defense is losing 5 starters. The offense must replace 3 on the line. The schedule is very tough, with games at Notre Dame, Va. Tech, and Miami, plus the Atlantic rivals. Perhaps their opener against Northwestern will tell us a lot.
6. Clemson. This may be a very tough year for H.C. Swinney, whose team finished a disappointing 6-7 last season. With QB parker and three others gone on offense, and 6 gone on defense incoudling most of the LB and secondary corps, Clemson has a lot of holes to fill in. Add on a killer schedule that includes games against Auburn and at South Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech, and it could be a very long year for Dabo.
Next Up: ACC Coastal.
Atlantic:
1. Florida State. A no brainer here. With 17 returning starters, all the 'Noles need do is develop a good QB and Florida State should cruise in this division. Many think the E.J. Manuel is that QB. A schedule with no Va. Tech or North Carolina on it, and N.C. State and Maryland at home make Florida State the easy pick here. The toughest game they may have could be against Oklahoma. Loook for N.C. asperations here.
2. North Carolina State. The Wolfpack finally got ontrack last season, and finished the year with 9 wins. To repeat that success, N.C. State's QB Wilson will have to depend on some new WR's as the pack loses 3. The defense must find replacements on the line. Still, with a schedule that is very user frinedly, look for the possibility of 10 wins for the Pack this season.
3. Maryland. New H.C. Randy Edsel inherits a team that shocked everyone last season with 9 wins. This year promises to be more difficult, with the loss of RB Scott, two WR's and two LB's. The schedule promises to be a lot tougher also, with games at Florida State, North Carolina State, and Georgia Tech, plus a game in Landover with Notre Dame. Maryland should be bowl bound, but 9 wins is a lot to ask this season.
4. Wake Forest. The Deacons had a very poor 2010, but return 9 starters on offense, and 8 on defense. H.C. Grobe has done very well with teams like this, who fly under the radar. The schedule is difficult, but look for Wake to surprise a few teams.
5. Boston College. This team needs to find some scoring punch, now that the defense is losing 5 starters. The offense must replace 3 on the line. The schedule is very tough, with games at Notre Dame, Va. Tech, and Miami, plus the Atlantic rivals. Perhaps their opener against Northwestern will tell us a lot.
6. Clemson. This may be a very tough year for H.C. Swinney, whose team finished a disappointing 6-7 last season. With QB parker and three others gone on offense, and 6 gone on defense incoudling most of the LB and secondary corps, Clemson has a lot of holes to fill in. Add on a killer schedule that includes games against Auburn and at South Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech, and it could be a very long year for Dabo.
Next Up: ACC Coastal.
