ACC Picks: Virginia Tech and the Rest

Pre-season predictions are like the ants that have recently invaded my kitchen. There sure are a lot of them, but those ants and what’s predicted in August will be long forgotten come December. It is fun, though, to look at what might be and then see three months later what really is.

Here we are less than a week before the start of the college football season, and I am here with my super-duper, don’t-take-them-to-the-bank ACC picks.

I don’t think there’s any question that the Atlantic Division of the conference is the overall better of the two divisions. But here in the week before it all starts, the best team comes from the Coastal Division, those Hokies from Virginia Tech.

Here’s how I see things.

The Eagles have much returning from last seasons’ 10-3 team, including All-ACC quarterback Matt Ryan. There is a new coaching staff, though, and the head coach, Jeff Jagodzinski, while he’s been around the college game and the pros for quite a while, has never been “the man” before. But he does have a good experienced coaching staff, including former head coach Steve Logan as his offensive coordinator.

Former coach Tom O’Brien did not leave the program bare of talent, but the end of the season schedule is like walking through woods filled with rattlers. How about Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Maryland, Clemson and Miami?

There is experienced talent on both sides of the ball. You don’t know, though, if the players and the new coaching staff will mesh. Obviously, I think they will.

I like the Eagles because of experience and Matt Ryan at quarterback. He should be the best in the league.

The Seminoles are the consensus pre-season pick to win the Atlantic. This is a program that still has an aura about it, but what’s happening on the field is not matching the reputation.

The head coach is still, of course, the legendary Bobby Bowden, and he has revamped the offensive staff even at the expense of his son. New offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has the credentials, but he still has Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee as quarterbacks. Neither has been close to anything but average. And can these guys run the ball for a change?

The Noles always have talent, but it’s just not the great talent that was scaring everybody last decade. Florida State wants to get back to the attacking ways that made them what they were. But can these players do that?

The schedule is brutal. It’s a safe habit to pick Florida State. I’m tired of doing it.

To show how much predictions mean, all you have to do is go back to last season and Wake Forest. The Deacons were picked dead last in the Atlantic and guess who wound up with the championship rings? It wasn’t easy, either, as this team overcame a lot of injuries to wear the ACC crown. Actually, Jim Grobe was pointing to this season.

Steve Logan, back when he was on local radio, used to rave about quarterback Riley Skinner. The red-shirt sophomore who came out of nowhere a year ago should be even better. Very smart, knows how to take care of the football.

The Deacons have a lot returning on offense, but their bend-but-don’t-break, big play defense is missing much from last season. Still, Grobe has built his program to a point that it might not win the league again, but they’ll be right there contending. You’ve got to admire what he’s done.

The Tigers either start slow and finish fast or start fast and finish slow. Last year, they limped like a big cat with a thorn in his paw, stumbling then falling to the finish line.

The Clemson faithful who pack that big stadium for every Tiger home game are restless. They’re pacing like a tiger does when trapped in a cage. Clemson is a football school and they want championships. Been a while hasn’t it?

James Davis and C.J. Spiller are as good as any running backs anywhere, but most of the guys who blocked for them are gone. So is quarterback Will Proctor, but that’s a good thing. Junior Cullen Harper gets his chance and he has to be better.

The Tigers get FSU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Boston College at Death Valley. Coach Tommy Bowden always manages to do just enough. Will this be the year that Clemson fans are tired of just enough?

I’ve seen some predictions that have the Terps winning this division. How crazy is that? For one thing, they don’t have a proven quarterback. There are good players on both sides of the ball and they have experience, but the kicking game will be as green as green can get.

The Terps were 9-4 in 2006. The key stretch was a streak of five straight wins by a total of just 13 points.

Close games have a way of evening up.

Tom O’Brien is on the scene, and he and his staff will clean up some of that undisciplined mess from a season ago.

The Wolfpack is not devoid of talent, especially at running back. If the offensive line can stay healthy and State can run the ball, that will take a lot of pressure off quarterback Daniel Evans who has won the job with a solid spring and summer practices. Getting the ball to Darrell Blackman would be a good thing.

Defensively, the Pack has plenty who have played, but few who have starred. And with John Deraney gone, what will the kicking game look like?

Give O’Brien some time. He knows how to put together a winner.

The Hokies are everybody’s favorite to win the ACC, and if they can luck out at LSU on Sept. 8, they are in the national picture.

Defensively, the Hokies are scary good. Eight starters return from a unit that gave up only 11 points per game.

Offensively, there’s a lot back, but maybe that’s not a good thing unless there’s been a heavy off-season of getting better. I do believe that’s the case.

Branden Ore is a moose who can run with the best. You have to believe that with experience, the offensive line will be better, but will quarterback Sean Glennon be more than just serviceable?

Tech has talent and they have the emotion of last spring’s tragedy. They’ll be playing for a community. That intangible will make a really good team even better.

All-American Calvin Johnson is gone to the NFL, but he really couldn’t display all his greatness last season anyway because of quarterback Reggie Ball. Thankfully for the Jackets, he’s gone as well.

Georgia Tech will use big Taylor Bennett at quarterback, and he’ll operate behind a veteran offensive line. I watched Bennett in the Gator Bowl against West Virginia and thought, “Why the heck didn’t they play this guy during the season?” Tashard Choice led the ACC in rushing last season, and he’s back.

Defensively, eight starters return, and under coordinator Jon Tenuta these Jackets fly around and torment the opposition with more than just a few stings. They’re the bread and butter with a lot of honey.

Tech, though, under Chan Gailey, has been pretty good but never great. Because of that, it’s hard to like Georgia Tech too much. But still…

This may be a reach, but we’re not doing brain surgery here. The Cavaliers do have 18 starters back.

Offensively, eight starters come back, including the offensive line and quarterback Jameel Sewell, who was thrown to the wolves as a freshman. The bad news about this is, Virginia was 113th out of 119 offensively a season ago. But experience should mean improvement.

Defensively the Cavaliers will get after you. Almost the entire unit that ranked 17th nationally in returns.

Coach Al Groh makes a lot of money. Going 5-7 a year ago is not why he’s being paid the big bucks.

Virginia could be a big surprise. The early schedule of Wyoming, Duke and UNC could have them off and running.

Remember ACC expansion was all about Miami and its football program. Hasn’t turned out yet, has it?

I think former defensive coordinator Randy Shannon will do fine as head coach. I think he’ll recruit well. He’s a Miami man. The negative? He’s never been a head coach before. Many times, that doesn’t work out.

Last season, Miami scored its fewest points since 1979. Nine starters return, but Miami is working on its third offensive coordinator in three years. No wonder highly touted quarterback Kyle Wright has looked confused and uncertain. Again, will experience pay off? It will if they’re Miami-type talent.

On defense, Miami was good last season and should be good again.

Tough schedule. At Oklahoma and road trips to Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College.

I think Miami is on its way back. Just not sure this is the year.

Carolina has been wandering around in the wilderness of mediocrity or worse since the 1998 season. Butch Davis should put a stop to that. Just not this season.

He wasn’t left with a lot to work with. The quarterback has no experience, and neither do the running backs. Not sure what to expect from the offensive line.

Defensively. not a lot of experience. Young guys will play and some of them will be very good with the more seasoning they get.

He’s coached on Super Bowl champion teams in Dallas. He brought Miami back to prominence in the ‘90s. He’s building for down the road at Carolina, and he wants that foundation laid this season.

Anything more than three to four wins will have the Heels pointing in the right direction.

You know, I was tempted to pick Duke ahead of UNC. I really was. And then I came to my senses. I mean Duke hasn’t won a game since they beat VMI in September of 2005. For some reason, I was at that game along with throng of empty seats.

Good news, all 11 starters return from last year. Bad news, this unit only scored 14.9 points per game.

Linebacker Michael Tauiliili is good, but he also has legal issues. He may play some, but he’ll miss time, too, including the opener.

Because fans are scarce at Duke’s home games, the Devils have to schedule big-pay-day road games in which they have little chance of winning. This year, they will be Notre Dame’s patsy.

I do believe Duke will not go winless this season. But I picked them right. Sixth in the Coastal will add up to last in the ACC.

There you go. Will the ACC be a great conference? No, but it will be competitive, and that alone will make it a fun fall.