ACC Preview

Projected Records & Standings

Atlantic Division

1. FLORIDA STATE       8-4  (5-3)
2. N.C. STATE          9-3  (5-3)
3. CLEMSON             6-6  (3-5)
4. MARYLAND            6-6  (3-5)
5. WAKE FOREST         6-6  (3-5)
6. BOSTON COLLEGE      5-7  (2-6)

Coastal Division

1. VIRGINIA TECH      11-1  (8-0)
2. MIAMI               9-3  (6-2)
3. NORTH CAROLINA      9-3  (5-3)
4. VIRGINIA            7-5  (4-4)
5. GEORGIA TECH        6-6  (3-5)
6. DUKE                4-8  (1-7)

Atlantic Champion: FLORIDA STATE

Even though I think N.C. State might end up being the best team in the Atlantic Division, Florida State has the benefit of playing the Wolfpack in Tallahassee, FL. Therefore, as long as there are no silly rules like in the Big XII, Florida State will most likely hold the tie-breaker advantage. The Seminoles will look for improvement in the running game in 2009. With up-and-comer Jermaine Thomas at running back and athletic Christian Ponder at quarterback running behind a veteran offensive line featuring road grater Rodney Hudson, Jimbo Fisher’s offense should be able to do just that.

Coastal Champion: VIRGINIA TECH
There’s not much doubt here. The Hokies are the defending ACC champions and return most of the key cogs that helped claim that title a year ago. Look for Tyrod Taylor to step up into the national spotlight in 2009 as he finally has the quarterback job all to himself. His all-purpose skills should make this offense crackle. Seven starters return on the defensive side of the ball where Bud Foster always gets the most out of his talent. Defensive end Jason Worilds, linebacker Cody Grimm, and cornerback Stephan Virgil are the new heirs to the Lunch Pail.

Question the Hype: GEORGIA TECH
Paul Johnson is a great coach. Most schools would take him to head up their program in a heartbeat. But let’s not put the cart before the horse here. Georgia Tech surprised a lot of people in 2008. In an improving conference with increasingly athletic defenses, I don’t think Johnson’s option offense will be able to take as many teams by surprise this time around. That’s not to say I don’t think the offense will work long term here, I just think the Coastal Division will be significantly improved in 2009. Also consider the defensive line – one of the most important pieces to the Yellow Jackets’ successful run a year ago – lost three players to the NFL. That’s no laughing matter - there will be a significant drop-off in the trenches. The defense will in turn take a step back, meaning the offense will have to shoulder more of the load.

Question the Hype, Part II: C.J. SPILLER
Is C.J. Spiller extremely athletic? Yes. Is he as dangerous as anybody in the open field? Probably. Is he a good every-down running back? Not sure yet. Is he dependable? No. Spiller has all the tools to become a great running back, but up to this point he hasn’t put together a full season that warrants the acclaim he has received. Worst of all, he has a tendency to disappear from games for spells when it looks like he just doesn’t feel like playing. I’m not sure if Spiller has the drive it takes to be a great football player. As of now, he’s simply a great athlete.

Could Surprise: VIRGINIA`

Nobody is talking about the Cavaliers in the Coastal Division. With Virginia Tech in command and Miami, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech all on the rise, it’s easy for the off-season changes in Charlottesville to go unnoticed. But the ‘Hoos deserve your attention. New offensive coordinator Gregg Branndon comes over from Bowling Green where he will install a more wide open offense. This is good news for returning quarterback Jameel Sewell, one of the best QBs in the ACC until he was forced to sit out 2008 due to academic shortcomings. Another benefactor should be Vic Hall, a converted cornerback with a ton of athleticism who surprisingly played quarterback in Virginia’s last two games a year ago. Look for Branndon to find creative ways to get Hall on the field. Head coach Al Groh is a fine coach who knows how to recruit offensive linemen with the best of them. Don’t be surprised when Virginia jumps at least one of those four division rivals I mentioned in the standings. Because they will.

Bo Jackson Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
QB-Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
QB-Russell Wilson, N.C. State
RB-Da’Rel Scott, Maryland

Ten to Watch:
RB-Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
RB-Darren Evans, Virginia Tech
OT-Jason Fox, Miami
QB/AP-Vic Hall, Virginia
QB-Jacory Harris, Miami
OG-Rodney Hudson, Florida State
QB-Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
QB-Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech
QB-Jameel Sewell, Virginia
RB/KR-C.J. Spiller, Clemson

Arrington Trophy Candidates:

Defending Arrington Trophy winner Mark Herzlich [LINK] was set to return at linebacker for Boston College in 2009 with one more year of eligibility. Unfortunately Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bones, during the offseason. His football career is probably over, but his legacy will live on here at Pikes Picks where we won’t soon forget his hard nosed play and stellar career. We think so highly of him that we are officially re-dedicating the trophy we award to the most outstanding defensive player in the nation. From now on it will be known as the Mark Herzlich Trophy. We wish Mr. Herzlich the best of luck in his battle.

Herzlich Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
LB-Sean Spence, Miami
DE-Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
DE-Willie Young, N.C. State

Ten to Watch:
DT-Marvin Austin, North Carolina
DT-Allen Bailey, Miami
SS-Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
CB-Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
LB-Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech
DT-Vince Oghobaase, Duke
NG-Boo Robinson, Wake Forest
CB-Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech
LB-Dekoda Watson, Florida State
S-Deunta Williams, North Carolina
DE-Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech

ACC All-Conference

My All-Conference teams are based on who played the best throughout the year not on their pro football evaluations(which will be coming later) So here is the first installment of the All Conference Teams:

The Pro Prospects Aaron Curry and Clint Simtim and the very mobile Tyrod Taylor just missed this list. But I try to take into account the complete year for each player and though the first two are good pro prospects(very hyped), they were beat out by the hard working Michael Tauiliili of Duke and Mark Herzlich of BC and the watch out for Nate Irving which gave the Wolfpack defense a heartbeat this year. As for Tyrod I really think you are deserving but how can you deny the freshman who took over at QB and led the Pack to a Bowl. Nuff said.

QB Russell Wilson, North Carolina St. QB
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech RB
RB Da'Rel Scott, Maryland RB
WR Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina WR
WR Demir Boldin, Wake Forest WR
WR Kevin Ogletree, Virginia WR
OL Edwin Williams, Maryland OL
OL Sergio Render, Virginia Tech OL
OL Nick Marshman, Virginia Tech OL
OL Eugene Monroe, Virginia OL
OL Reggie Youngblood, Miami OL

DL Everette Brown, Florida St. DL
DL Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech DL
DL Neefy Moffett, Florida St. DL
DL Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech DL
LB Michael Tauiliili, Duke LB
LB Nate Irving, North Carolina St. LB
LB Mark Herzlich, Boston College LB
DB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest DB
DB Victor Harris, Virginia Tech DB
DB Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech DB
DB Michael Hamlin, Clemson DB

K Graham Gano, Florida St. PK SR K
P Travis Baltz, Maryland P SO P
KR C.J. Spiller, Clemson RB JR RB
PR Travis Benjamin, Miami (Fla.) WR FR WR

Bowl Results

For the record, here's how the conferences fared in bowl games this season. Selections in red indicate the conference's signature win. Selections in blue indicate the conference's worst loss.

J.Pike's Bowl Picks Record: 17-17 (50%)
BCS Bowl Picks Record: 3-2 (60%)

1. PAC-10
Record: 5-0 (100%)
Results
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona 31, BYU 21
Emerald Bowl: California 24, Miami 17
Holiday Bowl: Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31
Sun Bowl: Oregon State 3, Pittsburgh 0
Rose Bowl: USC 38, Penn State 24

2. SEC
Record: 6-2 (75%)
Results
Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14
Peach Bowl: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Outback Bowl: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10
Citrus Bowl: Georgia 24, Michigan State 12
Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Liberty Bowl: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
Sugar Bowl: Utah 31, Alabama 17
National Title Game: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

3t. BIG EAST
Record: 4-2 (66.7%)
Results
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida 41, Memphis 14
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30
Pizza Bowl: Rutgers 29, N.C. State 23
Sun Bowl: Oregon State 3, Pittsburgh 0
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
International Bowl: Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20

3t. CONFERENCE USA
Record: 4-2 (66.7%)
Results
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida 41, Memphis 14
New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss 30, Troy 27 (OT)
Texas Bowl: Rice 38, Western Michigan 14
Armed Forces Bowl: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Liberty Bowl: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
GMAC Bowl: Tulsa 45, Ball State 13

5. MOUNTAIN WEST
Record: 3-2 (60%)
Results
New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona 31, BYU 21
Poinsettia Bowl: TCU 17, Boise State 16
Armed Forces Bowl: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Sugar Bowl: Utah 31, Alabama 17

6. BIG XII
Record: 4-3 (57.1%)
Results
Alamo Bowl: Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 (OT)
Holiday Bowl: Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31
Insight Bowl: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Gator Bowl: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Fiesta Bowl: Texas 24, Ohio State 21
National Title Game: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

7. ACC
Record: 4-6 (40%)
Results
Eagle Bank Bowl: Wake Forest 29, Navy 19
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30
Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13
Emerald Bowl: California 24, Miami 17
Pizza Bowl: Rutgers 29, N.C. State 23
Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland 42, Nevada 35
Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14
Peach Bowl: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Gator Bowl: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7

8. WAC
Record: 1-4 (20%)
Results
New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
Poinsettia Bowl: TCU 17, Boise State 16
Hawaii Bowl: Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10
Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland 42, Nevada 35

9. BIG TEN
Record: 1-6 (14.3%)
Results
Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13
Alamo Bowl: Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 (OT)
Insight Bowl: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Outback Bowl: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10
Citrus Bowl: Georgia 24, Michigan State 12
Rose Bowl: USC 38, Penn State 24
Fiesta Bowl: Texas 24, Ohio State 21

10. MAC
Record: 0-5 (0%)
Results
Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10
Texas Bowl: Rice 38, Western Michigan 14
International Bowl: Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20
GMAC Bowl: Tulsa 45, Ball State 13

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Buffalo 42, Ball State 24

Congratulations to Turner Gill and Buffalo. The Bulls defense forced five turnovers and returned two fumbles for touchdowns late in the third quarter. Ball State suffered their first loss of the season thanks in large part to the Buffalo pass/catch duo of quarterback Drew Willy and wide receiver Naaman "The President" Roosevelt. I hope all the schools with head coaching vacancies took note: Turner Gill deserves a good job in a BCS conference. If Syracuse isn't falling all over themselves to get to Gill, they don't deserve to win another game ever.

CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP
East Carolina (8-4) at Tulsa (10-2)
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN 2)

East Carolina started the season with a bang, earning victories over preseason top 25 teams Virginia Tech and West Virginia. But injuries began to take their toll over the course of the season (not to mention an ill-advised quarterback switch in mid-season that has since been rectified), and the Pirates managed to compile four losses. Tulsa isn't nearly as good as their statistics indicate (49 points and 579 yards per game), as evidenced by consecutive losses to Arkansas and Houston in early November by a combined score of 100-53. Todd Graham's Golden Hurrican are still potent offensively, though, and have the advantage of playing the title game on their home field. Quarterback David Johnson and receiver Brennan Marrion will hook up for at least two long touchdowns today.
J.Pike's Pick: Tulsa 42, East Carolina 27

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP
Boston College (9-3) vs Virginia Tech (8-4)
@ Tampa, FL
(Saturday, noon, ABC)

Well well well, whaddya know. After all the chaos and upsets and parity in the ACC this year, BC and Virginia Tech, the same two teams that played for the title last year, will meet in a rematch. All the so-called "experts" picked Boston College to finish in the bottom two of the Coastal Division because of the loss of Matt Ryan. But if you were paying attention to Pikes Picks [LINK], you would have known better. Much like in 2007, Boston College won the regular season matchup, but the Hokies have the advantage here. BC quarterback Chris Crane broke his collarbone two weeks ago, and the offense is limited without him. Dominique Davis will be a fine quarterback in the future, but he's still young and doesn't have the same feel for the offense Crane did. I love the Boston College defense, and Mark Herzlich in particular. But Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is arguably the most elusive quarterback in the nation. He'll be able to pick up first downs off scrambles and keep the chains moving in what should be a low scoring affair.
J.Pike's Pick: Virginia Tech 14, Boston College 10

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
Alabama (12-0) vs Florida (11-1)
@ Atlanta, GA
(Saturday, 3 pm, CBS)

This is the big one. The winner here probably gets a shot to play for the national championship. Nick Saban has rejeuvinated Roll Tide more quickly than anybody expected. How he got a team that lost to Louisiana-Monroe last last year to play as well as they have this year is a coaching feat that is unmatched in 2008. However, Bama must face their stiffest challenge of the season in Urban Meyer's Florida Gators. The Gators bring a ton of speed to the Georgia Dome, probably as much collective speed that turf has ever hosted. Alabama has become the new Nebraska in that they are easily the most physical team in the nation. I think their physical nature will neutralize Florida's team speed and allow the Tide to control the trenches on both sides of the ball. Florida is a heavy favorite in Las Vegas, but that's because even the gamblers have forgotten that football is ultimately won in the trenches.
J.Pike's Picks: Alabama 30, Florida 17

Thursday Night Football

#20 Miami (7-3) at Georgia Tech (7-3)

(Thursday, 6:30 pm, ESPN)
The ACC Coastal Division is up for grabs Thursday night as Miami puts their five game winning streak on the line in Atlanta. The Hurricanes cranked up the intensity on ESPN last Thursday night, thanks in large part to a sizable freshman contingent.

Offensively there aren't two phrases more troubling to most head coaches than "quarterback rotation" and "freshman quarterback". But at Miami, Robert Marve and Jacory Harris (both freshmen, both receiving significant snaps) are making it work. Harris in particular has the look of a big time college quarterback on the verge of a big breakout game.

On defense the Canes feature an excellent trio of freshmen, Sean Spence, Marcus Robinson, and Marcus Fortson. Spence, a linebacker, has been solid all season, ranking third on the team in tackles. Robinson, a defensive end, had his breakout game against Virginia Tech last Thursday night with three sacks. He'll give a banged up Georgia Tech offensive line all they can handle.

The Ramblin' Wreck O-line was already dealt a blow when senior Andrew Gardner, who had started every game since he's been on campus, went down with a shoulder injury. Now it looks like fellow starter David Brown is going to miss the Miami game due to injury as well.

With the injuries piling up for Georgia Tech, and with all the momentum on the side of the Hurricanes it would appear to be a no brainer as to who to pick. But this is the ACC. Up is down; black is white; right is wrong; and the ranked team seems to lose every time.

Miami has continually stalled out in the red zone this season, and the Yellow Jacket defensive line is more than capable of continuing that trend. Georgia Tech will get outplayed most of the night, but Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt will find a way to steal the victory in the end.
J.Pike's Pick: Georgia Tech 16, Miami 12

JP25 Update

In a week that featured virtually no upsets (other than in ACC country), there is little reason to shake up my top 25. Alabama took care of business against pesky Mississippi State while Texas and Florida proved they are both deserving title game contestants should Texas Tech or the Crimson Tide falter.

USC finally showed a little heart in the second half against Stanford. After sleepwalking through the past three seasons, the Trojans finally looked like they actually cared about winning a game rather than padding their NFL resumes. I still don't think they are a top five team, but the fact that they are playing with a fire now makes them dangerous.

Speaking of the Pac-10, why haven't I ranked Oregon State until now? That's a pretty good team.

Is anybody going to step up and take control of the ACC? The frontrunners in that conference are dropping like flies, only to re-emerge two or three weeks later. Is North Carolina the top dog? Is it Maryland? Miami? Boston College, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia Tech and even Virginia and Wake Forest all still have a chance to win the conference. And we're getting toward the end of November now!

How weird is it that one of the three teams completely out of the running in the ACC race is Clemson? In the preseason it looked like Clemson was head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. I guess that's why they play the games. That's also probably part of the reason Tommy Bowden isn't patrolling the sideline any more.

Top 25 (last week, record)
1. Texas Tech (1, 10-0)
2. Alabama (2, 11-0)
3. Texas (3, 10-1)
4. Florida (4, 9-1)
5. Oklahoma (5, 9-1)
6. USC (7, 9-1)
7. Penn State (6, 10-1)
8. Georgia (8, 9-2)
9. Ohio State (9, 9-2)
10. Utah (10, 11-0)
11. Oklahoma State (11, 9-2)
12. Boise State (12, 10-0)
13. Missouri (14, 9-2)
14. Oregon State (NR, 7-3)
15. Michigan State (18, 9-2)
16. TCU (17, 9-2)
17. Pittsburgh (22, 7-2)
18. Maryland (NR, 7-3)
19. North Carolina (15, 7-3)
20. Miami (NR, 7-3)
21. LSU (13, 7-3)
22. Georgia Tech (19, 7-3)
23. Boston College (23, 7-3)
24. Oregon (24, 8-3)
25. Cincinnati (25, 8-2)

Dropped Out: California (16), Florida State (20), Virginia Tech (21)

Just Missed the Cut: Ball State (10-0), Virginia Tech (6-4), BYU (10-1), California (6-4), Nebraska (7-4), Florida State (7-3), West Virginia (6-3), Northwestern (8-3), Iowa (7-4)

Week Twelve Recap - 7 on 7 Drills

Thanks to the ACC, both of us here at Pikes Picks had a mediocre week in 7 on 7 Drills. It seems like every week the top of the ACC chokes against the bottom half of the conference. So even though we're more than half way through November now, 9 of the 12 teams in that conference still have a chance to go to the ACC Championship Game. Ridiculous!

WEEK TWELVE

1. Georgia @ Auburn

Brent: Georgia

Jason: Georgia

2. Ohio State @ Illinois

Brent: Ohio State

Jason: Ohio State

3. BYU @ Air Force

Brent: Air Force

Jason: BYU

4. Boston College @ Florida State

Brent: Florida State

Jason: Florida State

5. North Carolina @ Maryland

Brent: North Carolina

Jason: North Carolina

6. California @ Oregon State

Brent: Oregon State

Jason: California

7. South Carolina @ Florida

Brent: Florida

Jason: Florida

WEEK TWELVE RESULTS

Jason	4-3 (57.1%)
Brent	4-3 (57.1%)

SEASON RESULTS

Jason	54-30 (64.3%)
Brent	53-31 (63.1%)

WEEK ELEVEN - Thursday Night Games

#22 Maryland @ Virginia Tech

(Thursday, 6:30 pm, ESPN)
Maryland is the ultimate Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde team. They can get beat by Middle Tennessee one week and then bounce back to destroy teams like Cal and Clemson all in the span of a month. Tonight they travel to Blacksburg where Virginia Tech is traditionally one of the stronger Thursday night teams. Tyrod Taylor still isn't there yet as a quarterback, but he's dangerous enough to lead the Hokies to some points. Maryland on the other hand have speedy running back Da'Rel Scott to lean on. Will he be able to do enough against a young, improving Bud Foster defense? I'll give the edge to the Hokies due to their defense and the home crowd.
J.Pike's Pick: Virginia Tech 28, Maryland 24

---------------

#13 TCU @ #10 Utah
(Thursday, 7 pm, CBS College Sports)
The Mountain West takes center stage tonight (on CBS College Sports??) as the league's top two teams square off. The winner not only has a leg up on winning the conference title - a berth in a BCS bowl might also be at stake.

If you like good defenses, this is the game for you. TCU and Utah are the best defensive teams in a conference that knows a thing or two about defense. They are also both in the top 10 nationally in total yards allowed per game.

Utah is led up front by defensive end Paul Kruger. The sophomore is fourth on the team in tackles and has piled up 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. It doesn't end there for the Utes. Linebacker Stevenson Sylvester and defensive end Koa Misi are active players who will each contend for All-League honors at the end of the season. And don't forget about the rangy Sean Smith. At 6-foot-3, Smith is one of the taller cornerbacks in the nation, and he has tremendous athleticism to go along with it.

TCU is led defensively by the talented Jerry Hughes. TCU has traditionally featured a pass rushing menace at defensive end and Hughes is no exception. In fact, with 14 sacks and 5 forced fumbles, Hughes might be one of the best quarterback harrassers the Frogs have ever had.

Like Utah, TCU swarms to the ball and gang tackles as well as anybody. Linebacker Jason Phillips is often leading that swarm. Phillips leads the Frogs with 60 tackles so expect to see him all over the field tonight.

With two great defenses, the difference in the game will come down to which offense is able to pick up first downs and keep drives alive. TCU is paced by steady quarterback Andy Dalton. He won't impress you with his skills, but he's the kind of player that just makes the team better somehow.

Usually TCU has a feature back that they can count on to pick up yards in a pinch, but they don't have that this year. Aaron Brown is close, but he doesn't even start most of the time and has been more impressive returning kicks. Jeremy Kerley could be the X-Factor as he was in the Frogs' big win over BYU earlier this year.

But I think Utah has the edge when it comes down to which offense can move the ball more consistently. The running back tandem of Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack are a combined 450 pounds (not to mention the 12 touchdowns between the two) and I think they can take the pounding the TCU defense is sure to bring and continue to pick up the few yards here and there to keep the chains moving. In fact, Mack ran for 100 yards last year on the Frogs.

Quarterback Brian Johnson is one of the most underrated player in the nation and he will ultimately be the difference tonight. He throws a beautiful ball and has the athleticism to avoid Hughes and the TCU pass rush more often than not.
J.Pike's Pick: Utah 23, TCU 19

WEEK SEVEN - Thursday Night Game

Clemson at Wake Forest
(Thursday, 6:30 pm, ESPN)
Clemson is struggling this year, but how is that any different from any other year? Besides, Wake is coming a off a loss to Navy a couple weeks ago, so they aren’t exactly ACC frontrunners right now either. Wake’s offense has struggled against Clemson in recent years, averaging only 13.5 points per game in losses the past two seasons, and there is a noticeable dropoff in speed this year. That doesn’t bode well for the Demon Deacons scoring many points. As for the Clemson offense, it’s got the players, but for some reason (the O-Line?) it can’t put points on the board. I’ll give James Davis and C.J. Spiller a slight edge over the solid Wake defense, so Clemson will pick up the win in a low scoring, defensive battle.
J.Pike’s Pick: Clemson 21, Wake Forest 16

ACC Preview

Favorites

Coastal: Clemson
The Tigers return a loaded roster in a league that is not very good at the moment. With question marks all over the rest of the league, Tommy Bowden’s squad holds the keys to their own fate. It’s not out of the question for this team to run the table and crash the National Championship game.

Atlantic: Virginia Tech
This pick shows just how weak the rest of the ACC is. Virginia Tech lost virtually every significant playmaker from last year’s roster, and suffered further losses at running back and wide receiver in the off season due to injury and off-the-field issues. Yet the Hokies are still the favorite to take home the Atlantic division.

Sleepers
Coastal: Boston College
For some reason, everybody seems to be writing off Boston College this year. I’m sure that reason has to do with Matt Ryan, but again, I’m not sure Ryan was worth all the hype. The defense was pretty good though, and a significant portion of that unit returns. If there’s a team in this conference capable of knocking off Clemson, it’s BC.

Atlantic: Miami
Who knows what to expect from Miami in 2008? This is the kind of team that could go 4-8 and not really surprise anybody. They could also just as easily go 9-3 and win an Atlantic Division that is completely up for grabs due to the questions surrounding Virginia Tech. Randy Shannon looked downright overwhelmed in his first season as a head coach, but he learned a lot in some difficult losses. Expect him to take a step forward as a coach this year. Helping him out will be new defensive coordinator Bill Young, who coached Kansas’ surprisingly stout D last year.

On the Rise: North Carolina
Butch Davis quietly made progress at UNC last season. He brought in a solid recruiting class - many of which saw action right away - and gave the program the leadership and direction it had lacked. It's hard to believe there isn't more buzz in Chapel Hill right now because the Tar Heels could take a couple more sneaky steps in the right direction and find themselves as top dogs in the conference. In the current state of the ACC, that's not too far out of the question.

Declining: Wake Forest
Jim Grobe is a fantastic coach, there’s no doubt about that. He was also fortunate to have a strong core group of players the last few seasons. Wake Forest doesn’t get players like Kenneth Moore, Jon Abbate, Steve Justice, or speedsters like Willie Idlette and Kevin Marion very often, and I don’t see anybody on the roster capable of filling their shoes anymore. Now raised expectations and preseason top 25 recognition are a part of the program, but unfortunately I don’t think players like Riley Skinner are up to the task of maintaining the momentum.

PROJECTED STANDINGS & RECORDS

Coastal
1. Clemson	11-1 (7-1 conference)
2. Boston College	9-3 (5-3)
3. Florida State	7-5 (4-4)
4. Maryland	7-5 (4-4)
5. Wake Forest	6-6 (3-5)
6. N.C. State	5-7 (3-5)
Atlantic
1. Virginia Tech	8-4 (5-3)
2. Miami	7-5 (5-3)
3. North Carolina	7-5 (4-4)
4. Georgia Tech	6-6 (4-4)
5. Virginia	5-7 (3-5)
6. Duke	3-9 (1-7)

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Offense: James Davis (RB, Clemson)
Defense: Victor “Macho” Harris (DB, Virginia Tech)
Special Teams: C.J. Spiller (KR, Clemson)

NATIONAL AWARDS CANDIDATES
James Davis (RB-Clem) – Bo Jackson, J.Pike’s Fave
Graham Gano (K/P-FSU) – Sproles/Sauerbrun
Macho Harris (DB-VT) – Arrington, Deion
Josh Portis (QB-UMD) – Frazier
Alphonso Smith (CB-WF) - Deion
C.J. Spiller (RB-Clem) – Sayers, Sproles/Sauerbrun
Sam Swank (K/P-WF) – Sproles/Sauerbrun
Tyrod Taylor (QB-VT) - Frazier
Gold Wrenches:
Clemson defensive line
Boston College defensive line
Georgia Tech defensive line
Virginia Tech offensive line
Florida State defensive line

JP25 - #6 CLEMSON

If you’re looking for a dark horse national title contender, look no further. With by far the most talented team in one of the weakest BCS leagues, there is no excuse for Tommy Bowden and the Tigers not to win the ACC and rack up double-digit victories in 2008. They should be favored in every game, so barring the usual let-down, Clemson might be able to sneak their way into the National Title game.

OFFENSE
It all starts in the backfield where the best running back duo in the nation resides. Over the last couple seasons James Davis and C.J. Spiller have proven there isn’t anything they can’t do. Spiller is the gamebreaker with excellent speed and hands, while Davis is the hard-nosed runner with great burst and surprising speed in the open field. Davis in particular has the chance to have a Rashard Mendenhall-type breakout season. I feel they are very similar backs, but Davis has a little bit better speed.

Quarterback Cullen Harper returns for his senior season as well. The veteran stepped into the starting lineup last year and upgraded the competency of the quarterback spot. He even made a handful of clutch throws last year they haven’t seen in a few years at Clemson. With another year of experience, Harper should only improve. He also benefits from the return of wide receiver Aaron Kelly. Kelly is a 6-foot-5 target who became Harper’s go-to receiver in ’07 (88 receptions for 1,081 yards, 11 tds) and is one of the best in the ACC.

With all that skill position talent, the pressure is on the offensive line to improve on last year’s dismal showing. Only one starter returns (center Thomas Austin), but that might not be a bad thing after giving up 35 sacks and only paving the way for 4.1 yards per carry in the running game. If the new group can show even slight improvement, this offense will get more production from its playmakers and solidify the Tigers’ rank as the best in the ACC.

DEFENSE
The Clemson defense never ceased to impress me over the course of the 2007 season. The defensive line was one of the most disruptive and athletic in the nation; the linebackers were fast and made plays all over the field; and the secondary had some big hitters that can intimidate by just walking on the field. With 7 returning starters and an influx of even more talent through a top recruiting class, there is no reason for this unit not to be one of the best in America.

Up front is where the action is. Phillip Merling took his services to the NFL, but there is no shortage of talent here. Dorrell Scott is one of the most underrated defensive tackles in the nation, and he teams with Rashaad Jackson and Jamie Cumbie to form a stout DT rotation. To replace Merling’s pass rushing abilities, Bowden went out and inked the top defensive end in high school, DaQuan Bowers. The true freshman enrolled early for spring practices and has already flashed the skills to be a top pass rush threat. Kevin Alexander is making it difficult for Bowers to break into the starting lineup though. On the other end, Ricky Sapp is a long and lean menace who will no longer be overshadowed by Merling. He’s only a junior, so he should be more consistent in ‘08.

Safety Michael Hamlin brings the lumber in the secondary. He displayed his nose for the football by finishing second on the team with 97 tackles and picking off 4 passes in ’07. The rest of the secondary that finished in the top 15 nationally in pass efficiency defense returns in tact, so there shouldn’t be any problem shutting down the generally weak ACC passing games.

If anything is going to hold this defense back it is going to be the instability at linebacker. Leading tackler Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie exhausted their eligibility, and Cortney Vincent was kicked off the team over the summer. Additionally, the talented Antonio Clay is injured and might never see the football field again. Those four made up a fantastic group a year ago, so all three spots will need to be filled. Scotty Cooper started two games as a freshman a year ago and he has the best athleticism to pick up the slack.

KEEP AN EYE ON
The linebackers. Watkins, Billie, and Vincent made up a fine trio, and replacing them won’t be easy. How well the new crop plays will go a long way toward keeping the defense among the top 10-15 in the nation.

RISING STAR
Defensive end DaQuan Bowers. The blue chip true freshman was enrolled for spring practice, and already looks like he’ll secure a starting spot.

ACC - RB Rankings

1. James Davis, Clemson

Davis might be one of the most underrated running backs in the nation. Heck, he's often overshadowed on his own team by C.J. Spiller. But Davis is the complete package. He has excellent size and strength and surprising speed in the open field.

2. C.J. Spiller, Clemson
3. Josh Adams, Wake Forest
4. Graig Cooper, Miami
5. Andre Brown, N.C. State

OTHERS TO WATCH
Da'Rel Scott & Morgan Green, Maryland
Josh Haden, Boston College

BP25- #24 Florida State Seminoles

Well the 33rd year for Bobby Bowden so get the broom out and prop him up per Jimbo Fisher will be pulling the strings on this years tomahawk choppers. The schedule is really nice for the Seminoles as they only have two potentially tough road games in at Miami(only cuz it's a rival) and at Maryland at the end of the season. The only pitfal on the schedule is Nov 8th when son Tommy's Clemson comes to Tallahassee.
Here is the breakdown:

Offense: The offense starts with 25 year senior Drew Weatherford another in the long line of average FSU QB's, someone call Adrian Mcphearson and see if he has checked in with his parole officer. But a McPhearson starter kit is in camp in D'Vontrey Richardson. But with star WR Preston Parker and Greg Carr, Drew maybe just fine. The RB postiong is average with Antone Smith but he will get some comp from JC Tavares Pressley. They only return two of 5 OL starters so this will be the glaring hole of inexperience luckily they start out with a cream puff special on the schedule with W Carolina and Chattanooga so they should be jelled by the time Wake comes to town.

NFL Bound-WR Parker, Carr, LT Rodney Hudson

Diff Makers- QB Weatherford, RB Smith, FB Seddrick Holloway

Watch 4: WR Corey Surrency another potential impact JUCO.

Defense: Alert someone in administration we will need to triple the order more tomahawk stickers, please. I really like this defense starting on the line Big Cat Everette Brown(6.5 sax, 5 tfl) and JUCo Transfer Markus White (had 24.5 sax last year!!!) they should really wreck some havok on the line this year something FSU has not had consistently in quite some time. The LB core is lead by Dereck Nicholson and Dekoda "Fanning" Watson these two have some Sunday's drapped on them and should continue in the Ernie Sims mold. The secondary is not Deion Sanders but it is solid with Tony Carter leading the corners and Myron Rolle paroling the Rover. So this will be a much improved defense and will create some short fields for the boring Drew Berrymore.

NFL Bound: DE E Brown, MLB Nicholson, CB Carter, FS Rolle

Diff Makers: LB Watson, CB Patrick Robinson, CB Michael Ray Garvin, DE Neely Moffit

Watch 4: DE Markus White will be a difference maker.

ACC QB Rankings

1. Cullen Harper, Clemson

2. Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
3. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech

KEEP AN EYE ON
Chris Crane, Boston College
Peter Lalich, Virginia
Robert Marve/Jacory Harris, Miami

NOTES
* What does it say about the ACC when Duke has the second best quarterback in the league?
* Cullen Harper is a solid QB, but he wouldn't be an All-Conference player in most other BCS conferences.
* Don't assume that I forgot about Wake Forest's Riley Skinner. I remember his 13 interceptions (to only 12 touchdowns) well. Plus, he loses his top three receiving targets, all of which made Skinner look better than he actually is.

JP25 - #21 BOSTON COLLEGE

Many are projecting a sharp drop in the rankings for BC this season, due in large part to the loss of quarterback Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. But the 2007 team's success wasn't all Ryan's doing - they played a little defense too.

Offense
Matt Ryan never looked like the great quarterback everyone claimed he was so I'm not sure replacing his 19 interceptions ad sub-60% completion percentage will be all that difficult. Call me crazy if you must, but I bet the 2008 offense with Chris Crane at quarterback matches the 28 points per game it posted under Ryan's direction in '07. The bigger blow to the offense is the loss of offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus. The first round NFL Draft pick was yet another in a long line of excellent BC O-Linemen. Who is going to step up and fill his shoes in '08? Anthony Castonzo started at tackle as a true freshman last year, so he has the potential to pick up the slack alongside two other returning starters.

The biggest question facing the offense is at running back. Gone are Andre Callender (969 rushing yards, 76 receptions[!], 13 total tds) and L.V. Whitworth (355 rushing yards, 4 total tds) who have shouldered the load for the past three seasons. Incoming freshman Josh Haden was BC's top recruit, but he better be ready to play right away because he's practically the only option.

Defense
The best call head coach Jeff Jagodzinski made in his first year on the job in '07 was retaining defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani from the Tom O'Brien staff. When you look at last season closely, you'll see that the defense - not Matt Ryan - played the biggest role in BC's 11-win campaign. The front seven that led the way for the nation's #2 ranked rush defense (75.6 rushing yards per game) and the ACC's #3 ranked overall defense (327 total yards per game) returns 9 of its top 12 tacklers, including LB Mark Herzlich (97 tackles) and DE Alex Albright (8.5 sacks). It doesn't end there though. BC's front seven also benefits from the return of two All-League candidates that missed the 2007 season with injuries. B.J. Raji was a second team All-ACC defensive tackle in 2006, and linebacker Brian Toal is a special talent who will make a significant impact if he can stay healthy.

However, the secondary is a concern due to the loss of leaders Jamie Silva (125 tackles, 8 interceptions) and DeJuan Tribble (4 interceptions, 8 passes broken up). DeLeon Gause started the last four games as a true freshman last season and appears to have one cornerback spot locked up. Can Paul Anderson, Roderick Rollins, and Marty Bowman fill out the lineup effectively? And will any younger players step up to add depth? Luckily the front seven is strong enough that the secondary will have time to develop as the season goes along, especially since there aren't exactly any game-breaking quarterbacks in the ACC right now.

Keep An Eye On:
Freshman RB Josh Haden and the running game. BC will need the running game to lend at least a little balance to the offense - how long will it take to develop?

Rising Star
Offensive guard Thomas Claiborne. The sophomore played defensive tackle as a freshman in 2007, but was moved to the offensive line in the spring to be a mauler up front.

JP25 - #24 VIRGINIA TECH

Frank Beamer has done such a good job with the Virginia Tech program that even though they lose their top three tacklers on defense and every running back and receiver that made a significant contribution on offense, they are still considered the favorites to win the Coastal Division in the ACC. Then again, the ACC isn't exactly bursting with quality football at the moment, so maybe that isn't as impressive as it seems.

OFFENSE
The Hokies might get more scoring out of their defense and special teams this season. Check out this recipe for disaster: Top running back Brabden Orr was kicked off the team over the summer, and the only other two contributors from 2007, Kenny Lewis and Jahre Cheeseman, were both injured in spring practice and are questionable for the start of the season; The top four receivers from 2007 graduated, and Brandon Dillard, an emerging deep threat, was also injured in the spring and will miss the entire season; The offensive line returns four of five starters, but the unit that gave up a whopping 54 sacks in '07 and didn't exactly pave the way for a good ground game either. Things aren't all bad though. Victor "Macho" Harris will lend his services to the offense, and he might end up being the best player on both sides of the ball. The Hokies offense will also be bolstered by a solid pair of multi-talented tight ends in Sam Wheeler and Greg Boone - who is the biggest dude you'll ever see wearing a number 8 jersey. The success of the offense in 2008 is going to hinge on Tyrod Taylor's development. Taylor is a fantastic athlete with the potential to carry an offense - IF he can make major strides in the passing game. If not, Sean Glennon (who's no Dan Marino himself) will continue to split time with Taylor and the offense will sputter.

DEFENSE
You can't just replace a pair of players like linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi. The two LBs have been on the field making plays and leading the defense for four years now, and their leadership and playmaking ability will be sorely missed. Once again, it will be Macho Harris to the rescue. The ballhawk defensive back has the attitude of a top flight cornerback and has proven his skills on the field by picking off 9 passes over the past two seasons. Expect big things from this All American - as long as he doesn't wear himself out playing on offense. The pass rush should still be in good hands in Bud Foster's attacking defense. Ends Orion Martin, Jason Worilds, and Nekos Brown will keep quarterbacks nervous. Overall the Hokie defense will continue to perform, but with the loss of two long-time leaders I can't imagine there not being at least a little bit of a dropoff.

Rising Star- Defensive End Jason Worilds. Formerly known as Jason Adjepong, the talented sophomore had an impressive spring and looks to be the next in a long line of imposing Hokie pass rushers.

Keep An Eye On- The quarterback situation.