Good morning, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football fans. On Sunday, we can officially say that it’s football game week in the ACC 😉
Until then, let’s drop a few bold predictions for ACC football (yesterday, @TalkinACCSports gave some overall broad predictions on college football as a whole):
1.) The Pittsburgh and Youngstown State on September 2, 2017 is going to the 4th quarter.
Don’t be surprised to see the Pittsburgh and Youngstown State game going to the 4th quarter. Last year, Bo Pelini’s Youngstown State Penguins were in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national title game – and the Penguins were not the Missouri Valley Conference team that was predicted to get there. The Penguins are picked 10th in both the FCS media and coaches polls – and have a lot of players returning. Pittsburgh has a new quarterback in Max Browne and while he is a senior, it’s still his first year in the Panthers system. This game is going to be a lot closer than everyone thinks – and I think I will watching this one in the 4th quarter.
2.) Virginia Tech is going to defeat West Virginia by 14 or more points setting up a big September 30, 2017 game with Clemson when both teams are undefeated (Clemson has a brutal September, though) – and College Gameday will then come to Blacksburg, VA.
9️⃣ Days till #Hokies ? – #FBF to last #VT night game entrance in #FedEx
(let’s just win this time) – #StartJumping #BeatWVU pic.twitter.com/OcaGLqhqYf— OXVT (@OX_VT) August 25, 2017
Welcome back Black Diamond Trophy. Yes, it’s been a long time since Virginia Tech and and West Virginia have played in this great rivalry. Virginia Tech has won 7 of the last 10 in the series. The game is on Sunday night, September 3, 2017 – 8 PM EST – nationally televised on ABC. West Virginia is returning very little of its defense – and has a very green offensive line (that’s not a good recipe against a Bud Foster defense). While Virginia Tech has a new QB in Joshua Jackson, he has the QB whisperer in Justin Fuente as his coach – and he has senior WR Cam Phillips to help him along. Expect a nice September in Blacksburg.
3.) North Carolina State wins at least one of the games versus Florida State, Clemson, or Louisville
My FINAL @CFBPlayoff picks:
Alabama
Ohio State
Stanford
NC State— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) August 25, 2017
Folks, this is Dave Doeren’s best team at North North Carolina State (check out Cole’s tweet above). I’m not as bold as Cole – but I do like the Wolfpack this year to go 9-3. North Carolina State (with 17 overall returning starters) has an outstanding defensive line – and is going to give every team fits on its schedule (they can take any team on their schedule to the 4th quarter). Fans should be happy in Raleigh.
4.) The ACC’s Coastal Division winner will be between Virginia Tech and Miami – circle that game on November 4, 2017.
Is Miami back? The Hurricanes (who have an outstanding offensive line) will probably be favorites in 11 of their 12 games – and would be a top ten pre-season rated team if Brad Kayaa was back at QB. That said, Miami has NEVER won the Coastal Division. The winner of the Coastal Division generally has come from those schools that have Tech in their name (Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech). Pretty much every team not named Duke in the Coastal Division has a new QB – and has some questions at that position. The Coastal Division team with the best defense might win the division this year.
5.) Florida State will win the ACC and the National Title.
You know when your own coach says that you are going to be good (coaches don’t do that often) that they feel pretty optimistic about the season – and that’s where we are at with Jimbo Fisher. He’s been quoted many times saying that this team could be special – and I agree with him (I don’t think the Seminoles will be undefeated). Fisher’s team has 15 starters and Phil Steele’s #1 offense, #1 defense, and #1 special teams units in the ACC. That’s generally good enough now to put your team in contention for the national title.
There you go 😉
Have a great weekend.
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