2015 ACC Atlantic Predictions from the @AllSportsDACC contributors and a couple of guests.

ACC Atlantic Division Winner

Jeff: Clemson

Matthew: Florida State

Zach: Clemson

Jerran: Clemson

Dan: Florida State

@DrunkenGobbler: Clemson

Why did you make these picks in the Atlantic?

Jeff: I don’t see much drop off at Florida State this year. Dalvin Cook will play and is the conference’s 2nd best RB. The Noles despite all their personal losses to the NFL still out talent anyone on their schedule. They won’t make it this year without losing an ACC and I think it will be at Clemson, but a soft opening slate eases them into the season. Clemson starts and ends with Deshaun Watson… period.

Louisville has good talent, and should be solid. I love Jacoby Brissett at QB for NC State, and the Wolfpack have a chance to be a top 25 team this year. Boston College has too much to replace on offense to be a real threat. Syracuse and Wake Forest just aren’t equipped to compete in a division this rugged. It will be a long season for both.

Matthew:  Clemson has so many offensive weapons and has the best quarterback in Deshaun Watson (disclosure:  when he is healthy lol).  But to be the man – you have to beat the man – and that man on the top of the hill right now is Florida State.  Florida State is going to have a very good defense and has a schedule that will allow its youth to develop on offense as the season progresses.

North Carolina State, with 15 returning starters, will be my 2nd most improved team in the conference (this is Dave Doeren’s best team he’s had in Raleigh).  Louisville will have to figure out who their quarterback is gonna be, but their defense is solid.  Boston College will slip a bit this year.  Syracuse and Wake Forest will round out the pack in the Atlantic (The Demon Deacons will improve throughout the year – Syracuse, not so much).

Zach: YEAH I SAID IT. If Deshaun Watson can stay healthy, I believe they will run the table in the regular season. If not, they’ll lose to Florida State at home and probably a couple of others along the way. Florida State will still be strong, but I think Clemson has the talent to out-race the Seminoles to Charlotte this year. NC State and Louisville promise to be strong teams, but won’t have the horses to compete with the top two this season.

I like what Steve Addazio is building in Boston College, but I think this season will be a struggle for the Eagles. And then there’s Syracuse and Wake Forest and you know what let’s just not talk about it.

Jerran: While I don’t think Clemson will go undefeated, I think if DeShaun Watson can stay healthy the Atlantic Division is theirs for the taking. Florida State doesn’t have a Jameis Winston this year and Clemson’s defense is good. NC State may turn some heads this season, even I had to make sure my prediction for them was accurate. Louisville will beat Auburn in Week 1 and be the darling of the ACC all season.

They may not be as strong on defense but when they play well, it’s because their defense is forcing turnovers. We’ll see if Boston College continues their strong rushing attack…hopefully Wake Forest doesn’t take the Hokies to a 0-0 overtime thriller again and Syracuse is playing LSU in THE CARRIER DOME, that’s just odd and I remember BhOrange44 speaking about it on the podcast and it’s still odd, but I wish them the best.

Dan: Florida State still is one of the most talented teams in the country. They have plenty of talent to choose from and will reload in 2015. They will not, however, go undefeated in 2015. The Atlantic division will be a three team race between Florida State, Clemson and Louisville. Clemson has the best quarterback in the league to go along with an improving defense under Brent Venables.

Louisville’s defense will be good enough to keep them in every game. As long as they can find competent quarterback play, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Boston College will continue to be a tough out for anyone they play but that schedule is brutal. Even with raised expectations, I expect NC State to take a step back. I’m not buying the hype there. Syracuse and Wake Forest are a step below the rest of the division.

@DrunkenGobbler: Florida State is incredibly talented and I don’t expect much of a drop off from the 2014 season. What it comes down to for me, however, is a healthy Deshaun Watson vs. New-to-the-system Everett Golson. If Watson can stay healthy, then the Tigers are my favorite in the 3-way ‘dogfight’ at the top of the Atlantic between FSU, Clemson, and Louisville. Louisville is a bit of a wildcard to me. Petrino, known to be an offensive mastermind could lean on his defense this year to be the dominant unit. If the offense gets rolling like it has in the past, the sky could be the limit for this team.

The other team that really intrigues me from the Atlantic is NC State. It looks like Doeren may have things trending positively in Raleigh and Jacoby Brissett is dynamic for the Wolfpack. I don’t see them improving on their 8-5 record from 2015 but I could see them jumping up and knocking off one of Clemson, Louisville, FSU, and Virginia Tech as a defining win for their 2015 season. Syracuse and Wake Forest will remain as the basement of the Atlantic with little to no expectations for improvement.

Though, let’s all hope Wake Forest can improve on their 479 rushing yards as a team in 2014.

ACC Champion:

Jeff: Clemsom

Matthew: Florida State

Zach: Clemson

Jerran: Clemson

Dan: Florida State

@DrunkenGobbler: Clemson

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