. (Photo by Brian A. Westerholt/Getty Images)
Best / Worst Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Pittsburgh |Florida State | Virginia Tech | NC State | Syracuse | North Carolina |
Wake Forest
When it comes to ACC Football, there are just 2 programs in the ACC that have consistently played up to their potential in recent years. Clemson is one, and Wake Forest is the other. One of the very smallest schools in the Power 5, Dave Clawson has built Wake Forest into a very solid football program. Last year saw the Deacs go 11-3 and have a top 15 season. All Wake Forest does is play above their weight class, and make fellow ACC programs look foolish when they complain about why they can’t win football games. The non-football injury to QB Sam Hartman is a concern, but Clawson and Deacs are still thinking of another top 25 season.
Will Go 10-2 (6-2) if:
QB Sam Hartman comes back healthy. Nothing against Mitch Griffis, and he may turn out to be great, but Sam Hartman is an established All-ACC caliber quarterback. With Hartman, Wake Forest has one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Clemson and at NC State are Wake Forest’s toughest games, but a split is conceivable. If Wake Forest can start the season 6-1 before road games with Louisville and NC State 10-2 is possible. The defense taking a step forward would really help. Wake Forest gave up points almost as fast as they scored them last year.
Will Go 7-5 (3-5) if:
Mitch Griffis or someone else not named Sam Hartman is playing quarterback and struggles. Dave Clawson expects Hartman back this year, but Griffis is a bit of an unknown commodity. With the way, the defense played last year any slippage of the Wake Forest offense could make for a disappointing season. Clemson and NC State could certainly be losses, games at Florida State, and at Louisville, could be a real problem. Then another upset along the way, and that’s 5 losses. The defense doesn’t return many starters and could potentially be worse than a unit that was ranked in the 90s last year and couldn’t stop the run. It’s still a testament to where Wake Forest is, that 7-5 is the floor.
Make you follow the All Sports Discussion Twitter account at @AllSportsDACC and please like our Facebook
Leave a Reply