Posts Tagged ‘acc football predictions’
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Atlantic
- 1. Florida State (7-1): The Seminoles are not (yet) at the level of dominance they displayed throughout the 90’s, but they should run away with the Atlantic this year. First-round draft pick Christian Ponder is gone, but QB EJ Manuel is ultra-talented and looks ready to take the reins of the offense. The rest of the skill players are back and that includes three capable running backs and four solid WR’s. The defense improved drastically last season from the year before and DE Brandon Jenkins leads a unit that should again be near the top of the ACC. LB Nigel Bradham is also back and CB Greg Reid gives FSU a dominant player at each level of the defense. The schedule is as forgiving as there is in the ACC, so a dominant conference run is a legitimate possibility and the Seminoles could be looking at a return to a BCS bowl this January.
- 2. NC State (5-3): Last year’s league-leading passing attack is completely gone; QB Russell Wilson has headed north and 3 of the top 4 receivers have moved on. However, QB Mike Glennon, a pro-style passer, has a big arm and the potential to be the best true passing QB in the league. RB Mustafa Greene is back to take some of the load off of Glennon. The real strength of the team should be the defense, which was in the middle of the pack last season but returns the entire secondary and two quality LB’s. The Wolfpack won’t threaten FSU for the division crown, but they should be next in line. (more…)
Tags: acc football predictions, ncaa football 12
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Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Atlantic
- 1. Florida State (6-2): QB Christian Ponder was shredding defenses last season before injuring his shoulder late in the year. Ponder will have a solid set of RB’s and WR’s to work with this year, plus the entire offensive line is back. Considering the offense was one of the best in the conference last year with Ponder healthy, FSU will give defenses nightmares this year. Ponder could be a 1st round pick in next year’s draft and should lead the Seminoles to the ACC Championship Game. What will keep FSU from challenging the best teams in the Coastal is a defense that was terrible last season. New DC Mark Stoops will install a new scheme, but with several new starters breaking in on that side of the ball it is difficult to tell if the Seminoles will be able to improve the defense. FSU misses both Tech teams and gets North Carolina and Clemson at home, so the schedule is fairly favorable. We think they slip up a couple of times in conference play, but Ponder and the offense has the potential to beat anyone on any given night.
- 2. Boston College (5-3): QB Dave Shinskie is the old man of the ACC but is only entering his sophomore year. After returning to football for the first time in six years last fall, Shinskie is poised for a big improvement this year after a full year of football. RB Montel Harris will be the focal point of the offense again and can help Shinskie take advantage as defenses load the box. Four of the lineman are back and will pave the way for Harris, but Shinskie will need to develop chemistry with a new set of WR’s after losing last year’s starters. The big story for the Eagles is that star LB Mark Herzlich is making a comeback from cancer and appears ready to step back onto the football field this fall. If Herzlich plays like his old self (2008 ACC Defense POY), BC’s linebackers will be outstanding. That will help ease the transition for the defense as new pieces are breaking in on the line and in the secondary. Look for the Eagles to take 2nd in the Atlantic, with the potential to overtake Florida State if Shinskie and Herzlich are able to step up.
(more…)
Tags: acc football predictions
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