Sunday, August 24, 2014

Dustin James' 2014-15 College Football Preview: ACC

ACC

Atlantic Division:

1. Florida State Seminoles- 15-0 (9-0)

Last Year's Record: 14-0

Last Year's Bowl Game: Won the BCS Championship against Auburn

Toughest Games: Oklahoma State (August 30), Clemson (September 20), Notre Dame (October 18), @ Louisville (October 30), @ Miami (November 15), Florida (November 29)

Key Players: Jameis Winston (QB), Karlos Williams (RB), Rashad Greene (WR), Isaiah Jones (WR), Nick O'Leary (TE), Tre Jackson (RG), Josue Matias (LG), Bobby Hart (RT), Cameron Erving (LT), Chris Casher (DE), Eddie Goldman (DT), Mario Edwards (DE), Reggie Northrup (LB),  Terrance Smith (LB), P.J. Williams (CB), Ronald Darby (CB), Jalen Ramsey (FS), Roberto Aguayo (K), Cason Beatty (P), Kermit Whitfield (KR)

Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher (45-10 all-time at Florida State, 45-10 all-time)

Conference Championship: vs. Virginia Tech (W)

Bowl Prediction: PLAYOFFS: Sugar Bowl vs. Oregon (W)
National Championship: vs. Alabama (W)


2. Clemson Tigers- 9-4 (7-1)

Last Year's Record: 11-2

Last Year's Bowl Game: Won the Orange Bowl against Ohio State

Toughest Games: @ Georgia (August 30), @ Florida State (September 20), North Carolina (September 27), Louisville (October 11), South Carolina (November 29)

Key Players: Wayne Gallman (RB), Charone Peake (WR), Adam Humphries (WR), Jordan Leggett (TE), Ryan Norton (C), Eric Mac Lain (LG), Kalon Davis (RT), Vic Beasley (DE), Grady Jarrett (DT), D.J. Reader (DT), Corey Crawford (DE), Tony Steward (LB), Stephone Anthony (LB), Robert Smith (SS), Jayron Kearse (FS), Bradley Pinion (P)

Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (51-23 all-time at Clemson, 51-23 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Belk Bowl vs. Auburn (L)


3. Louisville Cardinals- 9-4 (5-3)

Last Year's Record: 12-1

Last Year's Bowl Game: Won the Russell Athletic Bowl against Miami

Toughest Games: Miami (September 1), @ Syracuse (October 3), @ Clemson (October 11), Florida State (October 30), @ Notre Dame (November 22)

Key Players: Will Gardner (QB), Dominique Brown (RB), DeVante Parker (WR), Gerald Christian (TE), Jake Smith (C), John Miller (LG), Ryan Mack (RT), Jamon Brown (LT), Lorenzo Mauldin (DE), James Burgess (LB), Terell Floyd (CB), Charles Gaines (CB), John Wallace (K), Ryan Johnson (P)

Head Coach: Bobby Petrino (41-9 all-time at Louisville, 83-30 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: St. Petersburg Bowl vs. UCF (W)


4. Syracuse Orange- 9-4 (5-3)

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Last Year's Bowl Game: Won the Texas Bowl against Minnesota

Toughest Games: Maryland (September 20), Notre Dame (September 27), Louisville (October 3), Florida State (October 11), @ Clemson (October 25), @ Pittsburgh (November 22)

Key Players: Terrel Hunt (QB), Brisly Estime (WR), Ashton Broyld (WR), Jarrod West (WR), Nick Robinson (RG), Rob Trudo (LG), Ivan Foy (RT), Sean Hickey (LT), Robert Welsh (DE), Eric Crume (DT), Ron Thompson (DE), Cameron Lynch (LB), Dyshawn Davis (LB), Brandon Reddish (CB), Durell Eskridge (FS), Ross Krautman (K), Riley Dixon (P)

Head Coach: Scott Shafer (7-6 all-time at Syracuse, 7-6 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Pinstripe Bowl vs. Illinois (W)


5. NC State Wolfpack- 7-5 (3-5)

Last Year's Record: 3-9

Last Year's Bowl Game: No bowl game

Toughest Games: Florida State (September 27), @ Clemson (October 4), @ Lousiville (October 18), @ Syracuse (November 1), @ North Carolina (November 29)

Key Players: Shadrach Thornton (RB), Bryan Underwood (WR), David Grinnage (TE), Quinton Schooley (C), Alex Barr (RG), Tyson Chandler (RT), Joe Thuney (LT), Thomas Teal (DT), Monty Nelson (DT), Art Norman (DE), Brandon Pittman (LB), Juston Burris (CB), Jack Tocho (CB), Hakim Jones (SS), Niklas Sade (K), Wil Baumann (P)

Head Coach: Dave Doeren (3-9 all-time at N.C. State, 26-13 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Music City Bowl vs. Memphis (W)


6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons- 5-7 (1-7)

Last Year's Record: 4-8

Last Year's Bowl Game: No bowl game

Toughest Games: @ Utah State (September 13), @ Louisville (September 27), @ Florida State (October 4), Syracuse (October 18), Clemson (November 6), @ NC State (November 15), Virginia Tech (November 22), @ Duke (November 29)

Key Players: Jared Crump (WR), Tyree Harris (WR), Cory Helms (C), Tyler Hayworth (RG), Dylan Intemann (RT), Brandon Chubb (LB), Hunter Williams (LB), Kevin Johnson (CB), Merrill Noel (CB), Ryan Janvion (SS), Chad Hedlund (K), Alex Kinal (P)

Head Coach: Dave Clawson (0-0 all-time at Wake Forest, 32-31 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: No bowl game


7. Boston College Eagles- 3-9 (0-8)

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Last Year's Bowl Game: Lost the AdvoCare V100 Bowl to Arizona

Toughest Games: Pittsburgh (September 5), USC (September 13), @ NC State (October 11), Clemson (October 18), @ Wake Forest (October 25), @ Virginia Tech (November 1), Louisville (November 8), @ Florida State (November 22), Syracuse (November 29)

Key Players: Andy Gallik (C), Harris Williams (RG), Bobby Vardaro (LG), Connor Wujciak (DT), Steven Daniels (LB), Manuel Asprilla (CB), Bryce Jones (CB), Dominique Williams (SS), Sean Sylvia (FS)

Head Coach: Steve Addazio (7-6 all-time at Boston College, 20-17 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: No bowl game


Coastal Division:


1. Virginia Tech Hokies- 10-4 (7-2)

Last Year's Record: 8-5

Last Year's Bowl Game: Lost the Sun Bowl against UCLA

Toughest Games: @ Ohio State (September 6), @ North Carolina (October 4), @ Pittsburgh (October 16), Miami (October 23)

Key Players: Trey Edmunds (RB), Demitri Knowles (WR), Joshua Stanford (WR), Willie Byrn (WR), Ryan Malleck (TE), David Wang (C), Brent Bendict (RG), Caleb Farris (LG), Jonathan McLaughlin (LT), Luther Maddy (DT), Brandon Facyson (CB), Kendall Fuller (CB), Kyshoen Jarrett (S), Detrick Bonner (FS), A.J. Hughes (P)

Head Coach: Frank Beamer (224-109-2 all-time at Virginia Tech, 224-109-2 all-time)

Conference Championship: vs. Florida State (L)

Bowl Prediction: Capital One Bowl vs. LSU (L)


2. North Carolina Tar Heels- 9-4 (6-2)

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Last Year's Bowl Game: Won the Belk Bowl against Cincinnati

Toughest Games: @ Clemson (September 27), Virginia Tech (October 4), @ Notre Dame (October 11), @ Miami (November 1)

Key Players: Marquise Williams (QB), T.J. Logan (RB), Quinshad Davis (WR), T.J. Thorpe (WR), Jack Tabb (TE), Landon Turner (RG), Caleb Peterson (LG), Jon Heck (RT), Ethan Farmer (DT), Norkeithus Otis (DL), Travis Hughes (LB), Darius Lipford (LB), Malik Simmons (LB), Dominique Green (SS), Tim Scott (FS), Thomas Moore (K), Tommy Hibbard (P), Ryan Switzer (KR)

Head Coach: Larry Fedora (15-10 all-time at North Carolina, 49-29 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Detroit Bowl vs. Michigan (L)


3. Pittsburgh Panthers- 9-4 (5-3)

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Last Year's Bowl Game: Won the Little Casear's Bowl against Bowling Green

Toughest Games: Iowa (September 20), Virginia Tech (October 16), @ North Carolina (November 15), Syracuse (November 22), @ Miami (November 29)

Key Players: James Conner (RB), Manasseh Garner (WR), Tyler Boyd (WR), J.P. Holtz (TE), Artie Rowell (C), Matt Rotheram (RG), T.J. Clemmings (RT), Adam Bisnowaty (LT), David Durham (DE), Anthony Gonzalez (LB), Todd Thomas (LB), Lafayette Pitts (CB), Ray Vinopal (FS), Chris Blewitt (K)

Head Coach: Paul Chryst (13-13 all-time at Pittsburgh, 13-13 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Sun Bowl vs. Stanford (L)


4. Miami Hurricanes - 9-4 (5-3)

Last Year's Record: 9-4

Last Year's Bowl Game: Lost the Russell Athletic Bowl to Louisville

Toughest Games: @ Louisville (September 1), @ Nebraska (September 20), Cincinnati (October 11), @ Virginia Tech (October 23), North Carolina (November 1), Florida State (November 15)

Key Players: Duke Johnson (RB), Malcolm Lewis (WR), Stacy Coley (WR), Phillip Dorsett (WR), Clive Walford (TE), Shane McDermott (C), Jon Feliciano (LG), Ereck Flowers (LT), Anthony Chickillo (DE), Olsen Pierre (DT), Denzel Perryman (LB), Thurston Armbrister (LB), LaDarius Gunter (CB), Tracy Howard (CB), Rayshawn Jenkins (S), Matt Goudis (K)

Head Coach: Al Golden (22-15 all-time at Miami, 49-49 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Independence Bowl vs. Texas A&M (W)


5. Duke Blue Devils- 7-6 (2-6)

Last Year's Record: 10-4

Last Year's Bowl Game: Lost the Chick-Fil-A Bowl to Texas A&M

Toughest Games: @ Miami (September 27), @ Georgia Tech (October 11), @ Pittsburgh (November 1), @ Syracuse (November 8), Virginia Tech (November 15), North Carolina (November 20)

Key Players: Anthony Boone (QB), Josh Snead (RB), Jamison Crowder (WR), Max McCaffrey (WR), Braxton Deaver (TE), Matt Skura (C), Laken Tomlinson (RG), Takoby Cofield (LT), Jamal Bruce (NG), Kelby Brown (LB), David Helton (LB), Deondre Singleton (LB), DeVon Edwards (S), Jeremy Cash (S), Ross Martin (K), Will Monday (P)

Head Coach: David Cutcliffe (31-44 all-time at Duke, 75-73 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: Russell Athletic Bowl vs. ULM (W)


6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets- 5-7 (2-6)

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Last Year's Bowl Game: Lost the Music City Bowl to Ole Miss

Toughest Games: @ Virginia Tech (September 20), Miami (October 4), @ North Carolina (October 18), @ Pittsburgh (October 25), @ NC State (November 8), Clemson (November 15), @ Georgia (November 29)

Key Players: Synjyn Davis (RB), Michael Summers (WR), DeAndre Smelter (WR), Shaquille Mason (RG), Trey Braun (LG), Bryan Chamberlain (LT), Adam Gotsis (DT), Quayshawn Nealy (LB), Demond Smith (DB), D.J. White (CB), Isaiah Johnson (S), Harrison Butker (K)

Head Coach: Paul Johnson (48-32 all-time at Georgia Tech, 93-61 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: No bowl game


7. Virginia Cavaliers- 2-10 (0-8)

Last Year's Record: 2-10

Last Year's Bowl Game: No bowl game

Toughest Games: UCLA (August 30), Louisville (September 13), @ BYU (September 20), Pittsburgh (October 4), @ Duke (October 18), North Carolina (October 25), @ Georgia Tech (November 1), @ Florida State (November 8), Miami (November 22), @ Virginia Tech (November 28)

Key Players: Greyson Lambert (QB), Kevin Parks (RB), Darius Jennings (WR), Keeon Johnson (WR), Zachary Swanson (TE), Conner Davis (LG), Eric Smith (RT), Jay Whitmire (LT), Andrew Brown (DT),  David Dean (DT), Eli Harold (DE), Max Valles (LB), Henry Coley (LB), Daquan Romero (LB), Maurice Canady (CB), Demetrious Nicholson (CB), Anthony Harris (S), Brandon Phelps (S), Ian Frye (K), Alec Vozenilek (P)

Head Coach: Mike London (18-31 all-time at Virginia, 18-31 all-time)

Bowl Prediction: No bowl game

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