It is now one week before the first college football Saturday of the weekend kicks off and I still have nine ACC teams to preview. But I will get it done. Games actually start Thursday and two ACC teams -- Wake Forest and Georgia Tech -- play games (the Demon Deacons travel to Syracuse and the Jackets host Western Carolina). I've already previewed Wake and hope to have Georgia Tech done before that first game.
I was on a vacation in Alaska (fun but crummy weather) from the 16th-24th and can now settle into the college football season. A couple weeks ago, I previewed Boston College, Maryland, and Wake Forest of the ACC's Atlantic Division. Now, I'm finishing up the Atlantic with previews of N.C. State, Clemson, and Florida State.
N.C. State
Last season: The Wolfpack went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, good for third in the Atlantic. N.C. State positioned itself to get to the ACC title game by defeating Florida State in a midseason Thursday night game but then lost by seven in the season finale to Maryland, keeping it out of the championship, which would have been a rematch against Virginia Tech. N.C. State led the Hokies 17-0 in the second quarter before eventually falling 41-30 during the fifth game of the season. N.C. State was vying to improve to 5-0 in that game. In the Champs Sports Bowl, the Wolfpack soundly beat West Virginia 23-7. QB Russell Wilson led a dynamic offense by throwing for over 3500 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Wilson also was the second leading rusher on the team (435 yards, 9 TDs). Mustafa Greene led the team in rushing with 597 yards and four TDs. The defense was stout, giving up only 21.3 points per game.
Offense: The big question mark is at quarterback. Wilson, a two-sport athlete, was considering a pro baseball career and coach Tom O'Brien decided to not wait around for Wilson in the off season when the QB was missing off season workouts. Junior Mike Glennon takes over under center for the Wolfpack. He is the brother of former Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon and was a highly touted recruit but is unproven. He struggled in 2008 as a true freshman before O'Brien handed the reins of the offense to Wilson. I think how Glennon performs will go a long way to seeing if N.C. State can compete for an ACC title. Greene, only a sophomore, is back to lead the running game but Wilson was a huge chunk of the offense. Additionally, N.C. State loses their top two receivers and returns only five on offense.
Defense: N.C. State returns eight starters to a defense that jumped from allowing 31.2 ppg in 2009 to 21.3 ppg last year. The Pack loses its best defensive player in Nate Irving but returns a host of solid contributors. I expect this to be the best unit on the team.
Schedule, notes, outlook: N.C. State has a rather soft schedule. Four of the Wolfpack's first six games are at home and its nonconference slate includes Liberty, South Alabama, Cincinnati, and Central Michigan. N.C. State does have to go to Florida State in the ACC slate, but gets Clemson and Maryland at home and avoids Miami and Virginia Tech altogether. I think the Wolfpack will struggle to produce on offense, especially in a fashion similar to last season. The defense should hold the Pack in a lot of games. With the soft schedule, State has a good chance of opening anywhere from 4-2 to 6-0. I like State to finish 7-5 or 8-4 in the regular season.
Clemson
Last season: The Tigers are perpetual underachivers and perpetually hard to put your finger on. Last year was supposed to be a great year for them (as was 2008, when they began the year ranked No. 9) but the Tigers stumbled to a 6-7 record overall and 4-4 in the ACC (fifth). Clemson was close to starting 3-0 but lost 27-24 in overtime to eventual national champion Auburn (and led 17-3 at the half). The Tigers followed that loss by dropping decisions to Miami and UNC. They then pounded Maryland and Georgia Tech, but scored only 10 points in a loss to BC. Clemson beat N.C. State but was blown out by rival South Carolina in the regular season finale then struggled in a 31-26 loss to South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The defense was great, allowing just 18.8 points per game, but the offense struggled. QB Kyle Parker never got the Tigers rolling and battled injuries. He threw only 13 TDs and 12 INTs.
Offense: Jamie Harper led the offense in rushing in 2010 and is gone but Andre Ellington was a close second on the team and returns. Tajh Boyd, a sophomore, will be the starting quarterback. He played in seven games last year and completed just over 52 percent of his passes for 329 yards, four TDs, and three INTs. Clemson returns almost its entire receiving corps and nine starters to the offense.
Defense: Clemson will take a step back on defense this year. The Tigers return five starters to that unit and lose leading tackler DeAndre McDaniel and sack machine DaQuan Bowers, who finished with 15.5 sacks last season.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Clemson draws Troy, Wofford, Auburn, and South Carolina in the nonconference slate so look for it go to 2-2 or 3-1 there. The Tigers should start 2-0 vs. Troy and Wofford but then get Auburn, Florida State, and Virginia Tech all in a row, though Auburn is certainly weaker this year than last year. Clemson finished with road games vs. N.C. State and South Carolina. Coach Dabo Swinney turned around Clemson in 2008 midseason to get the Tigers to a bowl game and then won the Atlatic in 2009. Last year the Tigers took a step back and they can never seem to break through the glass ceiling to get to a BCS bowl. I like for them to take a small step forward but will still struggle to finish 7-5.
Florida State
Last season: Head coach Jimbo Fisher stepped in as Florida State's new coach after the retirement of Bobby Bowden and led the Seminoles to a 10-4 overall record, 6-2 in the conference. It was the Seminoles first season with double digit wins since 2003. Florida State was destroyed by Oklahoma in the second game of the season but won big in its other early games to move to 5-1. After edging BC 24-19, the Noles dropped a Thursday night game at N.C. State after leading 21-7 at the half then lost by two to UNC. They recovered though to win their remaining ACC regular season games and, thanks to Maryland's defeat of N.C. State on the final weekend of the regular season, represented the Atlantic in the ACC Championship. The Noles lost to Virginia Tech in the title game in a high-scoring 44-33 affair but did defeat South Carolina in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and also beat rival Florida 31-7 for the first time in a few years. QB Christian Ponder battled through injuries to lead a potent offeense and the defense finally started to regain some of that FSU swagger. EJ Manuel stepped in under center to provide Ponder relief and completed 65 of 93 passes for four TDs and four INTs. Against South Carolina in the bowl game, Manuel went 7 for 7.
Offense: I'm not a believer yet in Manuel --now a junior -- but he was a highly touted recruit and seems to have the Noles thinking a return to national title contender. Even if Manuel ends up beieng a step back, the Noles should be solid on offense with eight returning starters, including their top three rushers and basically all of their receivers.
Defense: The defense should be as strong or stronger than last year. FSU returns eight starters on that side of the ball as well, including leading tackler Nigel Bradham (97 tackles) and sack leader Brandon Jenkins (13.5 sacks).
Schedule, notes, outlook: Except for a home tilt in their third game of the season against Oklahoma (preseason No. 1 in the country) the schedule is favorable for the Seminoles. Besides the Sooners, only Clemson should pose a threat for FSU in its first six games. FSU then has a manageable ACC stretch of vs. Maryland, vs. N.C. State, at BC, vs. Miami, and vs. UVa. The games against Maryland and N.C. State should help determine the Atlantic winner and FSU gets both teams at home. Fisher has a good situation in his second season with lots of returning starters and he's bringing in a top-notch recruiting class. Expectations are beginning to rise again in Tallahassee. I think the main key will be seeing how Manuel develops. If he develops into the best QB he can be, FSU could be very dangerous. I don't expect them to contend for a national title because I think they will lose to Oklahoma, but FSU might run the table otherwise. I like them to trip up somewhere though and go 10-2 in the regular season and win the Atlantic.
Next up: Next week, I'll begin looking at the situation in the ACC Coastal Division. I'll again preview teams from North to South, with the exception of Virginia. The Hoos will be the last team I preview. First up though will be Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Duke.
I was on a vacation in Alaska (fun but crummy weather) from the 16th-24th and can now settle into the college football season. A couple weeks ago, I previewed Boston College, Maryland, and Wake Forest of the ACC's Atlantic Division. Now, I'm finishing up the Atlantic with previews of N.C. State, Clemson, and Florida State.
N.C. State
Last season: The Wolfpack went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, good for third in the Atlantic. N.C. State positioned itself to get to the ACC title game by defeating Florida State in a midseason Thursday night game but then lost by seven in the season finale to Maryland, keeping it out of the championship, which would have been a rematch against Virginia Tech. N.C. State led the Hokies 17-0 in the second quarter before eventually falling 41-30 during the fifth game of the season. N.C. State was vying to improve to 5-0 in that game. In the Champs Sports Bowl, the Wolfpack soundly beat West Virginia 23-7. QB Russell Wilson led a dynamic offense by throwing for over 3500 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Wilson also was the second leading rusher on the team (435 yards, 9 TDs). Mustafa Greene led the team in rushing with 597 yards and four TDs. The defense was stout, giving up only 21.3 points per game.
Offense: The big question mark is at quarterback. Wilson, a two-sport athlete, was considering a pro baseball career and coach Tom O'Brien decided to not wait around for Wilson in the off season when the QB was missing off season workouts. Junior Mike Glennon takes over under center for the Wolfpack. He is the brother of former Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon and was a highly touted recruit but is unproven. He struggled in 2008 as a true freshman before O'Brien handed the reins of the offense to Wilson. I think how Glennon performs will go a long way to seeing if N.C. State can compete for an ACC title. Greene, only a sophomore, is back to lead the running game but Wilson was a huge chunk of the offense. Additionally, N.C. State loses their top two receivers and returns only five on offense.
Defense: N.C. State returns eight starters to a defense that jumped from allowing 31.2 ppg in 2009 to 21.3 ppg last year. The Pack loses its best defensive player in Nate Irving but returns a host of solid contributors. I expect this to be the best unit on the team.
Schedule, notes, outlook: N.C. State has a rather soft schedule. Four of the Wolfpack's first six games are at home and its nonconference slate includes Liberty, South Alabama, Cincinnati, and Central Michigan. N.C. State does have to go to Florida State in the ACC slate, but gets Clemson and Maryland at home and avoids Miami and Virginia Tech altogether. I think the Wolfpack will struggle to produce on offense, especially in a fashion similar to last season. The defense should hold the Pack in a lot of games. With the soft schedule, State has a good chance of opening anywhere from 4-2 to 6-0. I like State to finish 7-5 or 8-4 in the regular season.
Clemson
Last season: The Tigers are perpetual underachivers and perpetually hard to put your finger on. Last year was supposed to be a great year for them (as was 2008, when they began the year ranked No. 9) but the Tigers stumbled to a 6-7 record overall and 4-4 in the ACC (fifth). Clemson was close to starting 3-0 but lost 27-24 in overtime to eventual national champion Auburn (and led 17-3 at the half). The Tigers followed that loss by dropping decisions to Miami and UNC. They then pounded Maryland and Georgia Tech, but scored only 10 points in a loss to BC. Clemson beat N.C. State but was blown out by rival South Carolina in the regular season finale then struggled in a 31-26 loss to South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The defense was great, allowing just 18.8 points per game, but the offense struggled. QB Kyle Parker never got the Tigers rolling and battled injuries. He threw only 13 TDs and 12 INTs.
Offense: Jamie Harper led the offense in rushing in 2010 and is gone but Andre Ellington was a close second on the team and returns. Tajh Boyd, a sophomore, will be the starting quarterback. He played in seven games last year and completed just over 52 percent of his passes for 329 yards, four TDs, and three INTs. Clemson returns almost its entire receiving corps and nine starters to the offense.
Defense: Clemson will take a step back on defense this year. The Tigers return five starters to that unit and lose leading tackler DeAndre McDaniel and sack machine DaQuan Bowers, who finished with 15.5 sacks last season.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Clemson draws Troy, Wofford, Auburn, and South Carolina in the nonconference slate so look for it go to 2-2 or 3-1 there. The Tigers should start 2-0 vs. Troy and Wofford but then get Auburn, Florida State, and Virginia Tech all in a row, though Auburn is certainly weaker this year than last year. Clemson finished with road games vs. N.C. State and South Carolina. Coach Dabo Swinney turned around Clemson in 2008 midseason to get the Tigers to a bowl game and then won the Atlatic in 2009. Last year the Tigers took a step back and they can never seem to break through the glass ceiling to get to a BCS bowl. I like for them to take a small step forward but will still struggle to finish 7-5.
Florida State
Last season: Head coach Jimbo Fisher stepped in as Florida State's new coach after the retirement of Bobby Bowden and led the Seminoles to a 10-4 overall record, 6-2 in the conference. It was the Seminoles first season with double digit wins since 2003. Florida State was destroyed by Oklahoma in the second game of the season but won big in its other early games to move to 5-1. After edging BC 24-19, the Noles dropped a Thursday night game at N.C. State after leading 21-7 at the half then lost by two to UNC. They recovered though to win their remaining ACC regular season games and, thanks to Maryland's defeat of N.C. State on the final weekend of the regular season, represented the Atlantic in the ACC Championship. The Noles lost to Virginia Tech in the title game in a high-scoring 44-33 affair but did defeat South Carolina in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and also beat rival Florida 31-7 for the first time in a few years. QB Christian Ponder battled through injuries to lead a potent offeense and the defense finally started to regain some of that FSU swagger. EJ Manuel stepped in under center to provide Ponder relief and completed 65 of 93 passes for four TDs and four INTs. Against South Carolina in the bowl game, Manuel went 7 for 7.
Offense: I'm not a believer yet in Manuel --now a junior -- but he was a highly touted recruit and seems to have the Noles thinking a return to national title contender. Even if Manuel ends up beieng a step back, the Noles should be solid on offense with eight returning starters, including their top three rushers and basically all of their receivers.
Defense: The defense should be as strong or stronger than last year. FSU returns eight starters on that side of the ball as well, including leading tackler Nigel Bradham (97 tackles) and sack leader Brandon Jenkins (13.5 sacks).
Schedule, notes, outlook: Except for a home tilt in their third game of the season against Oklahoma (preseason No. 1 in the country) the schedule is favorable for the Seminoles. Besides the Sooners, only Clemson should pose a threat for FSU in its first six games. FSU then has a manageable ACC stretch of vs. Maryland, vs. N.C. State, at BC, vs. Miami, and vs. UVa. The games against Maryland and N.C. State should help determine the Atlantic winner and FSU gets both teams at home. Fisher has a good situation in his second season with lots of returning starters and he's bringing in a top-notch recruiting class. Expectations are beginning to rise again in Tallahassee. I think the main key will be seeing how Manuel develops. If he develops into the best QB he can be, FSU could be very dangerous. I don't expect them to contend for a national title because I think they will lose to Oklahoma, but FSU might run the table otherwise. I like them to trip up somewhere though and go 10-2 in the regular season and win the Atlantic.
Next up: Next week, I'll begin looking at the situation in the ACC Coastal Division. I'll again preview teams from North to South, with the exception of Virginia. The Hoos will be the last team I preview. First up though will be Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Duke.
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