Duke
Last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC), beat Indiana 44-41 in overtime in the Pinstripe Bowl
Best win: at Virginia Tech, 45-43, in four overtimes Worst loss: at Virginia, 42-34
Coach: David Cutcliffe (ninth year, 48-53)
Starters returning: 13 (6 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Thomas Sirk. Now a senior, Sirk completed 58.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,625 yards, 16 TDs, and eight INTs. He also rushed for a team-leading 803 yards and eight TDs. He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in February and was working in practice on a limited basis when Duke opened practice two weeks ago. He hopes to be ready for the Blue Devils' opener.
Defensive player to watch: CB Breon Borders. Senior totaled 56 tackles, four for loss, a sack, three picks, and nine breakups a season ago.
Special teams player to watch: DeVon Edwards. He averaged 29.2 yards per kick return in 2015 (first in conference among those with at least 10 returns) and scored three touchdowns.
Schedule: vs. N.C. Central, vs. Wake Forest, at Northwestern, at Notre Dame, vs. Virginia, vs. Army, at Louisville, at Georgia Tech, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. North Carolina, at Pittsburgh, at Miami.
Outlook: The health of Sirk is obviously a big deal for this team as the double threat he brings passing and rushing can really stir the Duke offense. Of course, over the past few seasons, which have been successful
for Cutcliffe and the Blue Devils, Cutlcliffe has been able to use several different QBs and has still found ways for the offense to be productive. Sirk's backup is junior Parker Boehme, who completed 55.1 percent of his passes last year for 579 yards, a pair of TDs, and one pick. The Blue Devils return three starters on the offensive line and a pair of running backs in Shaquille Powell and Jela Duncan who each rushed for more than 400 yards last season. The Devils will be looking for another main weapon through the air with the graduation of Max McCaffrey, the son of former Denver Bronco Ed McCaffrey and the brother of 2015 Heisman finalist Christian McCaffrey. The defense lost All-American safety Jeremy Cash, but has a pretty solid unit returning. The schedule is a mixed bag. The non-ACC slate is another step up with the Fighting Irish on the schedule and a road game at Northwestern, which beat Duke in Durham last year. In the ACC schedule, Duke once again avoids Florida State and Clemson, but also does not get to face potentially weak foes in Boston College and Syracuse. Duke does get Virginia Tech and UNC at home, but also has to go to Miami, Pitt, and Louisville. Cutcliffe has learned how to win at Duke, and though the Devils might take a step back, if the QB situation works out, Duke should go to a fifth bowl in a row. Lots of pundits thought Cutcliffe's success would have waned by now at Duke, but the Devils seem to surprise each year.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
North Carolina
Last year: 11-3 (8-0 ACC), lost to Clemson, 45-37, in the ACC title game, lost to Baylor, 49-38, in the Russell Athletic Bowl Best win: at Virginia Tech, 30-27, in overtime, winning Frank Beamer's final home game was difficult Worst loss: vs. South Carolina, 17-13, in Charlotte, N.C.
Coach: Larry Fedora (fifth year, 32-20)
Starters returning: 15 (7 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Elijah Hood. Just a junior this season, in 2015 Hood rushed for 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per carry. He also had 13 receptions for 71 yards.
Defensive player to watch: CB M.J. Stewart. The junior recorded 62 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one sack, four interceptions, 14 breakups (second in ACC), and one forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: K Nick Weiler. He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last season when he made 20 of 23 field goals. Also, Ryan Switzer, the sensational punt returner and wideout, is back for his senior season. He averaged 13.7 yards per return in 2015 and scored twice. He has seven punt return TDs in his career, which is an ACC record and one shy of tying the most in NCAA history.
Last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC), beat Indiana 44-41 in overtime in the Pinstripe Bowl
Best win: at Virginia Tech, 45-43, in four overtimes Worst loss: at Virginia, 42-34
Coach: David Cutcliffe (ninth year, 48-53)
Starters returning: 13 (6 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Thomas Sirk. Now a senior, Sirk completed 58.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,625 yards, 16 TDs, and eight INTs. He also rushed for a team-leading 803 yards and eight TDs. He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in February and was working in practice on a limited basis when Duke opened practice two weeks ago. He hopes to be ready for the Blue Devils' opener.
Defensive player to watch: CB Breon Borders. Senior totaled 56 tackles, four for loss, a sack, three picks, and nine breakups a season ago.
Special teams player to watch: DeVon Edwards. He averaged 29.2 yards per kick return in 2015 (first in conference among those with at least 10 returns) and scored three touchdowns.
Schedule: vs. N.C. Central, vs. Wake Forest, at Northwestern, at Notre Dame, vs. Virginia, vs. Army, at Louisville, at Georgia Tech, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. North Carolina, at Pittsburgh, at Miami.
Outlook: The health of Sirk is obviously a big deal for this team as the double threat he brings passing and rushing can really stir the Duke offense. Of course, over the past few seasons, which have been successful
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
North Carolina
Last year: 11-3 (8-0 ACC), lost to Clemson, 45-37, in the ACC title game, lost to Baylor, 49-38, in the Russell Athletic Bowl Best win: at Virginia Tech, 30-27, in overtime, winning Frank Beamer's final home game was difficult Worst loss: vs. South Carolina, 17-13, in Charlotte, N.C.
Coach: Larry Fedora (fifth year, 32-20)
Starters returning: 15 (7 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Elijah Hood. Just a junior this season, in 2015 Hood rushed for 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per carry. He also had 13 receptions for 71 yards.
Defensive player to watch: CB M.J. Stewart. The junior recorded 62 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one sack, four interceptions, 14 breakups (second in ACC), and one forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: K Nick Weiler. He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last season when he made 20 of 23 field goals. Also, Ryan Switzer, the sensational punt returner and wideout, is back for his senior season. He averaged 13.7 yards per return in 2015 and scored twice. He has seven punt return TDs in his career, which is an ACC record and one shy of tying the most in NCAA history.
Schedule: vs. Georgia (in Atlanta), at Illinois, vs. James Madison, vs. Pittsburgh, at Florida State, vs. Virginia Tech, at Miami, at Virginia, vs. Georgia Tech, at Duke, vs. The Citadel, vs. N.C. State.
Outlook: Junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky is ready to lead what should be another great Tar Heels offense after backing up Marquise Williams the past two seasons. Despite just being a backup and having a small sample size, Trubisky was impressive last year, completing 40 of 47 passes for 555 yards, six TDs, and zero INTs. The Tar Heels lost receiver Quinshad Davis, UNC's all-time leader in TD receptions, but have plenty of weapons back. Hood is back in the backfield along with T.J. Logan, a 400-yard rusher who also averaged more than six yards per carry. Switzer, in addition to being a superb return man, is a good receiver in his own right, tying Davis for the team lead in catches last year with 55, while also tallying 697 yards and six TDs. In all, Carolina returns six of its top seven receivers. The offensive line returns four starters. The defense, after being epically bad two seasons ago, was much better last year under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, the former Auburn head coach, but still has room to grow. The non-conference schedule is tougher than last season, with Georgia being a step up over South Carolina, which ended up being very bad last year. But UNC lost in that opener anyway and recovered to win 11 in a row. Illinois, JMU, and The Citadel should all be wins. The conference schedule is a little tougher as well, as the Heels trade Wake for FSU. With an explosive offense, decent defense, and manageable schedule, UNC is one of the favorites to win the ACC Coastal.
Win-loss prediction: 9-3 or 10-2
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