Georgia Tech
Last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC) Best win: vs. Florida State, 22-16 Worst loss: at Virginia, 27-21
Coach: Paul Johnson (ninth year, 61-44)
Starters returning: 13 (6 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Justin Thomas. After rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2014, Thomas disappointed a season ago with just 488 yards and six TDs. He was also a fairly effective passer two years ago, but in 2015 he completed just 41.7 percent of his passes for 1,345 yards, 13 TDs, and eight INTs. He needs to rebound in his senior season for Georgia Tech to rebound.
Defensive player to watch: LB P.J. Davis. Senior had 77 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble in 2015.
Special teams player to watch: K Harrison Butker. He made just 7 of 11 field goals a year ago, but Tech lost some close games and he could help decide whether this team can return to a bowl or not.
Schedule: vs. Boston College (in Ireland), vs. Mercer, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Clemson, vs. Miami, at Pittsburgh,
vs. Georgia Southern, vs. Duke, at North Carolina, at Virginia Tech, vs. Virginia, at Georgia.
Outlook: Last year was by far Paul Johnson's worst season in Atlanta. Even so, the Yellow Jackets still had six single-digit losses, so they weren't that far off going to a bowl. Injuries ravaged the offensive line and backfield last season, and obviously, the team is hoping a healthier offense will help out Thomas and the entire production. Marcus Marshall is back in the backfield and was promising as a freshman last season with 86 carries for 654 yards (7.6 yards per carry) with four TDs. I would make sure he gets more carries if I were Tech. The Jackets' defense is usually nothing special but not awful either. It will come down to the run game, as it always does for the Jackets. Several times last season, the offense was unable to wear teams down in the second half like we've gotten accustomed to seeing. If the Jackets can get back to having an efficient, grinding ground game, then Tech can get back on track and the warts of the defense won't be as noticeable. Johnson is a prickly personality and will certainly be feeling the heat if the team goes a second consecutive year without going to a bowl. He is good for now, however, being just a year removed from going 11-3 and leading Tech to a victory in the Orange Bowl.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
Miami
Last year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC), lost, 20-14, to Washington State in the Sun Bowl
Best win: at Pittsburgh, 29-24 Worst loss: vs. Clemson, 58-0; Clemson was awesome, of course, but the embarrassing loss led to the dismissal of Al Golden as coach
Coach: Mark Richt (first season, 145-51 career)
Starters returning: 15 (9 offense, 6 defense, 0 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Brad Kaaya. In his sophomore season, Kaaya completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,238 yards, 16 TDs, and five INTs.
Defensive player to watch: DE Al-Quadin Muhammad. If he can stay on the field, he is very dangerous to opposing offenses. Last season, he recorded 54 tackles, 8.5 for loss, five sacks, and a forced fumble. Problem is, he is one of a handful of Miami players under investigation for possible improper benefits involving the rental of luxury cars. Miami is investigating itself, and no one is sure what the conclusion will be right now. Currently, the NCAA is not involved. Another top defensive player, LB Jermaine Grace, is also involved. He led the team with 79 tackles last season.
EDIT: Muhammad and Grace were both kicked off the team today, Aug. 27. Another player to watch who becomes more important now is junior LB Juwon Young, who racked up 57 tackles, three for loss, a pick, and a forced fumble in 2015.
Special teams player to watch: Corn Elder. A cornerback, he has one of the best names in the sport and was dynamic as a return man last season. He returned five kickoffs an average of 33.8 yards and scored a touchdown (he ran in the crazy return by Miami at the end of game against Duke), and he also had an 11.8-yards per punt return average and one score.
Schedule: vs. Florida A&M, vs. Florida Atlantic, at Appalachian State, at Georgia Tech, vs. Florida State, vs. North Carolina, at Virginia Tech, at Notre Dame, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia, at N.C. State, vs. Duke.
Outlook: The hiring of Richt was of course one of the biggest moves in the college football offseason. Richt has a reputation as a great recruiter but a so-so in-game coach. He had great success at Georgia but wore out his welcome in Athens a bit, and never could quite hang at the elite level in the SEC. He always seemed to be just a step behind, despite nine seasons of at least 10 wins in 15 years. He did win two SEC championships: 2002 and 2005. How he will impact the Hurricanes in his first season is a mystery, however his background is on offense, and Miami has lots of returning talent and experience on that side of the ball in Kaaya, running back Joe Yearby (1,002 yards, six TDs) and wideout Stacy Coley (47 receptions, 6,789 yards, four TDs). The offensive line is experienced as well, but it didn't do a great job of protecting Kaaya last year and helped the running backs produce just 3.68 yards per carry, which ranked 112th in the nation. Miami also has had a discipline problem for what feels like forever, so Richt will be tasked with alleviating a penalty problem. The Hurricanes led the nation in yellow flags in 2015. Last year's defense gave up 28.2 points and more than 400 yards per game, but was first in the ACC in 10th in the country in turnover margin at +11. If he has all his weapons at his disposal, as far as injuries and suspensions go, Richt could help the Hurricanes challenge for the Coastal title with a manageable schedule. Two of the toughest games -- UNC and FSU -- are at home, but Miami does have to go to Notre Dame and Blacksburg.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
Last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC) Best win: vs. Florida State, 22-16 Worst loss: at Virginia, 27-21
Coach: Paul Johnson (ninth year, 61-44)
Starters returning: 13 (6 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Justin Thomas. After rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2014, Thomas disappointed a season ago with just 488 yards and six TDs. He was also a fairly effective passer two years ago, but in 2015 he completed just 41.7 percent of his passes for 1,345 yards, 13 TDs, and eight INTs. He needs to rebound in his senior season for Georgia Tech to rebound.
Defensive player to watch: LB P.J. Davis. Senior had 77 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble in 2015.
Special teams player to watch: K Harrison Butker. He made just 7 of 11 field goals a year ago, but Tech lost some close games and he could help decide whether this team can return to a bowl or not.
Schedule: vs. Boston College (in Ireland), vs. Mercer, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Clemson, vs. Miami, at Pittsburgh,
Outlook: Last year was by far Paul Johnson's worst season in Atlanta. Even so, the Yellow Jackets still had six single-digit losses, so they weren't that far off going to a bowl. Injuries ravaged the offensive line and backfield last season, and obviously, the team is hoping a healthier offense will help out Thomas and the entire production. Marcus Marshall is back in the backfield and was promising as a freshman last season with 86 carries for 654 yards (7.6 yards per carry) with four TDs. I would make sure he gets more carries if I were Tech. The Jackets' defense is usually nothing special but not awful either. It will come down to the run game, as it always does for the Jackets. Several times last season, the offense was unable to wear teams down in the second half like we've gotten accustomed to seeing. If the Jackets can get back to having an efficient, grinding ground game, then Tech can get back on track and the warts of the defense won't be as noticeable. Johnson is a prickly personality and will certainly be feeling the heat if the team goes a second consecutive year without going to a bowl. He is good for now, however, being just a year removed from going 11-3 and leading Tech to a victory in the Orange Bowl.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
Miami
Last year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC), lost, 20-14, to Washington State in the Sun Bowl
Best win: at Pittsburgh, 29-24 Worst loss: vs. Clemson, 58-0; Clemson was awesome, of course, but the embarrassing loss led to the dismissal of Al Golden as coach
Coach: Mark Richt (first season, 145-51 career)
Starters returning: 15 (9 offense, 6 defense, 0 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Brad Kaaya. In his sophomore season, Kaaya completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,238 yards, 16 TDs, and five INTs.
Defensive player to watch: DE Al-Quadin Muhammad. If he can stay on the field, he is very dangerous to opposing offenses. Last season, he recorded 54 tackles, 8.5 for loss, five sacks, and a forced fumble. Problem is, he is one of a handful of Miami players under investigation for possible improper benefits involving the rental of luxury cars. Miami is investigating itself, and no one is sure what the conclusion will be right now. Currently, the NCAA is not involved. Another top defensive player, LB Jermaine Grace, is also involved. He led the team with 79 tackles last season.
EDIT: Muhammad and Grace were both kicked off the team today, Aug. 27. Another player to watch who becomes more important now is junior LB Juwon Young, who racked up 57 tackles, three for loss, a pick, and a forced fumble in 2015.
Special teams player to watch: Corn Elder. A cornerback, he has one of the best names in the sport and was dynamic as a return man last season. He returned five kickoffs an average of 33.8 yards and scored a touchdown (he ran in the crazy return by Miami at the end of game against Duke), and he also had an 11.8-yards per punt return average and one score.
Schedule: vs. Florida A&M, vs. Florida Atlantic, at Appalachian State, at Georgia Tech, vs. Florida State, vs. North Carolina, at Virginia Tech, at Notre Dame, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia, at N.C. State, vs. Duke.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
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