Hello readers. I've had the same blog design for several years now, so I just decided to change it up as we begin a new season. I hope you enjoy the fresh front-page look. I know whenever our favorite sites change their looks, we can get annoyed. But hopefully that doesn't happen here, and I bet we all will, including me, get used to this format in time. :)
If you are a regular here and read my posts via links I put in emails, on Facebook, or on Twitter, you should still be able to see an entire post when you click on a link. However, my main front page now just shows the first few lines of my most recent post. You just need to click on it to expand and read it in its entirety. Below that, you'll see posts in chronological order with headlines and a photo if there is one. And with that, even though we are still touching 90 degrees often, let's get to the gridiron.
Welcome to college football season. "Fall" camps are opening up around the country as we speak ("fall" in quotation marks because there will be about three weeks of games played before we are actually in the season of fall, so the term just seems silly). The first FBS games of the 2018 season take place Aug. 25, and the first ACC game is Aug. 30, Wake Forest at Tulane. So I'm beginning my annual look at the 14 ACC teams. This year, I'm providing the same information on each school that I have in recent years, with one exception: Last year, with record, best win and worst loss; coach with school and career record; number of starters returning; offensive player to watch; defensive player to watch; special teams player to watch; schedule; and win-loss prediction. But to move things along more quickly, I won't be doing an "outlook," Rather, I'll write a sentence or two when I make my win-loss prediction. I will, however, be more expansive for UVa's entry which, as usual, will be last.
Off we go, starting with Syracuse and Boston College in the Atlantic Division.
Syracuse
Last year: 4-8 (2-6 ACC) Best win: vs. No. 2 Clemson, 27-24 Worst loss: at Louisville, 56-10
Coach: Dino Babers (third year, 8-16 at Syracuse, 45-32 career)
Starters returning: 15 (8 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Eric Dungey. The up-and-down senior threw for 278 yards, three TDs, and zero picks in the Orange's huge upset of Clemson last season. In the next game, though, he threw four picks against Miami in a contest that Syracuse had a chance to win (Syracuse also lost out
after getting to 4-3 with the win over the Tigers). On the year, Dungey's numbers took a step back from 2016: 59.7 percent completion percentage (exact same as 2015 after hitting 64.8 in '16), 14 touchdowns, and nine picks (15 and seven in 2016). He also rushed for 595 yards and nine scores. He's injury-prone, too, having never played a full season for Syracuse. Dungey missed three games in 2017.
Defensive player to watch: DE Alton Robinson. The junior collected 30 tackles, including six for losses, and led the team with five sacks as a sophomore. He also forced a fumble.
Special teams player to watch: P Sterling Hofrichter. As a sophomore, Hofrichter averaged 41.3 yards per punt, and only nine of 57 were returned. The preseason all-ACC pick is expected to kick for Syracuse as well.
Schedule: at Western Michigan, vs. Wagner, vs. Florida State, vs. Connecticut, at Clemson, at Pittsburgh, vs. North Carolina, vs. N.C. State, at Wake Forest, vs. Louisville, vs. Notre Dame at Yankees Stadium, at Boston College.
Win-loss prediction: 4-8 or 5-7. It's hard to imagine this team having a breakthrough after two straight 4-8 years. Dungey is solid, but gets hurt a lot, and the team returns five fewer starters than last season when it was near the top nationally in returning first-unit players with 20.
Boston College
Last year: 7-6 (4-4 ACC), lost to Iowa, 27-20, in Pinstripe Bowl
Best win: vs. Florida State, 35-3 Worst loss: vs. Notre Dame, 49-20
Coach: Steve Addazio (sixth year, 31-33 at BC, 44-44 career)
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB AJ Dillon. Dillon, who turned down Michigan for BC, burst onto
the scene as a freshman, getting 300 carries and amassing 1,589 yards (5.3 ypc) and 14 touchdowns. The 6-foot 245-pounder is receiving publicity as a Heisman darkhorse.
Defensive player to watch: DE Zach Allen. As a junior, Allen piled up 100 tackles, 15.5 for losses, six sacks, and an interception.
Special teams player to watch: Michael Walker. As a junior, Walker averaged 13.2 yards per punt return and 23.6 yards per kick return.
Schedule: vs. Massachusetts, vs. Holy Cross, at Wake Forest, at Purdue, vs. Temple, at N.C. State, vs. Louisville, vs. Miami, at Virginia Tech, vs. Clemson, at Florida State, vs. Syracuse.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5. Dillon is fantastic, but I think that a tough schedule after the first few games and a limited QB in Anthony Brown will put a cap on how good the Eagles can be.
If you are a regular here and read my posts via links I put in emails, on Facebook, or on Twitter, you should still be able to see an entire post when you click on a link. However, my main front page now just shows the first few lines of my most recent post. You just need to click on it to expand and read it in its entirety. Below that, you'll see posts in chronological order with headlines and a photo if there is one. And with that, even though we are still touching 90 degrees often, let's get to the gridiron.
Welcome to college football season. "Fall" camps are opening up around the country as we speak ("fall" in quotation marks because there will be about three weeks of games played before we are actually in the season of fall, so the term just seems silly). The first FBS games of the 2018 season take place Aug. 25, and the first ACC game is Aug. 30, Wake Forest at Tulane. So I'm beginning my annual look at the 14 ACC teams. This year, I'm providing the same information on each school that I have in recent years, with one exception: Last year, with record, best win and worst loss; coach with school and career record; number of starters returning; offensive player to watch; defensive player to watch; special teams player to watch; schedule; and win-loss prediction. But to move things along more quickly, I won't be doing an "outlook," Rather, I'll write a sentence or two when I make my win-loss prediction. I will, however, be more expansive for UVa's entry which, as usual, will be last.
Off we go, starting with Syracuse and Boston College in the Atlantic Division.
Syracuse
Last year: 4-8 (2-6 ACC) Best win: vs. No. 2 Clemson, 27-24 Worst loss: at Louisville, 56-10
Coach: Dino Babers (third year, 8-16 at Syracuse, 45-32 career)
Starters returning: 15 (8 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Eric Dungey. The up-and-down senior threw for 278 yards, three TDs, and zero picks in the Orange's huge upset of Clemson last season. In the next game, though, he threw four picks against Miami in a contest that Syracuse had a chance to win (Syracuse also lost out
Defensive player to watch: DE Alton Robinson. The junior collected 30 tackles, including six for losses, and led the team with five sacks as a sophomore. He also forced a fumble.
Special teams player to watch: P Sterling Hofrichter. As a sophomore, Hofrichter averaged 41.3 yards per punt, and only nine of 57 were returned. The preseason all-ACC pick is expected to kick for Syracuse as well.
Schedule: at Western Michigan, vs. Wagner, vs. Florida State, vs. Connecticut, at Clemson, at Pittsburgh, vs. North Carolina, vs. N.C. State, at Wake Forest, vs. Louisville, vs. Notre Dame at Yankees Stadium, at Boston College.
Win-loss prediction: 4-8 or 5-7. It's hard to imagine this team having a breakthrough after two straight 4-8 years. Dungey is solid, but gets hurt a lot, and the team returns five fewer starters than last season when it was near the top nationally in returning first-unit players with 20.
Boston College
Last year: 7-6 (4-4 ACC), lost to Iowa, 27-20, in Pinstripe Bowl
Best win: vs. Florida State, 35-3 Worst loss: vs. Notre Dame, 49-20
Coach: Steve Addazio (sixth year, 31-33 at BC, 44-44 career)
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB AJ Dillon. Dillon, who turned down Michigan for BC, burst onto
Defensive player to watch: DE Zach Allen. As a junior, Allen piled up 100 tackles, 15.5 for losses, six sacks, and an interception.
Special teams player to watch: Michael Walker. As a junior, Walker averaged 13.2 yards per punt return and 23.6 yards per kick return.
Schedule: vs. Massachusetts, vs. Holy Cross, at Wake Forest, at Purdue, vs. Temple, at N.C. State, vs. Louisville, vs. Miami, at Virginia Tech, vs. Clemson, at Florida State, vs. Syracuse.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5. Dillon is fantastic, but I think that a tough schedule after the first few games and a limited QB in Anthony Brown will put a cap on how good the Eagles can be.
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