ACC Coastal Division
Duke finished last season with four victories. This doesn’t sound impressive until you consider that the Blue Devils only won four games in the previous four seasons. Senior Thaddeus Lewis returns at quarterback, and with six other returning offensive starters, Duke could make a run at a bowl bid, its first since 1991.
Duke finished last season with four victories. This doesn’t sound impressive until you consider that the Blue Devils only won four games in the previous four seasons. Senior Thaddeus Lewis returns at quarterback, and with six other returning offensive starters, Duke could make a run at a bowl bid, its first since 1991. Duke will make a run, but I just see five wins.
Last season, under first-year coach Paul Johnson, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets finished with an impressive 9-3 record. With its entire backfield returning to run Johnson’s triple option offense, the fans in Atlanta could be celebrating an ACC title in 2009, but the defense could struggle and I think they will come up just short.
The rebuilding process continues in South Beach. The jury is still out on Randy Shannon as a head coach. Plus, having last year’s starting quarterback transfer hurts the Canes chances for ’09. A good defense will carry the team to a so-so year by Miami standards.
Butch Davis is not far away from having a top notch team in Chapel Hill. This year Carolina return 15 starters, but lose one of the best wide receiving corps in the nation. The Heels can challenge for the conference title if the stars align properly, but I think the team are a year away.
Virginia Unfortunately the trend of less-than-stellar seasons could continue in Charlottesville. A brand new spread offense will be tough to defend in a few years, but will be tough to grasp for its only five returning starters on that side of the ball. The Cavs are still a few years away.
The defending conference champion is once again favored to repeat. The loss of running back Darren Evans hurts, but there is some depth at that position. If Bud Foster’s young defense can continue its dominance, then the Hokies can repeat. And if they beat Alabama in the opener, the schedule lines up for Tech to stay in the conversation for a national title.