A look at ACC teams in predicted order of finish; DMN picks

Note: Teams ranked in predicted order of finish

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. FLORIDA STATE — Coach Bobby Bowden purged his offensive staff and hired four new coaches, including ex-LSU assistant Jimbo Fisher to run the offense and West Virginia assistant Rick Trickett to coach the line ... Former N.C. State coach Chuck Amato is back in Tallahassee as linebackers coach ... The key question is at quarterback, where juniors Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee are competing.

2. BOSTON COLLEGE — New coach Jeff Jagodzinski inherited plenty of talent. Eighteen starters are back, including ACC preseason player of the year Matt Ryan at QB and preseason all-ACC CB DeJuan Tribble ... A slow start could doom the Eagles, who open with three straight conference games, including a Sept. 8 game against O'Brien and N.C. State.

3. CLEMSON — Tigers boast perhaps the ACC's best backfield in RBs James Davis (1,187 yards, 17 TDs in 2006) and C.J. Spiller (938 yards, 10 TDs) ... Must replace WR Chansi Stuckey, NFL first-rounder Gaines Adams at DE and CB C.J. Gaddis.

4. WAKE FOREST — Demon Deacons hope to sustain the momentum generated by a school-record 11 wins and Orange Bowl berth ... AP coach of the year Jim Grobe has eight returning offensive starters, including ACC rookie of the year Riley Skinner at QB.

5. MARYLAND — The new quarterback (either longtime backup Jordan Steffy or Florida transfer Josh Portis) will have plenty of weapons at his disposal — the Terrapins return their top two rushers, Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, plus WRs Darrius Heyward-Bey and Isaiah Williams and TE Joey Haynos.

6. NORTH CAROLINA STATE — New coach Tom O'Brien has plenty of questions during preseason practice, including settling on a quarterback and running back ... Last year's last-place pick in the Atlantic was eventual conference champ Wake Forest.

Comments