The 2006 ACC Football Preview

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will be a competitive conference in 2006, though the Atlantic division of the ACC will be weaker than its Coastal division counterpart. Teams like Miami and Virginia Tech are just plain better and more talented than Florida State and Clemson, though this is only a reflection of the competition within conference. These four teams, along with North Carolina and Virginia, will compete in bowls in 2006 with others competing hard to stay around 4 or 5 wins for a chance at a bowl in 2007 and 2008.

ACC Atlantic

1. Florida State University- The combination of running backs Lorenzo Booker and Antone Smith should be enough to get the Seminoles back into prominence in the ACC. Booker and Smith will get them over the 100 rushing yards per game mark unlike last season and the Seminoles' defense is good enough to win a weakened ACC Atlantic division.

2. Clemson- Without Charlie Whitehurst, the Tigers will need to rely on their running game. While they will not be as prolific on offense as they have been with Whitehurst, having a Bowden on the sidelines never hurts. The Tigers will push the Seminoles for first and look for Clemson to start making the longer term move of supplanting Florida State for ACC supremacy.

3. Boston College- The Eagles will fall off a bit in 2006 because of the improvement of both Florida State and Clemson in the Atlantic division. However, the Eagles are never too far off of the division lead and Coach Tom O'Brien has the team running through brick walls every Saturday. Quarterback Matt Ryan needs solid performances from his running backs, Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth, in order to create a balanced offensive attack. Look for Callender or Whitworth to leap past the other and become the main threat in O'Brien's offensive scheme.

4. NC State- The Wolfpack couldn't win games with NFL first rounders like Mario Williams and Manny Lawson, so why would anyone expect them to win without them in 2006? The ACC Atlantic has a couple of good teams and NC State does not look like its on its way up.

5. Maryland- Ralph Friedgen looks like he lost his coaching touch over the last two seasons and the Terrapins will be looking for his offensive genius to put them over the top in many games in 2006. Unfortunately, their talent is not good enough to get the job done in close games and Friedgen will pay the price at the end of 2006.

6. Wake Forest- Scrap and heart are not what makes champions, at least not without the right talent. The loss of 2005 ACC Player of the year, running back Chris Barclay, and the fact that Jim Grobe has little talent to carry the Demon Deacons means that Wake Forest will languish at the bottom of the ACC in 2006.

ACC Coastal

1. Miami- Larry Coker made a few key personnel changes in the off season in order to shake up the monotony on the Hurricanes' sidelines and to bring in some new ideas. The most important addition was the hiring of former Wisconsin coach John Palermo as defensive line coach. Palermo brings a hard-nosed approach to his defensive line corps and the Hurricanes need assistants like Palermo to light a fire under them. With Coach Coker rededicating the Hurricanes' efforts in 2006, the combination of will and talent will carry the Hurricanes far this upcoming ACC season.

2. Virginia Tech- The loss of Marcus Vick is a mixed bag for Coach Frank Beamer. Vick's personality problems were exposed at the end of the 2005 season and he was never quite able to live up to the expectations that inevitably came from his more successful brother Michael. Beamer's scheme at Virginia Tech has always involved the preeminence of special teams and defense as the source of great play for the Hokies, while the offense was expected to make few mistakes and a few big plays. Beamer should be able to keep that tradition going and the Hokies will get a decent bowl shot and the chance to compete in the BCS down the road.

3. North Carolina- John Bunning will do enough in the 2006 ACC season to keep his team improving, especially from their lackluster performances on offense from a year ago. The loss of Matt Baker at quarterback may be unfortunate in terms of team leadership, but it will give Bunning an opportunity to recommit to the running game and focus on hard nosed football in Chapel Hill. The Tarheels will be able to get into a bowl game in 2006 and Bunning will continue to prove his NCAA football coaching chops.

4. Virginia- Coach Al Groh lost Marcus Hagans and D'Brickshaw Ferguson from his offense in the 2006 off season but has high hopes that one of his two young quarterbacks, Christian Olsen and Kevin McCabe, will be able to take over for the athletic Hagans. However, Groh should be looking more realistically at the 2007 or 2008 season for one of these two youngsters to really take off. The 2006 ACC season will be one of growing pains for a new group of Cavaliers.

5. Georgia Tech- Is Reggie Ball for real? Well, the statistics certainly don't indicate that, given that Ball has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in his collegiate career and has thrown just over half of his passes for completions. Georgia Tech needs Ball to get it going this ACC season and take advantage of talented receiver Calvin Johnson. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets are in the Coastal division, with talented teams like Miami and Virginia Tech. They won't have enough to make a serious push for the divisional championship and probably not a bowl appearance.

6. Duke- The Blue Devils have an improved defense but their offensive is nowhere to be found, considering they scored only 13 points per game in 2005. Look for Duke to look a little bit better but for fans to look to the potential of another Blue Devil championship in basketball.

ACC Championship- Miami versus Florida State- This is an ACC Championship game worthy of NCAA football. Both schools have legendary football programs and Bobby Bowden is one of football's best coaches. However, the Hurricanes will have the momentum heading into this game, coming from a better division in the conference and having a better core group of position players. Larry Coker's coaching moves in the 2006 off season will pay dividends in big games like the 2006 ACC Championship.
2006 ACC Championship projection- Miami 31, Florida State 10

Best NFL Prospect- Wide Receive Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech- Johnson is outstanding and his pro prospects would be even better if quarterback Reggie Ball could hit the broad side of a barn. Even though the NFL can be tough for young receivers, Johnson seems to have the head for the pro game and will dominate this year in anticipation of impressing pro scouts.

Most improved team- North Carolina- John Bunning's spirit and the fact that the Tarheels are continuing to improve under his defensive scheme mean that North Carolina will be competitive in a weaker Atlantic division.