It's about time and I am once again excited to watch with my family. Once again, I will be making predictions and getting them written down and doing them the same as last year. 2 college football prediction posts, with the main one next week, and one pro prediction post.
These predictions, will be of what will happen in Florida State's conference and they will be focused on Florida State. Being honest, Florida State has ran the ACC on the football side since their inclusion in 1992. Even last year in a rebuilding year, FSU took national runner-up Clemson to the wire. A game that FSU could have easily pulled out. Since 1992, FSU has won 15 conference championships out of 23 seasons. That means that 65% of the seasons Florida State has played in the conference, they have won! Incredible! It is even more incredible when you consider that rival Miami has been to 0 conference championship games since joining the conference. With this information, the questions start at who can challenge FSU?
The obvious answer in challenging for the ACC Championship is the Clemson Tigers. Many experts have both Clemson and FSU making the playoff. It seems that the majority feels that it is 50/50 who wins that FSU-Clemson game which is in Tallahassee this year. A strong Louisville team could also challenge. The Seminoles though return every single offensive starter and despite losing #5 overall pick Jalen Ramsey, look to be even better on defense as well. Florida State is locked and loaded for a national championship run. Let's look at the threats in greater detail though.
Biggest Threats to FSU
The top threat is Clemson for obvious reasons. The Tigers return the Heisman favorite and were national runner-up last year. Clemson rolled through the ACC schedule and really only struggled with Florida State on the way to an undefeated regular season. With Watson and many other key players returning, it is easy to see how the Tigers can be National Championship contenders again.
Right behind Clemson and I mean right behind Clemson is a dangerous Louisville Cardinals team. These guys will be the trendy sleeper pick in the conference, but they are no sleeper at all. The Cardinals could easily give the ACC Atlantic 3 Top 10 teams. They could also be so dangerous that they cost the ACC 2 playoff teams and possibly wipe the ACC from the championship picture all together. Playing Louisville on the road early in a 12 pm kickoff as a 3rd game in 19 days terrifies me. If FSU drops a regular season game, this one to me is the most likely. QB Lemar Jackson is a Heisman Trophy sleeper and Louisville absolutely is good enough not just to win the ACC, but the national championship. Louisville is loaded for the 2016 season. Watch out!
ACC Darkhorse
Last year, my dark horse started out 3-0, but then they lost everything, so it has to get better for 2016. Still I will not make an easy pick like Louisville, because as stated earlier, Louisville is not and should not be a dark horse. For my darkhorse to compete in the coastal, I am actually going with Georgia Tech who disappointed in 2015. They were able to knock off Florida State though which shows they still have the chops to make a run. With Justin Thomas returning for his senior season, I could easily see the Jackets competing for a title on the Coastal side. That being said, I believe that the Atlantic is much better than the Coastal this season because of the three teams that I mentioned earlier. The Yellow Jackets though will go bowling at least this season and finish better in the Coastal than their predicted finish which is last in some outlets and 5th or lower in most.
Who Wins the Conference?
As you might expect, I am picking the Seminoles in the ACC. I do realize the threats that the other teams possess, especially Clemson and Louisville, but at the end of the day, Florida State just has too much talent. I think people underestimate the hits Clemson took to the NFL on the defensive line as well. When in doubt, it is prudent to pick the Seminoles anyways as they have won the conference more than 50% of the time since they joined. The Seminoles win the ACC and perhaps the National Championship due to their incredible talent and the amazing job that Jimbo Fisher does with that talent. Florida State looks to have a strong 2016.
5 Questions and Answers
1) How many wins will Mark Richt get in year one at Miami?
Miami will easily start 3-0 before a showdown with Georgia Tech and could be 4-0 before the rivalry contest with Florida State. However, I expect them to drop both of those games and 3 others (Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and one more). That would put Miami at 7-5 and in a winable bowl game. It is possible that Miami finally makes it to an ACC Championship behind brilliant QB play from Brad Kaaya, but don't think he has enough around him to pull it off.
2) Who is the most talented player in conference?
3) How many ACC teams will make the playoff?
It is pretty safe to say that the ACC will get at least one team in the playoff with how strong Clemson, Florida State, and Louisville are supposed to be. The conference should easily get one unless each ends up with a loss or more and the other P5 conferences all have undefeated teams. I don't see that happening in the other P5 conferences though. There is an outside chance of 2 if one of the aforementioned teams loses a close game to the conference champ and finishes with 1 loss while other conference champs have 2+ losses. If I were betting I'd say Florida State makes it and the others miss. It would not surprise me to see either Clemson or Louisville in the playoff though.
It is pretty safe to say that the ACC will get at least one team in the playoff with how strong Clemson, Florida State, and Louisville are supposed to be. The conference should easily get one unless each ends up with a loss or more and the other P5 conferences all have undefeated teams. I don't see that happening in the other P5 conferences though. There is an outside chance of 2 if one of the aforementioned teams loses a close game to the conference champ and finishes with 1 loss while other conference champs have 2+ losses. If I were betting I'd say Florida State makes it and the others miss. It would not surprise me to see either Clemson or Louisville in the playoff though.
4) Who will be the top newcomer in 2016?
The top new face in the ACC will be FSU QB DeAndre Francois. It is widely expected that Francois will beat out returning starter Sean McGuire and lead the Seminoles on a national championship run. If that does not come to fruition, then I expect the top newcomer to be Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente. The Hokies will be much improved under Fuente's watch.
The top new face in the ACC will be FSU QB DeAndre Francois. It is widely expected that Francois will beat out returning starter Sean McGuire and lead the Seminoles on a national championship run. If that does not come to fruition, then I expect the top newcomer to be Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente. The Hokies will be much improved under Fuente's watch.
5) Who will be the most disappointing team in 2016?
The Miami Hurricanes seem to be the perennial ACC team to disappoint. Since joining the conference in 2005, the Hurricanes have failed to even make an ACC Championship game appearance. Anything less than that at this point is still a disappointment. With Georgia Tech coming back into the fold, a talented UNC squad, Pittsburgh emerging and the rebirth of Virginia Tech, I just can't see it for Miami. The Hurricanes could easily finish 4th or 5th in the ACC Coastal.
The Miami Hurricanes seem to be the perennial ACC team to disappoint. Since joining the conference in 2005, the Hurricanes have failed to even make an ACC Championship game appearance. Anything less than that at this point is still a disappointment. With Georgia Tech coming back into the fold, a talented UNC squad, Pittsburgh emerging and the rebirth of Virginia Tech, I just can't see it for Miami. The Hurricanes could easily finish 4th or 5th in the ACC Coastal.
1st Team All ACC Predictions
Offense
QB Lemar Jackson Louisville
RB Dalvin Cook Florida State
RB Elijah Hood North Carolina
WR Jamari Staples Louisville
WR Travis Rudolph Florida State
TE Bucky Hodges Virginia Tech
OT Roderick Johnson Florida State
OT Mitch Hyatt Clemson
OG Dorian Johnson Pittsburgh
OG Danny Isidora Miami
OC Jay Guillermo Clemson
Defense
DE DeMarcus Walker Florida State
DE Ken Ekanem Virginia Tech
DT Derrick Nnadi Florida State
DT BJ Hill North Carolina State
LB Ben Boulware Clemson
LB Devontae Fields Louisville
LB PJ Davis Georgia Tech
CB Marquez White Florida State
CB Trumaine Washington Louisville
S Derwin James Florida State
S Quin Blanding Virginia
DE Ken Ekanem Virginia Tech
DT Derrick Nnadi Florida StateDT BJ Hill North Carolina State
LB Ben Boulware Clemson
LB Devontae Fields Louisville
LB PJ Davis Georgia Tech
CB Marquez White Florida State
CB Trumaine Washington Louisville
S Derwin James Florida State
S Quin Blanding Virginia
Specialists
PK Ricky Aguayo Florida State
P Justin Vogel Miami
KR Artavis Scott Clemson
PR Bra'Lon Cherry North Carolina State
PR Bra'Lon Cherry North Carolina State
Players of the Year
Offensive: Louisville QB Lemar Jackson
Defensive: Florida State S Derwin James
Dalvin Cook should have been player of the year last year, and I believe we will be in a similar position this year. I just can't see the media giving it to him unless his numbers are otherwordly. They just don't want him getting this award and see him as a tainted individual. It is an incredibly wrong perception, but they won't give it to Cook. This award will likely go to Jackson or Watson, but a strong senior season from Justin Thomas could push the award in that direction. Brad Kaaya is another big contender here. James is the best player in the conference on the defensive side and will win the award on that side. His top competition could come from his teammates. Josh Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, and Marquez White will all vie for the award.
Defensive: Florida State S Derwin James
Dalvin Cook should have been player of the year last year, and I believe we will be in a similar position this year. I just can't see the media giving it to him unless his numbers are otherwordly. They just don't want him getting this award and see him as a tainted individual. It is an incredibly wrong perception, but they won't give it to Cook. This award will likely go to Jackson or Watson, but a strong senior season from Justin Thomas could push the award in that direction. Brad Kaaya is another big contender here. James is the best player in the conference on the defensive side and will win the award on that side. His top competition could come from his teammates. Josh Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, and Marquez White will all vie for the award.
Coach of the Year
Jimbo Fisher!!!
Jimbo Fisher!!!
Much like I said last year, Fisher will likely deserve the award and not win. This is because that is what happens every year. He has never won ACC Coach of the Year which is a crime for a national champ and a top 5 coach in the country. I believe that Paul Johnson will actually win again, due to Georgia Tech exceeding expectations in 2016 after a disappointing 2015 campaign.
Stay Tuned Next Week for My College Football Preview
- Noland
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