This week we're going to take a look, rank and discuss the BCS conferences. Considering we've talked a lot about players lately, I want to look at the conference as a whole. I'm throwing tradition out the window, because we're looking at who is the best THIS YEAR.
Let's start with the weakest and we'll work our way forward.
Atlantic Coast Conference
There's just too many questions in this year's Atlantic Coast Conference to give them respect. For starters, it's not very top heavy. Virginia Tech is practically the unanimous favorite to take the cake and it's rather unimpressive after that.
Wake Forest winning the ACC title 9-6 over Georgia Tech in 2006 pretty much sums of the state of the conference the last three years (2007 included). I know I said tradition is out, but it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the ACC is not ranked higher. Don't think I should hate on Wake Forest? Wins over Duke and North Carolina State last year were by the same total as the two schools had in the win column, combined…3. A 14-13 home thriller over 0-12 Duke and a 25-23 hair raiser over 3-9 NC State. Yup.
I actually think Miami and Florida State have a fighter's chance this year to turn some heads and win 8 games, but a lot of good things have to happen in the Sunshine State, a lot. After those two schools and VT, the cream of the crop is pretty stale.
It's kind of weird to say that a conference with Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech is the weakest of all BCS conferences, but there's very little depth. Clemson is sure to provide some, but the jury is out on Boston College and Georgia Tech.
I doubt it's going to stay like this for very long, however. This could actually be the ACC's last "down year" for a while. Things are looking way up in Blacksburg, Tallahassee, Miami, Raleigh, Boston, Clemson and Chapel Hill. All said towns have promising young quarterbacks and fantastic staffs that are in the process of rebuilding programs (sans VT rebuilding).
With respect to non-BCS games, The Gator Bowl might be the one conference pundits and officials keep a close eye on. The alliance with The Big East or Notre Dame could be a good measuring stick for what the ACC truly has to offer. I'd say Chick-fil-A Bowl, but the SEC is just too powerful right now.
Predicted order of finish:
| Atlantic | Coastal |
| Virginia Tech | Florida State |
| Miami | Clemson |
| North Carolina | Boston College |
| Georgia Tech | Maryland |
| Virginia | North Carolina State |
| Duke | Wake Forest |
Champion: Virginia Tech
Comments (3)
Why are we hating on Wake?
No way UNC finishes third in their division. Butch Davis will be good for the school, but right now they don't have the athletes to make a difference. They may have one big upset win, but won't be consistent at all.
GT loses Calvin Johnson, but also loses Reggie Ball - which will help their team. Plus their D is always strong and they will give some teams problems.
Does Al Groh finish the season? I guess he was from the over chlorinated end of the Parcells coaching gene pool, probably playing Marco Polo with Ray Handley