2011 ACC Predictions

By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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ACC Atlantic

1. Florida State - On paper, this appears to be the Seminoles' year. The overwhelming favorite in the ACC, they could have the league's best defense to pair with a very balanced offensive attack. Junior E.J. Manuel goes from in-a-pinch-hero to the starting quarterback for a team with national title expectations. He earned pre-season first-team All-ACC honors this summer. The expectation level has changed dramatically from Jimbo Fisher's first year to his second. Anything less than an ACC Championship, fair or unfair, will be considered a disappointment.

Offensive MVP -- E.J. Manuel, QB
Defensive MVP -- Brandon Jenkins, DE
Key Game -- vs Oklahoma, September 17th

2. Boston College - Two things are quite obvious: the Eagles will be able to both run the football and stop their opponents from doing the same. Senior Montel Harris, a Jacksonville, Florida-native, is on pace to become the ACC's all-time leading rusher. Junior Luke Kuechly may one day be college football's all-time leading tackler. Kuechly paced a BC defense that that led the nation, allowing just 82.6 yards per game on the ground. This is a program that has quietly been one of the most consistent in college football. The progression of sophomore quarterback Chase Rettig may determine just how far this team can go.

Offensive MVP -- Montel Harris, RB
Defensive MVP -- Luke Kuechly, LB
Key Game -- vs Florida State, November 3rd

3. Clemson - In consecutive seasons, we have seen the Tigers go from the ACC Championship Game to 6-7. In terms of projections for 2011, it's hard to gather a consensus. The return of star running back Andre Ellington from injury will be a definite boost. He is one of the game's most exciting playmakers, very much in the mold of former All-American C.J. Spiller. Having him healthy will lessen the load on Tajh Boyd, the new starter under center. Finding an edge rusher to replace Da'Quan Bowers will be priority number one on defense. Head coach Dabo Swinney is feeling some pressure after last season's disappointment and a brutal mid-September through mid-October may tell his tale.

Offensive MVP -- Andre Ellington, RB
Defensive MVP -- Andre Branch, DE
Key Game -- vs Florida State, September 24th

4. Maryland - Former Connecticut coach Randy Edsall takes over for alum Ralph Friedgen, who earned ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2010. Edsall worked magic with the Huskies and will lean on the league's most proven quarterback as he looks to do the same in College Park. Everything revolves around sophomore Danny O'Brien, 22 touchdowns in his first season of college ball. The defense's productivity will hinge on the transition of All-ACC safety Kenny Tate from safety to linebacker. A remarkable athlete, the coaches feel he could have even more of an impact in the middle of the field. Because of the controversy surrounding his hiring, and the firing of his predecessor, Edsall begins his tenure in the spotlight

Offensive MVP -- Danny O'Brien, QB
Defensive MVP -- Kenny Tate, LB
Key Game -- vs Miami, September 5th

5. NC State - Without accomplished quarterback Russell Wilson, now the starter at Wisconsin, Tom O'Brien officially hands over the reigns to talented junior Mike Glennon. Physically, his skills are ideal. How smooth his transition to starter goes will set the tone for the 2011 season. With Wilson out, the 'Pack will look to improve a ground game that averaged a league-worst 3.44 yards per carry last fall. An injury to star tackle J.R. Sweezy will keep him out of the defensive lineup early; linebackers Terrell Manning and Audie Cole will be counted on for playmaking. Safety Early Wolff is another nice defensive piece. State has to find a way to win close games with more regularity.

Offensive MVP -- George Bryan, TE
Defensive MVP -- J.R. Sweezy, DT
Key Game -- vs Clemson, November 19th

6. Wake Forest - Year one of the post-Riley Skinner era was a difficult one as the Deacons reached just three wins and went from early September to late November in between victories. The passing game must become more efficient as Wake Forest tied for last in the ACC with Georgia Tech (a triple-option team) with nine touchdown passes. Running back Josh Harris will likely carry the load. Only one BCS conference defense allowed more touchdown passes, 29, so more will obviously be asked from the secondary.

Offensive MVP -- Josh Harris, RB
Defensive MVP -- Kyle Wilber, LB
Key Game -- vs NC State, September 10th

ACC Coastal

1. Virginia Tech - Frank Beamer has developed the premier program in the ACC. While key playmakers must be replaced, no coaching staff is better suited to handle such roster attrition than this one. The athleticism in the offensive backfield, with young Logan Thomas and David Wilson, is staggering. Thomas is built like a power forward but will likely be brought along slowly. Wilson is ready to become a national name. Both will benefit from a veteran offensive line. All-American cornerback Jayron Hosley leads the defense after pacing the nation in interceptions a year ago with nine. Savvy linebacker Bruce Taylor is the leader of Bud Foster's front seven.

Offensive MVP -- David Wilson, RB
Defensive MVP -- Jayron Hosley, CB
Key Game -- at Georgia Tech, November 10th

2. Georgia Tech - In the eyes of the national media, a 6-7 encore performance after an ACC Championship wore much of the shine off of the Yellow Jackets' novelty triple-option offense. While the record was much worse, the ground production wasn't: Georgia Tech led the nation by a wide margin with 4,203 rushing yards. Turnovers, a national-worst 20 fumbles, and an inability to throw the football doomed the offense. The coaches want to see quarterback Tevin Washington be efficient when he does look downfield. Finding a pass rusher is a must on defense. Sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Attachou may be that man. He is poised for a breakout in the second-year of Al Groh's 3-4 defensive scheme.

Offensive MVP -- Omoregie Uzzi, OG
Defensive MVP -- Julian Burnett, LB
Key Game -- vs Virginia Tech, November 10th

3. Miami - The focus around Coral Gables has been on anything but football recently, but, assuming potential suspensions don't shake up the roster, the Hurricanes have a team loaded with talent. The main question comes at quarterback where senior Jacory Harris must fend off challenger Stephen Morris. The talent around whoever will be under center is quite good. The defense has a handful of players who could push for All-American honors, most notably linebacker Sean Spence. After 111 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss, he has firmly established himself as one of the nation's best. Safety Ray Ray Armstrong and tackle Marcus Forston are both elite talents as well. How this program settles in will tell us a lot about first-year head coach Al Golden.

Offensive MVP -- Brandon Washington, OG
Defensive MVP -- Sean Spence, LB
Key Game -- vs Ohio State, September 17th

4. North Carolina - With Butch Davis suddenly fired right after ACC Media Days, there is a frantic feel in some ways to Tar Heel football. Defensive coordinator Everett Withers takes over and will look to unproven but talented sophomore Bryn Renner under center. Renner will have an All-ACC target to throw to in senior Dwight Jones. The defensive line might be the nation's best. End Quinton Coples (ten sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss) has All-American written all over him. With a coaching change so close to the start of the season and the program still reeling from off-the-field news, it's tough to know what to expect from this talented team.

Offensive MVP -- Dwight Jones, WR
Defensive MVP -- Quinton Coples, DE
Key Game -- vs Miami, October 15th

5. Virginia - For head coach Mike London, the off-season theme has been simple: finding a quarterback. The Cavaliers got by with veteran Marc Verica, but now must pick between sophomores Ross Metheny and Michael Rocco. London is a defensive-minded coach and the Cavaliers have one of the nation's best cornerbacks in Chase Minnifield. His coverage skills allow Virginia to utilize their schemes a variety of different ways. With standout defensive end Cam Johnson leading the way, expect the 'Cavs to be very aggressive with their front seven. The schedule, for the most part, is backloaded, so the month of September will be key.

Offensive MVP -- Kris Burd, WR
Defensive MVP -- Chase Minnifield, CB
Key Game -- at North Carolina, September 17th

6. Duke - Progress is being made, the Blue Devils actually won two of their last five to end the season. For head coach David Cutcliffe, junior Sean Renfree is the starting point. He returns as the ACC's leading passer with over 260 yards per game from a year ago. Renfree has great receivers on the perimeter. The concerns for Duke will come on the ground: establishing and stopping the run. Duke had the ACC's worst rushing offense and worst rushing defense a year ago. Improvement must be made in those areas for this program to take another step forward.

Offensive MVP -- Sean Renfree, QB
Defensive MVP -- Matt Daniels, S
Key Game -- vs Wake Forest, October 22nd

ACC Championship Game: Florida State over Virginia Tech

 

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