2013 ACC Preview and Predictions
By Michael Schneid
As part of our 2013 College Football Preview, we have projected the winners of every game this coming season. The projections are based on general knowledge, trends, and team's recent history against schools.
Each preview includes projected win-loss records, as well as the teams they will win and lose to, a schedule analysis, number of returning starters, players to watch, and a key non-conference game.
Previous Related Articles: ACC QB Rankings
Clemson Tigers
Returning Starters: 14, 7 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Analysis: Duke ends with Miami at home and Wake Forest and UNC on the road. Their toughest non-conference gameis a trip to Memphis, a team Duke beat at home last year. Duke may take a step back in ACC play in 2013 but their non-conference schedule may give them enough of a boost to return to a bowl game.
Analysis: Jameis Winston replaces EJ Manuel at QB. FSU finally won the big won last season. But it was an underwhelming victory. The Seminoles won their first ACC title since 2005 and beat Northern Illinois to win the Orange Bowl, and FSU’s first BCS bowl win since the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
Three losses, all on the road. Clemson is the ACC favorite and Florida is one of the best teams in the best conference. Wake Forest loss is a bump in the road. FSU opens the season on Labor Day visiting Pittsburgh, one of the ACC’s newest teams.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Returning Starters: 15, 7 offense, 8 defense, 0 special teams
Analysis: Georgia Tech runs the triple option offense. GT beat USC in the Sun Bowl to end last season on a high note. However, the triple option may have run it's course. Despite a better ACC record than Duke, GT may not go bowling in 2013. A non-conference schedule that includes BYU and Georgia doesn't help. New QB Vad Lee, will have to continue the tradition of running to victory.
Maryland Terrapins
Returning Starters: 15, 7 offense, 5 defense, 3 special teams
Analysis: Maryland is entering their final season in the ACC before moving to the Big Ten. The question is – will coach Randy Edsall coach a Big Ten game? Maryland probably needs to at least go to a bowl game for him to keep his job. The coach has been heavily scrutinized since taking the job. The Terps rotated QBs throughout 2012 due to various injuries. Consistency at the position will help them have success but the key is WR Stefon Diggs. Diggs can play as a receiver, out of the backfield, and as a return man. As a freshman, Diggs had 6 receiving TDs and 2 return TDs.
Maryland has a hard schedule to start. After warm up games against FIU and Old Dominion, they travel to Connecticut to play Randy Edsall’s former team. You know players will be motivated to play hard. After Uconn is West Virginia and @ Florida State. We project Maryland to win just 5 games in 2013 but go 0-3 on this rough stretch. If they can win one of these games, it can go a long way to helping them achieve bowl eligibility.
Analysis: Miami has never won the ACC championship nor have they gone to a BCS bowl since joining the conference in 2004. This is the year that both change. 10 starters return on both offense and defense. After being ineligible for a bowl game in 2012, the Hurricanes will return hungry in 2013. They would have played in the ACC title game last season but probation prevented them from doing so. Miami returns QB Stephen Morris and RB Duke Johnson. As a freshman, Johnson ran for 947 yards and 10 TDs and averaged 6.8 yards per carry. All five offensive lineman return from a year ago so continuity between Johnson and Morris and the OL should continue. Safety AJ Highsmith is a potential first round pick in 2014 and is the heart and leader of the defense. Al Golden also has a reputation for being a very good coach. Let's see if he can help lead "The U" back to prominence. Our prediction is, yes, he will.
Analysis: Like Miami, UNC was ineligible for a bowl game in 2012. UNC opens the season against South Carolina. If Renner survives potentially big hits from Jadeveon Clowney, he can have a very productive season. Year two of the Larry Fedora era has a lot of potential to be successful.
Analysis: Welcome to the ACC…Pittsburgh begins life in their new conference with a home game on Labor Day against the defending ACC champions, Florida State. Pittsburgh will quickly learn that life in the ACC is much more difficult than life in the old Big East. The good news for Pitt? For the first time in four years, they won't end their season in Birmingham, Alabama in the BBVA Compass Bowl (formerly the Papajohns.com bowl). The bad news? They won't be playing in any bowl in their inaugural ACC season.
Analysis: The Orange lost head coach Doug Marrone (Bills) and QB Ryan Nassib (Giants) to the NFL. They also lost their conference. The Orange make the leap to the ACC from the Big East. Scott Shafer replaces Marrone after running the Orange defense since 2009. The Orange introduction to the ACC does not start well. They open the season in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium against Penn State and then play Northwestern. Their first year in the ACC could be a little rough.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Returning Starters: 15, 4 offense, 9 defense, 2 special teams
Schedule Analysis: The Hokies had a good chance to bounce back from a dissapointing 7-6 2012 season. QB Logan Thomas returns, but he may not be the answer. Thomas threw 18 TD and 16 INT in 2012. The Hokies always have a strong running game. The key for VT is that the Frank Beamer's team returns 9 starters on defense as well as coordinator Bud Foster, who had several head coach interviews. Virginia Tech opens the season with a tough task, the defending National Champs, Alabama. Hokies have a chance to win five in a row after the likely beating they will take in Atlanta against the Tide. After a potential 5-1 start they have a tough game at Miami.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Returning Starters: 19, 8 offense, 8 defense, 3 special teams
As part of our 2013 College Football Preview, we have projected the winners of every game this coming season. The projections are based on general knowledge, trends, and team's recent history against schools.
Each preview includes projected win-loss records, as well as the teams they will win and lose to, a schedule analysis, number of returning starters, players to watch, and a key non-conference game.
Previous Related Articles: ACC QB Rankings
ATLANTIC
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COASTAL
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||||
SCHOOL
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ACC
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OVERALL
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SCHOOL
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ACC
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OVERALL
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Clemson
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7-1
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10-2
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Miami
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6-2
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10-2
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Florida State
|
6-2
|
9-3
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Virginia Tech
|
6-2
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9-3
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Wake Forest
|
4-4
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7-5
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North Carolina
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5-3
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9-3
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NC State
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3-5
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7-5
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Virginia
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4-4
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6-6
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Maryland
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3-5
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5-7
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Georgia Tech
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3-5
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5-7
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Syracuse
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3-5
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5-7
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Duke
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2-6
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6-6
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Boston College
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2-6
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5-7
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Pittsburgh
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2-6
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5-7
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Boston
College Golden Eagles
Returning Starters: 16, 7 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Returning Starters: 16, 7 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Players
to Watch: QB Chase Rettig, DT Kaleb Ramsey
Best
Non-Conference Game: @ USC (9/14)
Prediction:
5-7 (2-6 ACC), 6th Place Atlantic
Division
Wins: Villanova, Wake Forest, Army, @New Mexico State, NC State
Losses: @USC, Florida State, @Clemson, @UNC, Virginia Tech, @Maryland,
@Syracuse
Analysis:
New head coach Steve Adazzio knows
how to win. He was successful at Temple the last two seasons and he was Urban
Meyer’s Offensive Coordinator at Florida. He will work with senior QB Chase
Rettig in his first season and try and restore some pride and a winning
attitude at BC, after a disastrous 2-10 season.
Getting back to a bowl game would be considered a success. We project the Eagles to finish one win short of that mark. Maryland and Syracuse games could be wins but there is no shame to the rest of their losses. Their wins do not seem so fair fetched. A 1-5 road record is weak but given the opponents is understandable.
Getting back to a bowl game would be considered a success. We project the Eagles to finish one win short of that mark. Maryland and Syracuse games could be wins but there is no shame to the rest of their losses. Their wins do not seem so fair fetched. A 1-5 road record is weak but given the opponents is understandable.
Clemson Tigers
Returning Starters: 14, 7 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Players
to Watch: WR Sammy Watkins, QB Tajh Boyd, LB
Spencer Shuey
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Georgia (8/31)
Prediction:
10-2 (7-1 ACC), 1st place
Atlantic Division
Wins: Georgia, South Carolina State, @ NC State, Wake Forest, @ Syracuse, Boston College, Florida State, @ Maryland, Georgia Tech, Citadel
Losses: @ Virginia, @ South Carolina
Analysis: Clemson enters the season with very high expectations. Anything short of an ACC Championship and BCS game will be a disappointing season for Dabo Swinney’s program.
Wins: Georgia, South Carolina State, @ NC State, Wake Forest, @ Syracuse, Boston College, Florida State, @ Maryland, Georgia Tech, Citadel
Losses: @ Virginia, @ South Carolina
Analysis: Clemson enters the season with very high expectations. Anything short of an ACC Championship and BCS game will be a disappointing season for Dabo Swinney’s program.
They open and close with SEC games. We project two losses for Clemson –
their finale at Columbia and a loss at Virginia. The loss at Virginia comes
after 8 straight wins, and is typical Clemson fashion to lose one tough road
game in conference. To open the season, Clemson should win at home against Georgia. Both teams are predicted to finish near the top of their respective conferences but playing at home gives Clemson a slight edge.
Duke Blue Devils
Returning Starters: 16, 9 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams
Returning Starters: 16, 9 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams
Players
to Watch: RB Juwan Thompson, DE Justin Foxx
Best
Non-Conference Game: @ Memphis (9/7)
Prediction:
6-6 (2-6 ACC), 6th Place
Coastal Division
Wins:
NC Central, @ Memphis, Pittsburgh,
Troy, Navy, NC State,
Losses:
Georgia Tech, @ Virginia, @ Virginia
Tech, Miami, @ Wake Forest, @ UNC
Analysis: Duke ends with Miami at home and Wake Forest and UNC on the road. Their toughest non-conference gameis a trip to Memphis, a team Duke beat at home last year. Duke may take a step back in ACC play in 2013 but their non-conference schedule may give them enough of a boost to return to a bowl game.
Florida State Seminoles
Returning Starters: 10, 6 offense, 4 defense, 0 special teams
Returning Starters: 10, 6 offense, 4 defense, 0 special teams
Players
to Watch: WR Rashad Greene, DT Timmy Jernigan
Best
Non-Conference Game: @ Florida (11/30)
Prediction:
9-3 (6-2 ACC), 2nd place Atlantic
Division
Wins:
@Pitt, Nevada, Bethune-Cookman, @ Boston
College, Maryland, NC State, Miami, Syracuse, Idaho
Losses: @ Clemson, @ Wake, @ Florida
Losses: @ Clemson, @ Wake, @ Florida
Analysis: Jameis Winston replaces EJ Manuel at QB. FSU finally won the big won last season. But it was an underwhelming victory. The Seminoles won their first ACC title since 2005 and beat Northern Illinois to win the Orange Bowl, and FSU’s first BCS bowl win since the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
Three losses, all on the road. Clemson is the ACC favorite and Florida is one of the best teams in the best conference. Wake Forest loss is a bump in the road. FSU opens the season on Labor Day visiting Pittsburgh, one of the ACC’s newest teams.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Returning Starters: 15, 7 offense, 8 defense, 0 special teams
Players
to Watch: RB David Sims, DE Emmanuel Dieke
Best
Non-Conference Game: @ BYU (10/12)
Prediction:
5-7 (3-5 ACC), 5th Place
Coastal Division
Wins: Elon, @ Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, Alabama A&M
Losses: Virginia Tech, @ Miami, @ BYU, @ Virginia, Pittsburgh, Georgia
Analysis: Georgia Tech runs the triple option offense. GT beat USC in the Sun Bowl to end last season on a high note. However, the triple option may have run it's course. Despite a better ACC record than Duke, GT may not go bowling in 2013. A non-conference schedule that includes BYU and Georgia doesn't help. New QB Vad Lee, will have to continue the tradition of running to victory.
Maryland Terrapins
Returning Starters: 15, 7 offense, 5 defense, 3 special teams
Players
to Watch: WR Stefon Diggs, CB Dexter McDougle
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. West Virginia (9/21, in
Baltimore)
Prediction:
5-7 (3-5 ACC), 5th Place
in Atlantic Division
Wins:
FIU, Old Dominion, , Virginia,
Syracuse, Boston College
Losses:
@ Uconn, West Virginia, @ FSU, @
Wake Forest, Clemson, @ Virginia Tech, @ NC State
Analysis: Maryland is entering their final season in the ACC before moving to the Big Ten. The question is – will coach Randy Edsall coach a Big Ten game? Maryland probably needs to at least go to a bowl game for him to keep his job. The coach has been heavily scrutinized since taking the job. The Terps rotated QBs throughout 2012 due to various injuries. Consistency at the position will help them have success but the key is WR Stefon Diggs. Diggs can play as a receiver, out of the backfield, and as a return man. As a freshman, Diggs had 6 receiving TDs and 2 return TDs.
Maryland has a hard schedule to start. After warm up games against FIU and Old Dominion, they travel to Connecticut to play Randy Edsall’s former team. You know players will be motivated to play hard. After Uconn is West Virginia and @ Florida State. We project Maryland to win just 5 games in 2013 but go 0-3 on this rough stretch. If they can win one of these games, it can go a long way to helping them achieve bowl eligibility.
Miami Hurricanes
Returning Starters: 20, 10 offense, 10 defense, 0 special teams
Returning Starters: 20, 10 offense, 10 defense, 0 special teams
Players
to Watch: RB Duke Johnson, FS AJ Hightsmith
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Florida (9/7)
Prediction:
10-2 (6-2 ACC) 1st Place
Coastal Division
Wins:
FAU, Florida, Savannah St, @ USF,
Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, @ Florida St, Virginia Tech, @ Duke, Virginia, @
Pittsburgh
Losses:
@ UNC, @ FSU
Analysis: Miami has never won the ACC championship nor have they gone to a BCS bowl since joining the conference in 2004. This is the year that both change. 10 starters return on both offense and defense. After being ineligible for a bowl game in 2012, the Hurricanes will return hungry in 2013. They would have played in the ACC title game last season but probation prevented them from doing so. Miami returns QB Stephen Morris and RB Duke Johnson. As a freshman, Johnson ran for 947 yards and 10 TDs and averaged 6.8 yards per carry. All five offensive lineman return from a year ago so continuity between Johnson and Morris and the OL should continue. Safety AJ Highsmith is a potential first round pick in 2014 and is the heart and leader of the defense. Al Golden also has a reputation for being a very good coach. Let's see if he can help lead "The U" back to prominence. Our prediction is, yes, he will.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Returning Starters: 16, 6 offense, 9 defense, 1 special teams
Returning Starters: 16, 6 offense, 9 defense, 1 special teams
Players
to Watch: QB Bryn Renner, CB Jabari Price
Best
Non-Conference Game: @ South Carolina (8/31)
Prediction:
9-3 (5-3 ACC), 3rd Place
Coastal Division
Wins:
@ South Carolina, Middle Tennessee,
East Carolina, Miami, Boston College, Virginia, @ Pittsburgh, Old Dominion,
Duke
Losses:
@ Georgia Tech, @ Virginia Tech, @
NC State
Analysis: Like Miami, UNC was ineligible for a bowl game in 2012. UNC opens the season against South Carolina. If Renner survives potentially big hits from Jadeveon Clowney, he can have a very productive season. Year two of the Larry Fedora era has a lot of potential to be successful.
North
Carolina State Wolfpack
Returning Starters: 12, 5 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams
Returning Starters: 12, 5 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams
Players
to Watch: WR Quinton Payton, DT Thomas Teal
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. East Carolina (11/23)
Prediction:
7-5 (3-5 ACC), 4th Place
in Atlantic Division
Wins:
Louisiana Tech, Richmond, Central
Michigan, Syracuse, North Carolina, East Carolina, Maryland
Losses:
Clemson, @ Wake Forest, @ Florida
St, @ Duke, @ Boston College
Analysis:
The Wolfpack will have a new QB and
new coach in 2013. Dave Doeren comes to Raleigh after a BCS season with
Northern Illinois. Pete Thomas is the favorite to play QB. Thomas was a
two-year starter at Colorado State. In our projections, four of the
Wolfpack’s five losses come on the road. The fifth comes against the ACC’s top
team, Clemson. None of their projected wins come on the road.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Returning
Starters: 16, 6 offense, 9 defense, 1 special teams
Players
to Watch: WR Devin Street, LB Shane Gordon
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Notre Dame (11/9)
Prediction:
5-7 (2-6 ACC), 7th Place
Coastal Division
Wins:
New Mexico, Virginia, Old Dominion,
@ Georgia Tech, Notre Dame,
Losses:
@ FSU, @ Duke, @ Virginia Tech, @
Navy, UNC, @ Syracuse, Miami
Analysis: Welcome to the ACC…Pittsburgh begins life in their new conference with a home game on Labor Day against the defending ACC champions, Florida State. Pittsburgh will quickly learn that life in the ACC is much more difficult than life in the old Big East. The good news for Pitt? For the first time in four years, they won't end their season in Birmingham, Alabama in the BBVA Compass Bowl (formerly the Papajohns.com bowl). The bad news? They won't be playing in any bowl in their inaugural ACC season.
Syracuse Orange
Returning
Starters: 16, 6 offense, 7 defense, 2 special
teams
Players
to Watch: RB Jerome Smith, DT Jay Bromley
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Penn State (8/31)
Prediction:
5-7 (3-5 ACC), 6th Place
Atlantic Division
Wins:
Wagner, Tulane, Wake Forest,
Pittsburgh, Boston College
Losses:
@ Penn St, @ Northwestern, Clemson,
@ NC State, @ Georgia Tech, @Maryland, @ Florida St,
Analysis: The Orange lost head coach Doug Marrone (Bills) and QB Ryan Nassib (Giants) to the NFL. They also lost their conference. The Orange make the leap to the ACC from the Big East. Scott Shafer replaces Marrone after running the Orange defense since 2009. The Orange introduction to the ACC does not start well. They open the season in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium against Penn State and then play Northwestern. Their first year in the ACC could be a little rough.
Virginia Cavaliers
Returning Starters: 16, 7 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Returning Starters: 16, 7 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Players
to Watch: QB David Watford, DE Jake Snyder
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Oregon (9/7)
Prediction:
6-6 (4-4 ACC), 4th Place
Coastal Division
Wins:
VMI, Ball St, Duke, Georgia Tech,
Clemson, Virginia Tech
Losses:
BYU, Oregon, @ Pittsburgh, @
Maryland, @ UNC, @ Miami
Analysis:
Virginia OOC schedule is very strong, opening at home against BYU and Oregon in
consecutive weeks. We project UVA to win 4 of their
final 6 games, with the only two loss to UNC and Miami, both on the road. The
Cavs benefit from facing Clemson and Virginia Tech at home and upset both of
them.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Returning Starters: 15, 4 offense, 9 defense, 2 special teams
Players
to Watch: QB Logan Thomas, CB Kyle Fuller
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Alabama (8/31, Atlanta)
Prediction:
9-3 (6-2 ACC), 2nd Place
in Coastal Division
Wins:
Western Carolina, Eastern Carolina,
Marshall, @ Georgia Tech, UNC, Pittsburgh, Duke, @ Boston College, Maryland
Losses:
Alabama, @ Miami, @ Virginia
Schedule Analysis: The Hokies had a good chance to bounce back from a dissapointing 7-6 2012 season. QB Logan Thomas returns, but he may not be the answer. Thomas threw 18 TD and 16 INT in 2012. The Hokies always have a strong running game. The key for VT is that the Frank Beamer's team returns 9 starters on defense as well as coordinator Bud Foster, who had several head coach interviews. Virginia Tech opens the season with a tough task, the defending National Champs, Alabama. Hokies have a chance to win five in a row after the likely beating they will take in Atlanta against the Tide. After a potential 5-1 start they have a tough game at Miami.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Returning Starters: 19, 8 offense, 8 defense, 3 special teams
Players
to Watch: QB Tanner Price, DT Kris Redding
Best
Non-Conference Game: @ Vanderbilt (11/30)
Prediction:
7-5 (4-4 ACC), 3rd Place
Atlantic Division
Wins:
Presbyterian, Louisiana-Monroe, @
Army, North Carolina St, Maryland, Florida State, Duke
Losses:
@ Boston College, Clemson, @ Miami,
@ Syracuse, @ Vanderbilt
2013
Preview: Wake Forest returns 8 out of 11
starters on both offense and defense. Wake returns their QB, RB, WR, TE and 3
OL. Defensively, Wake runs a 3-4 defensive scheme and all starting defensive
lineman return from 2012, as do 3 of their 4 secondary players. Their
experience will help them get back to a bowl game in 2013. Jim Grobe’s job is
likely on the line if the Deacons do not go bowling. We project a big upset
over Florida State, mainly due to their returning starters and a potential
hostile road environment for the Seminoles. We project them to lose their
annual rivalry game against Vanderbilt.
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