2012 ACC Coastal Football Projections

By: Maize_in_Spartyland

 

Now just 14 days from the beginning of college football, its time to unveil the 2012 ACC-Coastal Division projections! On Saturday, September 1 four of the six Coastal Division teams are in action. The North Carolina Tar Heels kick of their season hosting the FCS Elon Phoenix at 12:30 PM EST on ESPN3. The Virginia Cavaliers will begin Mike London’s third season has head coach, hosting his alma mater, the FCS Richmond Spiders at 3:00 PM EST on ESPN3. A battle of former Big East rivals is on center stage at 3:30 PM EST, on ABC/ESPN2, as the University of Miami Hurricanes meet the Boston College Eagles in Chestnut Hill. In the night game, the Duke Blue Devils host the Florida International Golden Panthers at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN3.

 

On Labor Day, ACC Coastal favorites Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Virginia Tech Hokies meet in primetime, at 8:00 PM EST, on ESPN.

Projected	Team	Overall	Conference
1t	North Carolina*	(10-2)	(6-2)
1t	Virginia Tech	(10-2)	(6-2)
3t	Georgia Tech	(8-4)	(5-3)
3t	Miami (FL)	(6-6)	(5-3)
5	Virginia	(6-6)	(3-5)
6	Duke	(4-8)	(1-7)

 

Meet the favorites . . .

 

(1) Virginia Tech Hokies

Note that North Carolina is not listed because they are ineligible for the postseason this year. When Butch Davis was fired shortly before the season began last year, the Tar Heels were in disarray. That allowed the Hokies to find their usual spot on the top of the Coastal Division. But losses to the offense, specifically RB David Wilson (Carolina Panthers) and WR Danny Coale (New York Giants), leave the Hokies needing some help. The road schedule is deadly, with games against North Carolina, Clemson, and Miami (FL). They also have Georgia Tech and Florida State at home.

 

(2) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Suffice it to say, week one will likely decide who represents the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship. The quarterback situation, and the Ramblin’ Wreck traveling to Blacksburg, is why I think the Yellow Jackets will lose out to the Hokies. Like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech has a brutal ACC road schedule, traveling to Virginia Tech, Clemson, and North Carolina. The Jackets are capable of winning the division, but they need to better develop the pass game.

 

(3) Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Al Golden’s second season in Coral Gables begins. The Hurricanes face a tough non-conference schedule, with games against Kansas State (at Manhattan, KS), Notre Dame (at Chicago, IL), and South Florida (at Coral Gables, FL). The winnable ACC games are on the road, (Boston College, Virginia, and Duke) and the tough ones are at home (North Carolina State, North Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia Tech). Could the Hurricanes be winless at home in conference play?

 

What are your thoughts on the ACC-Coastal Division projections? Tweet to us @BVTSB.