2008 ACC Football Preview

2008 Season ACC football preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official atlantic coast conference football preview as well as individual team previews for all 12 acc football teams and our acc predictions for both the coastal and atlantic divisions. When betting on college football against the bookmakers odds dont dismiss our NCAA football picks to help build your bankroll this year.

ATLANTIC DIVISION OVERVIEW

The ACC Atlantic includes three teams that will compete for the division crown—the Clemson Tigers, Florida State Seminoles and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The three other clubs—the Maryland Terrapins, Boston College Eagles and N.C. State Wolfpack—will have tough time contending.

The Tigers of Clemson will put a very fine team on the field. They have the finest offensive squad around and their pass “D” is topnotch. But the linebacking unit is inexperienced and Clemson has tended to falter at times. Still, 2008 should be a very fine year for this team.

With seven home contests and a loaded offense, the Florida State Seminoles will win their share of games. But the start of the season will be difficult for the Noles as they lose one-half-dozen players for three games due to academic suspensions. This is a team that can win close ones for a change.

Coach Jim Grobe has done fine work developing the Wake Forest Demon Deacons into a solid football team. Riley Skinner at quarterback is a consistent starter, but former wide receiver Kenneth Moore’s 98 catches have to be replaced. The defense is experienced but the offensive line fields three new starters.

The Maryland Terrapins lack some defensive elements. The team’s pass rush looks to be ineffective, while the secondary is extremely thin. But the offense sports a fine quarterback, a great offensive line and speedy, talented receivers.

The Boston College Eagles will, for the first time in years, be thin at quarterback. Master signal caller and passer Matt Ryan is now in the NFL. Senior QB Chris Crane will try to step up. The defensive frontline is extremely tough and resilient. Can the team keep their eight-year bowl-run alive?

The Wolfpack of N.C. State is on the rise. And although they are not yet ready to step up and beat the best-of-the-best, they will be better than they were last season. The Wolfpack possesses a deep group of runners but the talent on the other side of the ball is thin. Coach Tom O’Brien starts his second-year with a team that’s starting to make progress.

COASTAL DIVISION OVERVIEW

The ACC Coastal division looks to be ruled by the Virginia Tech Hokies. However, the Miami Hurricanes and North Carolina Tar Heels will give the Hokies a run for their money. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets look to be competitive, while the Virginia Cavaliers and Duke Blue Devils will have a tough time making it to the top.

The Virginia Tech Hokies put two fine quarterbacks on the field—Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. The team brings a first-rate offensive line to the forefront. The defense is diminished, but VT can usually reload and get up and running quickly.

The top three defensive players for the North Carolina Tar Heels are gone and so too is Connor Barth, one of the best place kickers in the college ranks. The O-line is solid as is QB T.J. Yates, while RB Greg Little will be a moving and powerful force. This team has a chance to put up its best numbers in a long time.

The Hurricanes of Miami will play a tough schedule and are lacking in experience. Both of these facts will tax this team. The quarterback has as no experience. The frontline could prove to be porous. The light after the storm—the Canes have a great incoming class.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, although far from being the best team in the conference, still have the sting to be bowl bound again. New coach Paul Johnson brings a new system to an offense that has some solid backs and a lot of question marks. The defensive frontline I charged with run stuffers and quarterback hunters.

The offensive live and quarterback situations are a mess for the Virginia Cavaliers. There are some fine pass catchers and rushers on this team. The linebackers are real game changers.

New coach David Cutcliffe brings an ability to build powerful offenses to Duke. That’s good news for the Blue Devils. Things won’t change over night for this team, but in a few years they should get better.

ACC Predictions

ACC Atlantic

1) Clemson Tigers
2) Florida State Seminoles
3) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
4) Maryland Terrapins
5) Boston College Eagles
6) N.C. State Wolfpack

ACC Coastal

1) Virginia Tech Hokies
2) North Carolina Tar Heels
3) Miami Hurricanes
4) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
5) Virginia Cavaliers
6) Duke Blue Devils

For more info on the 2008 ACC Conference, view their official website or read up on all the ACC football team previews below.