Media's love affair with FSU not always a bad thing

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue Mar 20 10:57:27 GMT-04:00 2012

The news came across last month that the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference kickoff will be held in late July in Greensboro, N.C., and one thing I can most certainly guarantee – the media’s love affair with all things Florida St. will continue.

Since the league transitioned to two divisions and formed a league championship game for the 2005 season, the media have been allowed to make its preseason picks. In six of those seven years – including last year – the Seminoles have been picked to win the ACC’s Atlantic Division. Twice (2005, 2011) they have been picked to win the ACC title, but won just the 2005 game.

On the flip side, Virginia Tech has been picked to win the Coastal Division six of those years, and the Hokies have managed to win the Coastal five times. Three times, the Hokies have been picked to win the ACC (2007, 2009, 2010), and they have won the ACC title three times (2007, 2008 and 2010).

The Tigers have been picked to win the Atlantic Division just once (2008), and to win the ACC title just once (2008). Instead of seeing a title that season, however, it started with an embarrassing loss to Alabama in the first game of the season and ended with interim head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney

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Boston College has never been picked to win the Atlantic or the ACC, yet has made two ACC Championship Game appearances, while Wake Forest has also never been picked and has made one ACC Championship Game appearance.

In the Coastal, Georgia Tech has never been picked as the champ but has made two appearances.

So, long story short, be happy when Jul y rolls around and the Seminoles are – once again – a media darling while the rest of the ACC Atlantic Division is just an afterthought. It always works out great for the other teams in the division.

Since 2005, ACC Atlantic Division media picks, with eventual champion.

2011 – FSU picked to win Atlantic, and 50 voters picked FSU to win the ACC. Clemson won the Atlantic and the ACC. Virginia Tech was picked to win the Coastal.

2010 – FSU was the favorite to win the Atlantic and won it, while Virginia Tech the Coastal. Virginia Tech was picked to win the ACC and won it.

2009 – FSU was picked to win the Atlantic and Virginia Tech the Coastal with Virginia Tech picked as ACC winner. Georgia Tech won the Coastal, while Clemson won the Atlantic. Georgia Tech won the ACC but later had to vacate the title due to a rules violation.

2008 – Clemson was picked to win the Atlantic, and Virginia Tech the Coastal. Clemson was projected as ACC Championship winner. Boston College won the Atlantic and Virginia Tech won the Coastal, with Tech beating Boston College in the championship.

2007 – Florida St. was picked to win the Atlantic, Virginia Tech the Coastal, and Tech was picked to win the ACC. Boston College won the Atlantic and Tech the Coastal, with Tech beating Boston College in the championship.

2006 – Florida St. was picked to win the Atlantic and Miami the Coastal, with Miami projected as the ACC champ. Wake Forest won the Atlantic and Georgia Tech won the Coastal, with Wake beating Tech in the ACC Championship Game.

2005 – Florida St. was picked to win the Atlantic and Virginia Tech the Coastal, with FSU picked to win the championship, which they accomplished with the win over Tech in the ACC Championship.