So here we are, just about two and a half weeks away from the start of the season. Here are my picks for the playoffs, the ACC standings, and the ACC bowls.
Atlantic: 1. Florida State 2. Clemson 3. NC State 4. Louisville 5. Wake Forest 6. Syracuse 7. Boston College
Coastal: 1. Miami 2. Georgia Tech 3. Virginia Tech 4. North Carolina 5. Duke 6. Pittsburgh 7. Virginia
ACC Championship: Florida State 38 Miami 17
Playoffs:
Sugar: #4 Alabama def #1 Ohio State Rose: #2 USC def #3 Florida State Championship: #4 Alabama def #2 USC
NY6 Bowls: Orange: Clemson vs Penn State Cotton: Oklahoma vs USF Peach: TCU vs Auburn Fiesta: Washington vs Georgia
ACC Bowls: Citrus: Miami vs Tennessee Russell Athletic: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State Belk: Georgia Tech vs Texas A&M Sun: Louisville vs Oregon Pinstripe: NC State vs Maryland Music City: Virginia Tech vs LSU Independence: North Carolina vs Mississippi State Military: Duke vs Tulsa Quick Lane: Wake Forest vs Northern Illinois (not enough remaining Big 10 teams)
No Bowl: Pitt, UVA, Cuse, and Boston College
On the coaching market: Boston College and NC State (The Wolfies decide not to commit to DD long term).
I think Pitt may surprise. I think they win 6+ and get to a bowl and I put them above Duke and maybe UNC in their division.
I'd love to see Clemson and Penn State - could be a good matchup.
USC has all the talent but are consistently overrated -- this year, too.
#4 Alabama vs #1 OSU means the tide loose a game somewhere and OSU doesn't. I think it more likely OSU drops a game than Alabama during the regular season. But I like OSU failing in the bowl game again.
I'm not sure why NC State would make a move ... I predict they realize they are a 7-win team year in and year out and just accept their fate.