The ACC begins football play on Thursday, so it’s time for predictions on how the standings will shake out.
Atlantic
1. FSU (10-2 overall, 7-1 ACC). Will wins over NC State and Louisville be enough for the Seminoles to be the first two-loss team in the playoff?
2. Clemson (10-2, 6-2). Not a bad drop off after two straight trips to the National Championship.
3. Louisville (9-3, 5-3). Will quarterback Lamar Jackson repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner?
4. NC State (8-4, 5-3). Is eight wins considered a breakout season for Dave Doeren?
5. Wake Forest (6-6, 3-5). Can the Deacons close the gap on the top four teams in the division?
6. Boston College (5-7, 2-6). Is the defense enough to get the Eagles to another bowl?
7. Syracuse (5-7, 2-6). Can Dino Babers get the Orange to a bowl in year two?
Coastal
1. Virginia Tech (8-4, 6-2). Will the Hokies be the first coastal team to make back-to-back appearances in the championship game since 2010-11?
2. Miami (9-3, 5-3). Can Mark Richt get the Hurricanes to their first ACC championship game?
3. Pittsburgh (7-5, 4-4). Will the Panthers be able to survive their brutal non-conference schedule?
4. UNC-Chapel Hill (6-6, 3-5). How will the Tar Heels replace quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and five graduated offensive skill players?
5. Georgia Tech (6-6, 3-5). Will the Yellow Jackets be able to replace the production of running back Dedrick Mills?
6. Duke (5-7, 3-5). Can the Blue Devils avoid back-to-back losing seasons?
7. Virginia (4-8, 2-6). The Cavaliers are looking for any sign of progress after winning zero ACC games last year.
ACC Championship Game
Florida State 38, Virginia Tech 27. The Coastal division hasn’t won the Championship since VT in 2010. Florida State and Clemson have won it every year since then. Neither of those will change this year.
CFB Playoffs
Sugar Bowl
4. Florida State over 1. Alabama The committee will have its hands full with contenders for the number four spot, but Florida State will get the nod as the first team in the playoffs with two losses, and prove the committee right by avenging a week one loss to the Crimson Tide. It’s impossible to bet against Nick Saban until proven otherwise, but eventually they won’t make the playoffs.
Rose Bowl:
2. Ohio State over 3. Kansas State. The Wildcats are my wild card pick. There’s always a team from out of nowhere that makes the playoff, and head coach Bill Snyder is the most underrated coach in the country. A favorable schedule, excellent coaching and returning experience make the Wildcats my surprise pick. Ohio State made the playoffs last year as an extremely young team and will return this year ready to win the championship.
National Championship
2. Ohio State over 4. Florida State. The two best conferences have their two best teams meet to determine the best team in the country, just how it should be, but rarely is. Florida State gets to the championship game for the first time under the four-team playoff format, and the first time since they won in 2013. Urban Meyer wins his fourth national championship and his second in the last four years in Columbus.
Heisman Trophy Winner: J.T. Barrett, Quarterback, Ohio State.
Barrett completes his wild college career with the most distinguished individual award in sports. From freshman phenom, to the team winning the national championship after he got injured in the regular season finale, to backup as a sophomore, and now his senior year where he will continue placing his stamp on the school and conference record books. He becomes the 18th player in college football history to win the Heisman and the national championship in the same year.
