2009 ACC Fearless Predictions
Week 1 ... Sept. 6 Games, Part 2
Atlantic
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Boston College |
Clemson |
Florida
State |
Maryland |
NC
State |
Wake
Forest
Coastal
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Duke
| Georgia
Tech |
Miami
| North
Carolina |
Virginia |
Virginia Tech
ACC Fearless Predictions
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Week 1, Part 1
Maryland (0-0) at California (0-0),
10:00 EST, ESPN2, Saturday, September 5
Why to watch: Is this the year Cal finishes the year where it starts it? The Bears begin the season on the top 10 ledge and have a legit Heisman contender in RB Jahvid Best, yet have been a disappointment in this spot in recent years. If the program is to fulfill expectations and remain one of the top contenders to USC’s Pac-10 throne, a fast start, especially from beleaguered QB Kevin Riley, is an absolute must. After taking the ACC by storm earlier in the decade, Maryland has been traveling in neutral for the past five seasons. While the Terps never deliver a clunker under Ralph Friedgen, they’ve also failed to seize openings that have existed in the conference or the division. A cross-country trip to Strawberry Canyon affords the school an opportunity to make a splash and reverse the recent trend of mediocrity.
Why Maryland might win: Beating Cal requires an ample supply of team speed. The Terps are blessed with it on both sides of the ball. On offense, they’ve got All-ACC RB Da’Rel Scott, who’ll be a handful for a Bear D playing its first game with three new starting linebackers. Plus, in quarterback Chris Turner, they’ve got a fifth-year veteran to quiet the hostile home crowd. On defense, Maryland always moves well laterally, particularly linebackers Alex Wujciak, Adrian Moten, and Demetrius Hartsfield.
Why Cal might win: How about this for a twist in Berkeley? The Bears could be fueled by the defense for much of the 2009 season. That takes nothing away from Best, arguably the nation’s most dynamic long ball hitter, but this D will surprise plenty of people this fall. Yeah, the linebackers will need a few weeks to mesh, but the first and last lines of defense are fantastic. Up front, look for ends Tyson Alualu and Cameron Jordan to have their way with a rebuilt Terp line. And in the secondary, corners Syd’Quan Thompson and Darian Hagan are going to take an inexperienced group of receivers to school.
Who to watch: Riley is the key to the season for Cal. Period. If the program is going to reach its 2009 goals, it needs more consistency from the passing game than the past few seasons. Maryland is inconsistent in pass defense, which has to be evident once this night is over or else hands will again be wringing in Berkeley..
What will happen: This is a real bad spot for Maryland. It has to travel clear across the map with an average squad to play a talented team with a chip on its shoulder. Best will whip an already juiced up crowd into a frenzy, taking a couple of carries deep into the Terrapin secondary, while the defense will flex its muscles and focus on containing Scott. If the Bears are going to miss their target in 2009, it won’t happen on this night.
CFN Prediction: California 38 ... Maryland 16 ... Line: California -21.5
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) ... 2.5...
Free Expert Football Predictions
The Citadel (0-0) at North Carolina (0-0),
6:00 EST, ESPN360.com, Saturday, September 5
Why to watch: North Carolina kicks off a season that many believe will be a watershed moment in the Butch Davis era. After doubling their win total in 2008, the Tar Heels return a slew of familiar faces, and the last few deep recruiting classes are prepared to start paying dividends. In an Atlantic Coast Conference that’s there for the taking, Carolina plans to start quickly and live up to expectations. The Citadel has been an FBS whipping boy for years, getting pounded by Clemson and Florida last season. The Bulldogs will have problems improving on their 4-8 record or climbing very high in the Southern Conference.
Why The Citadel might win: The Bulldogs will go as far as the pitch-and-catch combo of Bart Blanchard to Andre Roberts, assuming neither has recurring ankle issues, will take them. The pair hooked up repeatedly throughout the 2008 season, and will get good looks against a Tar Heel secondary that’s soft in pass coverage and allows a very high completion percentage. Roberts, in particular, has gotten the attention of NFL scouts for his speed and ability to change games as a receiver and a punt returner.
Why North Carolina might win: If the Tar Heel offense is looking for a confidence boost, this is the week to get it. The Citadel is utterly toothless in all aspects of the defense, which will allow Carolina to treat the opener as a useful scrimmage. QB T.J. Yates will have all day to get acclimated with a new set of receivers, especially Dwight Jones and Joshua Adams. On the ground, this is the type of opponent that could yield 150 yards to hard-running Shaun Draughn. The Heels’ penchant for creating turnovers will return as soon as it becomes obvious that the Bulldogs have no running game and no choice but to air it out.
Who to watch: Yates and the receivers. A vanilla offense won’t hurt the Heels in the opener, but it can’t remain that way once the schedule gets tougher. The quarterback needs to use his two or three quarters wisely, shaking free some offseason rust, and developing better chemistry with those young, but very talented pass-catchers, like Jones, Adams, Greg Little, and TE Zack Pianalto.
What will happen: Before enduring a much tougher September slate, this is exactly the type of game that North Carolina needs. A visit from The Citadel will allow the offense, in particular, to work out some kinks and locate a groove before things ramp up in a hurry against Connecticut, East Carolina, and Georgia Tech. The Heels will roll up more than 500 yards of offense in a blowout that’ll never be in doubt.
CFN Prediction: North Carolina 42 ... The Citadel 13 ... Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) ... 1
William & Mary (0-0) at Virginia (0-0) ,
6:00 EST, ESPN360.com, Saturday, September 5
Why to watch: Although separated by only 120 miles, Virginia and William & Mary will be meeting for just the first time since 1995. The Cavaliers begin 2009 trying to shake off their second 5-7 season in the last three years. Al Groh, firmly on the hot seat, enters his ninth year in Charlottesville needing to get this program back to the postseason, at the very least. With few gimmes on the schedule, this is the type of game that Virginia has to pocket without too much resistance. The Tribe is a solid, battle-tested Colonial Athletic Conference program coming off a 7-4 season. One of those losses was a close one, 34-24, to North Carolina State, so it can hang with an ACC opponent.
Why William & Mary might win: Provided a new quarterback, likely senior R.J. Archer, can be found to succeed Jacob Phillips, the Tribe has the ingredients and the track record as a potent offense. There’s a particular amount of excitement surrounding Jonathan Grimes, a talented runner and the reigning CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. Virginia will be breaking in three new linebackers on defense, a genuine concern when the 3-4 is employed.
Why Virginia might win: The weakest area of the Tribe is the run defense, which the Cavs will be looking to exploit all night. William & Mary just doesn’t have the size or the depth up front to handle Will Barker and a line that averages over 300 pounds. Now that Mikell Simpson is healthy again, he’ll have success running behind that front wall and bulldozing, 253-pound FB Rashawn Jackson. Versatile Vic Hall, who has the edge at quarterback, is also capable of leaving the pocket and jetting down the sidelines. While this is not one of the league’s more explosive offenses, it does have more weapons than a year ago.
Who to watch: A lot is expected from CB Chris Cook, who returns after missing all of last season for academic reasons. A 6-2, 200-pounder, with next-level potential, he joins all-star CB Ras-I Dowling and budding sophomore safeties Corey Mosley and Rodney McLeod to give Virginia a dynamite secondary that’ll make William & Mary earn every reception.
What will happen: Keep an eye on Hall this season. Assuming he’s the guy under center, and not Jameel Sewell, for the majority of snaps, he’s the kind of sparkplug that new coordinator Gregg Brandon is looking for on offense. While there’ll be some predictable misfires in the opener, the Cavaliers will get enough from the quarterback and Simpson to shake free from a feisty and resilient William & Mary squad.
CFN Prediction: Virginia 23 ... William & Mary 13 ... Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1)
... 1...
Free Expert Football Predictions
Baylor (0-0) vs. Wake Forest (0-0),
3:30 EST, ESPN2, Saturday, September 5
Why to watch: A pair of schools with rising expectations will hook up in Winston-Salem in one of the sneaky good non-conference games of the opening weekend. Wake Forest is riding the biggest swell in school history, appearing in three straight bowl games, and has its sights fixed on an ACC Atlantic Division title. Baylor, with its prized sophomore QB Robert Griffin, could be ready to write one of the more interesting chapters of the 2009 season. The Bears showed lots of life a year ago, especially down the stretch and believe they have a mix of talent to earn a bowl invite for the first time since 1994. In just over a year, Art Briles has brought a buzz to Waco that the locals haven’t seen in over a decade.
Why Baylor might win: This is Wake Forest’s first game without most of its back seven on defense, namely LB Aaron Curry and CB Alphonso Smith. Is it ready to handle Griffin and that improving Bear offensive attack? Griffin is not alone on this side of the ball, welcoming back three of last season’s top four receivers, Kendall Wright, David Gettis, and Ernest Smith. If the Demon Deacons don’t contain the multi-dimensional quarterback, they lack the offensive punch to win a track meet.
Why Wake Forest might win: To beat Baylor, look for the Deacons to keep it simple and lean heavily on a familiar staple, the power running game. With Kevin Harris, Josh Adams, and Brandon Pendergrass back in the fold, Wake Forest has three complimentary backs, who’ve shined at times in the feature. If the Bears press LB Joe Pawelek and S Jordan Lake up too frequently, veteran QB Riley Skinner will pick apart a poor secondary on play-action passes.
Who to watch: While somewhat anonymous, it’ll be worth keeping an eye on two linemen, who didn’t play in 2008, but will have important roles for their respective teams in 2009. After sitting out last season, hulking Wake Forest LT Chris DeGeare is back, hoping to solidify an offensive line that didn’t get the job done a year ago. Baylor can’t wait to unwrap DT Phil Taylor, a 6-4, 355-pound Penn State transfer, who’ll be counted on to bolster that Bear run D.
What will happen: A lot has changed in the year since Wake Forest blasted Baylor in last year’s opener in Waco. The Bears are a little better and the Deacons are a little vulnerable, which spells a tight game that won’t be decided until the final minutes. Now, Griffin is absolutely capable of carrying his team to a road victory. He’s really that good. The safer choice, however, would be Skinner, who’s playing at home, is entering his fourth year as the starter, and has a slightly better supporting cast.
CFN Prediction: Wake Forest 30 ... Baylor 24 ... Line: Wake Forest -1.5
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1)
... 2.5...
Free Expert Football Predictions
Miami (0-0) at Florida
State (0-0),
8:00 EST, ESPN, Monday, September 7
Why to watch: Regardless of their status in the national
hierarchy, it’s always an event when the ‘Canes and
the ‘Noles meet for their annual brawl. These games
are always tight, intense, and hard-hitting. The
54th meeting has a little special meaning, as both
schools try to regain some of the swagger that’s
disappeared over much of this decade. A primetime
win in the opener could be just the catapult one of
these young programs needs to build a head of steam
for a nasty September schedule. After using an
inordinate number of rookies a year ago, Miami hopes
to take off the training wheels and begin turning
the corner this fall. Has it really been four years
since Florida State played a January bowl game? The
Seminoles will try to build on last year’s nine-win
season and seize control of the jump ball in the
Atlantic Division. After 34 seasons, you never know
when this could be Bobby Bowden’s last chapter of
this storied rivalry.
Why Miami might win: The potential exists for the Hurricanes to
sport their most potent offense in years. Sophomore
QB Jacory Harris is a year older and a year wiser,
and his supporting cast is flush with size, speed,
and upside. In the backfield, Javarris James joins
Graig Cooper to give the running game two dynamite
runners, and Aldarius Johnson, LaRon Byrd, and
Travis Benjamin are three of the ACC’s most exciting
young receivers. They’ll be facing a defense that is
not vintage Florida State and could be a little
light on the first and last lines of defense.
Why Florida State might win: The Seminoles’ improvement on the
ground was no fluke in 2008, and is about to change
just because Antone Smith is out of eligibility. The
key is up front, where a youthful offensive line is
growing up rapidly and on the fast track to becoming
one of the better units in school history. Rodney
Hudson, Andrew Datko, and Ryan McMahon, in
particular, will control the line of scrimmage,
allowing QB Christian Ponder to make plays with his
feet and backs Jermaine Thomas and Ty Jones to past
the first line of defense. When Florida State gets
the running game cranking, it’s a tough team to
beat.
Who to watch: Now that Everette Brown is a Carolina Panther,
Florida State desperately needs a defensive end to
rise up and replace some of his pass-rushing
production. For senior Markus White, that’s an
opportunity to enter the minds of NFL scouts. He has
the closing speed and natural instincts to burst on
to the radar, especially against a Miami offensive
line that can struggle in pass protection. No. 98 is
liable to spend a big chunk of Monday night looking
for Harris in the ‘Cane backfield.
What will happen: In a game between two relatively equal
rivals, there’s no reason to believe the script will
deviate from the past few decades. In other words,
expect the defenses to make a handful of memorable
plays and the outcome to be in doubt in the fourth
quarter. Harris is a mature kid, but he’s yet to
start a road game in this type of atmosphere, giving
a distinct advantage to Ponder and that Florida
State offense. It’ll pick up where it left off in
2008, moving the chains on the ground and sprinkling
in pass plays on intermediate routes. The ‘Noles
better hope the game doesn’t come down to field
goals. While they could be replacing Graham Gano
with a true freshman, the ‘Canes have a star in Matt
Bosher.
CFN Prediction: Florida State 27 ... Miami 24 ... Line:
Florida State -5.5
Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) ... 4.5...
Free Expert Football Predictions
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Week 1, Part 1