ACC Preview Thread 2021

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

So Notre Dame playing full-time football in the ACC is only gonna last 1 year? Uh oh! Is this conference about to become "Clemson and everyone else" again?
I guess that's what this preview thread is for; to see if that is really gonna be the case.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Duke

The first preview segment for the Atlantic Coast Conference: The Duke Blue Devils

Last season: The Duke defense was really a hot mess last year, so the Blue Devils finished a miserable 2-9.

Good news: The specialists on special teams are generating optimism, and the WR's should be able to thrive.

Bad news: Most of this year's defensive talent are unproven commodities, and the QB spot could be an area of concern again.

Key games:
9/18 vs. Northwestern (So Duke and Northwestern are playing each other again. Say... didn't the Wildcats finish in the final Top 10 polls last year?)
10/2 @ North Carolina (It looks like UNC has regained control of this rivalry series. The Duke offense are hoping that they can somehow take it back.)
10/9 vs. Georgia Tech (This ACC game looks completely winnable.)
11/27 vs. Miami (Hey, Duke gets to host Miami again! Hopefully this installment will go better than the 48-0 debacle we saw last year.)

Bottom line: Duke has now endured 3 losing seasons over the last 5 years. Has coach David Cutcliffe run out of miracles in Durham, North Carolina? Unless the defense takes a big step upwards, expect that kind of talk to continue as Duke finishes last in the Coastal.

 

[douggie]

Duke

The first preview segment for the Atlantic Coast Conference: The Duke Blue Devils

Last season: The Duke defense was really a hot mess last year, so the Blue Devils finished a miserable 2-9.

Good news: The specialists on special teams are generating optimism, and the WR's should be able to thrive.

Bad news: Most of this year's defensive talent are unproven commodities, and the QB spot could be an area of concern again.

Key games:
9/18 vs. Northwestern (So Duke and Northwestern are playing each other again. Say... didn't the Wildcats finish in the final Top 10 polls last year?)
10/2 @ North Carolina (It looks like UNC has regained control of this rivalry series. The Duke offense are hoping that they can somehow take it back.)
10/9 vs. Georgia Tech (This ACC game looks completely winnable.)
11/27 vs. Miami (Hey, Duke gets to host Miami again! Hopefully this installment will go better than the 48-0 debacle we saw last year.)

Bottom line: Duke has now endured 3 losing seasons over the last 5 years. Has coach David Cutcliffe run out of miracles in Durham, North Carolina? Unless the defense takes a big step upwards, expect that kind of talk to continue as Duke finishes last in the Coastal.

Yep, we bad. Injuries plagued the team when they had good players but recruiting has fallen off. This year's team will finish with 2 to 4 wins. That's about it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Louisville

Preview segment: The Louisville Cardinals

Last season: Now, some people had Duke struggling last year. Not many people expected Louisville to have a rough year in 2020. But thanks to a batch of close losses (and the pandemic), that's exactly what happened to the poor Cardinals as they went 4-7.

Bad news: The WR position is missing Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick, who were both huge studs for the offense. There's not much depth in the secondary.

Good news: Happily for the offense, QB Malik Cunningham is still here and should be well protected by his O-line. And if the defense avoids injuries, it should have another solid performance this season.

Key games:
9/6 vs. Ole Miss [from Atlanta] (Will Louisville score a big win on Labor Day to get back some positive momentum? Maybe, if they defend the Ole Miss offense well enough.)
9/17 vs. UCF (Another chance for the Cardinals to get some mojo back for the ACC.)
10/30 @ NC State (This will be a big test for both teams. And if Louisville is able to win in Raleigh...)
11/6 vs. Clemson (...it'll be a big confidence boost for them when they host always-dangerous Clemson.)
11/27 vs. Kentucky (Another tender reunion of rivals! Trouble for the Cardinals is, Kentucky has beaten them 3 out of the last 4 times they met.)

Bottom line: Let's be honest here; the middle of the ACC Atlantic is crowded with teams looking for a move up the rankings. And doubt is starting to crawl back into the Cardinals program, so it'll be up to coach Scott Satterfield to re-motivate everyone and get going. Maybe Louisville will get back to contention if they are able to find some new players on offense...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Boston College

Preview segment: The Boston College Eagles

Last season: The Eagles only went 6-5 in 2020, but they did make some good strides on offense.

Good news: Expect the offensive upswing to continue, as QB Phil Jurkovec and a whole bunch of talented WR's are ready to put up more points through the air. The O-line BC has now is a strong contender for best in the nation.

Bad news: The defense could be soft in the middle as the linebacker spot is unproven. BC could also do better in running the ball, as well as red-zone efficiency.

Key games:
9/25 vs. Missouri (After a likely 3-0 start, the Eagles will face Missouri for the first time ever. And Missouri could be a sneaky team in the SEC this season.)
10/2 @ Clemson (The ultimate test for BC's passing game. Boston College hasn't beaten Clemson since 2010, but they DID come close last year.)
10/16 vs. NC State (The Eagles will have a bye week to prep for this big ACC Atlantic game. These two didn't play each other last year.)
11/5 vs. Virginia Tech (Perhaps the worst loss BC had last year was a 40-14 blowout loss to the Hokies.)

Bottom line: With coach Jeff Hafley recruiting well and the offense getting better, BC fans are optimistic about getting their first 8-win season since 2009. That goal is in reach, but the Eagles are still a year away from becoming a real factor in the ACC race.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

North Carolina State

Preview segment: The NC State Wolfpack

Last season: There was a bit of pressure for Dave Doeren and crew going into the 2020 season, but they managed to do well despite that. And so the Wolfpack got 8 wins and a Gator Bowl invite, and now the fanbase is hopeful that they can compete for bigger prizes in 2021.

Good news: Roster movement was minimal in spring ball, so depth should be no problem. The defense has the chance to be REALLY good, and QB Devin Leary showed signs of brilliance last year.

Bad news: Devin is recovering from a broken leg, so the QB spot is something to be careful about. NC State needs to find more downfield threats at WR, and the defense could stand to get better at defending the run.

Key games:
9/11 @ Mississippi State (Ah! Here's a perfect chance for NC State's defense to prove itself, as they'll try to stop the "Air Raid" attack of Mississippi State.)
9/25 vs. Clemson (Uh oh! After a year away from the Tigers, the "Textile Bowl" makes a return. But the game's in Raleigh, so at least NC State has that going for them.)
10/23 @ Miami (It's scary to go and visit the Hurricanes again, but NC State almost got to Miami last year.)
11/13 @ Wake Forest (NC State started 2020 off right by beating the Demon Deacons 45-42. This will be the 115th time these "Tobacco Road" rivals face off.)
11/26 vs. North Carolina (If both the Wolfpack and Tar Heels live up to their preseason promises, this could be a brilliant "Black Friday" showdown.)

Bottom line: Lindy's has NC State pegged for about 9 wins in 2021, and the Wolfpack certainly has the defense to do just that. But they tend to melt under high expectations and the offense needs some work. Optimism is high, however, so we'll see if the Wolfpack can have it's 2nd fine season in a row.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Syracuse

Preview segment: The Syracuse Orange

Last season: I knew that there would be trouble for the Orange last year, but I didn't expect THIS: The Orange offense fell into the toilet and they went 1-10.

Good news: Last year the defense actually did better than some people expected, and it has 10 starters coming back. The kicking game looks solid again, and the O-line got high marks in the spring.

Bad news: But the O-line will still be a concern unless it avoids the injury plague it suffered last year. QB Tommy DeVito is back, but if he struggles again expect him to be replaced. And the secondary still has talent, but it'll be missing 3 studs from the previous year.

Key games:
9/11 vs. Rutgers (Rutgers made some headway in 2020, while the Orange did not. Syracuse must draw the line in the sand here and turn back the Scarlet Knights.)
9/24 vs. Liberty (You know, I started to buy the Flames as a threat when they defeated the Orange last year.)
10/9 vs. Wake Forest (With a game against Clemson right after this, this is a must-win for the Orange.)
11/27 vs. Pittsburgh (On Senior Day, Syracuse will try to silence the hopeful Panthers.)

Bottom line: The 2020 season was a bummer, but with all the problems Syracuse was having I did see it coming. Now Dino Babers and the team are hoping to show some positive progress in 2021 so that they can install hope for the future. If the offense stops sucking, some more wins should come their way.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Georgia Tech

Preview segment: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last season: Another rough year for the Yellow Jackets as they finished 3-7.

Good news: The offense should take another step forward; the skill positions are rock solid and QB Jeff Sims showed signs of improvement last year after a shaky start. The secondary has a ton of experience.

Bad news: The pass-rush still needs some work, and fans are REALLY hoping that Jeff Sims won't turn the ball over so much. The kicking game is still a worry, as evidenced by the freshmen punter they're now using.

Key games:
9/18 @ Clemson (After a likely 2-0 start, Georgia Tech must visit mighty Clemson. Hopefully this game will go better than the 70-7 @$$-wooping Clemson gave them last year.)
9/25 vs. North Carolina (Then, the Jackets will host a UNC team that is LOADED. But if the GT defense is able to stop Sam Howell...)
10/23 @ Virginia (A swing game for Georgia Tech's postseason chances in 2021.)
11/27 vs. Georgia (After a year off, the "Clean Old-Fashioned Hate" rivalry game will return. But maybe Georgia Tech can ruin Georgia's playoff chances here.)

Bottom line: Oh, don't worry about Georgia Tech in 2021. They are getting better, and the offense should be humming if Jeff Sims gets better. But the schedule is (once again) brutal; not only must the Jackets deal with Clemson and Notre Dame again, but Virginia Tech, Miami, and Georgia also comes back to the slate. If the Yellow Jackets are in bowl contention this year, I'll call their 2021 season a success.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Wake Forest

Preview segment: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last season: Things were actually pretty good for Wake to begin the 2020 season, as they started 4-3 and got REALLY close to taking out North Carolina. But then the pandemic f--ked them up, Wake football would go on an extended pause, and they finished 4-5.

Good news: Good vibes are still going around the program, as QB Sam Hartman has turned into a true team leader. And his WR's and O-line should be ready to go, too. The defensive front should be good...

Bad news: ...but Carlos Basham Jr. is no longer with the team. The secondary will hopefully be better this year after it got burned quite a few times in 2020.

Key games:
9/18 vs. Florida State (An important season opener for both teams. Wake actually defeated FSU the last time they met.)
10/30 vs. Duke (This begins a 3-week stretch where Wake will play all of it's rivals from "Tobacco Road". It starts when Wake hosts the Blue Devils...)
11/6 @ North Carolina (...which will be good practice for when Wake has it's big rematch with the Tar Heels- Wait. This game probably won't count in the ACC standings since Wake is playing 9 conference opponents, right? Shoot.)
11/13 vs. NC State (Anyway, this "Tobacco Road" trip will then end when the Deacons host the hated Wolfpack. And NC State has big dreams for this season.)
11/20 @ Clemson (Oops, I forgot. Wake has to go face the Tigers right after their big "Tobacco Road" trip.)

Bottom line: I don't think that Wake will challenge for the Atlantic in 2021, but they should do what they usually do under head coach Dave Clawson: Find their way to the postseason.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

North Carolina

Preview segment: The North Carolina Tar Heels

Last season: If you were keeping score at home last year, the ACC was able to send 3 teams to the "New Year's Six" bowls in 2020! Some people expected both Notre Dame and Clemson to make it, but almost nobody had North Carolina joining the party too. But that's what happened as Mack Brown and QB Sam Howell joined forces to get UNC to the Orange Bowl.
Now with the full 12-game schedule coming back, some people has the Tar Heels as a Top-10 preseason team. Do they deserve it?

Bad news: I mean, UNC lost a lot of good people to the NFL and graduation. In particular, the D-line and wide-receiver are positions where some new playmakers have to emerge.

Good news: It goes without saying, but people are trumpeting Sam Howell as a Heisman candidate. And Sam will have a strong O-line to help him out. The defense has increased depth and talent, especially in the secondary.

Key games:
9/3 @ Virginia Tech (Oooooo! A North Carolina team with high expectations starting the season on the road, against a Va-Tech team that'll be desperate to get back to it's winning ways. This will be can't miss theater!)
9/18 vs. Virginia (UNC got tripped up by the Cavs last year 44-41.)
10/16 vs. Miami (Smashing the Hurricanes 62-26 allowed North Carolina to go to the Orange Bowl last year. Trouble is, Miami is gonna remember that in this rematch.)
10/30 @ Notre Dame (The Tar Heels will have a bye week to prepare for this big contest.)
11/26 @ NC State (This is where the Tar Heels could cement it "New Year's Six" invitation... or lose it completely.)

Bottom line: The hype train for North Carolina is running at full steam, so it'll be up to Mack Brown and his team to live up to the billing. The passing offense should be top-notch, but what about the defense? If it holds up, maybe UNC really CAN win the Coastal division and return to the "New Year's Six".

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Florida State

Preview segment: The Florida State Seminoles

Last season: As I mentioned earlier on a previous thread, the pandemic was pretty bad for first-year head coaches. Most of the time, those guys couldn't learn about their team due to having no practices and/or a lack of games.
Mike Norvell was one of those people that had almost no practices to scout Florida State in 2020. So despite his best efforts, FSU went 3-6 to put them further behind the 8-ball in the ACC (And the defense sucked, too).

Good news: He won't be a cure-all for Florida State's woes, but MAN is QB McKenzie Milton gonna be a inspirational leader for the Seminoles! He should be able to lean on his running game, too. On defense, FSU found some gems in the transfer portal, including DB Jermaine Johnson and a loaded secondary.

Bad news: Aside from Jermaine, there's not too many people that can get after the QB on the D-line. Pass protection is still a BIG worry for the Seminoles, and so are the WR's (unless those guys stop dropping those damn catches over and over again).

Key games:
9/5 vs. Notre Dame (It's not impossible for FSU to win this one; Notre Dame is replacing a LOT of people from last year's team.)
10/9 @ North Carolina (Beating #5 North Carolina was the best [and only] thing FSU was able to do last season.)
10/30 @ Clemson (Oh, trust me, guys. Clemson would have annihilated the Seminoles had they faced each other last year. Now? Maybe FSU can close the gap.)
11/13 vs. Miami (The Hurricanes made some great strides last season. Just ask Florida State, who Miami carpet-bombed 52-10.)
11/27 @ Florida (Uh... Another tender reunion of in-state rivals, people.)

Bottom line: Don't worry. Florida State will be much better than they were last year. It just won't show up on the record. I mean, did you SEE those "Key games"?! Notre Dame and North Carolina stay on the slate. Miami has optimism. Florida returns to the slate. And Clemson is LOADED once again. And I can also mention "swing games" against Louisville, NC State, and Boston College.
It'll be hard to gauge how many wins FSU will get in 2021, but winning at least 2 of those "key games" would be a big positive step for the program.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Miami

Preview segment: The Miami Hurricanes

Last season: There were some sighs of progress for Miami last year; the offense was running great and they started 8-1 (with their only loss at Clemson). But then the defense bottomed out for Miami in their last 2 games. And that resulted in a embarrassing 62-26 loss to North Carolina and a tough bowl loss to Oklahoma State.
So yeah, I think Miami still has some work to do in order to be elite again.

Bad news: Miami needs to do better at stopping the run. That won't be easy to do when they lost a few defensive studs to the NFL Draft. The WR's have been inconsistent, and QB D'Eriq King is coming off a knee injury.

Good news: However, King has recently told us that his knee is back to 100%. And coming over to help out the WR group is transfer Charleston Rambo, who should be a proud go-to guy. The secondary has the chance to be quite lethal.

Key games:
9/4 vs. Alabama [in Atlanta] (They may be breaking in a new QB and a lot of new offensive starters, but Alabama is still Alabama. Hopefully, Miami's defense will be ready for this challenge.)
10/16 @ North Carolina (And hopefully, Miami's defense will be ready for THIS challenge as well. The winner of this game will most likely win the Coastal division.)
10/23 vs. NC State (Trouble for Miami, they have to face a hopeful NC State team afterwards.)
11/13 @ Florida State (See my previous post.)
11/20 vs. Virginia Tech (One point separated these two bitter rivals last year.)

Bottom line: On paper, Miami looks ready to challenge for the Coastal and ACC titles; the QB looks to be back from injury, the defense has potential, and they found some gems in the transfer portal. But North Carolina is loaded as well, and the Hokies and Seminoles want to sweep 2020 under the rug and move upwards.
Pay attention to the defense; if it gets better then the Hurricanes can topple UNC, and then...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Virginia

Preview segment: The Virginia Cavaliers

Last season: Turns out that Virginia WOULD suffer a letdown in 2020 after making the Orange Bowl in 2019, as the Cavs went 5-5.

Good news: Brennan Armstrong did all right in his first year as Virginia's starting QB (if you were paying attention), and the coaches are hopeful that he'll get more help from his WR's. With a strong, experienced O-line expect the running game to make some real strides.

Bad news: Last year, Virginia's defense got burned over and over and over again by big plays. And it might be that way again this year, as there's not much depth on that side of the ball.

Key games:
9/11 vs. Illinois (With the Tar Heels right afterwards, Illinois must get a victory here for momentum.)
9/30 @ Miami (The Cavs have to go back to Miami this year? Well, at least Virginia almost got the Hurricanes at Miami last year.)
10/30 @ BYU (Hey, coach Mendenhall! Wasn't your last job over with the BYU Cougars?)
11/13 vs. Notre Dame (Virginia will have a bye week to prepare for this battle.)
11/27 vs. Virginia Tech (It was back to the "same old, same old" for the Cavs last year as the Hokies defeated them.)

Bottom line: Virginia's offense looks to be pretty good, but they're not getting back to ACC contention unless their defense gets back to normal. Expect another middle-of-the-road finish for the Cavs in 2021.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Pittsburgh

Preview segment: The Pittsburgh Panthers

Last season: An average 6-5. At least the defense looked impressive at times.

Bad news: Most of that proud defense from a year ago either graduated or went to the NFL, so some new people have to be found there and fast. The O-line also needs some work, and kicker Alex Kessman has also left.

Good news: The passing offense COULD have been another worrisome place, but QB Kenny Pickett decided to come back for one more year. And with a fine array of RB's and WR's, the offense should be better than it was last year.

Key games:
9/11 @ Tennessee (Pitt's non-conference slate is actually pretty easy; Tennessee isn't really a "world beater" anymore. I'm calling this contest the "Johnny Majors bowl".)
10/16 @ Virginia Tech (The Panthers played it's best game last year against the Hokies, squashing them 47-14. You think Va-Tech is just gonna let that go?)
10/23 vs. Clemson (This is where things begin to get tricky. Not only must Pitt deal with Clemson again, they must play Miami right afterwards.)
11/11 vs. North Carolina (And then, North Carolina will return to the slate. Fortunately, Pittsburgh will host all 3 of those teams at Heinz Field.)

Bottom line: Wow. I actually feel more optimistic for the Pitt Panthers this season. The schedule's not too tough, and Kenny Pickett's return will buoy the offense. Maybe all Pat Narduzzi needs to do to make Pitt a Coastal division contender is to find some new studs on defense.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Clemson

Preview segment: The Clemson Tigers

Last season: Ohio State would end up depriving Clemson of another CFP national championship, but it was still another fruitful year of dominating the ACC for the Tigers. Trevor Lawrence, a proud defense, taking the ACC title once again... Well done for Clemson.

Bad news: Travis Etienne has left the building, ladies and gentlemen. That means the running game might take another step backwards. The secondary has to get better at limiting big plays by the opposition. And of course, Trevor Lawrence is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Good news: However, D.J. Utagalelei is Trevor's replacement, and he showed quite a few signs of greatness last year. If he can run the offense through a full 12 games, woe unto the defenses that'll deal with Clemson's passing attack. The depth at the WR group is much better, and nearly every productive player from last year's defense is back.

Key games:
9/4 vs. Georgia [from Charlotte] (A potential battle of Top 5 teams to start the season. You don't need ANY setup for this one.)
9/25 @ NC State (Many teams in the ACC Atlantic are getting better. Will one of them smite Clemson down? The sound defense of NC State will help to give us the answer.)
11/6 @ Louisville (Another road test for the Tigers.)
11/27 @ South Carolina (Another wonderful reunion of in-state rivals! And don't forget, Clemson: The Gamecocks may be crappy this year, but they'll no doubt give 100% for this game.)

Bottom line: Man... Even though Clemson doesn't have Trevor Lawrence anymore, they still have way too much in their favor to go against them. Expect the Tigers to blitz through the Atlantic and stay in national title contention this season. But WILL they win another national title? Let's wait for the huge Georgia game; we'll all know by then.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Virginia Tech

The last preview segment for the ACC: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season: Some people thought that Va-Tech would have a good season in 2020. But, nope! They suffered close loss after close loss, got embarrassed at home by Liberty, and would end up finishing 5-6. All thanks to that god-awful defense of theirs.

Good news: Thankfully, the defensive staff finally got a full spring practice. And with a combo of stars on the D-line and some key transfers to fill in some holes, expect the defense to make a big improvement. QB Braxton Burmeister and RB Raheem Blackshear have cemented their starting jobs on offense.

Bad news: There's a BIG problem across the board for the Hokies: A lack of depth. And it'll be most glaring on the O-line; transfers, the NFL, and graduation had hit that unit HARD.

Key games:
9/3 vs. North Carolina (As I mentioned earlier, this is a HUGE opener for both teams. Virginia Tech can regain some good juju for the program with an upset win.)
9/18 @ West Virginia (The "Black Diamond Trophy" rivalry returns to us again! Va-Tech has won the last 3 meetings against the Mountaineers.)
10/9 vs. Notre Dame (Just a simple glamour game for these two schools. No more, no less. Although this could be another chance for Va-Tech to regain some good juju.)
11/5 @ Boston College (Don't sleep on this one, folks! Boston College has the chance to surprise some people.)
11/20 @ Miami (A hard finish awaits the Hokies, as they'll finish 2021 visiting their 2 most hated rivals: The tough-as-nails Hurricanes...)
11/27 @ Virginia (...and the hopeful Cavaliers. And don't forget: Va-Tech lost the last time they went to Charlottesville.)

Bottom line: 2021 could be Justin Fuente's last chance to win back the love of the locals from Blacksburg. I just listed 6 "key games", so it won't be easy for them (especially with their current depth issues). But if the team can work around it and pull some upsets, I think Virginia Tech will be just fine this season.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

ACC Predictions

And now I leave this thread, in order to contemplate if I even want to do the Big 12 this season (thanks to all of this "Oklahoma and Texas jumping ship" bullshit). But until then, here's how I see the ACC shaking out in 2021:

ACC Atlantic:
1. Clemson (Conference champs, maybe playoff)
2. NC State
3. Wake Forest
4. Boston College
5. Florida State
6. Louisville
7. Syracuse

ACC Coastal:
1. North Carolina ("New Year's Six" bowl)
2. Miami (Maybe "New Year's Six")
3. Virginia Tech
4. Pittsburgh
5. Virginia
6. Georgia Tech
7. Duke

 

[foster4prez]

Virginia Tech

The last preview segment for the ACC: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season: Some people thought that Va-Tech would have a good season in 2020. But, nope! They suffered close loss after close loss, got embarrassed at home by Liberty, and would end up finishing 5-6. All thanks to that god-awful defense of theirs.

Good news: Thankfully, the defensive staff finally got a full spring practice. And with a combo of stars on the D-line and some key transfers to fill in some holes, expect the defense to make a big improvement. QB Braxton Burmeister and RB Raheem Blackshear have cemented their starting jobs on offense.

Bad news: There's a BIG problem across the board for the Hokies: A lack of depth. And it'll be most glaring on the O-line; transfers, the NFL, and graduation had hit that unit HARD.

Key games:
9/3 vs. North Carolina (As I mentioned earlier, this is a HUGE opener for both teams. Virginia Tech can regain some good juju for the program with an upset win.)
9/18 @ West Virginia (The "Black Diamond Trophy" rivalry returns to us again! Va-Tech has won the last 3 meetings against the Mountaineers.)
10/9 vs. Notre Dame (Just a simple glamour game for these two schools. No more, no less. Although this could be another chance for Va-Tech to regain some good juju.)
11/5 @ Boston College (Don't sleep on this one, folks! Boston College has the chance to surprise some people.)
11/20 @ Miami (A hard finish awaits the Hokies, as they'll finish 2021 visiting their 2 most hated rivals: The tough-as-nails Hurricanes...)
11/27 @ Virginia (...and the hopeful Cavaliers. And don't forget: Va-Tech lost the last time they went to Charlottesville.)

Bottom line: 2021 could be Justin Fuente's last chance to win back the love of the locals from Blacksburg. I just listed 6 "key games", so it won't be easy for them (especially with their current depth issues). But if the team can work around it and pull some upsets, I think Virginia Tech will be just fine this season.

Fuente fired before Nov 1. You heard it here first.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Notre Dame

Preview segment: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last season: Surprise, everyone! I decided to add a preview for the Fighting Irish before I go. And why is that, you ask? Well, due to the pandemic, Notre Dame couldn't have their independent schedule. But then they had a brainwave: Since they're technically members of the ACC, why not head over there and play a full ACC conference schedule?
And it worked to perfection! Ian Book and company had a ball in their temporary home. Notre Dame even won against #1 Clemson (while Trevor Lawrence was out sick) and made it to the 4-team playoff (where Alabama handled them with ease)! It was fun, but now the Irish are back to their independent ways.

Bad news: Ian Book is now gone. So are 80% of a strong and experienced O-line from last year. And the WR's that Notre Dame has right now must prove themselves. And the defense is missing Clark Lea (it's former defensive coordinator) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Good news: But despite losing Owusu-Koramoah, the front-7 of the defense should still be good. And FS Kyle Hamilton is the star of the Irish secondary. On offense, the running backs look to carry the load.

2021 X-factor: QB Jack Coan- Jack has come in from Wisconsin to help fill in the gap that Ian Book left. He is a proven winner, but he was mostly a game-manager for the Badgers. The offensive staff is hoping that Jack is able to stretch the field.

Key games:
9/18 vs. Purdue (Ooooo! This in-state rivalry has returned. Can you guys believe these two haven't faced each other since 2014?)
9/25 vs. Wisconsin [from Chicago] (A straight-forward glamour game between these two in Chicago. How will Jack Coan fare against his old team?)
10/2 vs. Cincinnati (Strangely, this might be the hardest game Notre Dame will have all year for 2 reasons. One, Cincinnati wants to make the CFP. And secondly, wasn't Brian Kelly's last head coaching job AT Cincinnati?)
10/23 vs. USC (After a year away, the Irish gets to see their old California rivals again! These two will meet for the 90th time.)
11/27 @ Stanford (Notre Dame also gets to see Stanford again, too! Trouble is, Stanford could be on a roll entering this finale.)

Bottom line: Such a shame for the Irish; they have suffered quite the talent drain from a year ago. And in addition to those "key games", the Irish must also deal with some vengeful ACC opponents. Happily, Notre Dame gets most of their tough games at home, so maybe they can make another "New Year's Six" bowl... IF they can prevent their offense from falling apart.

 

[therealsportsguru]

Clemson wont be what they have been for the past 2 seasons. Their first game is against UGA and I am hoping that UGA beat the wheels off them. This is one team that has ducked playing a competitive schedule by playing Pie State and Cupcake U, not this season. That first "L" is gonna hurt. Dabo said that there aren't 12 teams that could compete in a playoffs, well if he takes 2 loses this season he won't have to worry about being in that 12. I have a feeling that if this season goes south for him, he is gonna blame players getting paid, the new playoff system, and the big12/sec situation.