It's 81 degrees at night in Miami... (ACC Preview thread 2022)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

And here I am complaining about one more day of 90 degree heat up here in New York... Anyway, let's get to the reason why this thread is here: ACC predictions for 2022. And SPOILER ALERT: I'm gonna be previewing Clemson last.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Georgia Tech

The first preview segment for the Atlantic Coast Conference: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last season: There's an unwritten rule in the world of college football, and it goes like this: When someone replaces a legendary coach that gave a university a lot of success, that replacement (more often or not) will fail. It happened to Justin Fuente when he filled in for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. It happened to Ron Prince at Kansas State when Bill Snyder retired the first time. When Ray Perkins filled in for Bear Bryant at Alabama, he only stayed 4 years before he bolted.
And after his 3rd-straight 3-win season at Georgia Tech, Geoff Collins is very close to being the next victim of that trend.

Good news: With Keion White and Morris Joseph Jr. returning to the defense, Georgia Tech SHOULD have a better pass-rush than they did a year ago. QB Jeff Sims seems to be a good fit for the schemes of the new offensive coordinator, and the tight-end position looks well stocked.

Bad news: The offensive line is in a world of trouble; it has a real lack of bodies and experience. The entire defense has to get much better as well.

Key games:
9/5 vs. Clemson [in Atlanta] (The good news for Georgia Tech is, this is a home game in disguise AND they almost beat Clemson IN Clemson last year! The bad news is, Clemson is determined to get back into the playoff picture this year.)
9/24 @ UCF (Hey! There's my favorite in the "Group of Five" to make a big-league bowl this year! ...I hope GT's defense is ready for this challenge.)
10/20 vs. Virginia (The Jackets almost got Virginia in Charlottesville last year.)
11/12 vs. Miami (Georgia Tech can catch Miami looking ahead to their game with Clemson here. Plus, this is GT's only home game over their last 5 games.)

Bottom line: The last remnants of the triple-option era at Georgia Tech looks to have finally disappeared. That (and the new offense) should help Georgia Tech out in 2022. But look at their schedule! An opener against hungry Clemson. An SEC team that made the Sugar Bowl (Ole Miss). A road game against my favorite out of the "Group of Five" (UCF). A road game against the defending ACC champions (Pittsburgh). And their in-state rival (Georgia) just won their first national title in forever!
Oh, poor Geoff Collins. I really don't like your chances. Unless your defense surprises a lot of people, you could be done in Atlanta this season.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Wake Forest

Preview segment: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last season: The insanity at Wake Forest continued to grow in 2021. With QB Sam Hartman going off, Wake would get their first-ever Top 10 ranking. They would win the ACC Atlantic for the first time in 15 years. And after winning the Gator Bowl, they finished #15 in the final AP poll (their highest end-of-season ranking ever). Now fans in Winston-Salem are wondering "Gosh, can we do all of that again?!".

Good news: Sam Hartman is still here. He's got a wide-range of targets to throw to, including deep threat A.T. Perry. And both lines have a proud amount of experience coming back.

Bad news: It wouldn't hurt Wake Forest to make sure that their back-up QB's are ready. And Wake does need to fix a lack of depth on the defense, for the Deacons were in a lot of shootouts last season.

Key games:
9/24 vs. Clemson (Here we go! A brilliant ACC showdown in the month of September! You know, for all of the good Wake Forest did last year, they still couldn't beat Clemson. If they fall short on that goal again, they're not repeating as ACC Atlantic champions.)
10/1 @ Florida State (A classic "hangover spot" for the Deacons; the Seminoles are beyond desperate to get back into the ACC race.)
11/5 @ NC State (Last year, these "Tobacco Road" rivals had a wild, 45-42 affair that went to the Demon Deacons.)
11/12 vs. North Carolina (Yep, in 2021 Wake Forest was in the Top 10 for the first time ever! Sadly thanks to the Tar Heels of North Carolina, Wake would only have that honor for 1 week.)

Bottom line: Fans of Syracuse football are always looking for an advantage in the crazy world of the ACC. But Wake still has Sam Hartman, great line play, Clemson coming to Winston-Salem, and Dave Clawson still their head coach? Ugh. I don't know if the Deacons can overcome NC State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic in 2022, but that won't stop them from trying; they're gonna be a handful once again.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Duke

Preview segment: The Duke Blue Devils

Last season: David Cutcliffe will be forever remembered for his efforts, as he turned Duke football from a "blah" affair to an actual winning program. But after the 2021 season went off the rails, there was a meeting that went like this:
Duke deans: "Our football team seems to be out of gas. You have any more miracles in your bag, David?"
David: "Uh, let me see." [Looks into his miracle bag] "...Uh, looks like it's empty. ...Tell you what. I'll see myself out."

And now, Mike Elko [who was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M] is here for his first head-coaching job.

Good news: Duke's collection of wide-receivers are very good, and look for Shaka Heyward to be a star on the defense.

Bad news: That defense needs a WHOLE LOT of work, and the offensive line has to be more stable. Oh, and the starting QB is not known.

Key games:
9/2 vs. Temple (This is Elko's first game as a head coach. And at the bare minimum, he's hoping to find his starting QB in this game.)
9/24 @ Kansas (This game looks winnable.)
10/15 vs. North Carolina (It looks like North Carolina is no longer a Top 10-caliber program anymore. That's a small comfort for Duke, who is hoping to snap a 3-game skid in football to the hated Tar Heels.)
11/12 vs. Virginia Tech (If the Hokies struggle, this game is winnable for Duke.)

Bottom line: Man, David Cutcliffe got out of Durham just in time. The O-line is in a state of flux, the defense needs some major work, and the QB spot does not inspire confidence. Let's just say that Mike Elko will have his work cut out for him in his 1st year at Duke.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

North Carolina State

Preview segment: The NC State Wolfpack

Last season: By NC State standards, 2021 was another great year for them. Devin Leary emerged at the Wolfpack's new star QB, they didn't turn the ball over, and they got 9 wins (including one against Clemson). And the only reason why NC State didn't get 10 wins in 2021 was because the Holiday Bowl got shitcanned.
Now expectations are really high for the Wolfpack in 2022. Oh dear.

Good news: Devin Leary has most of his top targets from a year ago coming back, as well as a study O-line. The defense has the talent and the leadership to be among-st the ACC's best...

Bad news: ...but that's only if it can stay healthy this season. The running game could also be a worry, as nobody knows who will step up over there.

2022 X-factor: The 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels- Look, just hear me out. Last year, North Carolina was hyped to the moon and was put in the preseason Top 10. And... let's just say that UNC was a big disappointment as they went 6-7. Now this year, NC State is the one with all of the preseason hype. I guarantee you that the coaching staff is pointing to UNC in 2021 and saying "See that? Preseason hype doesn't make you a national contender!".
Maybe this is just what NC State needs to live up to the hype this time.

Key games:
9/17 vs. Texas Tech (Despite starting over with a new coach, Texas Tech will still put up some points. I hope NC State's defense is ready for this challenge.)
10/1 @ Clemson (This could be easily the biggest "Textile Bowl" in recent history. The game this year is at Clemson, but NC State now knows that they can beat the Tigers.)
10/8 vs. Florida State (Of course, NC State must be careful of the hangover that could follow when they host the Seminoles.)
11/5 vs. Wake Forest (When the Demon Deacons outshot the Wolfpack last year 45-42, there went NC State's chances to make the ACC title game.)
11/25 @ North Carolina (Last year's match-up between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels was brilliant, as NC State completed a wild comeback to win 34-30.)

Bottom line: Expectations haven't been this high since Phillip Rivers' last year in Raleigh (2003). But NC State disappointed then, and some people are fearful that it could happen again. But if the defense stays healthy and the offense does it's part, maybe this is the Wolfpack's year! Maybe THIS is the year that they make it on the national stage.
Pay attention to the Clemson game on October 1st. If NC State manages to upset the Tigers again, they could be on their way to their first ACC title since 1979.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Louisville

Preview segment: The Louisville Cardinals

Last season: It was another rough season for Scott Satterfield and his Cardinals. Yes they made it back to the postseason, but failures in a lot of key areas (3rd-down defense, red-zone efficiency and so forth) doomed Louisville to a 6-7 record. Now the pressure is building for this team to return to glory.

Good news: Senior QB Malik Cunningham is back for one more year. He's been working on his pocket passing in the offseason, which should help him make an NFL roster. And he'll have a strong rushing threat and people like TE Trevor Reid to throw to.

Bad news: The defense is the biggest worry for Louisville, no doubt about it. It needs to get better ASAP, but Louisville is relying on transfers to lift it up.

Key games:
9/3 @ Syracuse (The first 3 games are all critical for Louisville's survival in 2022. First, they'll be on the road for an ACC opener that is vital for BOTH schools.)
9/9 @ UCF (Then, Louisville goes to Orlando for a rematch with the Golden Knights. And UCF doesn't like that they lost to the Cardinals last year because of a crazy finish.)
9/16 vs. Florida State (And then, we have a potential launch-pad game for both the Cardinals AND the Seminoles.)
10/29 vs. Wake Forest (This is just a good-looking ACC game where a bunch of points should be scored.)
11/26 @ Kentucky (I think I've figured out why the pressure is so high right now at Louisville. It's because neighboring Kentucky is making a real good football program right now... and also because they've won 4 of their last 5 meetings with the Cardinals.)

Bottom line: Honestly, I think Louisville isn't too far off from being a contender in the ACC Atlantic. The offense should be as good as it was a year ago, so all Louisville has to do to be a surprise team in 2022 is to fix that goddamn defense.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Pittsburgh

Preview segment: The Pittsburgh Panthers

Last season: Cynics will call Pittsburgh winning the 2021 ACC Championship as "a sad state of affairs in the ACC". I call it "a great success story"! With Kenny Pickett (who was the first QB taken in the NFL Draft), WR Jordan Addison (who won the Biletnikoff Award), and a solid defense the Panthers tied a school record for wins in a single season. And yes, they beat teams like Clemson and Wake Forest en-route to the ACC title.
And now people in the program are wondering if the team can achieve this high-water mark again.

Bad news: Yep, Kenny Pickett is gone. And Jordan Addison went to USC via the transfer portal. That (and a secondary that needs to get better) will automatically lower the ceiling for the Panthers in 2022.

Good news: However, the team has experience all over the place; both lines (especially the offensive one) looks to be good, and the running game should be awesome.

2022 X-factor: QB Kedon Slovis- Pitt might have lost Jordan Addison to USC, but they DID get Slovis from L.A. in exchange. When he is good, he can be very, VERY good. But he HAS dealt with injuries. I think fans at Pitt will just be hoping that Kedon can keep the ship going in the right direction.

Key games:
9/1 vs. West Virginia (Pittsburgh will get to see their old rivals for the first time since 2011! You don't need to set up this opener any further.)
9/10 vs. Tennessee (On one hand, Tennessee will be a much more confident bunch than the team Pitt defeated last year. But on the other hand, Pitt DID win in Knoxville.)
10/29 @ North Carolina (By this time, the Pitt offense should be running at peak performance.)
11/12 @ Virginia (Pitt's chances at repeating as ACC Coastal champions could hinge on if they can win this tough November road game.)
11/26 @ Miami (See above game.)

Bottom line: Losing Addison and Pickett will make it REALLY hard for Pittsburgh to repeat as ACC champions. But this Pitt team has a solid core of experienced players, as well as the confidence. Maybe they CAN make a return trip to Charlotte for the ACC title game; all they have to do is hope that QB Kedon Slovis stays as cool as a cucumber.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Boston College

Preview segment: The Boston College Eagles

Last season: So BC was unable to go to the Military Bowl against East Carolina due to COVID? ...Ah, it's just as well, Boston College was having a blah 6-6 season anyway. And to think it started out so promising with a 4-0 start...

Bad news: The injury bug reared it's ugly head for the Eagles in 2021, and concerns about the health of BC's players will stay a concern until they prove us otherwise. The offensive line has a lack of experience, and the pass rush HAS to get better.

Good news: If Phil Jurkovec and Zay Flowers can stay healthy this time, they could be one of the most lethal QB-WR combos in the country. BC's secondary has the chance to be the best in the ACC this year; it has people like Josh DeBerry and Jaiden Woodbey.

Key games:
9/10 @ Virginia Tech (This ACC opener looks tricky for BC, but don't be fooled! The Eagles have won 3 of their last 4 meetings with the Hokies.)
9/24 @ Florida State (It depends on how Florida State is feeling, but the Eagles has to be ready for this important ACC Atlantic game.)
10/8 vs. Clemson (BC was so close to beating Clemson last year! ...But things just didn't go their way at Clemson, and now the Eagles are hoping to finish the job this time.)
11/19 @ Notre Dame (With Brian Kelly now gone from Notre Dame, maybe the Eagles can stop the Fighting Irish this time.)

Bottom line: The 2022 season could go a number of ways for Boston College. But coach Jeff Hafley is determined to get BC back on track, and he's got Jurkovic and Flowers still in Chestnut Hill. Maybe all BC needs to do to have a great 2022 is to hope for better luck from the injury gods.
...Wait, what's that? Lineman Christian Mahogany is out for the season ALREADY?! ...In future news, Boston College has finished this 2022 season a disappointing 6-6!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Florida State

Preview segment: The Florida State Seminoles

Last season: FSU might have gotten better as the 2021 season went on, but it STILL isn't great over here in Tallahassee; they missed the postseason again and started the season 0-4. Now coach Mike Norvell is entering a VERY critical 3rd season of his tenure.

Good news: This roster is older and more experienced, and Norvell has transfers that he can plug in on defense to make sure they stop giving up big plays. QB Jordan Travis became a better passer last year, and his rushing game should be an awesome security blanket.

Bad news: Depth at Florida State is still not perfect; the O-line in particular needs to be careful of injuries. Oh, and the wide-receivers could continue to hold down the passing game unless they STOP DROPPING SO MANY BALLS, you IDIOTS!

Key games:

Old stand-by's:
10/15 vs. Clemson (FSU did way better against Clemson last year, as it was a 1-possession game up until the final play. Could this be the year FSU's losing streak against the Tigers ends?)
11/5 @ Miami (I had no idea that FSU had so much bad luck against their in-state rivals recently. Anyway, FSU did defeat Miami last year, and let's see if that will happen again.)
11/25 vs. Florida (With the Gators rebuilding, Florida State has an excellent chance to snap this rivalry losing streak. Better special teams play should help FSU with that goal.)
Other big games:
9/4 vs. LSU [from New Orleans] (As I said on a previous thread, I have no idea how this game will go. Hopefully the wide-receivers for FSU are ready for this challenge.)
10/1 vs. Wake Forest (Shocking news! Sam Hartman is now out indefinitely due to a non-football related health issue! ...Maybe the Seminoles can take advantage when the Deacons come to Tallahassee.)

Bottom line: FSU also has "swing-games" against Louisville, Boston College, and NC State. In my opinion, those are the type of games that FSU NEEDS to start winning again, so that they can start to get back to ACC contention. Look, Mike Norvell. As a fan of ACC football, PLEASE make sure that your defense and the passing game gets better so FSU can get back to the postseason.
Oh, and if you can defeat rivals like Clemson and Florida this season, that'd be great as well.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Virginia

Preview segment: The Virginia Cavaliers

Last season: Things started out so well for Virginia in 2021; they were 6-2 and starting to wedge themselves back into the ACC Coastal discussion... despite having a miserable defense. Then BYU torched the Cavs for 66 points. And then they didn't have a chance against Notre Dame, and then Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech won close games against them, then their bowl game got cancelled, and finally Bronco Mendenhall retired from being a coach.
Enter first-time head coach Tony Elliott, who is hoping to quiet things down in Charlottesville.

Good news: New defensive coordinator John Rudzinski comes in from Air Force, and the Cavs defense SHOULD be able to make improvements (especially up front) And Tony has already did one thing right for Virginia; he convinced QB Brennan Armstrong to stay for his senior season. With Brennan and a proud display of wide-receivers SHOULD be able to keep the awesome Virginia passing game going.

Bad news: Trouble is, Virginia's ENTIRE offensive line left via the transfer portal last winter. So I don't know WHAT Virginia's offense is gonna look like. And Virginia's defense ranked 121st overall last year; I don't know how much better it's gonna be right off the bat.

Key games:
9/10 @ Illinois (One condolence for the Cavs this year is an easier schedule than they had last year. Yes, they must go to Illinois, but the Iliini are still rebuilding.)
10/8 vs. Louisville (Only one point separated these two rivals last year.)
10/29 vs. Miami (Oh, NOW I remember! Virginia was able to win at Miami last year. Maybe that will help the Cavs keep their cool against the Hurricanes this year in this ACC Coastal "swing-game".)
11/12 vs. Pittsburgh (Then after a game against North Carolina, the Cavs will host the defending ACC champions.)
11/26 @ Virginia Tech (So both Virginia AND Virginia Tech are breaking in new coaches in 2022? I'd love to see how those 2 guys handle their first meeting against each other.)

Bottom line: Sheesh! About every team in the ACC Coastal will have at least one big hang-up in 2022. For Virginia, it's their rebuilding defense and trying to find out who's gonna be a part of their all-new O-line.
Luckily for them, they have a kind schedule and maybe the best quarterback in the ACC in Brennan Armstrong. Maybe the Cavs can swipe the ACC Coastal title if everything breaks their way.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

North Carolina

Preview segment: The North Carolina Tar Heels

Last season: Many people in the college football world thought that in 2021, North Carolina would continue to rise up the FBS rankings. And it was mostly due to the brilliance of QB Sam Howell. Well, guess what? Sam Howell would end up being the only reason why UNC even MADE A BOWL GAME! Yep, the 2021 Tar Heels ended up being a major disappointment as they went 6-7... mostly due to a crappy defense.
And now Sam Howell has left the building. So, what now for Mack Brown and the Tar Heels?

Bad news: Uncertainty still reigns on the defense; can the defensive line get it's mojo back? And Mack Brown has said that he might go with a committee at the QB spot? Oh, great!

Good news: At least Mack can lean on the WR's to help out his new QB's; Josh Downs in particular is a difference-maker. And the secondary is full of playmakers, so it should make a vast improvement.

Key games:
9/3 @ Appalachian State (This is more psychological than anything else for UNC; it'll be a great boost if they can silence a in-state rival like App. State. And don't forget, North Carolina never really recovered from losing their opener last season.)
9/24 vs. Notre Dame (UNC will have the home crowd in their corner, but good luck trying to break Notre Dame's defensive line here.)
10/1 vs. Virginia Tech (Another game that will impact UNC's psyche this season; can you imagine how bummed UNC will be if they lose to Virginia Tech again?)
10/15 @ Duke (It's a rivalry game on the road. You just can't forget stuff like that.)
11/25 vs. NC State (Wait wait wait... I just got a sick thought in my head. What if NC State was rolling towards a "New Year's Six" bowl here... and then their arch-rivals ruined everything? How awesome would THAT be, eh?)

Bottom line: Yeah, most of these "Key games" are in the early part of the season. But in order for Mack Brown and North Carolina to get it's mojo back, they NEED to get off to a better start than they did last year. Yet they need to fix their defense, and this whole "quarterback by committee" idea? Eh, sounds like UNC is in for another middle-of-the-road finish in the ACC in 2022.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Miami

Preview segment: The Miami Hurricanes

Last season: So after 2 seasons in Miami, Manny Diaz decided he didn't want to stick around and left. And after a 7-5 season (that included a COVID outbreak that took them out of the Sun Bowl), Miami needed a spark, right?
Well, in the offseason they hired a new head coach named... Mario Cristobal?! Who won 2 national titles as a OT for the Hurricanes? And who reinvigorated the Oregon team? And now Hurricanes fans are looking for a Coastal division title right now because of the hiring? ...Man, the ego really IS a resilient thing.

Good news: QB Tyler Van Dyke became a star for Miami last year, and he's got an experienced O-line and a deep RB group to help him put up more points. The kicking game is rock-solid, and the back-7 of the Miami defense is in good hands.

Bad news: Newcomers will have to be counted on to help on the D-line. And much like Florida State, the Hurricanes' wide-receivers have to do a better job of NOT DROPPING PASSES, you IDIOTS!

Key games:
9/17 @ Texas A&M (Call me nuts, but I think Miami can win at College Station if their offense performs well.)
10/15 @ Virginia Tech (Bad news for Miami: They must go to Blacksburg this year. Good news for Miami: Va-Tech could be good and spent by the time this game happens.)
10/29 @ Virginia (This is just a simple game in the ACC Coastal where valuable positioning is on the line. But going to Virginia is NOT the big worry for this Miami team.)
11/5 vs. Florida State (Nope, it's the fact that right after the Virginia game, Miami must deal with their oldest rivals.)
11/19 @ Clemson (A preview of the 2022 ACC title game? Well...)
11/26 vs. Pittsburgh (...it might be possible if Miami is able to defeat the Panthers of Pitt again.)

Bottom line: Man! Even with a new head coach, Miami is still the favorite to win the ACC Coastal this year?! It's possible with Tyler Van Dyke as your quarterback and a defense that should be better than it was a year ago.
But as you probably guessed with the 6 "key games" I just listed (with the road schedule being really tough), it's won't be easy to do.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Virginia Tech

Preview segment: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season: It started out so well for Virginia Tech in 2021, as they stunned then-#10 North Carolina. But as it turned out, UNC was a fraud that year. And so was the Hokies; they went 5-7 the rest of the way, with their defense eroding and their passing game turning to shit. And so, Justin Fuente was let go, with anonymous coaches telling Athlon Sports that "It was a mistake for Va-Tech to keep Fuente for another year".
Enter former Penn State defensive coordinator (and former Bud Foster disciple) Brent Pry, who is hoping to make the Hokies tough again.

Good news: Brent should automatically get the Va-Tech defense to play better; this unit has star players everywhere. Oh, and at least he has his starting QB locked down: Former Marshall QB Grant Wells. There's depth at running-back...

Bad news: ...but none of the guys over there inspires confidence. And depth is REALLY not good at wide-receiver and on BOTH the O-line and D-line.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Boston College (In this ACC opener, the Hokies defense might have to carry the slack.)
9/22 vs. West Virginia (Now THIS game looks very good. The Hokies were able to beat West Virginia last year, and now they'll host the Mountaineers in Blacksburg.)
10/1 @ North Carolina (This game starts a REALLY tough October for Virginia Tech. First, they'll go to Chapel Hill where the Tar Heels are seeking revenge for last year.)
10/8 @ Pittsburgh (Then, they'll visit the defending conference champions before hosting the rival Hurricanes.)
10/27 @ NC State (And for the topper, Va-Tech must go and visit an NC State that wants to go to a "New Year's Six" bowl in 2022.)
11/26 vs. Virginia (Yes, we can't forget about the "Commonwealth Cup" if you're a Hokies fan.)

Bottom line: The new coach knows what he needs to do to get the Hokies back on track. But he's got depth issues all over the place, and I don't know if the passing game will wake up or not.
Look, let's wait until October is over. By then we'll know how far Virginia Tech has to go in order to get back to ACC contention.

 

[tabascojet]

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Syracuse

Preview segment: The Syracuse Orange

Last season: Syracuse was certainly doing better last year than they did in 2020. With the emergence of QB Garrett Shrader and RB Sean Tucker, the Orange started out 5-4 (with close calls against Wake Forest and Clemson). And all they needed to do to make the postseason was get one more win.
They never stood a chance. Louisville blew them out in tribute to Lamar Jackson, and then NC State and Pittsburgh finished them off. Now coach Dino Babers is entering a very important year in his tenure.

Good news: Shrader and Tucker are still here, so Syracuse should be able to have a excellent running game once again. The Orange's defense ranked in the Top 20 last year, and it should be strong again with a young and aggressive back eight.

Bad news: Line play is the undisputed worry on this team; parts of the D-line are lacking game experience. And the O-line may be returning mostly intact, but it has been one of the worst pass-protecting units in the nation over the last couple of years.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Louisville (A very important opener for the Orange; their offense will be counted on to keep up with the Cardinals.)
9/23 vs. Virginia (From dealing with Malik Cunningham to defending Brennan Armstrong on a Friday night... Man, Syracuse's secondary is gonna be busy this year.)
10/15 vs. NC State (This starts a very, VERY hard 4-week stretch for the Orange. After dealing with a strong NC State team, they must go to Clemson.)
10/29 vs. Notre Dame (And then, after dealing with the Fighting Irish, Syracuse must go to Pittsburgh.)
11/26 @ Boston College (The Orange might be stuck just fighting for a bowl berth here.)

Bottom line: This doesn't look good. Dino Babers may be coaching for his job this season, but his schedule is one of the toughest in the nation. If the line play makes a significant improvement (and the passing game, for that matter), Syracuse might be able to survive it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Clemson

The last, final, and best preview segment for the 2022 season: The Clemson Tigers

Last season: ...Let's just say that DJ Uiagalelei is no Trevor Lawrence at the QB position. That, combined with a shit-load of injuries, meant that Clemson did not win the ACC for the first time since 2014. Time for Dabo Swinney to get back to business and get Clemson back to the CFP picture.

Bad news: Needless to say, Uiagalelei HAS to do better at being Clemson's starting quarterback. Otherwise, Dabo will have to make a move (maybe to QB prospect Cade Klubnik). Oh, and the O-line and wide-receiver positions has to stay healthy and be more consistent this time.

Good news: If the O-line DOES stay healthy, nobody is gonna stop Clemson's running game; Will Shipley, Kobe Pace, and Phil Mafah makes a terrifying trio at the RB spot. The defense should still be freaking amazing, with stars like Myles Murphy ready to destroy everyone.

2022 X-factor: The new coordinators- Okay, let's make this ONE of the X-factors for Clemson this year (DJ is the big one). But with Brett Venables and Tony Elliott finally leaving Clemson for head coaching jobs, the new coordinators (Brandon Streeter and Wes Goodwin) have a tall task ahead of them. Let's all hope that Dabo made the right move getting these guys.

Key games:
9/24 @ Wake Forest (It'll depend on if Sam Hartman returns to Wake Forest in time for this game, but this will still be Clemson's first real test of 2022.)
10/1 vs. NC State (The Wolfpack broke Clemson's aura of invincibility last year with that 27-21 win over the Tigers in double OT. Could this be the ACC's "Game of the Year"?)
11/5 @ Notre Dame (The last time Clemson went to Notre Dame, they lost their #1 ranking. Maybe THAT will motivate DJ to do a better job in South Bend this time.)
11/19 vs. Miami (Clemson has smashed Miami the last 3 times they have met.)
11/26 vs. South Carolina (The Tigers have now beaten the Gamecocks 7 straight times. Trouble is, South Carolina might be getting it's act together this year.)

Bottom line: Clemson still has a LOT of talent, but they have new coordinators and serious questions about their QB situation. And that is why I'm making Clemson my "ultimate wild-card" of the 2022 season. The Tigers should still win the ACC with their awesome defense... but they won't do it if their offense struggles for the 2nd straight year. It is time for Dabo Swinney to flex his coaching muscles once again, and let's see if he can get Clemson back to the CFP.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

ACC predictions

And now, it's finally time for predictions for the ACC in 2022!

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

ACC Coastal:
1. Miami
2. Pittsburgh
3. Virginia
4. North Carolina
5. Virginia Tech
6. Georgia Tech
7. Duke

 

[foster4prez]

Virginia Tech

Preview segment: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season: It started out so well for Virginia Tech in 2021, as they stunned then-#10 North Carolina. But as it turned out, UNC was a fraud that year. And so was the Hokies; they went 5-7 the rest of the way, with their defense eroding and their passing game turning to shit. And so, Justin Fuente was let go, with anonymous coaches telling Athlon Sports that "It was a mistake for Va-Tech to keep Fuente for another year".
Enter former Penn State defensive coordinator (and former Bud Foster disciple) Brent Pry, who is hoping to make the Hokies tough again.

Good news: Brent should automatically get the Va-Tech defense to play better; this unit has star players everywhere. Oh, and at least he has his starting QB locked down: Former Marshall QB Grant Wells. There's depth at running-back...

Bad news: ...but none of the guys over there inspires confidence. And depth is REALLY not good at wide-receiver and on BOTH the O-line and D-line.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Boston College (In this ACC opener, the Hokies defense might have to carry the slack.)
9/22 vs. West Virginia (Now THIS game looks very good. The Hokies were able to beat West Virginia last year, and now they'll host the Mountaineers in Blacksburg.)
10/1 @ North Carolina (This game starts a REALLY tough October for Virginia Tech. First, they'll go to Chapel Hill where the Tar Heels are seeking revenge for last year.)
10/8 @ Pittsburgh (Then, they'll visit the defending conference champions before hosting the rival Hurricanes.)
10/27 @ NC State (And for the topper, Va-Tech must go and visit an NC State that wants to go to a "New Year's Six" bowl in 2022.)
11/26 vs. Virginia (Yes, we can't forget about the "Commonwealth Cup" if you're a Hokies fan.)

Bottom line: The new coach knows what he needs to do to get the Hokies back on track. But he's got depth issues all over the place, and I don't know if the passing game will wake up or not.
Look, let's wait until October is over. By then we'll know how far Virginia Tech has to go in order to get back to ACC contention.

7-5 in a tail of thirds of the season.

3-1 in first four
1-3 in second four
3-1 in final four

We've got a long road to hoe but there is light at the end of the tunnel.