2007 ACC Football Preview

ACC football preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official atlantic coast conference football preview as well as individual team previews for all 12 acc football teams and our acc predictions for both the coastal and atlantic divisions. Dont miss Maddux's college football predictions against the college football point spread from the 2-time UHC contest winner.

ATLANTIC DIVISION OVERVIEW

The ACC Atlantic has the best QBs in the conference and some of the toughest defenses. Some don't expect Wake Forest to repeat as champs, but they still have a tough team. Maryland finally has a chance to reach their potential, while the Florida State Seminoles look poised to battle for first-place. This division is so tough to call, all 6 teams have a legitimate shot at winning the Atlantic and going to the ACC championship game.

Look for the Florida State Seminoles to be a top team in 2007. The Noles have one of the best defenses in the conference and a talented running back. QB is a question mark for FS, as Drew Weatherford underperformed last season. New coaches could make a difference.

Riley Skinner, now a sophomore, returns as the Wake Forest Demon Deacons' quarterback. When thrown into the mix last season, he proved to be a fine player, while taking his team to the conference championship helped him mature quickly. Fifteen starters are back as the Deacs face a very tough schedule.

Clemson has a great TB-tandem in Davis-Spiller, giving them one of the best running attacks in the conference. There's a new starting QB and precious few receivers. Expect the ground game and short passes to be in order. The defense looks sound.

The NC State Wolfpack has a new coach—Tom O'Brien. O'Brien is devoted to bringing discipline to the team, something they really need. The defense has lost eight starters and that will be tough with which to deal. They still have a good frontline. QB Evans has to play better and the running game needs to be exploited to its fullest.

The Boston College Eagles have QB Matt Ryan and 17 other returning starters. A tough road schedule at the end of the season may take its toll. Still, this is a team with a balanced attack and a sound defense. The offensive line has to get it together quickly.

Last season the Maryland Terrapins could not stop the run. They have to do better than their ranking of 96th nationally. On offense, the line should be good enough to help generate a solid running attack, especially with Ball and Lattimore carrying the ball. Who will be the team's starting QB? That's unknown at this moment.

COASTAL DIVISION OVERVIEW

The ACC Coastal includes some extremely tough defenses and fine running backs. Coaching changes show that the Miami Hurricanes are trying to come back and the North Carolina Tar Heels are serious about creating a quality program. Most teams have quarterback concerns. Look for the division to be more competitive than it's been in the past.

The Virginia Tech Hokies have one of the best running backs in the conference and a veteran offensive line. QB Sean Glennon needs to be more dependable. This defense, the best in the country, can win games. The Hokies will punish opponents when beating them.

Look for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to mount a tough defense with a lethal blitz that leaves QBs shaking. Like the Hokies, on offense the Yellow Jackets possess a superior running back and fine offensive line. Like their rivals, they also have a QB that's still learning. They'll be a contender.

The Miami Hurricanes have a new coach—Randy Shannon. He's upgraded his coordinators, making every effort to get this team back to the top. Last season, the Miami defense stopped the run but was less effective versus the pass. The starting QB has not been chosen and won't be until just before the start of the season. Miami needs some fire at that position.

The Virginia Cavaliers still have a fine defense and still lack offensive punch. They're yet another team that's got quarterback problems. QB Jameel Sewell has to make fewer mistakes for the offense to put points on the board. This team's "D" can win games.

Former Miami coach Butch Davis is the new head of the North Carolina football program. He's brought in NFL coaches and a new sense of energy to the Tar Heels' locker room. This is another team in search of a quarterback. The offensive line will hopefully be better, while the defense looks to scheme more, keeping opponents off balance.

It looks like the Duke Blue Devils will be last once again. QB Thaddeus Lewis returns as does most of the offense and that should make the team more competitive. But even if the offense improves, the Duke defense has a long way to go before the club can be considered competitive.

ACC Predictions

ACC Atlantic

1) Florida State
2) Wake Forest
3) Clemson
4) NC State
5) Boston College
6) Maryland

ACC Coastal

1) Virginia Tech
2) Georgia Tech
3) Miami
4) Virginia
5) North Carolina
6) Duke

For more info on the 2007 ACC Conference, view their official website or read up on all the ACC football team previews below.