The ACC finished up 2016 as what was regarded as the best conference in all of FBS. Of course crowning it with a National Championship courtesy of Clemson, a Heisman thanks to Louisville, and a Contract Bowl win thanks to Florida State. This year some talent has been lost, but a lot returns. FSU, NC State, Duke, and Miami should all be improved with Louisville, VT and Pitt likely staying the same. Clemson and UNC lost 2 first round draft picks at QB and a few other draft picks. Both should still be only a step below last year. Clemson should still be a top 10-15 team and UNC a fringe top 25 team.
For each Conference we will have the Simplified Football predictions (record) with the Projected Win-Shares and rating of each team next to it. We will also have Bowl Projections for each conference.
ACC Predictions:
Atlantic
Team – Record (Conf) / Win-Shares (Conf) / Rating
- Florida State – 11-1 (8-0) / 9.96 (6.85) / 5.11
- Clemson – 10-2 (6-2) / 8.82 (5.64) / 4.59
- Louisville – 9-3 (5-3) / 7.72 (4.42) / 4.25
- NC State – 8-4 (5-3) / 6.88 (4.21) / 4.22
- Syracuse – 5-7 (2-6) / 5.15 (2.5) / 3.60
- Boston College – 5-7 (2-6) / 5.09 (2.85) / 3.76
- Wake Forest – 3-9 (0-8) / 4.11 (1.86) / 3.30
Coastal
Team – Record (Conf) / Win-Shares (Conf) / Rating
- Miami – 9-3 (5-3) / 8.48 (5.08) / 4.47
- Virginia Tech – 8-4 (5-3) / 7.58 (4.43) / 4.26
- Pittsburgh – 7-5 (5-3) / 6.84 (4.26) / 4.08
- UNC – 8-4 (4-4) / 7.56 (4.39) / 4.25
- Duke – 7-5 (4-4) / 6.18 (3.3) / 3.95
- Georgia Tech – 5-7 (3-5) / 4.78 (2.98) / 3.81
- Virginia – 4-8 (2-6) / 5.91 (3.23) / 3.66
Florida State wins the Atlantic Division outright, going undefeated in conference play. Coastal has a 3 way tie, Miami wins the tie-breaker setting up an FSU v Miami rematch in the championship game (you know what the ACC higher-ups have wanted for a decade).
Championship game – FSU wins the rematch over Miami and makes the Playoff with their only loss being to Alabama. FSU, Clemson, Miami, Louisville, VT, and NC State all finish top 25 teams.
That makes 9 bowl teams for the ACC
Rose Bowl – FSU (Playoff)
Orange Bowl – Clemson
Camping World Bowl – Miami
Belk Bowl – UNC
PinStripe Bowl – Louisville
Sun Bowl – NC State
Military Bowl – Duke
Camping World Independence – Pittsburgh
Music City – Virginia Tech
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