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ACC Preview
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Stewart Mandel's Projected Standings
(Projected overall record in parentheses)
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1
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Miami
7-1 (10-1)
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How do the 'Canes stack up in their new conference? Well, they've beaten the defending champ five straight times.
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2
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Florida State
6-2 (9-2)
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It took four years, but the 'Noles' offense should return to its old level this season. That's assuming Chris Rix cooperates.
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2
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Virginia
6-2 (9-2)
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Al Groh's Cavs now have a solid nucleus of third-year guys who have been starting since they were freshmen.
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4
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Clemson
5-3 (7-4)
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Tommy Bowden went from the outhouse to the penthouse in a span of a month last fall, but can he turn the corner?
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4
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Maryland
5-3 (7-4)
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It's dangerous to underestimate Ralph Friedgen after three straight 10-win seasons, but this team is extremely young.
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6
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Georgia Tech
4-4 (6-5)
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The Jackets were brilliant at times last season, particularly on defense, but they are still way too inconsistent.
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6
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N.C. State
4-4 (6-5)
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The 'Pack will be talented, but their schedule (Ohio State, Miami, FSU; at Va. Tech, Clemson, Maryland) is brutal.
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8
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Virginia Tech
3-5 (5-7)
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It's a bad year for the Hokies to join the ACC, what with a young team (14 new starters) and off-field turmoil.
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9
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Wake Forest
2-6 (5-6)
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The Demon Deacons could be another team that's better than their record due to the step up in ACC competition.
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10
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Duke
1-7 (3-8)
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Ted Roof made noticeable strides in just five games last season, but now must start from scratch on offense.
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11
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North Carolina
1-7 (2-9)
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It's now or never for John Bunting -- unfortunately the rest of the ACC has gotten better while the Heels have regressed.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
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Cream of the Crop
Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami: Sealed his status as the nation's top cover guy when he stifled Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald late last season.
Heath Miller, TE, Virginia: The complete package, Miller is an offensive threat -- he caught 70 passes for 835 yards last year -- as well as a blocker.
Alex Barron, T, Florida State: A consensus All-America, Barron's dominance has been a driving force as the 'Noles have beefed up their run game.
Craphonso Thorpe, WR, Florida State: The Biletnikoff finalist, who averaged 19.5 yards per catch last season, is fully recovered from a broken leg.
Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson: The junior, who threw for 3,561 yards last fall, is a strong, confident and extremely accurate passer.
Others T.A. McLendon, RB, N.C. State; Domonique Foxworth, CB, Maryland; P.J. Daniels, RB, Georgia Tech; Ahmad Brooks, LB, Virginia; Eric Henderson, DE, Georgia Tech.
Poised for a Breakout
Lorenzo Booker, RB, Florida State: The speedy sophomore has drawn comparisons from Bobby Bowden to former FSU star Peter Warrick.
Kevin Everett, TE, Miami: The latest product of Tight End U. is faster than Kellen Winslow and the 'Canes' best blocking tight end since Bubba Franks.
Mario Williams, DE, N.C. State: After starting every game as a true freshman and notching five sacks, the 6-7 giant should be ready to dominate.
Others: Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech; Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State; Terez McCray, DT, Miami; Chansi Stuckey, WR, Clemson; Wesley Jefferson, LB, Maryland.
Burning Questions
Can Virginia Tech play an entire season? It's been the same story three years running for the Hokies -- go into late October undefeated, wind up losing four or five games. And that was in the old Big East, a step below the newly improved ACC. Tech's bevy of first-time starters will have to grow up in a hurry to avoid a similar fate.
Can Chris Rix win the Heisman? No player in the country has suffered more criticism the past three seasons. However, except for a couple rough games, Rix actually had a decent junior season (3,107 yards, 23 TDs, 13 INTs). If he can end his team's drought against Miami in the season's first week, watch out.
Will Frank Gore ever be the same player? For the first time in eons, Miami's backfield is thin. Gore, who has suffered ACL injuries each of the past two years, is expected to return at some point, but when he does, will he be anywhere near the same player who averaged a staggering 9.1 yards per carry in 2001?
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