Wisconsin will have a very solid team in 2008.  They are led offensively by RB P.J. Hill and TE Travis Beckum.  They also have a tremendous offensive line and that is good for whatever young QB they decide to go with.  Wisconsin QBs are game managers so if Hill has a big year and the line stays healthy than the offense should be very efficient.  The defense is not as strong as the offense but they do have some big playmakers.  DE Matt Shaughnessy, LB Jonathan Casillas and S Shane Carter will be counted on to be the leaders on this team.  The Badgers also have one other thing working for them and that is Camp Randall.  It has become one of the more difficult places to play in all of college football and this season Wisconsin gets to play Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State at home.  9-3

#9 Missouri

Missouri is a very talented team and should make it to the BCS in 2008.  They are led by QB and Heismann hopeful Chase Daniel.  The team is loaded at WR led by Sophomore Jeremy Maclin.  The only possible weakness is at running back and it isn't so much weakness as it is lack of experience.  Tailback Jimmy Jackson should do fine.  Not to be out done, the defense isn't flashy but it is very talented.  Ziggy Hood and Sean Weatherspoon should abuse opposing running backs and QBs.  Missouri does have a unique opportunity to run the table and play for a national title because they don't play Oklahoma this season.  However, they do have a few tough games like the Illini at the RCA to open the season, at Texas in the middle of the season and they wrap up against Kansas in Kansas City.  10-2

#8 Auburn

Auburn is another very talented team that should be playing in the BCS this season.  Offensively they have the youngest, most talented line in football.  RBs Ben Tate and Brad Lester should be a very effective two-headed monster behind that line.  Defensively they lost Quentin Groves and a slew of others to the NFL so the younger kids will have to step up.  Not too mention they will have to step it up under a new coordinator because Muschamp left for Texas in the off season.  Lucky for the Tigers they don't have to play Florida this season but they do have to go to West Virginia in the middle of the season and play Georgia at the tale end.  10-2

#7 Clemson

The Clemson Tigers are back in the National Title picture.  First off RBs Davis and Spiller might be the best one-two punch in the country.  The Tigers have some inexperience on the offensive line but these two kids should have big years.  I look for QB Cullen Harper to step up and have a huge year, possibly garnering Heismann votes with a couple of big time victories.  The defense should be fantastic.  They have 8 returning starters for a defense that only gave up 18 points per game.  The mid-season road trip versus bowl bound teams Wake Forest, Florida State and Boston College will be a real test.  If they can run the table on that trip they may be in the title hunt.  10-2

#6 USC

You can't talk BCS and not include the Trojans.  However, this season will not be a walk for the Trojans.  They should continue to have one of the better defenses in college football.  Linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga are back and Maualuga had a more productive season last year than Keith Rivers, who was a top ten draft pick.  They are a little inexperienced on the interior defensive line but they are very deep in defensive talent.  Offensively they have a lot of questions.  They have no idea what QB Mark Sanchez can do and Mitch Mustain, the Arkansas transfer behind Mark, could push him for playing time if he struggles early.  Look for USC to run more than ever this season and with RBs Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson, why wouldn't you.  The schedule is as tough as it comes and they are bound to trip up a little along the way.  How about this for a stretch of games...Ohio State, at Oregon State, Oregon and Arizona State.  They could have two losses after their first 6 games.  10-2

The Best Seat in the House column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

No, I wasn't the guy who gave Virginia a first-place vote. So you can quelch that rumor right here and now.

Not that I think the Cavs are going to finish fifth in the Coastal Division of the ACC in 2008, either. In fact, I'm probably going to go down in history for what I said on yesterday's "Online with Jim Bresnahan" when asked my pick for a surprise team in the ACC.

"Uh, you know, Virginia," I said, or something to that effect. Because I like the 'Hoos better this year than I did last, which isn't to say that I'm expecting nine wins and another top-second-tier bowl game in '08-'09, mainly because the schedule is a mite bit tougher this go-around. But Virginia will clearly be better at QB (likely Peter Lalich, whose presence has Al Groh dusting off his Matt Schaub playbook), at running back (with two established #1 guys in Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson), at wide receiver (with the return of speedster Kevin Ogletree), and ... you're going to kill me on this, but on defense.

Yes, I realize that Virginia lost Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald from the D-line. I haven't been under a rock the past six months. But Groh has three starters back at linebacker (Clint Sintim, Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper) and some talent at that fourth spot (probably Rockbridge product Aaron Clark) to anchor a defense that, you have to remember, is designed to have the 'backers making the big plays. Which is to say, if any D can withstand the losses of studs like Long and Fitzgerald, it will be this one.

Which gets us to Virginia Tech, which is going to struggle for a while getting used to playing without Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall, two guys who seemed to have been around Blacksburg since the Michael Vick era as the anchors for Bud Foster's lunchpail crew, and acclimating 13 new starters overall. And then there's the ongoing quarterback controversy involving Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor that will have fans clamoring for one or the other pretty much all year long. Frank Beamer is Frank Beamer, but I think this year's Hokies are only going to look good in the Coastal by default, if even that.

Over on the other side of the conference, we have everybody and their brother talking about how Clemson is just looking so good, with Culllen Harper at quarterback entering '08 as the preseason player of the year, one of the stranger awards that we media types get asked to vote on, considering that we're just guessing who we think might be good at the end of a three-month season that will take about six or seven twists and turns per team before all is said and done. And we can guess how some of those twists and turns are going to go for Clemson, which has been in this position under Tommy Bowden, oh, about three or four times before, and has yet to do anything with the accolades expect fail to live up to them.

Clemson teams tend to do better when they're permitted to fly under the radar. They don't play that good from ahead. I'm reaching here, sure, but my bet in the Atlantic is on Wake Forest, under the solid Jim Grobe, who has junior Riley Skinner back at QB to complete 70-plus percent of those five-yard passes that Grobe likes to throw to keep the clock moving and his defense rested and ready to do damage.

So I have a we-only-look-good-because-we-play-in-the-Coastal team in Virginia Tech on one side of the ACC Championship Game, and a we're-here-because-Clemson-choked-again team in Wake Forest on the other side.

Needless to say, we're not going to be making any dents in the national-title picture in '08. Making that, what, 100 years of irrelevance and counting?

Harper, who set 22 school records and was named second-team All-ACC quarterback in 2007, received 34 votes in the balloting. His teammate, senior running back James Davis, was second, being named on 16 ballots. No other player received more than four votes.

Clemson, which was tabbed by the same media group as the pre-season choice to capture the 2008 ACC title, had four individuals on the preseason squad, as did Florida State and Wake Forest. Nine of the league’s 12 schools were represented in the 25-player group.

Seven players who earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2007 were on this year’s pre-season team – Davis and wide receiver Aaron Kelly of Clemson, tight end Ryan Purvis of Boston College, offensive tackle Andrew Gardner and defensive tackle Vance Walker of Georgia Tech, and cornerbacks Victor Harris of Virginia Tech and Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest.

2008 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

(Offense)
QB – Cullen Harper, Clemson
RB – Josh Adams, Wake Forest
RB – James Davis, Clemson
WR – Aaron Kelly, Clemson
WR – Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
TE – Ryan Purvis, Boston College
T – Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech
T – Eugene Monroe, Virginia
G – Rodney Hudson, Florida State
G – Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
C – Edwin Williams, Maryland

(Defense)
DE – Everette Brown, Florida State
DE – Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
DT – Ron Brace, Boston College
DT – Vance Walker, Georgia Tech
LB – Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
LB – Clint Sintim, Virginia
LB – Brian Toal, Boston College
CB – Victor Harris, Virginia Tech
CB – Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
S – Michael Hamlin, Clemson
S – Myron Rolle, Florida State

(Specialists)
PK – Sam Swank, Wake Forest
P – Graham Gano, Florida State
RET – Brandon Tate, North Carolina

PRESEASON VOTING TOTALS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR (64)

Cullen Harper – 34
James Davis – 16
C.J. Spiller – 4
Josh Adams - 2
Sean Glennon – 2
Riley Skinner - 2
Drew Weatherford – 2
Aaron Curry – 1
Victor Harris - 1

Part three of who knows how many parts continues with some players who need to step up and have an impact for their team this upcoming season. Some of them, we know something about, and others have stood on the sidelines in prior seasons and we're going to figure them out this season.

Offensive player with the biggest shoes to fill: Chris Crane, Boston College. This shouldn't have been a shocker. He's replacing one of the best quarterbacks BC has had since the days of Doug Flutie. Crane, a senior, last started a game in 2006, and hasn't seen much action in his career. His 2007 stats: 2-4, 28 yards, zero touchdowns. It doesn't help either that the leading returning rusher from last year's team ran for a whopping 14 yards. Crane probably won't put up numbers comparable to Ryan, but if he can just not throw the ball to the other team, he should be fine.

Defensive player with the biggest shoes to fill: Anyone on Virginia's defensive line. It's not easy to lose two players who combined for over 20 sacks and wreak havoc the way Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald did. But with Long play professionally now, and Fitzgerald not being up to par with his academics, it creates a big hole on the defensive line. In fact, the leading returner in sacks is Nate Collins with two. The line will be helped by having one of the best linebacking corps in the nation. I think we'll see a lot of blitzing by the linebackers this season to help the defensive line get pressure on the quarterback this season.

Player most likely to have a breakout season: Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech. Dwyer showed a lot of potential in his freshman campaign, rushing for 436 yards and nine touchdowns, while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Dwyer will be one of the feature running backs with this new flexbone spread offense put in by new coach Paul Johnson. And with this offense expected to run a lot, Dwyer could easily top 1000 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns this season. At 6-0 and 228 pounds, he's small enough to hide behind the line, but big enough to dish out some pain to the defense if they should get in his way.

Offensive player with the most pressure: Cullen Harper, Clemson. He should know by now the expectations being saddled by his Tigers in this upcoming season. They're projected to be a top 10 team by some publications, and most of them have Clemson winning the ACC. He was the best quarterback not named Matt Ryan last season. Harper completed 65 percent of his passes for just under 3,000 yards, with 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions. And he's now a year wiser and more mature. And he has his go to guys back in James Davis and C.J. Spiller, along with Aaron Kelly at receiver. But that was then. He may need to put up similar numbers this season to make sure Clemson gets all of the accolades bestowed upon them this season.

Defensive player with the most pressure: Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest. This guy might be one of the best defensive players in the nation. Smith had eight interceptions last season (a school record), and returned three of them four touchdowns. This guy is the true definition of the term, "shutdown corner." And Wake returns nine starters on defense. But with all of this comes high expectations. Wake is expected to contend for the ACC title, and possibly return to the Orange Bowl for the second time in three years. Tell me the last time Wake had these kind of expectations. Maybe never. Smith leads this defense, and it'll be up to him to make sure the expectations don't get to everyone's heads.

Next week, I finally reveal my standings, which after reading both Patrick's and The Quasi-Evil Q's standings, mine will be different from theirs. And I expect to be called some names that aren't exactly kind by any stretch of the imagination. The same kind of names my fiancée uses for me on an everyday basis. Anyways, stay tuned to accnation.com.

What happens at Ladies Football Clinic in Clemson stays at Ladies Football Clinic [The Independent-Mail]

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Clemson's Tommy Bowden talked with the media Monday afternoon at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, Ga. He discussed the pressure on his team after being voted as the preseason favorite to win the ACC, his quarterback Cullen Harper, playing Alabama to open the season and more.

(Note: Because of the nature of a press conference, the audio levels of the questions may be a bit low, but Tommy Bowden's audio levels should be just fine.)

The media at this week's ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, Ga., voted Clemson as the preseason favorite to capture not only the Atlantic Division title in the ACC, but the championship. Clemson received 59 first-place votes, while Virginia Tech grabbed 58 first-place votes as the favorite in the Coastal Division. Clemson was also voted as the ACC Championship Game winner by 51 of the 65 media members who voted.

"It definitely puts a bulls eye on you," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said of the media voting. "It's going to elevate (Clemson's first opponent) Alabama's level of play and probably our conference opponents. That's something that every team has to learn to deal with. My father usually answers that question. He's usually in this position. So it's kind of unchartered waters, not so much for Clemson as it is for us."

Speaking of Tommy Bowden's father, Bobby Bowden and his Florida State Seminoles were picked third in the Atlantic Division, the first time since division play began in 2005 that FSU wasn't picked first. In fact, before 2005, FSU was picked by the media to win the ACC for 13 seasons in a row. The past two years, FSU was picked to win it's division, but not selected to win the ACC Championship Game. The Seminoles did get one first-place vote.

Bobby Bowden's advice to his son on being the target: "He better watch out."

Wake Forest received the rest of the first-place votes in the Atlantic, getting five and finishing second behind Clemson. BC was fourth, Maryland fifth and N.C. State finished sixth.

Over in the Coastal, Virginia Tech was the favorite for the second straight year and the third year out of the last four since the Hokies entered the ACC.

North Carolina was second with four first-place votes, while Miami finished third, Georgia Tech fourth and Virginia fifth. The Hurricanes, Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers all received one first-place vote. Duke finished sixth in voting.

Atlantic Division

1. Clemson (59 first-place votes), 383 points

2. Wake Forest (5), 304

3. Florida State (1), 265

4. Boston College, 154

5. Maryland, 147

6. N.C. State, 112

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (58), 383

2. North Carolina (4), 288

3. Miami (1), 253

4. Georgia Tech (1), 195

5. Virginia (1), 161

6. Duke, 85

1.     Auburn and Clemson. In addition to sharing the same nickname, coaches (see John Heisman and Cliff Ellis), the same town -ok, Clemson has a lake..but Auburn has an animal husbandry building-, these two schools continue to uphold the highest standards of athletic probation. From I.P.T.A.Y. (It’s Probation Time Again Ya’ll) to “Keep it down home, cuz”, these groups of Tigers have an unmatched record of achievement. If either of these schools had hired Jackie Sherrill, just imagine how far they could have gone!

2.     Spurrier’s Acronyms. Forever ingrained in the lore of college football are these gems, “You can’t spell citrus without UT”, and “Free Shoes University.”

3.     Ohio State, dots the “I” and the Razorbacks, run through the “A”, but only Penn State has the “Bearer of the White Socks.” Before every game, one lucky student from the School of Computer Sciences gets the honor of putting the famous white socks onto the bare feet of the great Joe Pa. This brings tears to my eyes and reminds me of the great scene between Jackie Gleason and Tom Hanks in the movie “Nothing in Common.

4.     T. Boone Pickens. Never in the history of sport, has so much been given by so few, to achieve so little.

5.     The Keeper of the Can. The most valuable member of the University of Colorado football staff he follows Ralphie with the big shovel. Thanks to him, the Buffaloes may play like s***, but they’ll never play in it

6.     At Notre Dame, half-time of every home game features the always thrilling and fan favorite game of Find the Baptist. Last season, in the home opener in South Bend, Larry Hill was found late in the third quarter in Section 219. The winner Angelo Caravella, walked around the stadium whistling “Onward Christian Soldiers” and  Mr. Hill began singing and gave himself away.

7.     We’ve all seen the Cadets at Texas A&M kiss their dates when the Aggies score, but there’s another similar tradition not as widely known. In West Virginia, following every Mountaineer’s score the male students all “Kiss the Kousin” (come to think of it they do it before they score, too).

8.     The Berkeley Bonanza. At every Cal home football game since 1969, the 1,000th fan that enters the stadium gets a free wine cooler and tie-dye shirt. This year they hope to finally have a winner.

9.     On the Friday night before the last home game of each season, the University of Miami (FL) has George Mira come back and talk to the current players about what it’s like to be the only living, former Hurricane player to have a degree. Last year when he talked about being on stage and wearing his tassel, nine players and two assistant coaches tried to stuff dollar bills in his pants.

Now that I've had a few days to immerse myself in pigskin frivolity at the ACC football kickoff it's time for me to take a stab at my preseason picks.

Let me say that I haven't gone through the spin of the coaches or sports information directors. What I have done is talk with my fellow journalists (those insider tidbits are gems) and I've watched and listened to the players. More often than not their comments tell you more about a program than their coach can or will.

Let's start with the Atlantic Division.

The past has made many fans and especially sportswriters nervous about selecting Clemson as the top dog. Can you blame any of them? The Tigers certainly haven't done much to deserve our faith over the past few years.

Again it is all about the players.Theirs is a quiet calm air of confidence and it speaks volumes. Clemson is a team that is loaded to the gills with monumental talent. The Tigers have offensive weaponry that rivals U. S. Special Forces.
Look for Clemson to take the Atlantic Division, but not without some pressure from Florida State and Wake Forest.

Here are my picks for the ACC Atlantic Divison.
Clemson
Florida State
Wake Forest
Maryland
North Carolina State
Boston College

A quick run down of the teams.

Florida State - The Jimbo Fisher era begins (as far as I'm concerned he is now the head coach). There is a new mindset in Tallahassee. They are no longer the cocky "everyone else has to beat us" group they once were. This has allowed the 'Noles to start taking one game at a time and approach each matchup with something to prove. This makes for a dangerous team, perhaps one with a chip on their shoulder.

Wake Forest - Jim Grobe as Father Knows Best. Grobe's approach to coaching includes life skills and self pride. It is helping build a winning program. The superb application of redshirting players is paying off. The hardest thing that the Demon Deacons will deal with is recruitment. The percentages are just not with them. It is tough to compete with the much larger schools found in the conference.

Maryland -"The Fridge" has handed over the offensive game and is beginning to have some excellent recruiting success. This is a team that can and will sneak up on you. I don't see it being consistent enough to go much furter this year but things should come together in '09 and '10. A smaller, but quicker team will give opponents fits as will a new defensive look.

North Carolina State - Tom O'Brien continues to settle in. New coaches, new plays and the transition to a solid program progresses. Is the stew ready for consumption? Not quite yet. O'Brien and company must begin the re-building process which includes recruits that buy into his way of doing things.

Boston College - "Jags" (almost sounds like a TV show) is a sharp guy. Don't forget though that he needs to build "his program" so the loss column may be heavier for a season or two. Fans are beginning to show "the love" to the Eagles.

The one thing that Doc Walker points out on this week's podcast is this division's parity. No truer words have been spoken. From top to bottom this is the strong side of the ACC this season.
Now a look at the not-so-strong side - the Coastal Division.

I wasn't completely sold on Virginia Tech taking the division this year. After all they've lost mucho (but not Macho) talent.

The Hokies have two diamonds that often outweigh other factors. Frank Beamer and Bud Foster. Let's not forget that even though VT has lost a lot of their portfolio there were numerous stars in the making sitting on the sideline. You'll be introduced to them this season as they walk away from opponents they've left their mark on.

Here are my picks for the Coastal Division.
Virginia Tech
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Virginia
Duke
Miami

A quick run-down of the teams.

North Carolina - Butch Davis has started something that fans love - winning. He is definitely in the process of rebuilding. The coaches and players are connecting and that is a plus. There is more confidence among both groups now that they realize that Tar Heels can have a winning tradition. Look for a strong comeback on the QB side as the season progresses.

Georgia Tech - Paul Johnson is somewhat miffed over all we numbskulls continually asking about his "new offense". Okay, so I admit we are a slow lot. The Ramblin Wreck is getting ready to take over the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports pages. Anything beats another 'Dawgs story. Oh, let's not forget a new look on defense as well. Watch out Georgia.

Virginia - Al Groh was dealt a nice hand at the end of last year and then suddenly found himself playing Old Maid instead of Five Stud Poker. Groh is Dr. Frankenstein and is building a brand new monster. It may be like the one in the movie, a bit weak minded but with plenty of good intentions.

Duke - Coach Cutcliffe has done something unheard of in the history of Duke. He has Carolina fans rooting for his success(they won't openly admit it). The school, alumni and fans want a winning program and apparently they are on a fast-track to that goal. Can it be done over-night? The answer is no but three to four wins is very likely and that beats what they've had in the past.

Miami - Randy Shannon is in an unenviable position. A top-rated football program that has fallen from grace is now in his hands and he must rebuild quickly. Okay fans hear this: he inherited a wreck. He needs to untangle the twisted mess with the jaws of life. Tweaked O, D and lots of young guys are great steps. It will be another year or two before the Phoenix rises.

That's how I see the ACC unfolding and, quite honestly, I'm ready for kickoff already. That means I'm looking for my first invite to a tailgate party.

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Doc Walker, an analyst for ACC football games on Raycom, joins Patrick and Q in Greensboro, Ga., site of this year's ACC Football Kickoff, to talk some, you guessed it, ACC football. Doc gave his thoughts on where the ACC Football Championship should be held, why James Franklin will be good for Maryland's offense this year, the Bowden boys, why he likes parity in the ACC and much more.

Also on the show,

-- Jeff Adams and Rob Higgins of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission drop by to talk about their city hosting the ACC Football Championship;

-- Patrick and Q give their predictions on the final standings in ACC football;

-- Is it the Ritz-Carlton or the Carlton-Ritz?;

-- Fried mac and cheese;

And much more on this week's podcast.

ACC Nation will begin its in-depth (or at least as in-depth as we get) football previewsthe week of July 28. For the four weeks beginning on July 28, we'll have three podcasts per week instead of just one. Each podcast will focus one one team. We'll also have a preview and a feature story on each team on ACCNation.com.

We'll also have lots of good stuff next week from the ACC Football Kickoff at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga.

As for this week, not to be outdone by Will, I'd thought I'd give you my preseason predictions on how I see teams finishing this season. I'll give a brief reason why I think each team will finish where I have them, and in parentheses you'll see the date that we'll post both the podcast and website preview for each team.

I've gone out on a limb on some of these, but what's the fun in making predictions if you can't go out on a limb now and again? I'm sure I'll hear from some of you (especially Miami fans), so let me have it (and, when calling me names, be creative).

Coastal

1. Virginia Tech (Aug. 14)-- 11-1, 7-1. I'm sure the Hokies could stumble at several places (ECU, at UNC, at Nebraska come to mind) on the schedule, but I see them losing only at FSU. Something tells me Frank Beamer and Bud Foster will surprise people with this VT team. I just believe Tech is one of those teams that can replace big-time players with big-time players.

2. Virginia (Aug. 13)- 7-5, 5-3 -- I like the skill positions, especially running back. If the line can block and UVa. gets anything from the defense, I think the Cavaliers can manage this schedule. I love the linebackers and I like the secondary. The defensive line situation worries me, but not enough to think it will cause major problems.

3. North Carolina (Aug. 12) -- 6-6, 4-4 -- Can the young players deal with all the preseason hype? I'm not sure, plus I'm not sold that Greg Little is the answer at running back. He'll have to show me more than just two games at the end of the year. The linebackers are young and T.J. Yates missed the spring. Better, but not as good as most everyone is predicting.

4. Georgia Tech (July 30)-- 4-8, 2-6 -- Paul Johnson will get the job done, but it's a little too early to expect much this season. The offense has to learn a completely new system. The defense will also be learning, but I think you'll see a more consistent unit with Dave Wommack replacing Jon Tenuta. Josh Nesbitt will carry a lot of responsibility and the faster he learns the better the Jackets will play.

5. Duke (July 29)-- 4-8, 2-6 -- I really like the hiring of David Cutcliffe, but don't expect too much in his first season. That being said, I love Thaddeus Lewis and his receivers, including Eron Riley, and if the line can give them any time, the Blue Devils will score points this year. The defense will be better, especially up front. Count on it: Duke will win a conference game this year (I'm actually predicting two).

6. Miami (July 31) -- 3-9, 1-7 -- I worry about a team that can lose 48-0 in its last game ever at the Orange Bowl and a coaching staff that lets that happen. This team is young, there is no experience at quarterback and the Hurricanes have a brutal schedule. I know predicting Miami to finish behind Duke seems crazy, but call it a gut feeling.

Atlantic

1. Wake Forest (Aug. 21)-- 11-1, 7-1 -- This is the fastest, and may very well be the best, defense in the ACC. Wake will continue to force turnovers and put its offense in great position this season. You won't see Riley Skinner throwing as much, with the offense relying on Josh Adams and the ground game. The O-line has some question marks. The schedule shapes up nicely with an early trip to Tallahassee before FSU has all of its players back from suspension and a Thursday night home game against Clemson.

2. Clemson (Aug. 6)-- 10-2, 6-2 -- There's not a better set of skill players in the conference, although the offensive line has some holes. So does the defense, especially at linebacker. Clemson seems to be everyone's pick to win the ACC and I think they have a shot, but look for the Tigers to stumble against some team that shouldn't beat them (at UVa.?). Look, I like Clemson, just not as much as I like Wake.

3. Maryland (Aug. 19)-- 9-3, 5-3 -- This is my surprise team. I do wonder who will be the quarterback, but if the Terps can settle on one guy things will be just fine in College Park. Even with losses at running back, the Terps have talent, and the receivers are among the best in the conference. The defense could be a problem, although linebacker looks like a strength for Maryland.

4. Florida State (Aug. 7)-- 6-6, 4-4 -- A tough schedule and questions at quarterback worry me when it comes to FSU. The offensive line will also be a headache all season. The linebackers will be solid, but the Seminoles could struggle up front and in the secondary (again) on defense. If FSU stays healthy and proves it can score points, maybe things improve over recent years, but I don't see it.

5. North Carolina State (Aug. 20)- 6-6, 4-4 -- Like FSU and Maryland in this division, NC State needs to settle on a quarterback. If healthy (a big if) the running backs are very talented and may be the best part of this offense. I like the defensive line, but the rest of the defense could be a problem. Next year this team could contend for a division title, but not this season with Wake and Clemson leading the way.

6. Boston College (Aug. 5)-- 5-7, 1-7 -- Josh Haden will be very good at BC, but I'm not sure that will be the case this season for the true freshman. If Chris Crane is solid, he will have some weapons at receiver, but the offensive line is a concern again. And I don't think Crane will win games late like Matt Ryan did last year. The defense is good enough, but has some questions, especially in the secondary. Last year was magical for the Eagles. This year, not so much.

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Phil Steele, who publishes and writes one of the most-respect college football preview magazines on the market, joins ACC Nation this week to talk ACC football. Visit Phil's website for more information and to order the magazine.

We discuss all 12 ACC schools and Phil gives us his predictions on which two teams will meet in Tampa for the ACC Football Championship in December. We also ask Phil his thoughts on what the conference needs to do to gain more respect nationally.

**The ACC has won each of the nine ACC-Big Ten Challenges played to date.

**ACC teams have won 56 of the 86 games played in the Challenge.

**Duke (9-0) and Boston College (2-0) are the only undefeated teams in Challenge play.

10th Annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule

All Times Eastern

Mon., Dec. 1

7 p.m. ESPN2 Wisconsin at Virginia Tech

Tue., Dec. 2

7 p.m. ESPN Ohio State at Miami

7 p.m. ESPNU Iowa at Boston College

7:30 ESPN2 Clemson at Illinois

9 p.m. ESPN Duke at Purdue

9:30 ESPN2 Virginia at Minnesota

Wed., Dec. 3

7:15 ESPN Indiana at Wake Forest

7:30 ESPN2 Penn State at Georgia Tech

7:30 ESPNU Michigan at Maryland

9:15 ESPN North Carolina vs. Michigan State (from Ford Field)

9:30 ESPN2 Florida State at Northwestern

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David Glenn of the ACC Area Sports Journal joins the guys to discuss football and the changes to his magazine. As for football, Glenn is on the Clemson bandwagon, but he's stepping lightly, while the magazine will be featuring a few new contributors, including Jay Bilas and John Feinstein.

Also,

-- Billy Packer is finished with broadcasting;

-- Patrick begs for free stuff from the listeners;

-- Has ACC expansion been a success in the first five years?;

-- Did Patrick gush too much over David Glenn?

-- We still want listeners to sign up and beat the bloggers, so if you think you can pick football games better than guys from Eagle in Atlanta, the Good Ol' Blog, the Old Gold and Blog, D.C. Sports Bog and more, e-mail us at patrick@accnation.com or accnation@gmail.com.

2.USC - Always a great team and with a fresh new Quarterback looks to compete for the national title and the Pac-10 title.

3.Ohio State - 2 National title games 0 wins sad but this team will look to compete in january and win the Big Ten Trophy.

4.Georgia - My pick as the Sec Favorite is ranked at 4 after beating an undefeated Hawaii team.

5.Missouri - The new era of missouri football has Begun and i see them winning the Big 12.

6.Florida - Their rising quarterback and a chance to upset georgia this season for their chance at a sec title.

7.Oklahoma - Loosing to West Virginia that had no head coach at the time puts them lower than most polls and they will compete in the big 12.

8.West Virginia - First year head coach Bill Stewart and a Heisman hopeful quarterback will help this team out this year.

9.Texas - Texas will have to win big against Oklahoma and the rest of the Big 12 to make an impact next season.

10.Texas Tech - Great offence and great determination will boost this team into a BCS or even the national title if they can get over the Longhorn hump.

11.Clemson - The Tigers will look to improve from last season as they look to get it going again this year.

12.BYU - the Non-BCS favorite will be looking for an undefeated season with tough non-conference games against UCLA, and Washington but watch out for Utah on the final game.

13.Auburn - Can the tigers do it this year and win the SEC to go to the BCS national title game, or will they go home?

14.Arizona State - The Sun Devils should look to compete with USC in the Pac-10 for the and with their quarterback healed after a thumb Operation

15.Tennesse - The Vols look to come back after a few injuries are healed should make an Impact in the Sec.

16.Kansas - The Jayhawks will look to improve as a program next season with a new Junior College Runningback takes the scene.

17.Illinois - The illini look to capitalise on a great year last season and a loss to USC at the Rose Bowl hurt but, what can you say as they came up from no where.

18.Virginia Tech - A young team looking to get it done and maybe this is Virginia Techs year to Shine.

19.Oregon - The Ducks only a few games shy last year of the BSC national title will look to upset USC and Arizona State in a competitive PAC-10 Conference.

20.Fresno State - Favored by many to win the WAC and go Undefeated some say they can break through and play for the National Title.

Others that Just Missed:Penn State,Wisconsin,Pittsburg,Boise State,TCU,Eastern Carolina,UCLA,Michigan,Michigan state,South Florida, and Central Michigan.

Your ACC Preview - Atlantic Division

by Walker Sports

College football season is just over 50 days away, and I cannot wait. While traditionally Saturday is a Rugby day in Walker-Sports land, even rugby takes a back seat to college football. Walker-Sports originates in ACC territory and lives and breathes ACC football, yes the conference is now 10 years removed from their glory days, but better days are coming, and as out of conference scheduling picks up for many schools the ACC will soon be flexing their muscles for all the NCAA to see once again.

So saddle up, make yourself a pull pork sandwich, pour yourself a shot of Southern Comfort (or a glass of Merlot if you're at a UVA game) and get ready to watch to some ACC football the way it was meant to be. Tough and gritty with a wide open race to the finish.

ACC Preseason Preview Atlantic Division

Clemson Tigers: There is no doubt that the Clemson Tigers are the cream of the crop when it comes to ACC football, they may even be among the elites in the NCAA. However, there is one small problem. They are the Clemson Tigers, their coach is Tommy Bowden and we have all heard this story before and it always has the same sad ending. The Tigers are stacked with talent Cullen Harper at QB is a stud who completes a high percentage of his passes. At tailback Clemson has arguably the best two tailbacks in the ACC with James Davis and C.J. Spiller. On the defensive side Clemson is returning eight starters and will look to use their speed to apply pressure to opposing teams and knock them off their game plan early.

The biggest problem Clemson will face will be keeping focus and finishing what they started. Too often Bowden's crew has been the most talented team in the ACC, but not the most disciplined team and the result is another, 8-4 season; great if you're Duke, but a waste if you were thinking BCS in the preseason. Let's hope they don't do the same this year.

Record: 10-1

Key Games: Alabama, Florida State,

Florida State Seminoles: Okay, so this was a tough one, and I'll be the first to admit that the ‘Noles got the nod because of who they are and prior reputation, but nonetheless they made it into the second spot. Drew Weatherford has been in college since about 1990 it feels like. By now he has to be the most experienced QB in the NCAA, and that will be a big help. Weatherford was aided by the addition of Jimbo fisher as an offensive coordinator last year, and he will look to build on that previous success.

The biggest asset for Florida State is a weak schedule. They open with four consecutive home games. Matter of fact the ‘Noles won't leave the state of Florida till mid October. This means Florida State has a good chance to rack up some quality wins at home and that could go a long way in an average ACC conference.

Record: 8-4

Key Games: Colorado, Virginia Tech, Clemson,

Wake forest Demon Deacons: Wake is in the middle of their greatest run in school history. While the coffers don't have the talent they once had two seasons ago, they still have enough to get the job done. That means they will be .500 at the very least and with a little bit of luck they can jump into the second spot in the Atlantic Division. The bulk of their success will depend on if they can move the all on offense. Last year the Demon Deacons were routinely out gained and it cost them.

Record: 7-5

Key Games: Clemson, Virginia, Boston College

Maryland Terrapins: The Terps have struggled the past few seasons. The bulk of their problems have resulted from inconsistency at the quarterback position. Despite the instability the Terps are a tough out especially for ACC opponents. Ralph Friedgen seems to get his teams to play just well enough to keep his job. That means the Terps will be playing spoiler to a couple of ACC opponents. I would like to say that dropping WVU from the schedule would help Maryland this season, but adding Cal is no cakewalk. Look for the Terps to upset some ACC's teams bid for a title, just hope it's not yours.

Record 6-6

Key Games: Cal, Boston College, Wake forest

Boston College Eagles: The honeymoon is over for Coach Jagodzinski and company. Last year Jags was a first year coach and he feasted on the fruits of Tom O'Brian's labor, mainly his grooming of QB Matt Ryan. Now Ryan along with a load of other talent is gone, and the Eagles are ready to return to earth. BC is only returning 10 starters meaning they will be very inexperienced and that leads to mistakes and close loses. As usual BC will be solid on both lines, but they just won't have enough fire power to be in the mix. This will be one Boston team that does not bring home a championship.

Record 5-7

Key Games: UCF, North Carolina, Wake forest

North Carolina State Wolfpack: Tom O'Brian is a hell of a coach, and he will be put to the test with this NC State team. They lost 10 starters from a 5-7 team, and they only have freshmen to replace them. Combine that with a brutal non-conference schedule and you can bet the Pack will slide before they are ready to climb again. But hang in there NC State supporters, this year may be rough but positive results will be coming down the pike very soon.

Record: 3-9

Key Games: Wake forest, East Carolina

One of the major projects being developed by the Center is a cyber infrastructure-based digital watershed.   A system of remote sensors will provide scientists, professional environmental managers and the public with real-time information about environmental characteristics – water quality, storm-water runoff, even tree growth – from any Internet access point.  The cyber infrastructure is expected to be online by October.

Clemson awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Center to develop the cyber infrastructure and four demonstration projects. These projects include real-time monitoring of 215 miles of the Savannah River watershed, a low-impact development project in Georgetown County, and two small watershed projects at Lake Issaqueena in Pickens Count and along a segment of the Saluda River Watershed in Greenville County.

With a little under two months to kick off, and the arrival of the dog days of summer (yes, we have summer here in Minnesota, despite the rumors), now is a good time to start thinking ahead to football season. This week, I'll take a look at the coaches, and where I think they stand in my eyes.

Coach with the most to prove: Tommy Bowden, Clemson. This one was a little tough. You can make a case for a few coaches here (Randy Shannon, Butch Davis, and Bobby Bowden come to mind, among others), but Bowden's team has already been ranked in the top 10 by a lot of sites that claim to know something about football. And we know how Clemson always has a letdown at some point during the season, and they have to avoid that for the sake of the fans, and Tommy Bowden's health.

It seems like the hot seat is always on simmer with Clemson fans, and if there is a bad loss or two, fans will be heading to Death Valley with pitchforks and torches in hand. This is probably one of the best teams Clemson has had in the last 20 years, and anything short of an Orange Bowl appearance will be considered a down year.

Coach with the least to prove: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest. He's done a lot to improve Wake Forest. Once considered fodder by others, playing Wake is almost considered a guaranteed loss nowadays. Grobe signed a 10-year contract back in 2007, and it would seem that his feet will be firmly implanted on the soil in Winston-Salem, considering his winning percentage is the highest since D.C. Walker coached the team back in the 1940s.

He has a team that once again is capable of winning the ACC this year. Grobe will rely on a strong running game and a strong defense, led by Alphonso Smith, who might be one of the most electrifying players in the conference, to win games, and he certainly has both. As long as Riley Skinner manages the game, and Sam Swank continues to be one of the best kickers in the country, this team will be in good shape. It will certainly help that the Deacs will have some key games at home this season, especially the Oct. 9 game against Clemson that may decide the ACC Atlantic Division.

Coach with the hottest seat: Bobby Bowden, Florida State. There aren't a lot of coaches that fit the bill in my opinion, and it's quite possible the elder Bowden has passed his prime in terms of coaching, and if his team doesn't live up to normal Florida State standards, this year could be the swan song for Bobby. This isn't the same coach that coached teams from 1987 to 2000 without having more than two losses, or a total of 19 losses in that span.

Since then, Bowden's teams have lost 32 games. That's almost 40 percent of his total losses at Florida State. But this season is going to be a tough one. He will be without up to 12 players for the first three games, including a pivotal game against Wake Forest in Tallahassee in late September. Keep in mind that Bowden will turn 79 in November, and he can't coach forever. It might behoove him to go out sooner rather than later. Also look for the hot seat to get a little uncomfortable for Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. He's a dark horse candidate for this as well.

Coach with the coldest seat: David Cutcliffe, Duke. It's not just because he's the new sheriff in town, but there's no pressure on him to succeed right now. The only pressure he'll have in his first year is finding a legitimate toilet at the stadium. Cutcliffe has had a knack for developing quarterbacks, and he has who I think might be the most underrated quarterback in Thaddeus Lewis, and a go-to receiver in Eron Riley, who averaged over 20 yards per reception.

Two wins for Duke will probably be a successful season for Duke, and I think they can get to that win total, and possibly exceed it. USA Today went out on a limb and predicted four wins for Duke this season, but I don't know if they will get that far. I can certainly see three wins for Duke, but four might be pushing it. If the defense shows any signs of improvement from last season, this team will win a few games this season.

Most underrated coach: Tom O'Brien, North Carolina State. The guy won on a consistent level at Boston College, but O'Brien couldn't get BC over the hump, and after leaving there to go to Raleigh, he took a team that wasn't supposed to be very good and won five games with it, which doesn't sound like much, but I thought they were going to barely be above Duke levels last season.

Year number two brings more promise for the Wolfpack faithful, and despite some difficult games against South Carolina and South Florida early on, this team will be in contention for a bowl, and if they can win at least half of their road games (two out of four isn't too much to ask), they can get to six or seven wins and that bowl barrier with a team that probably would win four games under a lot of coaches.

Don't be afraid to tell me what you think of your team. I'll be throwing out some thoughts on teams and individual players in the coming weeks as we prepare for another football season, so tell me what you like and don't like about your team. I know I look like a cross between Ethan Hawke and a serial killer, but I don't bite. I promise. Either post a comment or e-mail me your thoughts.

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Mike Stevens of WDBJ TV 7 in Roanoke, Va., joins the guys to talk about Virginia Tech football as well as his last few days as sports director at the television station before he leaves for greener pastures. Mike also has a great story about Paula Deen and her undergarments.

Also this week:

-- Patrick and Q go over their picks for the male and female athletes of the year in the ACC;

-- N.C. State's Farnold Degand and UNC's Bobby Frasor are ready to return to action;

-- Patrick cleans out the basement;

-- Should college sporting venues sell alcoholic beverages?;

-- The guys lay out the podcast schedule for the next few weeks as ACC Nation gets ready for football;

And more.

The 'Call Me MISTER'  program is an effort to address the critical shortage of African American male teachers particularly among South Carolina 's lowest performing public schools.  Program participants are selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities.

The program is a collaboration between Clemson University and four historically black colleges in South Carolina: Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College, and South Carolina State University.

The project provides:

-Tuition for admitted students pursuing approved programs of study at participating colleges.

-An academic support system to help assure their success.

-A cohort system for social and cultural support.

Visit:

http://www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htm for more details.

We profiled the males in the running for ACC athlete of the year yesterday and asked for your input. Now it's time for the females.

I briefly considered Amanda McDowell and Rachel Dawson, but in the end I don't think I can go against Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher. She finished the year with a 0.63 ERA and 669 strikeouts, both tops in the nation.

She also went 38-10 this year. Nothing against the rest of the Hokies, but without Tincher, Virginia Tech wouldn't have been in the NCAA Tournament, much less the Women's College World Series. She was the single most dominant player on a team sport this season, men's or women's, and for that reason alone she gets my vote.

What do you think?

The nominees:

KASEY HILL, Boston College, senior, track and field

Placed seventh in the heptathlon with a new personal best and Boston College record of 5,666 points; earned her second All-America nomination with her NCAA performance; qualified for the Olympic Trials in and is ranked 13th nationally in the heptathlon; in the ACC Tournament, Hill won the heptathlon with 5,521 points, which was her second ACC individual championship.

ANI MIJACIKA, Clemson, sophomore, tennis

Earned All-America honors in singles and doubles; helped lead Clemson to the 2008 ACC Championship; was a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for tennis; named to the 2008 All-ACC team; rose to the No. 1 singles ranking in the Feb. 20 poll, the first Clemson tennis player, man or woman, to earn the top ranking …spent every poll of the spring season in the top five.

AMANDA BLUMENHURST, Duke, junior, golf

2007-08 Golfweek and PING National Player of the Year; won the Golfstat Cup and the Dinah Shore Trophy; tied her own school record with a 71.00 stroke average; ACC Player of the Year; finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index for a third straight year.

MAMI YAMAGUCHI, Florida State, junior, soccer

Recipient of the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, presented to the top female player in NCAA Division I soccer; guided the Seminoles to their third straight College Cup appearance; led the country in points (66), while finishing second in both goals (24) and assists (18).

AMANDA MCDOWELL, Georgia Tech, sophomore, tennis

2008 NCAA Singles Champion; 2008 ITA National Player of the Year; All-ACC selection; led the Yellow Jackets to their second straight ITA National Team Indoor Title; set a new school record with 45 singles wins in 2008.

CRYSTAL LANGHORNE, Maryland, senior, basketball

Associated Press and USBWA All-American for the third-straight year, and WBCA All-American for the second-straight year; ACC Player of the Year; Maryland’s leading scorer (17.1 ppg) and rebounder (9.4 rpg), leading the Terps to a 33-4 record and a second NCAA Elite Eight appearance in three years.

KHADIJA TALLEY, Miami, senior, track and field

Named the NCAA Southeast Region Field Performer of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association; qualified for the NCAA National Championships in both the discus and the shot put; finished second at the NCAA East Regionals in the shot put with a career-best mark of 17.02 (55-10.25).

RACHEL DAWSON, North Carolina, senior, field hockey

2007 National Player of the Year and recipient of the Honda Award as the nation's top field hockey player; first-team All-America; helped lead UNC to a 24-0 season and NCAA and ACC titles, voted ACC Defensive Player of the Year; while being recognized as the top player on the nation's best defense, also led the country's top offense in goals.

KHADIJAH WHITTINGTON, NC State, senior, basketball

Averaged a team-best 16.8 points per game and led the conference with 11.7 rebounds per contest; named first-team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Defensive Team; helped lead the Wolfpack to a 21-13 record.; she played in 129 games, never missing a contest in her four years.

BECKY SAUERBRUNN, Virginia, senior, soccer

2007 NSCAA First Team All-American, ACC Defensive Player of the Year; anchored a defense that led the nation with a 0.40 goals against average and posted a school-record 15 shutouts; helped lead Virginia to a 13-4-6 record and the NCAA Round of 16.

ANGELA TINCHER, Virginia Tech, senior, softball

USA Softball National Player of the Year; Honda Award National Softball Player of the Year; helped lead her team to its first-ever NCAA Women's College World Series; led the nation in ERA and strikeouts; went 38-10 with a 0.63 ERA; helped lead the Hokies to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title and was named MVP of the tournament.

MICHELLE LOYD, Wake Forest, senior, track and tield

Loyd was Wake Forest's only representative at the 2008 NCAA Track and Field championships after qualifying with a school record 58.06 performance at the Regionals in Tallahassee, Fla.; 2008 Outdoor All-Region selection; placed first among female collegiate competitors in the 400m hurdles at the Penn Relays with a 58.95 finish.

“I know South Carolina’s No. 1 on his list right now,” said Rico Jackson, the player’s oldest brother and mentor. “I think he’ll go ahead and make his decision, if not within the next week, probably when the summer’s out, on his way back to school.”

Here's a short clip from December showing off Jackon's high rising dunking ability: