The best: Florida State. The Seminoles haven’t lost a league game since joining the ACC two years ago. In their 1992 debut, they had to rally to win a couple of ACC games. Last year, their closest conference calls were 26-point victories over North Carolina and Virginia. Florida State swamped Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and North Carolina State by a combined 224-3.
The rest: The league produced five bowl teams last year, but North Carolina is the best of a generally unimpressive lot of contenders for second place. The Tar Heels have the league’s only returning 1,000-yard backs in Curtis Johnson and Leon Johnson. Clemson is starting over with coach Tommy West, who won his only game last year after replacing Ken Hatfield. Virginia has won at least seven games for seven years running, but the Cavaliers have been prone to recent midseason slumps. Maryland has dazzling offensive players but a WAC-style defense-and it kicked only one field goal last year, fewest in Division I-A. The Terps gave up 479 points last year, which averages out to a staggering 43.6 per game. Georgia Tech has been rebuilding and could make a move up this year. Defensive coordinator George O’Leary returns to Tech after a stint with the NFL San Diego Chargers.
Key game: North Carolina at Florida State, Sept. 24.
Fast fact: Florida State needs six victories to break Maryland’s record of 21 straight ACC victories from 1973-77.
The picks: 1. Florida State; 2. North Carolina; 3. Clemson; 4. Virginia; 5. Georgia Tech; 6. North Carolina State; 7. Maryland; 8. Wake Forest; 9. Duke.
