Athlon Top 25

[WoadBlue]

Not your typical Top 25

"This is not a preseason ranking of teams going into the season. Instead, this ranking takes into account where we project teams to finish after the national championship in January."

So this is a prediction of where teams will finish.

 

[JimmyinVA]

based on that poll we play two top 20 teams, back to back on the schedule: va tech (#16) at home, miami (#6) at miami. va tech will come into kenan overconfident after last year. miami #6??? are they really that good?

 

[blazers]

makes you wonder about Miami. They lose three good DL, and one of the backup DL I think. Their DT situation I think depends on a grad xfer and a true frosh, or a few older guys that don't look all that big. But with those LBs and secondary dudes, their D will be one of the better ones in the ACC anyway, even if not as good as last yr's D.

 

[JimmyinVA]

the va tech game at kenan, how important is that one? our fiasco in the hurricane contributed a lot to our downward spiral -- a big win against top 20 hokies could do the opposite.

 

[WoadBlue]

makes you wonder about Miami. They lose three good DL, and one of the backup DL I think. Their DT situation I think depends on a grad xfer and a true frosh, or a few older guys that don't look all that big. But with those LBs and secondary dudes, their D will be one of the better ones in the ACC anyway, even if not as good as last yr's D.

Richt has shown over the years that his teams can develop DL players. His teams always have a couple of big guys who get the job done, not necessarily as stars. If he gets decent DL play, those LBs could be dominant - just a powerful bunch changing games.

 

[lerario]

based on that poll we play two top 20 teams, back to back on the schedule: va tech (#16) at home, miami (#6) at miami. va tech will come into kenan overconfident after last year. miami #6??? are they really that good?

Neither of those teams are that good. Miami may finish Top 10 just because the rest of the Coastal is that bad, but they could have easily only won 7 or 8 games last year, and still have plenty of question marks. VT will not be a top 25 team this year.

 

[uncboy10]

the va tech game at kenan, how important is that one? our fiasco in the hurricane contributed a lot to our downward spiral -- a big win against top 20 hokies could do the opposite.

That largely depends on what we do before that. If we can beat Cal and Pitt, and take care of business against ECU and UCF, then it becomes a huge game. If we already have 2 or 3 losses, including 2 conferences losses, then we'll be in too deep of a hole to generate much excitement.

Neither of those teams are that good. Miami may finish Top 10 just because the rest of the Coastal is that bad, but they could have easily only won 7 or 8 games last year, and still have plenty of question marks. VT will not be a top 25 team this year.

The coastal is wide open for the taking. A very mediocre team could run right through it with 1 or 2 losses. A good but not great team could probably go undefeated and play for a playoff bid in the ACCCG.

 

[Spaceytoyz]

Still a year away from competing for the Coastal , 6-6 would be big for this team, anything more is gravy...