ESPN pre-season power rankings

[WoadBlue]

ACC

The first surprise for me is BC #4. Addazio does stress the the things I say make most sense to build a winner: D and the RBs. But BC has such limitations that I still shake my head at BC getting it done in this age of very good ACC football.

I am a bit surprised at Moo #6. Losing your talented DL always hurts a great deal. If Doeren does not have the slide back into a mediocre 6 win regular season, then a bright future may well be in store for Wufs.

I think the most interesting part of the ranking, and not just for UNC fans, is UNC #12 and Syracuse #13. We play this year, mid-season. The odds are high that the loser of that game will have a losing season. Both coaches need that win. Cuse has the week off before the UNC game, while UNC plays VT the week before Cuse.

 

[riverswe]

I think our fate is determined before the Cuse game. Start 2-1 or 3-0 and we blow by Cuse. Start 1-2 or 0-3 and we're headed for a losing season anyway. Be ready for Cal!

 

[WoadBlue]

I think our fate is determined before the Cuse game. Start 2-1 or 3-0 and we blow by Cuse. Start 1-2 or 0-3 and we're headed for a losing season anyway. Be ready for Cal!

Similarly, I think Syracuse's season may be set for our game. Cuse opens on the road at Western Michigan. Fleck is gone, and last year the Broncos were just 6-6. But at WMU, Cuse is no sure-fire winner.

Cuse should blast Wagner, but FSU then comes to town. Could that be a huge upset a 3rd year in a row? Or could FSU destroy the Orange?

Cuse should beat UConn the next week, but anything can happen. Then there is the trip to Death Valley.

Game 6 is at Pitt, which should be more stable and consistent this year, meaning 7 wins is more likely than 5.

If Cuse enters the UNC game 4-2, even 3-3, fresh from a week off, the Orange would be set up ideally to finish the year well. If Cuse enters the game 1-5 or 2-4, the team may have all but accepted that this is a 3rd straight losing season under Babers, who likely is toast.

 

[Roady]

Syracuse has 16 returning starters back....but Phil Steele has them coming in last in their division....below Wake.

 

[WoadBlue]

Syracuse has 16 returning starters back....but Phil Steele has them coming in last in their division....below Wake.

And he expects UNC to have a bounce back year.

Babers may have been elevated to a Power Conference too quickly: 2 years at a 1AA and 2 years at a MAC. But still he has shown that he knows how to win. Perhaps all that returning experience will mean the big turn around in the ACC is his. But then again, perhaps Cuse is simply grossly overmatched in the much deeper, tougher division.