Who Will Win The 2012 ACC Championship Game
2011 wasn’t one that ACC football will look back at positively, as the conference overall didn’t have a very good showing in the postseason bowl games, going just 2-6. The lackluster showing was capped off this past Wednesday night at the Orange Bowl when Clemson was steamrolled by West Virginia, 70-33.
Clemson appears to be as good a choice as any to repeat, with most of their key performers on offense expected to return, especially QB Tahj Boyd, WRs Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins and RB Andre Ellington. As their Orange Bowl blowout demonstrated, the Tigers are in dire need of some defense however. Virginia Tech can also be considered as a potential frontrunner, with QB Logan Thomas and Player-of-the-Year RB David Wilson (perhaps) returning. Defense is usually a Hokie strength, and 2012 should follow suit. Virginia, 2011′s surprise team, also could be a dark horse contender, with head coach Mike London’s recruiting success paying sooner-than-expected dividends. Georgia Tech’s unique offensive attack should return most of their top components, but like Clemson, the Jackets need better defense. Jimbo Fisher’s Florida State will always be competitive, but they still have a ways to go before Bobby Bowden’s legacy can be put behind them. One of the nation’s most under-appreciated head coaches, Jim Grobe at Wake Forest, continues to turn out over-achieving teams, and 2012 shouldn’t be an exception.
The ACC’s most unpredictable squad, the N.C. State, has a top-tier QB in Mike Glennon and a swarming, under-rated defense returning. Getting some consistency from the running attack is coach Tom O’Brien’s biggest challenge. The after effects of the Butch Davis experiment at North Carolina still lingers, but the Tar Heels are hopeful that new coach Larry Fedora can right the ship. Miami, under Al Golden, is still rebuilding, while senior losses at Boston College will be difficult to replace. The two bottom-dwellers, Maryland and Duke, are still struggling to join the upper ranks of ACC squads, although Duke has made remarkable improvement under head coach David Cutcliffe.