A Dozen And Counting
The 2019 ACC football season marks the 67th
season for the conference. Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Duke's David Cutcliffe
are the loop's longest-tenured coaches with 12 seasons each at their respective
schools. Swinney's 116-30 career record at Clemson stands out as the best mark.
Newbies
Speaking of head coaches, 4 new mentors will be
on the sidelines in the ACC this season: Georgia Tech's Geoff Collins,
Louisville's Scott Saterfield, Miami Florida's Manny Diaz, and North Carolina's
Mack Brown. Only Diaz has never been an FBS head coach.
Like last year, Florida State's Willie Taggart
remained in a class by himself. Taggart's 52-57 overall career mark is the only
one in the league with a losing record.
Easy Peasy
According to ESPN, Virginia Tech will take on the
easiest schedule of all FBS Power 5 teams in 2019 (Wisconsin held the same
honor last year). The Hokies will miss Clemson, Florida State, and Syracuse.
Virginia and NC State follow Tech as far as soft slates go.
On the flip side, Boston College and Duke take on
the most difficult degree of schedules among ACC teams this season.
Note: Team write-ups are excerpts from the 2019
PLAYBOOK Football Preview Guide magazine - on sale at newsstands nationwide.
The numbers following each team name represent the amount of returning starters
on offense and defense, along with the number of returning linemen, with an
asterisk (*) designating a returning quarterback. The RPR represents each
team's overall, offensive and defensive rankings in overall returning
production experience.
2019 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE PREVIEW
ACC ATLANTIC
BOSTON COLLEGE Off - *6/2 Def
- 4/1 RPR: 110/50/128
TEAM THEME: A REVERSAL
OF FORTUNE
Hmm. After owning a Top 10 ranked defense in both
2015 and 2016, the Eagles' numbers fell off the map the past two seasons as
they allowed 100 yards per game more than in their stalwart days. Instead, the
offense ignited the last two seasons when it became the fifth-highest scoring
unit in 120 years of school history in 2018 as QB Anthony Brown's 20 TDs were
the second-most by any sophomore in BC history. However, the Eagles ranked 7th in the nation in
the highest percentage of starts by seniors (56.3) last season - which means a
new rebuild is in order, starting with an overhaul of both lines. Stay tuned.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: The Eagles started a total of 30 players last season,
2nd in the nation to Alabama (29).
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Virginia Tech (8/31)
CLEMSON Off
- *8/3 Def - 4/0 RPR: 53/26/100
TEAM THEME: TIGER PAUSE
Trevor Lawrence authored
the finest season by a true freshman quarterback in FBS history when he led the
Tigers to a smashing National Championship over defending champion Alabama. As
a result, Lawrence is the preseason favorite in the 2019 Heisman Trophy race.
And we didn't even mention star RB Travis Etienne. Clemson's magnificent season
last year was even more impressive when you consider the fact that they downed
10 opponents that sported winning records. A 19-1 SU away mark since 2015 bodes
well for a team with no back-to-back away games for the 4th consecutive season.
Still, after going 15-0 and winning a national championship last season, the
Tigers should be a targeted team in 2019.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: The Tigers have the nation's longest current streak
(100 games) without losing back-to-back games.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Texas A&M (9/7)
FLORIDA STATE Off - *8/3 Def -
8/2 RPR: 13/33/17
TEAM THEME: WILLIE OR WON'T HE
After Florida State
suffered its first losing season in 42 years in 2018, head coach Willie Taggart
is sweating more than a pedophile in a Santa suit. FSU dismissed troubled quarterback Deondre Francios in February and
now find themselves hitting the transfer trail. QB Alex Hornibrook arrives as a
graduate transfer from Wisconsin where he was 26-6 as a starter and completed 60.5% of his passes for
5,438 yards and 47 touchdowns but had 33 interceptions. He figures to
start ahead of veteran junior
James Blackman. According to
PhilSteele.com, the Seminoles faced 10 ranked foes, including 10 opponents with
winning records last season. However, what good is a highly experienced team
with little discipline?
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Taggart's last two teams (FSU in 2018 and Oregon in
2017) have finished No. 129 and No. 126 in penalties per game.
PLAY ON: vs. NC State (9/28)
LOUISVILLE Off -
*7/1 Def - 10/4 RPR: 24/49/18
TEAM THEME: THE LOUSE HAS LEFT THE HOUSE
On the heels of the
Cardinals' first losing season since 2009, the Bobby Petrino epitaph is finally
cast in stone as far as Louisville is concerned. Scott Satterfield arrives from
Appalachian State where his teams won 51 games while going 34-6 in league play
in six seasons - including three consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships.
Satterfield is known as an innovative offensive mind. He is the only coach to
lead a school from the FCS to FBS and immediately earn three consecutive bowl
victories. They will take on 10 foes in
2019 that were in bowl games last season - just as they did last season. With a
boatload of experience back this year, they'll be playing with house
money.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Louisville is 1-10 ATS in Last Home Games.
PLAY ON: at Florida State (9/21)
NC STATE Off
- 4/2 Def - 7/3 RPR: 109/129/31
TEAM THEME: CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES
The Pack has taken some big
hits the past few seasons, losing a good portion of its defensive line,
including ACC Defensive Player of the Year Bradley Chubb, to the draft last
season. And now QB Ryan Finley to the NFL this year - making it five Wolfpack
quarterbacks in the pros this season - along with State's two leading WRs and
top RB (Reggie Gallaspy Jr., 1,091 yards and a school-record 18 TDs). Worse,
the offense for 2019 returns the 2nd fewest amount of Returning Player
Production per the RPR rankings outlined above. In addition, in David Bowie
fashion, NC State enters 2019 with four new assistant coaches, two new quality
control coaches, and three new graduate assistant coaches. Turn and face the
change.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: The Wolfpack are 39-6 SU and 27-12-1 ATS in games in
which they outgain their opponents under head coach Dave Doeren.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. North Carolina (11/30)
SYRACUSE Off
- 6/2 Def - 7/3 RPR: 64/93/40
TEAM THEME: BIGGER FASTER STRONGER
The gains Syracuse has made in the strength and speed departments over
the last three seasons have been critical to the recent rise of the program.
Last year marked the first time the program was ranked in the Top 25 at
season's end since 2001 - its last 10-win season. Unfortunately,
QB Eric Dungey has graduated after tossing for 9,340 yards and 58 touchdowns in
four years. Tommy DeVito takes over for Dungey, whose talents were immense. Much
to Dino Babers' liking, he brings a bigger arm. Also aboard is RB Abdul Adams,
an Oklahoma transfer, and WR Trishton Jackson, a transfer from Michigan
State.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Hall of Famers Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, and Super
Bowl champion coach Tom Coughlin all shared the same Syracuse backfield in
1966.
PLAY ON: vs. Pittsburgh (10/18)
WAKE FOREST Off - *7/3 Def - 5/1
RPR: 61/92/37
TEAM THEME: SIGN ON THE
DOTTED LINE
As
Dave Clawson enters his sixth season in Winston-Salem, an undeniable chasm has
grown between Wake Forest's offenses and defenses the past three years. In
fact, things got so bad last season that DC Jay Sawyer was fired on the spot
after the Notre Dame game in September. Hoping to spur Clawson toward balancing
the scales, the Demon Deacons recently signed him to an 8-year contract
extension. But the truth is there's a huge amount of work ahead if they hope to
land a 4th straight bowl bid this season. For openers, in a scheduling oddity,
the Demons game against North Carolina this year will be a non-conference
game for both teams. A marquee win certainly won't hurt, but the last time
Wake beat a Top 10 ranked team, Harry S. Truman was in the White House (1946).
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Wake Forest was the 2nd team in 15 years to overcome a
double-digit halftime deficit in a bowl game in consecutive seasons last year.
PLAY ON: at Syracuse (11/30)
ACC COASTAL -
DUKE Off - 4/3 Def - 8/4 RPR: 106/123/45
TEAM THEME: QB WHISPERER
SR QB Quentin Harris
(played in 12 games last season making two starts) takes over for Daniel Jones,
the surprising 6th choice in this year's NFL draft. It should be noted that
head coach David Cutcliffe has coached 11 QBs who earned either all-conference
honors or won a bowl game. In addition, Duke ranked
10th in the nation in the highest percentage of starts by underclassmen 47.4
made by 21 players) last season. And it's worth noting that Cutcliffe is a
native of Birmingham and graduated from the University of Alabama. His Blue
Devils dropped a 63-12 decision at home to the Tide in their only meeting back
in 2010 - the worst non-conference loss in his career. Just sayin'.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Duke will face 11 foes in 2019 that appeared in a bowl
game last season.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Georgia Tech (10/12)
GEORGIA TECH Off - 5/3 Def -
4/1 RPR: 119/115/97
TEAM THEME: SOUR PUSS OUT
First-year coach Geoff
Collins is a lock to kick up the Jackets' energy level. But he'll have to do it
with a heavy heart as 21-year old defensive tackle Brandon Adams died just
prior to spring camp from a fall in a garage. Forging on, the Yellow Jackets
switch from Paul Johnson's option attack to new OC David Patenaude's spread system.
There will be a "getting to know one another" phase with a new quarterback and
a dearth of wide receivers on hand. Making matters more difficult, the Ramblin'
Wreck ranked 4th in the nation in the highest
percentage of starts by seniors (59.8.) in 2018. The rebuild begins.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Collins is the only coach to be a Broyles award nominee
- the nation's best assistant coach - at three schools.
PLAY ON: vs. USF (9/7)
MIAMI
FLORIDA Off
- *6/2 Def - 6/2
RPR: 86/67/83
TEAM THEME: HURRICANE TRACKER
In a huge surprise, UM head
coach Mark Richt called it quits after his squad was embarrassed by Wisconsin
in last year's Pinstripe Bowl. The team was coming apart at the seams and Richt
knew it. It was the Hurricanes' 2nd worst bowl beat ever. The truth of the
matter is Miami's offense had become archaic under Richt who had only one team
ranked in the Top 20 in total offense in his 18 seasons as a head coach. Former
DC Manny Diaz spurned Temple to circle back and take the reins in Miami. To
which we wonder: where will the points come from? Hopefully, an influx of
transfers, including QB Tate Martell (Ohio State), will help.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Mark Richt's 171 career wins were 3rd in the nation
behind Nick Saban and Urban Meyer (186).
PLAY ON: vs. Virginia (10/11).
NORTH
CAROLINA Off - *9/4 Def -
7/2 RPR: 35/15 /76
TEAM THEME: MACK THE KNIFE IS BACK
After a five-year coaching
absence, Mack Brown is roaming the sidelines again. Ironically, Brown coached
his last game with the Tar Heels 20 years ago after posting a 70-46-1 SU mark
with UNC. Remember this, though: in games in which he is slightly expected win,
Brown is just 2-8 SU and 1-9 ATS in his career as a favorite of fewer than 8
points. So where does that leave him this year? A deeply experienced squad
helps for openers, but a brutal schedule finds all 11 FBS foes in bowl games
last season. Our guess is the addition of DC Jay Bateman from Army will find
old Macky spearheading this program back to respectability sooner than later.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Brown is 23-3 SU in season openers in his career,
including 14-0 the last fourteen.
PLAY ON: at Virginia Tech (10/19)
PITTSBURGH Off -
*5/1 Def - 6/2 RPR: 54/62/62
TEAM THEME: PICKETT FENCE
Entering 2019 as the
defending Coastal Division champions, the Panthers did so despite an anemic
output from QB Kenny Pickett, who averaged 6.4 Yards Per Pass attempt and 142.6
Passing Yards Per Game. And with 1,000-yard RBs Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall no
longer around, it won't be as easy this season. It should be noted, though,
since Pat Narduzzi took over the reins at Pitt, the Panthers have compiled the
3rd-best record (20-12) in league play among all ACC teams. Pitt ranked 10th in the nation in the highest percentage
of starts by seniors (54.7) last season but the benefit from playing 15
redshirt freshmen in 2017 should help salve the wounds of a salty schedule.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: 27 of Pitt's 31 losses under Narduzzi have occurred
against teams that went on to a bowl game.
PLAY AGAINST: at Georgia Tech (11/2)
VIRGINIA Off - *6/3 Def - 8/3
RPR: 55/90/38
TEAM THEME: BRONCO ON THE LOOSE
Celebrating their first
winning season since 2011 last year, and coming off a 28-0 shocker over South
Carolina in the Belk Bowl, the Cavs saw 20 underclassmen make starts in 2018.
That bodes well for continued success this year. The better news is that projected
first-round NFL pick Bryce Hall will be returning to anchor down the CB
position in 2019. Through it all, Bronco Mendenhall strung together his best
recruiting class in Charlottesville this year. After a 2-10 debut with the Cavs
in 2016, Mendenhall clearly has Virginia climbing the ladder of success. With
only 4 foes on this year's slate sporting winning records last year, the ride
up the rungs continues.
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: Virginia is 3-19 SU in its final two games of the
regular season since 2008.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Georgia Tech (11/9)
VIRGINIA TECH Off - *6/2 Def - 10/3
RPR: 11/77/1
TEAM THEME: BUD BALL
For a
Hokies team rich in defensive tradition, last season was an absolute nightmare.
Despite returning six starters for long-time defensive coordinator Bud Foster,
Tech's usually stalwart "Lunch Pail D" suffered arguably its poorest effort
ever in the Foster era. Fortunately for HC Justin Fuente, he welcomes back what
is now the most experienced defense in college football. Aiding the cause this
season is the fact that the Hokies led the nation last year in the percentage
of most underclassmen starts (59.9% made by 23 players). With nary a single
back-to-back road trip, remember this: last season's loss to Boston College was
the only game in which the Hokies blew a halftime lead under Fuente (see more
on this below)
STAT YOU WILL LIKE: The Hokies are 22-1 when leading at the half under
Fuente.
PASS
For more on Marc Lawrence click here.