Sean Higgs

ACC COASTAL Division

1. VIRGINIA TECH (16 returning starters) - Dark Horse Title Contenders. It starts September 5th vs Alabama. With an opening night win, HC Frank Beamer's bunch will be on their way. Last year's young team won the ACC title. This bunch should go farther. An way date at Georgia Tech is their toughest conference road game. September 26th vs Miami Florida will also show how far the Hokies have come.

2. MIAMI FLA (15 returning starters)- Year 3 of the Randy Shannon era. Miami has the talent to be #1 in the ACC but they do have a very tough schedule. Florida State, Georgia Tech, Va Tech and Oklahoma to open the season. By October 4 we will see what kind of team the 'Canes really have.

3. GEORGIA TECH (18 returning starters) - Paul Johnson enters year 2 off a great year 1 making it to the ACC Title game. They get both FSU and Miami FLA on the road, but Clemson and Va Tech at home. This is a talented bunch and should not be overlooked even though we have them 3rd.

4. NORTH CAROLINA (15 returning starters) - Butch Davis is another coach in that all important Year 3. A talented bunch, they should get to 9 wins, and if they keep their ducks in a row and things fall right, can battle for the Coastal Title.

5. VIRGINIA (11 returning starters) - Hot seat alert. HC Al Groh bring his 9 year career under .500 record to the table. Cavs face 9 bowl teams this year. Making that task tougher is losing your top RB, all of your WRs, and your top 4 tacklers. Groh won't be back in 2010.

6. DUKE (11 returning starters) - HC Dave Cutcliffe isn't on the hot seat because he is only in year 2. Another rebuilding year in Durham.