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UNC Football: Tar Heels predicted to finish fifth in ACC Coastal

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 08: The UNC Tar Heels take the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 08: The UNC Tar Heels take the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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UNC is predicted to finish near the bottom of the ACC Coastal Division as the media poll was officially released

The 2017 ACC Kickoff wrapped up on Friday in Charlotte with UNC head coach Larry Fedora, cornerback M.J. Stewart and tackle Bentley Spain hitting the podium.

The trio discussed the upcoming season for the Tar Heels as they come off a disappointing 2016 campaign ending with a loss to Stanford in their bowl game.

But 2017 will be a season where anything can happen.

UNC is losing the majority of its offensive production from last season and some of the production from their 2015 team that went to the ACC Championship Game. They have question marks at key positions like quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

On Monday, the conference released its 2017 ACC Preseason media poll and the Tar Heels are predicted to finish fifth in the Coastal Division.

Here’s the full results of the voting:

Coastal Division  

1. Miami (103) – 1,065

2. Virginia Tech (40) – 932

3. Georgia Tech (9) – 708

4. Pitt (7) – 673

5. North Carolina (4) – 606

6. Duke (4) -473

7. Virginia -219

Atlantic Division  

1. Florida State (121) – 1,108

2. Clemson (37) – 1,007

3. Louisville (9) – 843

4. NC State – 658

5. Wake Forest – 415

6. Syracuse  – 362

7. Boston College – 283

The Florida State Seminoles were predicted to win the conference overall, with Clemson right behind them.

Despite being predicted to finish second in the Coastal Division, Virginia Tech is fourth to win the ACC Championship.

It’s easy to see why the Tar Heels were predicted to finish fifth in the Coastal, seeing that they have lost a lot of key pieces.

That didn’t bother Fedora on Friday, as he mentioned that he hopes the Tar Heels are predicted to finish low in the division so they can use that for motivation.

“I know probably out there a lot of people don’t think we’re going to do much this year, and I think that’s a good thing,” Fedora said via Inside Carolina. “So pick us low. I would much rather prefer that. I think that will be a good thing for our program.”

It’s still July, so a lot can happen between now and November. The Coastal Division is filled with uncertainty and the Tar Heels may have some history on their side.

In 2015 UNC was predicted to finish fifth in the Coastal and they went unbeaten in conference play, advancing to the ACC Championship Game before falling to Clemson in the final moments.

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Aside from Louisville, Virginia Tech and Miami, it’s not a real tough schedule for the Heels.

The countdown to September 2 is on.

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