Keeping It Heel
Fansided

ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings Preseason

By Brandon Griffin

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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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – OCTOBER 15: T.J. Logan
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – OCTOBER 15: T.J. Logan /

Aint Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)

Game versus North Carolina: Lost 20-13

Miami Team Preview

Returning Starters: 15 (7 on Offense, 8 on Defense)

Lowdown: In his first season at his Alma Mater, Mark Richt leads the team to a 9-4 record. Additionally, the Hurricanes finished the season on a five-game winning streak which included a bowl win over a ranked West Virginia team.

For yet another year, the Hurricanes are favored to win the Coastal as they start the season ranked with a game against Bethune Cookman.

Strengths: Mark Richt. In his second season in Georgia, Richt took the Bulldogs from 8-4 to 13-1 a SEC Championship and a Sugar Bowl win.

There are a lot of comparisons between that Georgia team and this Miami team, that finished 9-4 last year, and most of those comparisons start with Coach Richt.

Weaknesses: Quarterback. After three seasons of strong quarterback play, the Hurricanes will turn the reigns over to junior Malik Rosier. Rosier has 61 career collegiate attempts, though he is 1-0 as a starter.

Best Case Scenario: Richt works his magic and the Hurricanes go 11-1 behind the running attack of Mark Walton as Miami wins the Coastal for the first time.

Worst Case Scenario: This season ends up like every other Miami season. The Hurricanes enter with high expectations, but once again fail to win the Coastal as they fall to 5-7 as Richt’s seat warms up in just his second season.

Well that does it for this week’s rankings. As I said in the opening I would rank the entire ACC and here it is (Coastal teams in bold):

  1. Florida State Seminoles
  2. Clemson Tigers
  3. Louisville Cardinals
  4. Miami Hurricanes
  5. Pittsburgh Panthers
  6. North Carolina Tar Heels
  7. Virginia Tech Hokies
  8. NC State Wolfpack
  9. Syracuse Orange
  10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
  11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  12. Virginia Cavaliers
  13. Boston College Eagles
  14. Duke Blue Devils

Remember these are preseason rankings. A lot will happen between now and the end of the season, starting with week one. So sit back and relax and enjoy the show because things have just begun.

What did you think of this week’s rankings? Let us know in the comments below.

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