2013 ACC Football Preview & Predictions

As we get ready to kickoff another college football season, it's important to know where teams stand coming into the year.  I will be leading you through each of the Big 5 conferences - along with the best of the rest - to get you ready and to let you know where I think your team will end up.

Our second preview takes a look at a conference trying to change the way they are perceived - the ACC.

Atlantic Division

Clemson 10-2 (8-0 in conference)

Wins: South Carolina State, at NC State, Wake Forest, at Syracuse, Boston College, Florida State, at Maryland, at Virginia, Georgia Tech, the Citadel

Losses: Georgia, at South Carolina

Clemson boasts one of the most talented offenses in the country, returning almost everyone from last year's unit that was among the most prolific in the country.  Reigning ACC Player of the Year Tajh Boyd is back at quarterback, and star receiver Sammy Watkins is hoping to get back his outstanding form from his freshman year.  Offensive coordinator Chad Morris runs an up-tempo style of offense to get the most plays he can out of this group, so expect the Tigers to be near the top of the country in total offense again in 2013.

Tajh Boyd

The only question marks surrounding Clemson, whom many "experts" have as a dark horse national championship contender, is their defense and mental make up.  They were terrible defensively two years ago, but got better as the season progressed under new coordinator Brent Venebles.  That progression will be tested right off the bat as Georgia will visit Clemson Memorial Stadium to kick off the season.

However, the thing that has really plagued head coach Dabo Swinney's squad has been their mental toughness.  Clemson has had high aspirations the past few years, but always seemed to get beaten soundly when they finally played good competition (including a 70-33 thrashing at the hands of West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl and losing 4 straight to in-state rival South Carolina - you didn't think I was going to leave that out, did you?).  But the Tigers appeared to turn the corner after pulling off a late comeback against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last year, and we'll see if they can maintain that momentum.

Clemson bookends their season with their two toughest opponents - Georgia and South Carolina - the former coming at home.  That game will feature two high-scoring offenses, but I trust Georgia's defense more than Clemson's.  Then to close the season, the Tigers have to play the Gamecocks in Columbia, where South Carolina has won 11 in a row.  The good news is they should breeze through their ACC schedule and be in prime position to return to the Orange Bowl in 2014.

2013 SEC Football Preview & Predictions

As we get ready to kickoff another college football season, it's important to know where teams stand coming into the year.  I will be leading you through each of the Big 5 conferences - along with the best of the rest - to get you ready and to let you know where I think your team will end up.

First up, the conference that is dominating everyone else - the SEC.

SEC West

1) Alabama 12-0 (8-0 in conference)

Wins: Virginia Tech (in Atlanta), at Texas A&M, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Georgia State, at Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, at Mississippi State, Chattanooga, at Auburn
Losses: none

The Tide have won two straight national championships, racking up three in the last four seasons for head coach Nick Saban, and are the favorites again in 2013.  That vaunted 'Bama defense returns 8 starters, and the offense returns all their key stars including senior quarterback A.J. McCarron, sophomore running back T.J. Yeldon, and wideout Amari Cooper.

Championships have become a right of passage at Alabama

Their schedule is favorable - but then again, you're favored to win every game if you're Alabama - but features two big showdowns against Texas A&M in College Station and at home against LSU.  Beating Texas A&M is really the only thing the Tide haven't done under Saban (mostly because they've only played once), and you know he has this game circled as a big time revenge game against Johnny Manziel & company (Saban has the tape of last year's game on loop in the weight room).  Alabama is coming off of a bye week as well, and the more time Saban has to prepare for you, the less likely you are to beat them.

I really, really think Alabama might lose one along the way because they've been too good for too long and they'll start to think they can take games lightly - if only for one game.  However, McCarron and Saban provide extremely strong leadership for this squad and I'm sure this year's group will want to differentiate themselves from last years team, even if they do have most of the same players.  The talent is there to make another title run, and the level of play at the skill positions is the highest its been in Tuscaloosa since Julio Jones and Mark Ingram.  The line play on both sides of the ball will be solid again - because it always is - with a big part due to their recruiting efforts (by the way, how awesome of a recruiting tool is this?), massive weight room, and some deer antler spray.

When all is said and done, Alabama will be where they always are - playing for both an SEC and National Championship.  They're just too good.