2011 ACC Atlantic predictions
By Joe Micik
Champion: Florida State
All indications are that the Seminoles are officially back. Christian Ponder is off to Minnesota to play for the Vikings, but EJ Manuel is the new quarterback in town and FSU fans are itching to see this five-star recruit run the offense. Combine that with the Seminoles returning eight offensive starters and seven defense starters, and you have what looks like a very dangerous team. In fact, I would go so far as to say (and I doubt I will get much debate) that this is the best team in the ACC as presently constituted. They are definitely the most complete.
I’m not sure I would put them at number five in the country like the preseason polls did, but they are certainly in the upper half of the top 25 and probably in the Top 10 at this juncture. It will be interesting to follow their progress this year as they are a legitimate BCS-bowl kind of team and the likely ACC champions in 2011.