Boston College
Coach: Jeff Jagodzinski
2007: 11-3 overall, 6-3 in ACC
Head of the Class – The offensive line is the strength of the returning starters, though that isn’t saying much for a team that's only returning 10 total starters. Whomever is back behind center after the loss of Matt Ryan will at least have a little time to figure out what to do with the ball.
Underachievers – It looks like Chris Crane will be taking over for Matt Ryan at quarterback. He has taken all of 40 snaps in his career. He is no Matt Ryan though. The entire quarterback troupe will have a lot of learning to do and fast because…
Academic Suspension – ...the schedule for Boston College is not easy. Non-conference games against Kent State, Central Florida, and Notre Dame are not simple wins, especially without your star QB. Clemson comes to Boston College, but the team goes on the road to Florida State and Wake Forest. It will be a long second season for Jagodzinski, but he might see a glimpse of a bowl at the end of the year if things break the Eagles’ way.
North Carolina State
Coach: Tom O’Brien
2007: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in ACC
Head of the Class – It is year number two of the Tom O’Brien experience, so that should help the play of the Wolfpack. That is about all the good news there is for this team.
Underachievers – How fast can the new guys learn? NC State returns only 10 starters and lost almost half the team to graduation. O’Brien can work some miracles, but this would be a tough task for even Jesus to come through with some upbeat news at the Catholic School.
Academic Suspension – It is hard to rip on a team for scheduling tough, except that this was not the year to have the schedule that the Wolfpack put together. South Florida, at South Carolina and one of the top C-USA teams, East Carolina, all make this a tough row to hoe for O’Brien and his young squad. Start looking forward to 2009 now.
Coastal Division
North Carolina
Coach: Butch Davis
2007: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in ACC
Head of the Class – What’s not to like? The team returns 18 starters, they are in the second year of the Davis system, and they get Virginia Tech at home. The team should be improved just by getting older, and there is a big drop in a number of teams in the division. The ACC has a record of sending a surprise team to the Championship game each season, so why not the Tar Heels?
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