Certainly the Coastal division is not getting the credit for having solid teams like the Atlantic side.  Why?  I don’t know; why did ESPN love Matt Ryan for no particular reason (19 ints and a passer rating of 5th in the ACC).

The Coastal is in a rebuilding year, but so is the Atlantic.  The Coastal is breaking in new coaches, but so is the Atlantic.  The divisions are 2-2 for the ACC title since the expansion (Go Hokies).  So why does the media project this gap?  It really doesn’t make sense and, in fact, doesn’t really exist.

Teamwise

Miami
Miami is busy collecting their 5 star freshmen and deciding which, of the thousands, will get playing time this season.  Look for Miami to be in the running for the Championship game.  They’re still a year or two away from prime, but that doesn’t mean that they’re a year or two away from being ACC Champs.  If they come together, they have a legitimate shot.

Georgia Tech
The media frowns on Georgia Tech with its new fangled option offense.  How will it work against BCS schools?  You idiots, when He who shall not be named implemented the system at Navy they actually played BCS schools….duh.  Did it work out for Navy?  Well, they almost didn’t suck for a little while and then someone bought their coach.  GT needs to hold on to the football this season and they’ll pull down some wins.  Unless they take everyone by surprise, their odds aren’t good.

North Carolina
Not a shot.  Do you hear me?  Not a shot.  I’m not saying they won’t be better, but they’re still not good enough, not deep enough. They may even pull the upset against Virginia Tech since they get us early in the season and have proven they can hang with us.  However, they can’t win enough big games in the ACC to have a chance to go to Tampa.

Prediction

Virginia Tech.  Need I say more?

Odds
(to get there, not to win)

Duke 100:1
UVA 35:1
UNC 20:1
GT 15:1
“U” 10:1
VT 2:1