Talkin’ football with ESPN’s Bruce Feldman

ESPN.com’s Bruce Feldman was kind enough to make his second appearance at ACC Mania this week. This time around, we talked about the biggest news in the ACC this off-season, and started to look ahead to the 2011 season. Bruce is my favorite college football writer in the business, and a great guy to boot. His books, Meat Market and Cane Mutiny, are both great reads.

Here’s what he had to say:

ACC Mania – True or false, Butch Davis will be North Carolina’s head coach in 2012? Why or why not?
Bruce Feldman – False. I am skeptical UNC can keep the head of a program when his long-time close friend and righthand man acted as a runner for an agent. Davis also presided over a program with widespread agent issues with numerous players and where you had a rogue tutor who among other things spent four figures to pay parking tickets for players. Not knowing ANY of that I think will ultimately be too tough for UNC brass to stomach and no re-consider pushing the “reset” button in the face of huge NCAA sanctions.
The program had significantly built up its talent base in Davis first four seasons, although in fairness a lot of that was due to the efforts of John Blake. Still, Davis hasnt even had a winning season in ACC play yet, and now you’re looking at a future where it’s going to be even more challenging for this program to get much traction over the next five-plus years.

AM – We’ve been so eager to proclaim the resurgence of Florida State in recent years, yet this year it seems more within reach than before. What’s your stance on the future of the Seminoles under Jimbo Fisher?

BF – I’m on the bandwagon. I have FSU in the top six this season. I’d spent some time there this spring and noted how there has been impressive buy-in at all levels. Fisher’s staff is recruiting very well and with the staff he assembled I dont see that slowing down. It also helps that Fisher took over right as their two arch-rivals, Miami and UF were about to go through their own transitions.

AM – There was a plethora of restless Hokie fans after the team’s embarrassing Orange Bowl loss to Stanford in January. Frank Beamer made changes to his coaching staff the following month. Has Virginia Tech hit a wall, or can they break through to being a more serious national championship contender?

BF – Good question. I do think its very hard for any coaching regime to go someplace it hasn’t gone in the previous decade. The energy that comes with some new assistants can be very good, but for as good as Tech has been, I’m not sure they’ll push it to an even higher level.

AM – Did Tom O’Brien do the right thing in “benching” Russell Wilson, eventually leading to his departure?

I don’t know enough about what was really going on there behind the scenes. I’m curious how the majority of the guys in the locker room really feel about Wilson and how his departure was viewed there. (Mike) Glennon will be around longer, but given how productive Wilson was, it certainly has the potential to blow up in O’Brien’s face.

OBrien’s only 25-25 in four seasons there. If the offense really struggles and the Pack goes, say 5-7, while Wilson ends up leading Wisconsin to the Big Ten title it’s only going to inflame even more State fans.

AM – Georgia Tech struggled last season after winning the 2009 ACC Championship. They clearly lacked a receiving threat was Demaryius Thomas to keep defenses honest. Was that the biggest difference last season, or have teams begun to figure out how to defend that offense?

BF — I think teams in the league have got a better sense on how to handle that scheme. It doesn’t mean it’s not a big problem, but without some of the dimensions, it makes it that much more manageable.

AM – Clemson is a sleeping giant. Excellent facilities, fan base, and recruiting grounds. Why aren’t they more successful?

I’m not sure they have the right head coach. Lots of places can be transformed from underwhelming to powerhouse if they have the right guy pushing buttons at the top, setting the right tone. In the case of Dabo, it’s never easy for a first-time head coach to have a major college job the first time around.

AM – Who makes it to the conference championship game, and who comes out on top this year?

BF — I’ll say FSU over VT.

Russell Wilson chooses Wisconsin

ESPN reports that former N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson will transfer to Wisconsin for the 2011 season. Thank goodness this is over.

If Brett Favre and LeBron James birthed a college football player, it would be Wilson. The theatrics over a quarterback with a career completion percentage of 58 and a 19-17 record as a starter was baffling.

When Wilson visited Auburn last month to meet with the coaching staff for a day, Twitter nearly exploded trying to follow his every move. Bloggers across the country have used Wilson as their ace in the hole when they’ve run out of ideas this spring.

That said, he is a massive upgrade for the Badgers, who lost the always reliable Scott Tolzien to graduation this spring. With James White and Montee Ball forming the best running back tandem in the B1g 10 and maybe the country, having the veteran Wilson obviously improves their hopes at a conference championship.

For NC State, hopefully it can permanently remove itself from this saga and move forward. Tom O’Brien named Mike Glennon the starter because he didn’t want to put up with the Wilson distractions, leading to his exit. Even still, until today, he was known as “Former NC State quarterback.” From now on, he’s “Wisconsin quarterback.” That’s a win for the Wolfpack.

Champs Sports Bowl Preview — West Virginia (9-3) vs. NC State (8-4)

The matchup – NC State came painstakingly close to playing in its first ACC Championship game, but the Wolfpack get a nice consolation prize with a chance to beat a great West Virginia program.

This will be an exciting matchup between the ‘Pack’s explosive offense, led by Russell Wilson, against West Virginia’s highly rated defense.

The Mountaineers are tied for second in the country in scoring defense, giving up just 12.8 points per game. They are a good defense for sure, but that stat is a little misleading, considering the best offense statistically that they played all season was Maryland’s 41^st-ranked scoring attack.

Wilson is the main attraction on NC State’s side. After a torrid start this season had the school start a Heisman Trophy website on his behalf, Wilson has thrown at least one interception in nine consecutive games. He still leads the ACC with 274 passing yards per game.

Opponents in common –

Maryland – West Virginia won 31-17, NC State lost 38-31.

Cincinnati – West Virginia won 37-10, NC State won 30-19.

Season summaries –

The Wolfpack started 4-0 against a soft schedule, but it quickly raised the expectations for the season. After blowing a 17-0 lead in a home loss to Virginia Tech, the Wolfpack lost three more games by 14 total points.

Needing only a win over Maryland to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division in the season finale, the Terrapins played the role of spoiler in a shootout win.

The loss to the Hokies was the only home defeat for the Wolfpack. They finished 3-3 on the road.

The Mountaineers haven’t lost since Oct. 29. After a 1-2 start in Big East play (both losses were by five points or fewer), West Virginia ended the season with four straight wins by an average of 20 points.

The most impressive victory of the season is a tie between the Maryland win and a 35-10 drubbing of Pittsburgh with a potential BCS bowl berth still hanging in the balance.

Bill Stewart did a great job turning the Mountaineers’ season around after the mid-season struggles. He is in a peculiar position now, however, as the school announced that 2011 would be his last as the head football coach. Athletic Director Oliver Luck has already named his replacement, former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson.

Key players –

The winner of this game likely will be determined by who comes up bigger defensively.

Nate Irving had a tremendous season after missing the entire 2009 season while recovering from injuries sustained in a near-fatal car accident. The senior middle linebacker is second on the team with 88 tackles, and leads the unit with six sacks.

Along with Audie Cole and Terrell Manning, the Wolfpack linebackers’ corps is top-notch. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta loves to bring the blitz early and often, and it usually leads to big plays from that trio. It doesn’t help West Virginia’s cause that starting center Joe Madsen was ruled academically ineligible for the game. His replacement, Eric Jobe, has not played center in two years.

For West Virginia defensively, it needs a big game from a powerful defensive line. Russell Wilson is a much less threatening passer when he’s under pressure. West Virginia led the Big East and was third nationally with 40 sacks.

Leading the attack on the Mountaineers’ line is Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin, who combined for 20 sacks between them.

Who has the edge?

This is a tough call, but West Virginia is on a roll and is a traditionally strong bowl team. NC State is not happy about the way its season ended, but according to Irving, that makes Tuesday’s game even more important.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to finish things on the right foot, because I don’t think anybody on the team — especially the seniors — want to be remembered for the performance that we had against Maryland,” Irving said.

Nevertheless, I think West Virginia gets enough pressure on Wilson that it forces him into a couple costly mistakes.

Bill Stewart has been the center of a lot of scrutiny leading up to this game, but his team loves playing for him. I expect to see an inspired performance along the lines of the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, where the team plays its guts out on coach Stewart’s behalf.

Prediction – West Virginia 34, NC State 28

Wolfpack need one more win to cap surprising 2010 campaign

It’s hard to believe that only four short months ago, I scribbled of NC State:

“(Coach Tom) O’Brien needs to win now. He made a name for himself at Boston College for consistently winning at least 8 games every year. His teams were rarely in the front of the conference race, but they were never far behind. He came to NC State with the idea that he would have more resources in place to build an even better program.”

Finally, the Wolfpack are within 60 minutes of their first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

After a 4-0 start had the Raleigh campus overly optimistic, Virginia Tech silenced the Wolfpack with a 41-30 win at Carter-Finley Stadium. After a 44-17 win against a struggling Boston College team, the Wolfpack played their worst game of the season in a 33-27 loss to East Carolina.

Prior to the Hokies’ loss, the school started a mid-season Heisman Trophy campaign for quarterback Rusell Wilson. He was intercepted three times against Tech and three more against East Carolina.

At that point, it seemed the ‘Pack were headed for another disappointing season under O’Brien.

To their credit, however, they recovered with wins over Florida State, Wake Forest and North Carolina. Only an ugly road loss to Clemson marred the late-season surge.

Still, all O’Brien has to do to finally legitimize his tenure is beat Maryland on the road this Saturday.

If they hope to do so, it’s going to require a great effort from the defense. In their three losses, ‘Pack opponents completed 60% of their passes. Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien is a lock for ACC Rookie of the Year. He’s completing just 54% of his passes, but he’s thrown 17 touchdowns with only six interceptions.

Nate Irving has been a resurgent presence on the Wolfpack defense this season. After missing all of 2009, Irving is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year with 85 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss and five sacks. He’ll be a key in pressuring O’Brien into making mistakes.

O’Brien was last seen throwing a costly last-minute interception last week against Florida State. Trailing by seven points with a minute to go, O’Brien was intercepted by Nick Moody, who returned it 94 yards for a touchdown.

Until that moment, the Terps were still alive for the Atlantic Division title. The question is, now that they are eliminated, with how much emotion will they play on Saturday?

A win would likely put the Terps in the Music City Bowl, which is hardly a motivational factor compared to a division title.

This has the chance to be a dream season for NC State, which hasn’t won the ACC in more than three decades.

Going into Byrd Stadium and coming away victorious won’t be easy. Should the ‘Pack make it out alive, they’ll have earned their ticket to Charlotte fair and square.

Even if no one saw it coming.

Weekend Forecast – October 9

1. Florida State at Miami

This game is nearly always a classic. Who could forget last year’s ending, when Christian Ponder thought he’d thrown the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play, only to see the official waving his arms signaling an incompletion?

The Seminoles looked strong last week at Virginia, especially on defense. Their secondary is extremely young but also very talented. Jacory Harris continues to struggle with his decision-making, but thankfully the Miami defense has played lights-out (leads the ACC allowing just 15 ppg).

Miami has the better combination of talent and experience, but Florida State has a more reliable signal-caller. It’s a tough call, but I think Miami’s defense does just enough to lead the ‘Canes to victory.

Miami 31, FSU 28

2. Boston College at North Carolina State

The Eagles will start a banged-up true freshman at quarterback in Chase Rettig, who looked good in limited action last week against Notre Dame. North Carolina State, meanwhile, is still licking its wounds after a monumental collapse against Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack’s woeful run defense was exposed last week, allowing 306 yards on the ground to the Hokies. Boston College has a great running back in Montel Harris, except he’s struggled to get the ball rolling in 2010. So far, he’s averaging just 84 yards per game and has scored only one touchdown, and hasn’t exactly come against a who’s who of good defenses.

The Eagles’ secondary is average at best. They have allowed 230 passing yards per game, including 277 in the season opener to Weber State. While the group as a whole has matured over the past month, they’ve seen nothing like the passing attack that State will bring with Russell Wilson.

NC State will put up big numbers through the air and rebound from last week’s stunner.

NC State 35, Boston College 17

3. Central Michigan at Virginia Tech

The Hokies return home for a full month of games inside Lane Stadium, the first of which against the downtrodden Chippewas. The Hokies have yet to lead by more than seven points at halftime in any of their five games, but they’d love to do just that on Saturday.

CMU leads the MAC in scoring defense, giving up just 17.6 points per game. However, the most explosive offense they’ve faced belonged to Northwestern.

Ryan Williams is out for the third straight week for Tech, but it shouldn’t matter, as Darren Evans is back to his 2008 form after a 160-yard, two-touchdown showing last week.

The Hokies learned from the James Madison debacle not to overlook anyone, so expect a big win for the home crowd.

Virginia Tech 49, Central Michigan 14

4. Virginia at Georgia Tech

The Groh Bowl, as fans are putting it, pits former Cavaliers’ coach and current Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh up against his old team in a must-win game for both sides.

Virginia was embarrassed last week in a home loss to Florida State, while Georgia Tech has looked nothing like the team everyone expected to contend for the ACC title.

UVA coach Mike London is former assistant of Groh’s and has spent countless hours studying his style of defense. If you want to know whether or not that matters, look no further than Steve Sarkisian’s success at Washington against USC the past two seasons.

The Wahoos have a severe lack of playmakers offensively, but right now the Yellow Jackets can’t stop much of anything. Groh should throw some new wrinkles in the gameplan this week to try and rejuvenate his bunch.

Meanwhile, London may have trouble scheming against Paul Johnson’s triple option in his first try. It may not be pretty, but the Yellow Jackets move to 3-1 in the conference.

Georgia Tech 24, Virginia 20

5. Clemson at North Carolina

The Tar Heels get back another of their star defenders this week, safety Kendric Burney. Linebacker Quan Sturdivant is listed as questionable heading into the game.

Clemson looked as ugly as could be last week against Miami, yet the Tigers were a fourth-down conversion away from possibly winning that game. North Carolina has played so remarkably well in the absence of a multitude of starters that it’s starting to get hard to pick against them.

The play of Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates has been outstanding. The senior has completed 68 percent of his passes this season while throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception.

Kyle Parker threw three interceptions last week in what coach Dabo Swinney called the worst game of his young career.

I can’t help but to think that North Carolina will keep Clemson’s offense at bay again this week. The Heels are giving up just 2.8 yards per carry in the past two games.

At home, the Heels pull off another improbable win and nab their first conference win.

North Carolina 20, Clemson 13

6. Navy at Wake Forest

The Midshipmen are in a world of hurt right now after losing their first game to another service academy in seven years. Wake Forest lost in demoralizing fashion last week to Georgia Tech, when Joshua Nesbitt’s touchdown pass with 15 seconds left sealed the Deacons’ fate.

Tanner Price will start at quarterback for Wake Forest, after injuries to Ted Stachitas and Brendan Cross have depleted the Deacs’ supply of healthy arms.

Price has appeared in four games this season as a true freshman while completing 48 percent of his passes. He did not play in the loss to Georgia Tech last week, but Jim Grobe has confirmed Price will get a majority of the snaps on Saturday.

Wake’s opponents this year average 4.85 yards per carry, but they did hold Georgia Tech to just 4.3 yards per rush last week.

Facing the triple option after just playing against it the week before is a huge benefit that most teams never have. Navy is reeling right now, and despite the fashion of last week’s loss, Wake Forest took comfort in the fact that their young team hung with the defending ACC champions.

Wake holds on at home in a nail-biter.

Wake Forest 17, Navy 14

On the Docket – Week One Preview

Two games on Monday: Boise St. – Va. Tech and Navy-Maryland, will be previewed later in the week.

Presbyterian at Wake Forest, Thursday 6:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: It really doesn’t. The Deacs will need a miracle to even dare competing for the ACC this year, and Presbyterian might need a bigger miracle to win this game. Presbyterian went winless in 2009 without playing a single FBS team. Wake Forest begins a year where they simply need an identity post-Riley Skinner.

Player to watch: Ted Stachitas, the redshirt sophomore dubbed Skinner’s replacement at quarterback. Stachitas won a four-way battle in August for the job. He’s a dual-threat option who led Nease High School from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. to three straight state championship appearances as a starter. The Deacs figure to operate mostly out of the shotgun in a spread option look. Expect to see Skylar Jones line up in the Wild Deacon formation some, too. This game is a good introductory level course in replacing a legend for Stachitas.

Who has the edge?

To call this a scrimmage might be insulting. The Deacs starters could play a game against the backups and third-stringers and it might be more competitive. This is simply a chance to give Stachitas as many reps as they can in a live situation and try and work out the kinks across the board.

Prediction: Wake Forest 41, Presbyterian 0

Florida A&M at No. 13 Miami, Thursday 7:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Once again, this won’t be much of a contest. Like many of these creampuff season openers, this is a great chance for Miami to unleash some of its younger, unproven talent and see if anyone emerges. The Hurricanes are very deep across the board, and they can get those young backups some important reps in this game.

Player to watch: Sean Spence and Graig Cooper are two prominent players from who are recovering from injuries. Cooper’s is of a more serious nature (torn ACL), while Spence dealt with nagging injuries last season before missing three entire games late in the year. Cooper figures to get some carries at running back, but it will be interesting to see how much action he gets in a backfield loaded with talented ballcarriers.  Spence needs to be healthy this season and return to his stellar 2008 form at linebacker.

Who has the edge?

Miami will name the score in this game. ‘Nuff said.

Prediction: Miami 45, Florida A&M 10

Samford at No. 20 Florida State, Saturday 12:00 (ESPNU)

Why it matters: This will be the first time in 35 years that somebody not named Bobby Bowden will coach the Florida State football team. The Jimbo Fisher Era begins, and he hopes to bring a new energy to Doak Campbell Stadium. I’m looking to see what the environment is like for Fisher’s first game. If the fans come out hard for the Samford game, it will speak volumes for the support Fisher has from the fan base.

Player to watch: This could be a great way to pad the stats early for FSU quarterback Christian Ponder in his trek for the Heisman Trophy. He figures to play the first half, and maybe some of the third quarter, but that’s still enough time for close to 300 yards and three or four scores.

Who has the edge?

This won’t remind people of last year, when Florida State escaped a scare Jacksonville State at home. The ‘Noles will cruise as they try and smooth the wrinkles before traveling to Norman next week to face the Sooners.

Prediction: Florida State 52, Samford 7

Weber State at Boston College, Saturday 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: See player to watch

Player to watch: Mark Herzlich will play, and that’s the story in and of itself this week. Herzlich, whose story as the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year-turned-cancer survivor is well-read by now, was hobbled by a broken foot during August. Head coach Frank Spaziani said he wants to get Herzlich on the field this Saturday, and when he does trot between the white lines, I can’t wait to see what the reaction from the crowd is. A true miracle.

Who has the edge?

Boston College needs a crisp performance from David Shinskie, who battled inconsistency last year but managed to win the starting quarterback job again this past month. I expect to see him play most of this game no matter the score, unless he struggles. In that case, I’d be interested to see if Spaziani plugs in Marc Mascovetra to run the show.

Prediction: Boston College 35, Weber State 6

South Carolina State at No. 16 Georgia Tech, Saturday 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: The Yellow Jackets begin their defense of the ACC title with a cakewalk. However, they must do it without several key defensive stars from a year ago, most notably Derrick Morgan, now with the Tennessee Titans. I expect the offense to keep on chuggin’, despite the loss of former All-ACC performer Jonathan Dwyer.

Player to watch: Anthony Allen fills in for Dwyer at A-back, and I for one think Allen could have a big year. He’s a physical runner with breakaway speed (see: the first Clemson game last year). With Joshua Nesbitt under center, he will put the ball in the belly of the right runners, and I think Allen could have a sensational year because of that. He might touch 200 yards in this game.

Who has the edge?

Georgia Tech needs to sharpen its defense, which switched to a 3-4 this off-season under new coordinator Al Groh. The Jackets hit the road for the next two weeks after this Saturday to face Kansas and North Carolina. Both games will favor the Jackets, but they need the defense to be on top of its game heading into those contests. This is just a tune-up.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 49, South Carolina State 17

North Texas at Clemson, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Why it matters: Clemson fans get to see Kyle Parker in a football jersey again, which at one point this summer seemed unlikely. Parker will quarterback the Tigers for this season and likely no more, but his return at least gives Clemson hope it can make another run at a division title in 2010.

Player to watch: Andre Ellington replaces C.J. Spiller at running back. Spiller was a legend, perhaps the greatest player to ever wear the Tigers’ uniform. However, Ellington is not too shabby himself. In 68 carries last year, Ellington averaged more than seven yards every time he had the ball. He won’t produce like Spiller, but I think he’ll be better than people expect.

Who has the edge?

At one point earlier in the decade, North Texas was a strong mid-major program (Name-drop: Patrick Cobbs). Now, they are one of the worst FBS programs in the country. Clemson cruises in this one.

Prediction: Clemson 31, North Texas 6

Richmond at Virginia, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Virginia breaks in new coach Mike London, against the team they pillaged for him – and also the one he led to an FCS national title two years ago. London built the foundation strong program in two years at Richmond, and it’s feasible that the Spiders are more talented at several positions than the Cavaliers. Virginia can not afford a second consecutive season-opening loss to an FCS opponent.

Player to watch: All eyes are on Marc Verica, who must cut down on his interceptions this season. He has thrown twice as many interceptions (17) as he has touchdowns (eight) in his career. He has a strong grip on the starting quarterback job, but if he struggles against an FCS team in week one, nobody’s job is safe.

Who has the edge? Virginia, but not by much. I’d say the Wahoos are maybe a three-point favorite. Richmond has a former USC Trojan under center in Aaron Corp, and Virginia really has in my opinion the least talented roster in the ACC. This will be the most competitive game of the day in the ACC.

Prediction: Virginia 23, Richmond 20

Western Carolina at NC State, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Not much does. The ‘Pack figure to be a non-factor in the ACC chase, and this game should be a snoozer. We’ll probably get a chance to see Mike Glennon, the backup quarterback for State who could probably start for 80% of college football teams.

Player to watch: Nate Irving, like Herzlich, also makes a miraculous comeback after nearly losing his life in a car accident last summer. Irving missed all of 2009 but will be in the starting lineup at middle linebacker for the Wolfpack on Saturday. Another example of a heroic human being. His return should severely help a defense that was downright awful in 2009.

Who has the edge?

The Wolfpack will score at will in this game. Russell Wilson could throw for a career-high number of yards. No chance of an upset here.

Prediction: NC State 48, Western Carolina 14

Elon at Duke, Saturday 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Duke needs to make sure it wins the easy ones as it tries to make its first bowl game in a decade in a half. The Blue Devils are repairing a defense that was terrible last season. Holding Elon under 10 points would be a promising start. They need a dominating performance to build confidence heading into a key week two matchup with Wake Forest.

Player to watch: Sean Renfree has to overcome a repaired ACL and the legend of Thaddeus Lewis. Lewis set every major passing record at Duke, and Renfree tore his left ACL last November, prompting him to miss all of spring practice. Duke has plenty of options on offense, particularly at wide receiver, where Donovan Varner was the leading receiver in the ACC last year as a sophomore. Renfree was a highly touted recruit who has the potential to flourish under head coach/quarterback guru David Cutcliffe.

Who has the edge?

Duke should win handily, but a suspect defense could let in some scores early and make it closer than it should be early.

Prediction: Duke 34, Elon 13

LSU vs. North Carolina (in Atlanta), 8:00 p.m. (ABC)

Why it matters: This was supposed to be the breakthrough game for Butch Davis’ program at UNC. Now, this might be a measuring stick of just how fall the Tar Heels have fallen thanks to the infamous NCAA investigation into improper agent contact and academic fraud. LSU is in a state of flux as well, with questions at quarterback and a coach in hot water. Still, it’s likely that several key players for UNC will sit out the game. If they do, the Heels have no shot.

Player to watch: T.J. Yates enters his senior season as the maligned starting quarterback trying fend off redshirt freshman Bryn Renner. Renner is the more dynamic player, while Yates is the calmer and obviously more experienced prospect. Don’t be surprised to see Renner get some snaps if Yates struggles and/or the game gets out of hand. The coaches are waiting to give Renner his chance.

Who has the edge?

LSU. Even if North Carolina is at full strength, the distractions from the past month and a half must have taken a toll on the team’s focus and preparation. LSU feels the pressure to win this game and contend in the SEC. Speaking of the SEC, it has dominated the ACC in recent years. It won’t stop Saturday.

Prediction: LSU 34, UNC 10

ACC goes deep in 3 key places

One thing every team faces questions about in the pre-season is depth. There are always battles in fall camp to try and solidify the rotation at a variety of positions, whether it be in the starting group or fostering younger players in backup roles.

If you formed an All-ACC roster, the depth would be tremendous. It came to my attention after the All-ACC selections were made of just how many bona fide star players did not make the cut. There are several positions that are loaded with talent across the board in the league this year, here’s a few in reverse order:

3. Offensive Line

The ACC is tied with the SEC for the most players on the Outland Trophy watch list with 11 each. Eight of those are on the offensive line. Anthony Castonzo, a four-year starter at left tackle for Boston College, leads the way and figures to be a front-runner for the award. The 2009 first team all-conference selection allowed just one sack in 650 snaps last season, which came against Robert Quinn of North Carolina.

Florida State could have had their entire line named all-conference it seems. Highly praised coach Rick Trickett has built a spectacular core on the line as he enters his fourth year with the Seminoles. Senior guard Rodney Hudson is ready to become the first player in conference history to be earn first-team honors four times. He is a consensus preseason All-American and might be Castonzo’s toughest competition for the Outland Trophy.

The ‘Noles starting center is Ryan McMahon, a redshirt senior who’s started every game in his college career. He graded out as a blocker last season at 80.6 percent, second on the team only to Hudson.

Both Hudson and McMahon are four-year starters, but the experience drop-off is slim among the three other linemen. Andrew Datko (LT), David Spurlock (RG) and Zebrie Sanders (RT) are all entering their third year as starters. There are entire conferences that don’t have the combination of talent and experience on the line like Florida State.

Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford returns after earning first-team honors as a junior. He anchors a Georgia Tech line that must replace three starters. If the Yellow Jackets want to dominate the point of attack like they have the past two seasons, it starts with Redford leading the way.

Even Wake Forest, picked to finish near the bottom of the league, has a few studs up front. Despite serious question marks at both tackles, left guard Joe Looney and center Russell Nenon have All-ACC potential.

Best unit: Florida State

Best player: Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

2. Linebacker

There are more than a handful of teams with a premium duo of linebackers. North Carolina has Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter, two of the most athletic players you’ll find at that position in the country. Sturdivant was a Butkus Award semi-finalist last season, and has led the Tar Heels in tackles the past two years. Despite a late summer arrest on drug charges, coach Butch Davis said Sturdivant will not face any suspension from game action. Bruce Carter has 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash, a number only the most elite outside linebackers in the NFL can even think of.

Up north in Boston, the Eagles hope that Mark Herzlich can regain some or all of the form that made him the most feared linebacker in all of college football two years ago. In his absence, all Luke Kuechly did was come out of nowhere as a freshman to lead the ACC in tackles by a mile. He’s added close to 20 pounds of bulk since the end of last season as well. If he can avoid the sophomore slump and Herzlich’s leg (and mind) holds up, they will be quite a force.

Miami’s Sean Spence and Colin McCarthy are another pair of slobber-knockers that have the experts picking Miami to do big things this year. McCarthy returned in 2009 from a season-ending shoulder injury the year before to make second-team all-conference with 95 tackles. Spence didn’t live up to lofty expectations in 2009 after being one of Randy Shannon’s most consistent defenders as a true freshman in 2008. He missed three games last in the season with injury, but his 36 tackles were fifth-most on the team. If he’s healthy, he’s another speedy outside ‘backer that is a big play machine.

As much grief as Maryland’s received over last season’s abysmal 2-10 season, the Terps sure have a solid group of linebackers. Alex Wujciak is a wild child in the middle. He is one of just two players nationally to have at least 130 tackles in each of the past two seasons. Adrian Moten lines up on the outside, and he led the team with nine tackles for a loss and six sacks last year. Demetrius Hartsfield might have gotten more recognition for an outstanding freshman campaign in 2009 if it weren’t for his team’s record or Kuechly’s huge year. Hartsfield missed two games, but still made 64 tackles. Also, the three top reserves for Maryland at linebacker return, making this the deepest unit of any team in the league.

One other notable player in the league include FSU’s Nigel Bradham, a former super blue-chip recruit who led the team with 93 tackles last season as a sophomore in 2009.

Best unit: North Carolina

Best player: Alex Wujciak, Maryland

1. Quarterback

The buzz during ACC Media Days was all about the volume of talented and experienced quarterbacks throughout the league. There were three players not named to the all-conference preseason team that would likely be among the first 20 players mentioned as Heisman Trophy candidates.

The man who did manage to earn all-conference was Florida State’s Christian Ponder, who is the best quarterback to come through that program since Chris Weinke a decade ago. Ponder suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in game ten last year versus Clemson, but still was the only ACC quarterback to average 300 yards passing per game.

His replacement after the injury was E.J. Manuel, a former five-star recruit who turned in the MVP performance in the Gator Bowl victory over West Virginia. If Ponder goes down, the Seminoles are more than comfortable with Manuel.

As the season draws nearer, however, Ponder is gaining more and more acclaim as a cream of the crop quarterback and elite NFL Draft prospect. If Florida State returns to glory this season, he’ll get as much attention as his rookie head coach, Jimbo Fisher.

Just down the road at Miami, Jacory Harris is oozing potential. After a red-hot start to the 2009 season put him in the immediate discussion for the Heisman, Harris struggled down the stretch and finished with 24 touchdowns to go with 17 interceptions.

“Most everybody thinks when a quarterback has turnovers, it’s him not reading his keys,” coach Randy Shannon said, “It could be the receiver running routes too short…it could be Jacory forcing the ball…or it could be pressure. We’ve just got to calm him down in the pocket.”

Whatever the problem was, Harris showed flashes of brilliance last season, including a gutsy fourth-quarter performance in the season opener against Florida State, which the Hurricanes won 38-34. His receivers are a year older, his line is expected to be tremendously improved, and according to Shannon, his poise and understanding of the offense is markedly improved.

At Virginia Tech, the Hokies believe they have what could be their best offense ever. A big reason for that is the return of Tyrod Taylor, who has been starting since his freshman season and has a 23-5 career record under center. Taylor led the ACC in passing efficiency last season in a breakout season. In his first two years, his career touchdowns-to-interceptions numbers were 7-10 and had just 1,963 career passing yards. In 2009 he eclipsed that mark with 2,311 yards and 14 touchdowns with just five picks. He has his entire receiving corps back for the third straight year, not to mention a pair of former 1,000-yard rushers behind him in Darren Evans and Ryan Williams.

If it’s not enough to have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the ACC, NC State has two. Russell Wilson is consistent, accurate and mobile. Wilson’s streak of 379 consecutive passes without an interception is an NCAA record. His 31 touchdown passes were the fourth most in the country last season. There aren’t many times a player posts numbers like that and still has to fight off competition in fall practice. After missing spring ball to play baseball, Wilson’s absence allowed Mike Glennon to shine. Glennon threw for nearly 500 yards in the spring game. He was recruited to be the quarterback of the future for Tom O’Brien, but Wilson’s emergence has kept Glennon on the sideline. There are 80 schools in America that would love to have Glennon under center.

The guy who has arguably been the most successful yet gets little attention is Joshua Nesbitt at Georgia Tech. The reigning first-team all-conference quarterback got rave reviews by teammates and coach Paul Johnson about his competitiveness and work ethic. Pound for pound, he may be the strongest player on the Yellow Jackets’ roster. He also enters his third year running the triple option offense for Johnson. Every offense relies heavily on execution, but the Tech offense requires a quarterback who is adept with the timing and execution of the option. He needs 703 yards to top Woodrow Dantzler’s mark for career rushing yards for an ACC quarterback. Odds are Nesbitt reaches that after gaining 1,037 yards on the ground in 2009.

Best unit: Florida State

Best player: Christian Ponder, Florida State

NC State Schedule Breakdown/Final Analysis

Schedule Breakdown/Final Analysis

Sept. 4 – Western Carolina – W

Sept. 11 – at UCF – W

Sept. 16 – Cincinnati (Thurs.) – L

Sept. 25 – at Georgia Tech – L

Oct. 2 – Virginia Tech – L

Oct. 9 – Boston College – W

Oct. 16 – at East Carolina – W

Oct. 28 – Florida State – L

Nov. 6 – at Clemson – L

Nov. 13 – Wake Forest – W

Nov. 20 – at UNC – L

Nov. 27 – at Maryland – W

Projected record: 6-6 (3-5 ACC)

As much hype there is surrounding Russell Wilson, with his interceptionless streak and touchdown passes by the dozen, he’s yet to prove to be a winner.

In two seasons as a starter, Wilson has led the ‘Pack to an 11-14 record. Obviously, there is plenty of blame to go around, and Wilson can’t do everything himself.

The Wolfpack did finish last season on a very positive note when they beat North Carolina at home 28-27. They also beat Pittsburgh earlier in the season, giving them two wins over teams that played in a bowl game.

Still, Wilson needs help, mainly in the form of a running game and a pass defense. There is not a single proven rusher on the roster, and the secondary is comprised entirely of sophomores.

The worst part of it all for NC State is the schedule. They play neither Duke nor Virginia from the Coastal Division, instead getting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Good luck finding a win among those three games.

The two biggest games on the schedule are the home game against Cincinnati and the trip to Clemson. If Kyle Parker is not under center for the Tigers, that game on the first Saturday in November gets a lot more interesting. It could be that NC State will be trying to keep their postseason hopes in sight.

Cincinnati is another game that will be very interesting. Both teams have firepower on offense and so-so defenses. There will be no shortage of points in that contest. First team to 40 points wins.

O’Brien needs to win now. He made a name for himself at Boston College for consistently winning at least 8 games every year. His teams were rarely in the front of the conference race, but they were never far behind. He came to NC State with the idea that he would have more resources in place to build an even better program.

Instead, Boston College has almost taken a step forward since his departure, while the Wolfpack have meddled in mediocrity for the last three years. This is far from a complete football team, but if everything falls into place, an eight-win season is not out of the question. They could easily shock one or two of the league’s contenders along the way.

NC State has more top-notch QB’s than it can handle

Quarterbacks

Projected depth chart (returning starter in bold):

QB – #16 Russell Wilson, Jr., #8 Mike Glennon, So.

Wolfpack fans should be more concerned about an earthquake destroying the city than not having a great passer under center this year.

Russell Wilson is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in ACC history, and last year he led the league with 31 touchdown passes.

His backup is Mike Glennon, whose older brother Sean endured a tumultuous career at Virginia Tech. All signs point to the younger brother as the better of the two.

While Wilson missed spring practice to play baseball, Glennon shined, throwing for nearly 500 yards in the spring game.

Coach O’Brien noted during fall practice last season he wasn’t going to keep Glennon off the field, and promised to rotate his two star quarterbacks early in the season at the very least. O’Brien didn’t come through on his pledge, and Glennon only attempted 39 passes last season.

Meanwhile, Wilson followed up a stunning freshman campaign with an even better sophomore season. He set an NCAA record with 379 consecutive passes without an interception. He’s mobile – something Glennon is not – which will be pivotal behind a suspect offensive line.

Wilson is the playmaker on the offense. With no running game to speak of, the pressure of scoring falls squarely on Wilson’s shoulders.

Unlike most teams that rely heavily on their quarterback for production, the Wolfpack could survive a significant injury to their main man. Glennon is more than capable of picking up the slack. It’s a wonder that he hasn’t decided to transfer, because he would start for more than half the teams across the country the minute he set foot on campus.

#8 ‘Pack receivers have a variety of talent

Wide Receivers

Projected depth chart (returning starters in bold):

WR – #5 Jarvis Williams, Sr., #15 Darrell Davis, Sr.

WR – #13 Owen Spencer, Sr., #6 T.J. Graham, Jr.

TE –  #84 George Bryan, Jr., #82 Asa Watson, So.

Owen Spencer is one of several top-notch options Russell Wilson could throw to this year.

A wealth of options for the Wolfpack here, making their passing game one of the most threatening in the league. I’d rate it second behind Florida State’s in the ACC.

Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams are two physical receivers with good size that make them prime red-zone targets. Williams pulled in a league-high 11 touchdown passes last season and he’s one of the best sideline/fade route options in the country at 6-foot-4 inches tall.

Spencer is the most complete receiver, though. He caught 30 passes last season, third most on the team but averaged a staggering 25.5 yards per catch. He also scored six touchdowns. He’ll draw the majority of the coverage between the 20’s, but even Spencer, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall, is enough of a threat in the end zone that teams will almost never be able to play man coverage close to the goal line.

Should the Wolfpack see lots of zone coverage, it will open up the middle of the field for stud tight end George Bryan. That is, if Bryan is eligible to play. He is currently suspended stemming from an arrest in the spring on marijuana possession. He was second on the team last season with 40 receptions and six touchdowns. He’s arguably the best tight end in the ACC, though North Carolina’s Zach Pianalto would beg to differ.

Graham is a speedy, super-athlete who just lacks the skills to play the receiver position at a high level. His route-running and sheer pass-catching ability have been widely criticized, but he’s looking to make his third season the charm and contribute in the offense.

Either way, the ‘Pack are deep and versatile at this position. Pair that with an ultra-accurate quarterback, and you’ve got yourself the potential for a dangerous offense.