ACC Football 2021 Predictions

We are kicking off the coverage of the upcoming 2021 College Football season with everyone’s favorite preseason ritual – predictions! Let’s see how wrong we all can be this season!

We start with previewing the Atlantic Coast Conference.

So what can we expect from the ACC this year? Pretty much what we have seen for the last few years, Clemson on top. With Notre Dame back to their independent status, it doesn’t leave much challengers in Clemson’s path. This is especially true with North Carolina having to reload some of their offensive weapons and other powers like Florida State and Virginia Tech still rebuilding.

But I do think there will be some surprise teams this year such as Boston College and North Carolina State who are poised for better seasons and may give Clemson a game (until at least the 3rd quarter).

Here is your ACC Football 2021 predictions:

Projected order of standings

Atlantic Division

1. Clemson
2. Boston College
3. NC State
4. Louisville
5. Wake Forest
6. Florida State
7. Syracuse

Coastal Division

1. Miami
2. North Carolina
3. Virgina
4. Virgina Tech
5. Pittsburg
6. Georgia Tech
7. Duke

ACC Awards and Post Season

Predicted ACC Championship

Clemson over Miami

Awards

• Offensive POY – Phil Jurkovec, QB, Boston College
• Defensive POY – Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
• Coach of the Year – Jeff Hafley, Boston College
• Freshman POY – Keeshawn Silver, DL, North Carolina
• Transfer of the year – Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami

Top 5 Teams Breakdown

See all of the teams and their schedules here.

Clemson

• 2020 Record: 10-2
• Preseason Prediction: 11-1
• ACC Prediction: 8-0
• Predicted losses: Georgia
• Big wins predicted: Boston College, Florida State, NC State

You lose your generational quarterback and running back, what do you do next? If you are Clemson you just reload. I expect DJ Uiagalelei to be the real deal and I think Lyn-J Dixon will be ready to step up and has some hungry young backs behind him.

Where I think Clemson may struggle a bit is on their offensive line, I think that is an area they haven’t recruited as well in years past as a result it may catch up to them this year. This is why I think Georgia will steal the opening game from them.

Boston College

• 2020 Record: 6-5
• Preseason Prediction: 10-2
• ACC Prediction: 6-2
• Predicted losses: Clemson, NC State
• Big wins predicted: Missouri, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Florida State

Coach Jeff Hafley has already turned around Boston College, and I expect big things in the future, if he sticks around. I may be going out on a limb this year but I think Phil Jurkovec will be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and take this team on his back.

Where they may struggle is their defense, they were very poor at times last year and I’m not sure they have the right personnel in to fix it yet, we will see.

North Carolina State

• 2020 Record: 8-4
• Preseason Prediction: 9-3
• ACC Prediction: 6-2
• Predicted losses: Mississippi State, Clemson, Florida State
• Big wins predicted: Boston College, North Carolina, Miami

I think North Carolina State’s offense will have a lot of firepower returning to what should be one of the most explosive teams that Dave Doeren has put together so far in his stay.

I am worried about the defense after the loss of Alim McNeil but Coach Doeren has always done a good job in having a tough defense through development and finding diamonds in the rough. Let’s see if he can do it again.

Miami

• 2020 Record: 8-3
• Preseason Prediction: 10-2
• ACC Prediction: 7-1
• Predicted losses: Alabama, North Carolina State
• Big wins predicted: North Carolina, Florida State, Michigan State

QB D’Eriq King should help Miami continue their march back to the top of the standings. I like the transfers and recruits they have brought these last couple of years. Will it be enough to truly bring Miami back though? I don’t think so, they will have a tough time against the Alabama and Clemson’s of the world, but who doesn’t these days?

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North Carolina

• 2020 Record: 8-4
• Preseason Prediction: 9-3
• ACC Prediction: 6-2
• Predicted losses: Notre Dame, North Carolina State, Miami
• Big wins predicted: Virginia Tech, Florida State, Wake Forest

North Carolina could surprise me and win the whole ACC or finish towards the bottom. I have no idea what to expect with this team. You would assume they will be explosive on offense again with Sam Howell at the helm, but I am worried about those losses to the NFL. Are they recruiting well enough to replace them? Is the offensive line good enough to protect Sam all season? These are the questions I have this year.

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