WhatIfSports 2016 ACC preview: Projected standings and game-by-game predictions
Three Storylines
Deshaun Watson's Heisman Pursuit
Watson finished third in Heisman voting last season, with Alabama running back Derrick Henry taking home the hardware. The Clemson quarterback will face some stout competition in 2016, including LSU's Leonard Fournette and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, who was the Heisman runner-up a season ago.
Clemson's Sustained Success
The Tigers' run to the National Championship game was no overnight success story. Dabo Swinney's program has won 10 or more games for five straight years, and all indicators suggest they'll make it six in a row this season. Prior to 2011's 10-4 campaign, Clemson hadn't won 10 games since 1990.
Mark Richt Comes Home
Georgia fired Richt despite his 145-51 record at the school. Miami was more than happy to scoop up Richt, who played for the Hurricanes from 1979 to 1982, serving as backup quarterback to future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Miami has yet to win 10 games in a season since joining the ACC in 2004.
Three Players to Watch
QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Watson's 2015 season was a doozy. He became the first player in FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. While the year ended in disappointment -- a 45-40 loss to Alabama in the National Championship game -- Watson's performance in the loss was superb. He carved up the vaunted 'Bama defense for 405 passing yards and four touchdowns, plus 73 rushing yards.
RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State
The ACC's leading rusher last year returns for his junior season. In 2015, Cook turned 229 carries into 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per rush. If the Seminoles achieve their College Football Playoff ambitions, it will be Cook who leads them there.
RB Elijah Hood, North Carolina
With the graduation of dual-threat quarterback Marquise Williams (3,072 passing yards, 948 rushing yards in 2015), Hood will likely have an expanded role in the Tar Heels offense. After totaling 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per carry last year, he's more than ready for the challenge.
Three Games to Watch
Florida State vs. Ole Miss: Monday, September 5
The Seminoles' 2016 schedule is bookended with SEC foes. They'll begin the season with Ole Miss in Orlando and end it with a home game against the Florida Gators. If Florida State can defeat Ole Miss, it will be a good measuring stick, both for the school and for the conference.
North Carolina @ Miami: Saturday, October 15
The Tar Heels are the preseason favorite in the Coastal division, and Miami appears to be their biggest challenger. North Carolina won last season's contest 59-21 but will pay a visit to the U in 2016. UNC is one of three ranked opponents -- along with Florida State and Notre Dame -- on Miami's schedule.
Clemson @ Florida State: Saturday, October 29
The most anticipated ACC matchup of 2016 will easily be the Clemson-Florida State showdown. The two national championship contenders are both in the Atlantic division, which is a shame since they'd make a great pairing in the ACC Championship. The winner of this matchup will likely have the inside track for a College Football Playoff berth.
To view a team's game-by-game predictions, select the school below:
| 2016 Boston College Eagles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 38.6 | 21.8-24.6 |
| 2 | @Massachusetts Minutemen | 67.3 | 28.4-21.0 |
| 3 | @Virginia Tech Hokies | 32.7 | 19.9-25.0 |
| 4 | Wagner Seahawks | 95.0 | 41.5-8.2 |
| 5 | Buffalo Bulls | 66.3 | 25.9-21.5 |
| 6 | Clemson Tigers | 22.8 | 19.7-29.2 |
| 8 | Syracuse Orange | 49.5 | 21.8-21.0 |
| 9 | @North Carolina State Wolfpack | 44.6 | 20.6-22.1 |
| 10 | Louisville Cardinals | 36.6 | 21.1-25.4 |
| 11 | @Florida State Seminoles | 33.7 | 20.6-26.2 |
| 12 | Connecticut Huskies | 46.5 | 20.6-22.3 |
| 13 | @Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 55.4 | 20.6-20.0 |
| 2016 Clemson Tigers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | @Auburn Tigers | 64.4 | 29.7-27.0 |
| 2 | Troy Trojans | 77.2 | 32.3-22.6 |
| 3 | South Carolina State Bulldogs | 95.0 | 52.2-9.0 |
| 4 | @Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 60.4 | 30.0-25.2 |
| 5 | Louisville Cardinals | 62.4 | 29.9-25.0 |
| 6 | @Boston College Eagles | 77.2 | 29.2-19.7 |
| 7 | North Carolina State Wolfpack | 55.4 | 27.8-24.9 |
| 9 | @Florida State Seminoles | 50.5 | 28.1-27.8 |
| 10 | Syracuse Orange | 71.3 | 30.5-22.3 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh Panthers | 56.4 | 27.2-24.3 |
| 12 | @Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 81.2 | 31.0-21.6 |
| 13 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 74.3 | 32.8-25.3 |
| 2016 Duke Blue Devils | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | North Carolina Central Eagles | 95.0 | 46.5-8.9 |
| 2 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 62.4 | 26.4-23.5 |
| 3 | @Northwestern Wildcats | 41.6 | 22.3-25.1 |
| 4 | @Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 31.7 | 25.0-32.2 |
| 5 | Virginia Cavaliers | 47.5 | 26.5-26.1 |
| 6 | Army West Point Black Knights | 70.3 | 29.9-23.1 |
| 7 | @Louisville Cardinals | 38.6 | 23.2-26.4 |
| 9 | @Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 48.5 | 25.0-26.1 |
| 10 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 45.5 | 24.4-25.5 |
| 11 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 39.6 | 27.2-29.2 |
| 12 | @Pittsburgh Panthers | 49.5 | 24.0-25.1 |
| 13 | @Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 48.5 | 26.5-27.4 |
| 2016 Florida State Seminoles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Ole Miss Rebels | 49.5 | 29.3-28.0 |
| 2 | Charleston Southern Buccaneers | 95.0 | 52.6-8.6 |
| 3 | @Louisville Cardinals | 58.4 | 29.2-26.2 |
| 4 | @South Florida Bulls | 62.4 | 30.0-26.0 |
| 5 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 57.4 | 30.3-27.5 |
| 6 | @Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 65.3 | 30.6-25.4 |
| 7 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 73.3 | 30.0-22.0 |
| 9 | Clemson Tigers | 49.5 | 27.8-28.1 |
| 10 | @North Carolina State Wolfpack | 65.3 | 28.9-24.2 |
| 11 | Boston College Eagles | 66.3 | 26.2-20.6 |
| 12 | @Syracuse Orange | 69.3 | 31.0-21.9 |
| 13 | Florida Gators | 67.3 | 27.6-22.3 |
| 2016 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | @Boston College Eagles | 60.4 | 24.6-21.8 |
| 2 | Mercer Bears | 95.0 | 46.3-6.6 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt Commodores | 55.4 | 24.7-22.1 |
| 4 | Clemson Tigers | 39.6 | 25.2-30.0 |
| 5 | Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 44.6 | 26.4-26.9 |
| 6 | @Pittsburgh Panthers | 49.5 | 25.8-26.6 |
| 7 | Georgia Southern Eagles | 53.5 | 27.3-25.7 |
| 9 | Duke Blue Devils | 51.5 | 26.1-25.0 |
| 10 | @North Carolina Tar Heels | 43.6 | 26.3-27.6 |
| 11 | @Virginia Tech Hokies | 42.6 | 23.5-25.8 |
| 12 | Virginia Cavaliers | 57.4 | 26.2-23.6 |
| 13 | @Georgia Bulldogs | 40.6 | 25.0-27.8 |
| 2016 Louisville Cardinals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Charlotte 49ers | 84.2 | 30.5-18.3 |
| 2 | @Syracuse Orange | 62.4 | 28.6-24.2 |
| 3 | Florida State Seminoles | 41.6 | 26.2-29.2 |
| 4 | @Marshall Thundering Herd | 67.3 | 29.9-24.2 |
| 5 | @Clemson Tigers | 37.6 | 25.0-29.9 |
| 7 | Duke Blue Devils | 61.4 | 26.4-23.2 |
| 8 | North Carolina State Wolfpack | 60.4 | 26.9-23.2 |
| 9 | @Virginia Cavaliers | 63.4 | 28.7-22.9 |
| 10 | @Boston College Eagles | 63.4 | 25.4-21.1 |
| 11 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 70.3 | 27.8-22.0 |
| 12 | @Houston Cougars | 49.5 | 26.2-27.6 |
| 13 | Kentucky Wildcats | 63.4 | 30.2-24.6 |
| 2016 Miami (FL) Hurricanes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Florida A&M Rattlers | 95.0 | 49.3-6.7 |
| 2 | Florida Atlantic Owls | 73.3 | 29.7-22.3 |
| 3 | @Appalachian State Mountaineers | 47.5 | 28.6-29.7 |
| 5 | @Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 55.4 | 26.9-26.4 |
| 6 | Florida State Seminoles | 34.7 | 25.4-30.6 |
| 7 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 50.5 | 30.1-29.6 |
| 8 | @Virginia Tech Hokies | 49.5 | 26.5-26.9 |
| 9 | @Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 41.6 | 28.2-31.4 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh Panthers | 48.5 | 26.8-26.9 |
| 11 | @Virginia Cavaliers | 61.4 | 28.5-26.5 |
| 12 | @North Carolina State Wolfpack | 51.5 | 26.1-25.9 |
| 13 | Duke Blue Devils | 51.5 | 27.4-26.5 |
| 2016 North Carolina Tar Heels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Georgia Bulldogs | 47.5 | 28.1-28.6 |
| 2 | @Illinois Fighting Illini | 73.3 | 32.0-23.8 |
| 3 | James Madison Dukes | 95.0 | 51.0-8.7 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Panthers | 58.4 | 29.0-26.1 |
| 5 | @Florida State Seminoles | 42.6 | 27.5-30.3 |
| 6 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 48.5 | 27.6-27.1 |
| 7 | @Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 49.5 | 29.6-30.1 |
| 8 | @Virginia Cavaliers | 61.4 | 29.1-26.2 |
| 10 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 56.4 | 27.6-26.3 |
| 11 | @Duke Blue Devils | 60.4 | 29.2-27.2 |
| 12 | Citadel Bulldogs | 95.0 | 51.5-6.6 |
| 13 | North Carolina State Wolfpack | 59.4 | 29.4-24.7 |
| 2016 North Carolina State Wolfpack | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | William & Mary Tribe | 95.0 | 46.7-6.5 |
| 2 | @East Carolina Pirates | 66.3 | 29.4-23.8 |
| 3 | Old Dominion Monarchs | 69.3 | 29.5-23.7 |
| 5 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 64.4 | 26.6-22.6 |
| 6 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 38.6 | 24.8-28.3 |
| 7 | @Clemson Tigers | 44.6 | 24.9-27.8 |
| 8 | @Louisville Cardinals | 38.6 | 23.2-26.9 |
| 9 | Boston College Eagles | 53.5 | 22.1-20.6 |
| 10 | Florida State Seminoles | 34.7 | 24.2-28.9 |
| 11 | @Syracuse Orange | 60.4 | 26.2-23.0 |
| 12 | Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 48.5 | 25.9-26.1 |
| 13 | @North Carolina Tar Heels | 40.6 | 24.7-29.4 |
| 2016 Pittsburgh Panthers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Villanova Wildcats | 95.0 | 49.2-8.6 |
| 2 | Penn State Nittany Lions | 56.4 | 26.4-25.9 |
| 3 | @Oklahoma State Cowboys | 55.4 | 28.6-28.9 |
| 4 | @North Carolina Tar Heels | 41.6 | 26.1-29.0 |
| 5 | Marshall Thundering Herd | 62.4 | 28.2-25.9 |
| 6 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 49.5 | 26.6-25.8 |
| 7 | @Virginia Cavaliers | 55.4 | 27.0-24.4 |
| 9 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 52.5 | 25.4-24.3 |
| 10 | @Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 51.5 | 26.9-26.8 |
| 11 | @Clemson Tigers | 43.6 | 24.3-27.2 |
| 12 | Duke Blue Devils | 50.5 | 25.1-24.0 |
| 13 | Syracuse Orange | 61.4 | 26.3-22.3 |
| 2016 Syracuse Orange | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Colgate Raiders | 95.0 | 43.9-9.1 |
| 2 | Louisville Cardinals | 37.6 | 24.2-28.6 |
| 3 | South Florida Bulls | 42.6 | 25.4-26.5 |
| 4 | @Connecticut Huskies | 49.5 | 24.9-24.8 |
| 5 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 40.6 | 26.0-31.1 |
| 6 | @Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 43.6 | 24.5-25.5 |
| 7 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 34.7 | 22.4-27.6 |
| 8 | @Boston College Eagles | 48.5 | 21.0-21.8 |
| 10 | @Clemson Tigers | 28.7 | 22.3-30.5 |
| 11 | North Carolina State Wolfpack | 38.6 | 23.0-26.2 |
| 12 | Florida State Seminoles | 30.7 | 21.9-31.0 |
| 13 | @Pittsburgh Panthers | 38.6 | 22.3-26.3 |
| 2016 Virginia Cavaliers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Richmond Spiders | 95.0 | 46.3-6.6 |
| 2 | @Oregon Ducks | 44.6 | 28.6-30.7 |
| 3 | @Connecticut Huskies | 49.5 | 25.3-26.6 |
| 4 | Central Michigan Chippewas | 48.5 | 27.3-27.4 |
| 5 | @Duke Blue Devils | 52.5 | 26.1-26.5 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Panthers | 42.6 | 24.4-27.0 |
| 8 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 38.6 | 26.2-29.1 |
| 9 | Louisville Cardinals | 36.6 | 22.9-28.7 |
| 10 | @Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 56.4 | 25.8-23.9 |
| 11 | Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 38.6 | 26.5-28.5 |
| 12 | @Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 42.6 | 23.6-26.2 |
| 13 | @Virginia Tech Hokies | 42.6 | 25.9-28.2 |
| 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Liberty Flames | 95.0 | 45.4-9.2 |
| 2 | @Tennessee Volunteers | 45.5 | 24.4-27.9 |
| 3 | Boston College Eagles | 67.3 | 25.0-19.9 |
| 4 | East Carolina Pirates | 68.3 | 29.4-25.2 |
| 6 | @North Carolina Tar Heels | 50.5 | 27.1-27.6 |
| 7 | @Syracuse Orange | 65.3 | 27.6-22.4 |
| 8 | Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 50.5 | 26.9-26.5 |
| 9 | @Pittsburgh Panthers | 47.5 | 24.3-25.4 |
| 10 | @Duke Blue Devils | 54.5 | 25.5-24.4 |
| 11 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 57.4 | 25.8-23.5 |
| 12 | @Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 49.5 | 27.0-28.4 |
| 13 | Virginia Cavaliers | 57.4 | 28.2-25.9 |
| 2016 Wake Forest Demon Deacons | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Tulane Green Wave | 68.3 | 27.0-21.4 |
| 2 | @Duke Blue Devils | 37.6 | 23.5-26.4 |
| 3 | Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens | 95.0 | 42.8-6.4 |
| 4 | @Indiana Hoosiers | 52.5 | 27.4-27.7 |
| 5 | @North Carolina State Wolfpack | 34.7 | 22.6-26.6 |
| 6 | Syracuse Orange | 56.4 | 25.5-24.5 |
| 7 | @Florida State Seminoles | 26.7 | 22.0-30.0 |
| 9 | Army West Point Black Knights | 64.4 | 28.8-24.5 |
| 10 | Virginia Cavaliers | 42.6 | 23.9-25.8 |
| 11 | @Louisville Cardinals | 29.7 | 22.0-27.8 |
| 12 | Clemson Tigers | 17.8 | 21.6-31.0 |
| 13 | Boston College Eagles | 44.6 | 20.0-20.6 |
