College Football ACC Preview: Georgia Tech Faces Tough Competition

It’s been a wild off-season in the ACC with North Carolina making headlines for all the wrong reasons, while a new face is in charge at one of the conference’s most storied programs.

UNC could create havoc
Back in July, all of six weeks ago, I touted the promise of North Carolina and how the Tar Heels were poised to have a big year. There was however a concern over NCAA rules violations. It turns out the issues involving Marvin Austin and Agent-gate were just the beginning of much bigger problems for the Tar Heels. There are now 12 players at risk of being ruled ineligible due to a separate case of academic fraud involving UNC. It gets worse; all of North Carolina’s big stars are amongst the players implicated. As it stands, between suspensions and one injury, North Carolina could be without 9 defensive starters on opening night.

All of which has massive implications for the rest of the ACC. The damage to the Tar Heels essentially turns the ACC Coastal from a four-horse race into a three-way dance between Miami, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Duke’s hopes of ending its 16 year bowl drought get a massive boost with the news as the rivalry game now promises to be competitive. The ACC Atlantic teams on UNC’s schedule, Florida State, Clemson, and NC State, will now all see the Tar Heels game as far less of a challenge than previously feared. That’s bad news for Boston College, an ACC Atlantic contender that won’t get a shot at North Carolina.

Big shoes to fill
The task facing Jimbo Fisher is unenviable. He must replace Bobby Bowden, the coach with the second most College Football wins of all time, a man who built Florida State into a national power. Taking over from Bowden, who is worshipped in Tallahassee and far beyond, will present all the pressure Fisher can handle but he might just have the tools to succeed.

Quarterback Christian Ponder is the real deal and should lead the offense to enough points to keep the Seminoles in almost every game they play. Florida State still has question marks on defense but in a down year for the ACC Atlantic, Fisher may have a shot at bringing the program to the ACC title game. That would be a good start for the rookie head coach.

The final shake-up
College Football betting fans should pay close attention to the early schedules of the big three in the ACC Atlantic. Virginia Tech must take on Boise State and Boston College in September. Miami squares off with Pittsburgh and Ohio State in the same month. Reigning ACC champions Georgia Tech have a far more palatable slate. Now that UNC’s season looks doomed, the Yellow Jackets won’t face any serious tests until October. That means Georgia Tech should be fresher for the big games at the end of the season. I like Georgia Tech to take the divisional crown and go on to beat Florida State for the ACC title. Take the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to win the ACC at +1000 with Sports Interaction.