ACC Surprise Team

cloverleaf · Jun 13, 2016

The Atlantic Coast Conference should have good parity this season and LOUISVILLE
could be a surprise contender. The Cardinals return 18 starters from a team that
went 8-5 last year. Coach Bobby Petrino will have a game-changer at quarterback
in explosive Lamar Jackson, who was turnover prone and inconsistent in his fresh-
man year, but also showed blistering speed and athleticism. Jackson should have
improved passing skills and a solid surrounding cast, and Louisville should continue
to build its speed-based, physical defense. Reduce the giveaways (111th) and the
Cards might just surprise some folks this football season.

cloverleaf · Jun 13, 2016

Interesting Stat: Louisville is 15-4 against the spread playing ACC teams on the road.
In other words, the Cardinals have cashed 79 percent of the time the past 19 games
in this situation.

CoachCB · Jun 13, 2016

I'm not sure they're going to be a "surprise" team. They are ranked in most pre-season polls.

cloverleaf · Jun 13, 2016

Understand, but all the noise in the ACC concerns Clemson and Florida State.

I love Miami this year also...and they don't play Clemson or Louisville. Plus,
the Canes have a quarterback who will be in the Heisman talk before the season
is over.

CoachCB · Jun 13, 2016

cloverleaf said:
Understand, but all the noise in the ACC concerns Clemson and Florida State.

I love Miami this year also...and they don't play Clemson or Louisville. Plus,
the Canes have a quarterback who will be in the Heisman talk before the season
is over.

I've seen mock drafts for next year w/ Kaaya in the top 10! I didn't realize he was that big of a pro prospect. Richt does really well with a good QB. They could surprise this year.

GoSooners · Jun 13, 2016

I'm looking forward to seeing how Louisville does at Houston compared to how OU does against them. At the end of the season those games could be pivital to the playoff committee if they have to choose between the Big 12 and ACC with identical records...

cloverleaf · Jun 14, 2016

CoachCB said:
I've seen mock drafts for next year w/ Kaaya in the top 10! I didn't realize he was that big of a pro prospect. Richt does really well with a good QB. They could surprise this year.

Brad Kaaya had a really good spring completing 57 of 89 for 763 yards with 10 TDs and 1 int in all the scrimmages.
In the spring game against the first team defense he completed 29 of 49 for 345 yards and 3 touchdowns. Entering
his junior season he's passed for 6436 yards and 42 touchdowns.

If Kaaya can have a big year, I think Miami has a chance to win 10 games. They don't play Clemson or Louisville and
have a shot at the ACC Coastal. Plus, they get Florida State at home.

rolltide · Jun 14, 2016

yeah Lville will not be a surprise...in fact QB is even in the Heisman discussion. that Noon game on 9/17 will be the decider on contender vs pretender and then clemson 2 weeks later

just can't see anyone winning that division but FSU, CLEM, or LVILLE so surprise has to come from Coastal. Most are saying Richt and Kaaya with Miami or the Tarheels to go b2b champs but I really like VT and PITT. VT miss the big 3 from the other division and get Miami at home so if Fuente can get any offense going in Blacksburg they are my favorite. This will be Narduzzi's 2nd year at Pitt and probably 2017 and 2018 (big recruiting classes coming up) will be a better shot to win Coastal but I think some good pieces are in place. Really good Oline, nice running game, but need some playmakers to step up on the outside with Boyd gone. Love the return of the Script! Those fn Pitt block letters were annoying

I'll go with FSU playing Va Tech for the ACC and FSU heading to the playoffs....VT one of the best shots as an outsider for natty