The complexion of the ACC has certainly taken on a whole new look 
since the inclusion of Boston College, Miami Florida and Virginia 
Tech from the BIG EAST.  Without steroids, the conference has more 
muscle and is deeper than ever.

Here is my take on the ACC for 2006. Coming up next: the BIG EAST 
Conference.  Enjoy…

BOSTON COLLEGE
The Eagles were certainly one of our favorite teams in 2005 as they 
earned their keep the old fashioned way when they outgained all but 
one opponent en route to a 9-3 campaign (8-4 ATS).  As a result Tom 
O’Brien’s troops have now won seven or more games seven straight 
seasons.  He’s also the only coach in the nation to win a bowl game 
each of the last six years.  Best of all these accomplishments came 
at the expense of the ACC as Boston College’s debut into the 
conference was a smashing success.  The Eagles will field a Junior-
dominated team in 2006, guided by returning starting quarterback Matt 
Ryan. They should soar again.
PLAY ON: as dog vs. Florida State (10/21)

CLEMSON
In football zoology, the Tigers appear loaded for bear as Clemson 
returns its entire offensive line in 2006.  That’s notable given the 
fact the previous four teams Clemson teams that did so were a combine 
39-9, including the 12-0 1981 National Championship squad.  In 
addition, Tommy Bowden welcomes seven starters back on defense, 
including his best two players (DE Gaines Adams and LB Anthony 
Waters), who decided to spurn the NFL draft in hopes of leading the 
Tigers to the promised land in 2006.  Considering each and every team 
in the past that Bowden has coached in his nine-year career has been 
bowl-eligible, we’ll look renewed for life in Death Valley in ’06.
PLAY ON: vs. Wake Forest (10/7)

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DUKE
The way we figure it, the roof is about to blow off at Duke. On the 
heels of their 6th winless season in conference play the last ten 
years, with a youthful offensive line that returns just one starter, 
head coach Phil Roof is hoping to nail down a lot of bad memories.  
Forced to play 14 true freshmen last season, the Devils bottomed out 
as usual (now 3-33 SU in final six games of the season this decade).  
Perhaps no loss was harder to digest than the season-ender at North 
Carolina where Duke lead 21-0 at the half before succumbing, 24-21. 
Taking on nine winning teams this year won’t help matters.
PASS

FLORIDA STATE
The numbers say it all – the most wins of any Division 1-A team since 
1997 (88), 24 consecutive bowl games, the all-time winningest coach 
in Division 1-A history, only school to finish in AP Top Five for 14 
for consecutive seasons… and on and on an on. When you say Bobby 
Bowden you’re talking benchmark. Lost, perhaps, in all the glitz is 
the fact FSU ended the 2005 season on a 3-5 note, after starting the 
year at 5-0.  In fact, it’s worth noting the Seminoles are only 11-9 
SU in their final four games of the regular season the last five 
years. Like we say, sometimes the numbers say it all.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Miami Florida (9/4)

GEORGIA TECH
The Yellow Jackets were busy bees at 7-2 entering November last 
season when the honey makers lost their buzz down the stretch for the 
fifth straight season, ending the year at 7-5.  Despite going bowling 
for the ninth straight season (one of only six teams in the nation to 
do so), it was a year of disappointment for Chan Gailey and his 
colony. They ended the spell with seven victories for the 4th 
straight year, while dipping to 5-10 in their final three games of 
the season since 2001. The upside is the Techsters open the 2006 
campaign with five home games in their first six contests.  The rest 
we’ve come to figure out.
PLAY ON: vs. Troy (9/16)

MARYLAND
We love the positive spin an athletic department can put on things. 
To quote, “This group of Terps is in much better shape than one would 
think of a team coming off a pair of seasons without a bowl game.” In 
SID-talk that means they suffered back-to-back losing years. Always 
the Big Man On Campus (for obvious reasons), head coach Ralph 
Friedgen returns a bevy of starters from last year’s squad.  Included 
is Sam Hollenbach, his gun slinging quarterback.  Joining him in the 
backfield will be lance Ball and Josh Allen, an exceptional tandem. 
Also back is everyone of last year’s starting defensive linemen. The 
cupboard’s full and, like McDonald’s, the Fridge is lovin’ it.
PLAY ON: as dog vs. Clemson (11/4)

MIAMI FLORIDA
How alarming is it for a team of this pedigree to lose three games 
back-to-back years?  SIX new assistant coaches says it all.  Included 
in the list of newcomers are two former college head coaches, a 
former NFL assistant head coach and a former NFL defensive 
coordinator. It appears Larry Coker is taking his job serious these 
days.  Through it all the Hurricanes remain the winningest team this 
decade in Division 1-A football.  That’s why they’ve resided in the 
AP Top 25 poll 104 consecutive weeks, the longest in the nation. They 
are also 148-0 in games in which they score more than 30 points. 
Batten down the shutters – Hurricane Larry is on the loose.
PLAY ON: vs. Georgia Tech (10/28)

NORTH CAROLINA
You have to like John Bunting.  He’s a player’s coach who puts his 
all into everything for the program.  “ I have to fight back the 
tears every time.  But that’s the way I am.  I love this place.  I 
couldn’t be happier being back here after all these years,” says the 
Tar Heels head coach and former alum. Last year’s effort fell one 
game short of becoming bowl-eligible despite an improvement of nearly 
100 yards on the defensive end. Hopefully new QB Joe Dailey (former 
Nebraska starter) will spark the offense. That and some Blood, Sweat 
and Tears should do the trick.
PLAY ON: as dog vs. Virginia Tech (9/9)

NORTH CAROLINA STATE
It’s understandable that head coach-Chuck is a ‘motto’ man. When he 
took over this program in 2000 his motto was FINISH.  Every year 
there after it became a new maxim.  From 2001-05 it was, FULL SPEED 
AHEAD, STEP UP, CUT IT LOOSE, DISCIPLINE and TRUST. We’re guessing 
2006 it will be CASH, an acronym meaning Chuck Amato Saved His ass 
last year.  A 2-4 start, coupled with a 1-4 finish in 2004, had the 
boo-birds chanting loudly demanding his resignation at mid-season 
last year. A 5-1 finish was like CASH to the motto-man. A schedule 
that finds only two losing teams on the menu this year may find him 
at the ATM machine.
PLAY AGAINST: as favorite vs. Southern Mississippi (9/16)

VIRGINIA
Three new coordinators, plus the loss of 10 starters, has Virginia 
feeling less than cavalier about their prospects in 2006.  “We have a 
significant rebuilding job in front of us.  We’ve had some pretty 
huge losses in four areas,” cries head coach Al Groh.  The biggest 
loss of all was All-American OL D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a 1st round 
pick in this year’s NFL draft.  Also departing are QB Marques Hagans, 
a two-year starter, and RB Wali Lundy, the ACC’s all-time touchdown 
leader. The good news is they open the season against only one bowl 
team in their first eight games.  The bummer is four straight bowlers 
to conclude the year, one of them in a very nasty mood.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Florida State - *KEY -  (11/4)

VIRGINIA TECH
Sure, they lost three offensive linemen (and a former starter from 
the same unit) and new QB coach Mike O’Cain is in quest of a new 
signal-caller, but don’t shed a tear for the Hokies.  They are one of 
only four teams to have made it to 13 straight bowl games and they’re 
commandeered by the ACC’s Coach of the Year the past two seasons. 
Twice as many home games (8) as road outs practically insures a 14th 
consecutive post-season performance. Of particular interest will be 
the Hokies visit to South Beach, where they’ll look to avenge their 
only loss of the season last year. We’ll be there, and so should you.
PLAY ON: as dog  vs. Miami Florida (11/4)

WAKE FOREST
Normally when a team is scheduled to square off against five foes who 
have each won a bowl game the previous year a coach would cringe.  
That won’t be the case this year, at least as far as Jim Grobe is 
concerned.  That’s because he is ecstatic having 48 lettermen back, 
including 18 starters – plus two reserves with starting experience.  
A hideously easy opening schedule finds their first five games 
against losing teams with a combined W-L record of 11-46 last year. 
The remaining seven games are all against foes who won five or more 
games last season.  It’s like they like to say in the southern hills 
- get on ‘em, early.
PLAY ON: vs. Connecticut (9/16)