Atlantic Conference at a glance

(in predicted order of finish)

1. Clemson - Tommy Bowden's team is loaded with 17 starters back, including quarterback Cullen Harper and running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Harper set 21 school records last season, Davis ran for more than 1,000 yards, and receiver Aaron Kelly caught 88 passes, 11 for TDs. But the offensive line has to be rebuilt. In his 10th season at the helm, Bowden has his best chance to win his first ACC title with the Tigers.

2. Wake Forest - The Demon Deacons quietly have become an ACC power under Jim Grobe, winning 20 games the last two seasons. Before Grobe was hired in December 2000, Wake had won only 38 games the previous 10 seasons. The defense returns nine starters and should carry the team while quarterback Riley Skinner and the offense figure things out. If they don't, Grobe will. He is that good a coach, spurning feelers from Miami, Arkansas, Michigan, and even Nebraska, if offseason rumors were true. Sam Swank, the best kicker in the ACC and maybe the country, is a huge asset in close games.

3. Boston College - see capsule (left).

4. Florida State - This has become assistant (and designated head coach) Jimbo Fisher's team, although Bobby Bowden remains the ceremonial figurehead. Bowden wants to retire with a bang, but this team doesn't look as if it can do it. The core of the offensive line is back to protect quarterback Drew Weatherford and should help an anemic ground game start working again. Seven starters are back on defense. There's still the lingering mess from last season's academic scandal (six starters must finish their suspensions), which could trigger another middle-of-the-pack finish for FSU and the end of the road for Bowden.

5. North Carolina State - Tom O'Brien is slowly building a foundation in Raleigh, but it may not stabilize this season with the Wolfpack playing South Carolina, East Carolina, Clemson, and South Florida in the first month. The Wolfpack should get better, especially if freshman quarterback Mike Glennon (younger brother of Virginia Tech QB Sean Glennon) blossoms into the star O'Brien thinks he can be. A veteran offensive line and running back Jamelle Eugene help provide hope for respectability.

6. Maryland - After three losing seasons in four years, Maryland fans could be losing faith in the program. New offensive coordinator James Franklin inherits nine starters, including the entire line. Chris Turner looks to be the starter at quarterback, but that could change if Jordan Steffy shows he's fully recovered from a concussion that cost him the job last season. The Terps' 6-7 record in 2007 included an overtime loss at Wake Forest, a 1-point loss to Virginia, and a 3-point loss at North Carolina. With a few breaks in 2008, Ralph Friedgen's team could turn into a sleeper.

COASTAL DIVISION

1. Virginia Tech - The Hokies lost a lot from their ACC championship team, but they should be good enough to win their division, even with only four returning starters on defense. The rest of the programs in the division are in rebuilding mode, and Hokies coach Frank Beamer still has play-makers such as defensive back Kam Chancellor and quarterbacks Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. Beamer knows how to fix things quickly, so a return trip to the ACC title game (in Tampa) is very likely.

2. North Carolina - Coach Butch Davis laughed when he heard the media picked the Tar Heels to finish second in the division, asking if voters had passed a sobriety test before making their selections. Well, the sober fact is that the Tar Heels return 19 starters from a team that lost six games by 7 points or less. With a veteran defense, a great recruiting class, and an offense led by quarterback T.J Yates (who threw for a school-record 2,655 yards in 2007), UNC could surprise some people. All of Yates's favorite targets are back, most notably Hakeem Nicks (74 catches, 958 yards, 5 TDs).

3. Miami - Coach Randy Shannon is trying to rebuild pride in the program. The Orange Bowl is demolished and the 'Canes are now playing home games in Dolphin Stadium. To rebound from a 5-7 season, Miami will need an immediate impact from its strong recruiting class, led by freshman linebackers Arthur Brown and Sean Spence and a trio of first-year quarterbacks - Robert Marve, Jacory Harris, and Cannon Smith. Junior running back Javarris James will add some sizzle on offense.

4. Georgia Tech - Paul Johnson molded winning teams at Georgia Southern and Navy. Now he's ready to shake up the Yellow Jackets with his option-based offense. Tech fired Chan Gailey despite posting his sixth straight winning season. It was an 0-6 record against Georgia that proved to school administrators it was time for a change. It will be up to fleet-footed quarterback Josh Nesbitt to make the transition to the option work.

5. Virginia - Coach Al Groh has some major rebuilding to do, finding a replacement for All-America defensive end Chris Long and an assortment of talented players who propelled the Cavaliers to a 9-4 record last season. Groh hopes sophomore quarterback Peter Lalich emerges as a leader. Saturday's opener against Southern Cal could set the tone for a long season in Charlottesville.

6. Duke - Duke will be better, but that's not asking for much coming off a 1-11 season. New coach David Cutcliffe knows his X's and O's and is emphasizing speed. Look for junior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to improve under Cutcliffe, who worked with Peyton Manning at Tennessee and Eli Manning at Mississippi. Lewis still has Eron Riley, who finished second in the ACC last year with nine TD receptions. Opening with James Madison and Northwestern should at least get the Blue Devils over last year's win total.

Compiled by Mark Blaudschun