(Sports Network) - It's been 17 years since Clemson has won
the ACC championship, but the Tigers are the heavy favorites to win the league
title in 2008. Tommy Bowden's club, one of two BCS schools returning both a
1,000-yard rusher (James Davis) and receiver (Aaron Kelly), could struggle
early with a defense besieged with off-the-field concerns, but will end up
garnering its first league title since 1991.

Most experts believe Virginia Tech will once again represent the Coastal
division in the ACC championship contest. However, don't underestimate the most
improved team in the country - North Carolina. The Tar Heels will knock off the
Hokies in Chapel Hill on September 20th on their way to the divisional crown.

The Coastal division finished 11-13 in non-conference FBS play last season as
opposed to the Atlantic, which won 17 of 25 games. As a whole, the ACC racked
up an embarrassing 20-29 ATS mark out-of-conference, and won just 11 of 26
games ATS vs. the other five BCS leagues. The league hasn't fared too well in
the postseason of late, finishing 2-6 in its eight bowl games last year with a
3-5 ATS record.

Time now to delve into the 12-team league with odds to win the division,
followed by the conference, and then BCS National Championship odds.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1) CLEMSON (10-11, 9-5, 22-1) - The Tigers have outgained their conference
opponents by a league-best 123 ypg average the last two years. Surprisingly,
they have won just 10 of those 16 games.

Offense - Cullen Harper burst on the scene to lead all ACC quarterbacks in
passing efficiency (141 QB rating) and his three primary targets return in '08.
James Davis and C.J. Spiller form the number one RB duo in the league, but
their numbers will diminish behind an O-line that returns just 21 career
offensive starts.

Defense - It's a good thing the Tigers first true conference test comes in
October since the LB position must be rebuilt as none of the three starters
return. Additionally, starting defensive tackle Rashaad Jackson will miss at
least the first month of the season with an injured knee.

Outlook - The Tigers are a poor wager at 22-1 to win the national title despite
their firepower at the skill positions. Still, they are the best team in a weak
conference, which should translate to a 7-1 league mark. Clemson is 4-0 as an
away underdog the last three years.

2) FLORIDA STATE (2-1, 4-1, 50-1) - Want to know how far the Seminoles have
fallen? They are 7-11 in their last 18 regular season ACC matchups.

Offense - If the 'Noles want to compete with the Tigers the offense must step
up. FSU recorded just 27 offensive touchdowns last year compared to Clemson's
48. The O-line is a major question mark with just one upperclassman, but as is
the case with Tommy Bowden's club, all the skill position players return.

Defense - FSU's defense allowed 38 TDs last year, the highest total in the last
24 years. Expect a monumental turnaround once the suspended veterans come back
in late September.

Outlook - The 'Noles will be a force the second half of the season, especially
with the additions of JC stars Corey Surrency (WR) and Markus White (DE). Look
for a 6-2 conference mark, including a win over Clemson on November 8th.
Florida State is 5-8 as an away favorite the last four years.

3) WAKE FOREST (7-2, 7-1, 100-1) - The Demon Deacons proved their 11-3
record two years ago was not a fluke by winning nine games in '07.

Offense - Wake's O-line allowed 21 sacks the final six games after giving up
just seven through the first seven, and the unit comes into '08 with only 20 of
last year's 65 starts returning. Riley Skinner saw his YPA drop from 7.9 to 6.8
and that number could fall even further this season.

Defense - The "D" is the strength of the team as all 11 starters are
upperclassmen. This unit recorded ten of Wake's 44 touchdowns in '07. With nine
starters back, the defense will be just as imposing as the one that allowed 15
ppg in 2006.

Outlook - The top-three teams in the Atlantic all have inexperienced offensive
lines, but Wake is by far the weakest at the skill positions. Expect a 5-3
league mark. The Demon Deacons are 8-2 as a home underdog the last four years.

4) MARYLAND (7-1, 15-1, 100-1) - The Terrapins have finished below .500
three of the last four years.

Offense - Question marks continue to linger at the quarterback spot where the
battle between Chris Turner and Josh Portis could come down to both players
seeing game action. The Terrapins are stocked at the WR and O-line positions
and should have superior offensive production compared to last season.

Defense - Head Coach Ralph Friedgen had to switch highly touted WR prospect
Kenny Tate to strong safety due to lack of depth at the position. There are
some talented players on defense, especially at linebacker, but the unit loses
five of its top-eight tacklers.

Outlook - Two years ago, Maryland won six games by 17 points. Last season, the
Terps lost four by a TD or less. Look for a 6-6 campaign with three wins coming
in conference play. They are 2-11 as a home favorite the last four years.

5) NC STATE (15-1, 30-1, 100-1) - The Wolfpack won four of their last six
games but still finished in a tie for last place at 3-5 and 5-7 overall.

Offense - The 'Pack were forced to throw 58% of the time due to devastating
injuries to RBs Andre Brown and Toney Baker, both of whom still might not be
ready for the season opener. On the positive side, TE Anthony Hill, who missed
all of '07, is back which should help whichever QB wins the job.

Defense - Creating turnovers is a priority this season after the "D" forced
just 16 the entire year. Defending the run is also high on the list of areas of
development after ranking last in ACC play allowing 186 ypg.

Outlook - It'll be another long season in Raleigh as the defense fails to
improve. Three conference wins are about as much as one can expect from a team
that is 4-22 ATS as a favorite the last five years.

6) BOSTON COLLEGE (16-1, 20-1, 100-1) - The Eagles, who tied a school record
with 11 wins last year, will be lucky to reach the .500 mark in '08.

Offense - This is by far the least experienced Eagles backfield in recent
memory. Not only do the running backs bring back only 10 of last year's 1,389
yards, quarterback Chris Crane has thrown a grand total of 40 career passes.

Defense - BC ranked second in the nation vs. the run (75.5 ypg) and did so with
two expected starters, B.J. Raji and Brian Toal, missing the season. Both
return this year, but the secondary must be rebuilt after losing three key
players.

Outlook - The Eagles will be lucky to score 20 ppg. The cellar doors are open
for a 2-6 campaign. Boston College is 3-10 as a road favorite the last four
years.

COASTAL DIVISION

1) NORTH CAROLINA (3-1, 8-1, 100-1) - The Tar Heels went from 3-9 to 4-8 in
Butch Davis' first season. Look for a substantial rise in the standings in year
two.

Offense - NC finished 107th in the country in rushing, but with a more
experienced line and the emergence of Greg Little as the featured back, the Tar
Heels will have one of the most improved ground attacks in the nation. If WR
Dwight Jones can provide any help to the already potent passing game, NC will
bump its scoring average from 21 points all the way up to at least 30 per
contest.

Defense - Eleven of the top-14 tacklers return along with LB Chase Rice, who
was lost for the season in the first game. It's a young "D" with five sophomore
starters, but the talent level is as good as it gets in this division.

Outlook - The Tar Heels lost three games in the final two minutes last year.
There's no reason to think they won't drastically improve in '08, especially
since they draw the bottom three teams from the Atlantic division. Ten wins,
six in league play, is not a stretch for a team that's 10-4 as a home dog the
last four years.

2) VIRGINIA TECH (11-10, 5-2, 30-1) - The Hokies are 42-11 since '04, but
have to play their toughest four games of this year away from Lane Stadium.

Offense - Sean Glennon will look for his TEs a lot more this season since Tech
lost its top-four receivers. The O-line is the strength of the offense, which
should help a slew of running backs ready to take over the load from Branden
Ore.

Defense - The coaching staff feels the "D" will remain strong despite losing
seven starters. They might be right as the last two years the Hokies returned
five starters or less they allowed an average of 12 ppg!

Outlook - Virginia Tech failed to win the division two years ago and the same
thing will happen in '08. The two conference losses will come at NC and FSU.
The Hokies are 9-1 ATS as a road favorite the last three years.

3) MIAMI-FL (5-2, 9-2, 60-1) - Only 11 starters return to a team that failed
to reach a bowl game for the first time since 1997.

Offense - The Hurricanes averaged less than three TDs a game the last two
seasons mainly due to poor QB play. Even though the newcomers are all freshmen,
they can't possibly be as bad as Kyle Wright. There is tons of potential at the
skill positions and the O-line is more experienced than last year.

Defense - Despite six seniors expected to start, not one member of the "D" has
started more than 13 career games. Injuries have caused a sharp decline in
production as Miami allowed 26 ppg in '07. With better health and a great
recruiting class, look for the defense to give opposing offenses fits all
season.

Outlook - The 'Canes are still a year or two away from making noise, but they
will finish 4-4 in the conference and above .500 overall. Look for an improved
ATS record as well, especially after covering just 12 of their last 36 games.

4) VIRGINIA (10-1, 50-1, 100-1) - Matching last year's 9-3 regular season
record will be an impossible task considering the losses on both sides of the
ball.

Offense - Jameel Sewell's departure leaves Peter Lalich as the lone QB with any
meaningful game experience. In addition, the Cavs lose three valuable members
from their offensive line. Nevertheless, two key components (Cedric Peerman and
Kevin Ogletree) are healthy again after missing a combined 20 games last year.

Defense - Virginia ranked 13th in the country vs. the run, but that will change
very fast as all three linemen, including Chris Long, have departed. The rest
of the defense looks to be in decent shape.

Outlook - Six of the Cavaliers nine wins came by a total of 12 points. With a
lack of experience on both lines, there's little chance for an above .500 ACC
record. Virginia is 13-3 as a home dog, but 5-10 as an away favorite since
2001.

5) DUKE (25-1, 100-1, 25-1 Field) - The Blue Devils have lost 25 straight
ACC games. Can new head coach David Cutcliffe end the streak?

Offense - Duke received a huge blow this past week when starting RB Re'quan
Boyette was lost indefinitely after injuring his knee in practice. However,
this is still a veteran group that will average 20 ppg for the first time since
1998.

Defense - The front seven is the best it's been in Durham since '02 when the
"D" allowed just 3.4 ypc. Also, the secondary came to life the last third of
the season allowing a 52% completion rate and 6.2 yards per attempt after
giving up 70% and 8.4 numbers through the first eight games.

Outlook - Duke has seven home dates, which should help the club to its most
productive season since the 4-8 campaign back in 2003. The Blue Devils are
21-10 as a road dog the last five years.

6) GEORGIA TECH (13-2, 15-1, 100-1) - Can Paul Johnson's triple-option
attack work in the ACC? There's tons of talent available, but it's extremely
young.

Offense - The top performers on offense are all sophomores having to learn a
new system, which means tons of growing pains in Johnson's first year in
Atlanta.

Defense - Georgia Tech has the top DT combination in the country.
Unfortunately, the rest of the defense brings back just 36 career starts.

Outlook - Not only are the Yellow Jackets one of the youngest teams in the
country, they have to adjust to new schemes on both sides of the ball. Expect
no more than one league victory and the first last place finish since 1994.
They are 9-3-1 as an away underdog the last four years.

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