ACC Kickoff: Virginia Tech not picked even to play for title

Media voters picked Clemson to win the title and Miami - not the Hokies - to win the Coastal Division.

Associated Press

Clemson's Tajh Boyd was elected the ACC preseason player of the year by the media at the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C.

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ACC Football polls

Here are the results of the media polls

Atlantic Division

1. Clemson (102) 815
2. Florida State (18) 731
3. NC State 490
4. Wake Forest 392
5. Maryland 373
6. Syracuse 320
7. Boston College 211

Coastal Division

1. Miami (65) 736
2. Virginia Tech (27) 654
3. North Carolina (22) 649
4. Georgia Tech (6) 522
5. Pittsburgh 313
6. Virginia 230
7. Duke 228

ACC championship votes

Clemson 95
Florida State 15
Georgia Tech 3
Miami 3
North Carolina 3
Virginia Tech 1

ACC player of the year

Tajh Boyd, Clemson 105
Duke Johnson, Miami 4
Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech 3
Sammy Watkins, Clemson 3
Bryn Renner, North Carolina 2
Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech 1
Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State 1
Stephen Morris, Miami 1

ACC championship game predictions

Clemson over Miami 55
Clemson over Virginia Tech 19
Clemson over North Carolina 18
Florida State over Miami 7
Florida State over Virginia Tech 7
Clemson over Georgia Tech 3
Georgia Tech over Clemson 3
Miami over Clemson 2
North Carolina over Florida State 2
Virginia Tech over Clemson 1
North Carolina over Clemson 1
Miami over Florida State 1
Florida State over North Carolina 1

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Clemson was the overwhelming choice to win the ACC football title in a preseason media poll Monday.

The Tigers, who return 12 starters from an 11-2 team, were picked to win the ACC title game by 95 of 120 voters. Defending champ Florida State was second with 15 votes; Virginia Tech was sixth with one vote. Voting was done by the media members who attended the ACC's preseason football media gathering at a Greensboro resort.

"We have a good team. We've got a lot of guys coming back that have proven to me that they can play winning football," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "Hopefully we're going to be much better defensively."

Clemson was picked to win the crown for the first time since the 2008 poll.

Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd was named the preseason ACC player of the year, reaping 105 votes. Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas tied for third with three votes.

For the first time in seven years, Virginia Tech was not picked in the poll to win the Coastal Division.

Miami was the Coastal choice for the first time since 2006. The Hurricanes, who return 14 starters from a 7-5 team, received 65 first-place votes and 736 points.

"We've improved our talent, but we have a long way to go to be what we want to be," Miami coach Al Golden said.

The Hokies reaped 27 first-place Coastal votes and 654 points. North Carolina was picked third in the division with 22 first-place votes and 649 points. Georgia Tech, which got six first-place votes and 522 points, was fourth. Pittsburgh was fifth, followed by Virginia and Duke.

Clemson was the heavy favorite to win the Atlantic Division, reaping 102 first-place votes and 815 points. FSU was second with 18 first-place votes and 731 points.

Monday, August 12, 2013