The 2016 ACC Preseason Media Poll is out and there's little surprise when it comes to the Atlantic Division.
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Defending league champ Clemson Tigers are once again picked to win the division with the Florida State Seminoles a very solid 2nd-place pick. Clemson picked up 148 first-place votes, Florida State received 42, and the Louisville Cardinals snagged one lonely vote, coming in third place.
Rounding out the picks are the N.C. State Wolfpack, Boston College Eagles, Syracuse Orange, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons in order. Syracuse finished with 426 votes, trailing BC by 15 and ahead of Wake Forest by 79.
Clemson is also the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC altogether. They received 144 out of 191 votes. Florida State was a distant second with 39.
Over in the ever-volatile Coastal Division, the North Carolina Tar Heels are the favorite to return to the ACC Championship Game, receiving 121 first-place votes. In second place with 50 first-place votes are the Miami Hurricanes. Also receiving first-place votes were the Pittsburgh Panthers (14), Virginia Tech Hokies (3), Duke Blue Devils (2), and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1). On the last-place Virginia Cavaliers did not get a courtesy vote.
Of course, its been pretty easy to predict the Atlantic but the Coastal is another thing altogether. Just as the ACC Media.
Last 3 years' ACC Coastal Division winner, with its preseason predicted spot:
— Aaron Brenner (@Aaron_Brenner) July 25, 2016
'15 UNC - 5th
'14 Georgia Tech - 5th
'13 Duke - 7th
In other words, you've just been cursed, Tar Heels.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is the runaway favorite for ACC Player of the Year, garnering 164 votes. The second-place vote-getter, FSU running back Dalvin Cook, received 18 votes. Eric Dungey did not receive any votes.
As for the Orange, that's about where I think most of us expected them to be slotted. BC is getting some hype for having the same tough defense with an improved offense while Wake is still Wake. Dino Babers is trying to temper expectations this season as he implements his offense but SU does have the ability to finish anywhere from 3-9 to 6-6, all things considered.
