My breakdown is based on what I see on our current roster and opposing team roster and intangibles like where we play and when we play; and overall level of coaching. I am trying to be as unbiased as possible and i know this is subject to change based on portal additions, subtractions, injuries; suspensions etc
1. Automatic and must wins
Bethune cookman
southern miss
middle tennessee
duke home
GT away
VT home
My reasoning on these is that these teams are inferior based on team being in transition and roster depletion and unproven coaches power 5 level.
2. Probable wins
fsu - home
virginia - away
My reasoning is wile FSU is rival and beat us last year and has decent roster- no game changers on offense and lost high level defensive talent and their best transfer broke leg and team has suspect coaching. Virginia is away and they beat us last year with QB amrstrong that can match van dyke, but rest of roster suspect and overall talent even with transfers especially defense is a level below us and they also have new power 5 coach.
3. 50/50 games
north carolina away
pitt home
my reasoning is that while it seems we own pitt they did get a good transfer qb and won the acc last year with solid coaching staff. while i believe our roster overall is better and coaching just as good, this team has the playmakers on offense to give us fits. We are at home so this should help a 50/50 game in our favor. I believe north carolina game is the biggest game in our schedule (bigger than texasanm clemson). While we get them at home and after bye week, they have owned us the last 3 years (Albeit we have new coaching staff and they do not have howell). but they should have much improved defense with new but talented qb drake maye - probably. He would have already played 5 games and notre dame and they still have josh downs with comparable roster with us talent wise). My hope is their oline is down with having to start gaynor probably at center will help us: still i see it as 50/50 until we beat them.
4. probable losses
clemson
anm
The anm will be rough due to their top 7 overall roster, excellent staff and home field advantage. While i do think they are overrated- remember 8-4 in the SEC west is probably better than 10-2 in the acc coastal. While most of their talent is relatively young and they will be breaking in new qb, he will not be green lsu transfer or other guy, Its tough to play at kyle field. I am expecting closer game than alabama game, something like 34-20 loss. Clemson away will be rough also with their defense and playmakers on offense. I expect a close close loss here, expecially their QB DJ continues to struggle in passing game and clemson overall depth and oline not as good as during championship years. Based on this and game being late in year expecting 27-21 loss,
My gut tells me we beat pitt and nc and go 10-2, especially if we add two more quality transfers on defense in the front 7, but realistically we split pitt and nc an go 9-3 i think. FSU and virginia will not be easy, but I think we have just enough to beat both.
1. Automatic and must wins
Bethune cookman
southern miss
middle tennessee
duke home
GT away
VT home
My reasoning on these is that these teams are inferior based on team being in transition and roster depletion and unproven coaches power 5 level.
2. Probable wins
fsu - home
virginia - away
My reasoning is wile FSU is rival and beat us last year and has decent roster- no game changers on offense and lost high level defensive talent and their best transfer broke leg and team has suspect coaching. Virginia is away and they beat us last year with QB amrstrong that can match van dyke, but rest of roster suspect and overall talent even with transfers especially defense is a level below us and they also have new power 5 coach.
3. 50/50 games
north carolina away
pitt home
my reasoning is that while it seems we own pitt they did get a good transfer qb and won the acc last year with solid coaching staff. while i believe our roster overall is better and coaching just as good, this team has the playmakers on offense to give us fits. We are at home so this should help a 50/50 game in our favor. I believe north carolina game is the biggest game in our schedule (bigger than texasanm clemson). While we get them at home and after bye week, they have owned us the last 3 years (Albeit we have new coaching staff and they do not have howell). but they should have much improved defense with new but talented qb drake maye - probably. He would have already played 5 games and notre dame and they still have josh downs with comparable roster with us talent wise). My hope is their oline is down with having to start gaynor probably at center will help us: still i see it as 50/50 until we beat them.
4. probable losses
clemson
anm
The anm will be rough due to their top 7 overall roster, excellent staff and home field advantage. While i do think they are overrated- remember 8-4 in the SEC west is probably better than 10-2 in the acc coastal. While most of their talent is relatively young and they will be breaking in new qb, he will not be green lsu transfer or other guy, Its tough to play at kyle field. I am expecting closer game than alabama game, something like 34-20 loss. Clemson away will be rough also with their defense and playmakers on offense. I expect a close close loss here, expecially their QB DJ continues to struggle in passing game and clemson overall depth and oline not as good as during championship years. Based on this and game being late in year expecting 27-21 loss,
My gut tells me we beat pitt and nc and go 10-2, especially if we add two more quality transfers on defense in the front 7, but realistically we split pitt and nc an go 9-3 i think. FSU and virginia will not be easy, but I think we have just enough to beat both.
