It's always fun to go back and look at predictions and then check out the true outcome.
Late in July, the ACC always hosts an annual pre-season kickoff where all the coaches gather with the media to talk about the upcoming season. After all the talk, the media votes on a predicted order of finish.
Way back in July, here's what it all looked like. The predicted order of finish in the Atlantic Division:
1. Florida State
2. Clemson
3. Boston College
4. Maryland
5. N.C. State
6. Wake Forest
The Coastal Division looked like this in July:
1. Miami
2. Va. Tech
3. Georgia Tech
4. Virginia
5. North Carolina
6. Duke
So here we are heading into the home stretch in November and here's the current reality:
Atlantic Division
1. Wake Forest 3-1 7-1
2. Boston College 3-1 7-1
3. Maryland 3-1 6-2
4. Clemson 4-2 7-2
5. N.C. State 2-3 3-5
6. Florida State 2-4 4-4
Coastal Division
1. Georgia Tech 4-1 6-2
2. Va. Tech 3-2 6-2
3. Virginia 3-2 4-5
4. Miami 2-2 5-3
5. UNC 0-5 1-7
6. Duke 0-5 0-8
Looks a little different, doesn't it? I never could figure out why Wake Forest was picked so low with 19 starters returning, and the Deacons have achieved their 7-1 mark while surviving one injury after another to key people. The Deacons and Boston College matchup in the ACC headliner this Saturday in Winston-Salem.
The bullies Miami and Florida State have been punched in the face and have slinked off to nurse their wounds.
I didn't think Maryland would be very good, but yet there they are, tied for the Atlantic lead.
And Georgia Tech -- the Jackets have now beaten Miami two straight years and sit atop the Coastal Division.
As for the Triangle teams? At the moment, they are right where they were predicted, although I did think State and Carolina would be better. I had the Pack picked third in the Atlantic and Carolina fourth in the Coastal.
Well, there's still the crucial month of November to go. Predictions are always fun, but hey, ask the weather guys. It's not always easy to get it right.
