• 2007 non-conference schedule
• BCS non-conference records
• Worst ACC losses of 2006
• Best ACC wins of 2006

As bad as 2006 was for the ACC against non-conference opponents, and 4-12 vs. BCS conferences is bad, the league gets another chance this season. These 10 games will determine what the rest of the college football world thinks of the ACC in 2007.

Va. Tech @ LSU
(Sept. 8) LSU will open the season as the top-rated SEC team and Virginia Tech as the top-rated ACC team. The Hokies have to go to Baton Rouge and the game kicks off after 9 p.m. on the East Coast, so the odds, even before kickoff, are against an ACC win.

But, however significant the home-field advantage is, triple that in Virginia Tech's favor in terms of coaching. Les Miles can't keep up with Frank Beamer. Miles is doing a fine Larry Coker, caddying for Nick Saban's talent, but he isn't going to out X-and-O anyone.

Also in Virginia Tech's favor is the timing. Is LSU's offense, which lost its quarterback (No. 1 overall) and two best receivers in the first round of the NFL Draft, plus had one of its running backs quit, really going to beat Virginia Tech's defense in the second game of the season?

=> Read more!

07/30/07 at 16:15
FSU v. Florida?

It is in the swamp, but FSU is always "up" for the game. Are you writing this one off as a loss, forgot about it, or exclude rivalries; I notice you also did not list Tech/UGA.

07/30/07 at 19:21
Hey JP,

Just my $.02....I'd list Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame in place of the BC/ND matchup for two reasons...

1) like the VT/LSU matchup, it's a high profile game in the first week or two of the season, and the ACC MUST get off to a hot start out-of-conference-wise early to sink the lingering aftertaste of '06.

2) the BC/ND game is a rivalry of sorts, clearly not as strong as, but similar to the FSU/UF, GT/UGA, and Clem/SC games, which is why they weren't included in this list, I assume

I'd also just disregard the NC State/Louisville matchup. It's the #1 or #2 Big East team vs. the #9ish ACC team.....it wouldn't harm the ACC"s image for State to lose this one, and it would likely be seen as more of a fluke if they did win (assuming State finishes 5th or last in the Atlantic as I think they will)

Otherwise, I agree with the other matchups.

07/30/07 at 20:19
Tar Gator ...

I didn't include the three finales because I don't think the ACC will win any of them. But obviously FSU winning at Florida would be huge. A bad FSU team gave the 2006 national champs a better game than Ohio State, the No. 1 team in the country.

Marcus ...

I see your point about GT/ND, just think the BC game is a game the ACC can't lose.

As for State/Louisville, you're right it doesn't hurt if State loses but what if they win? That was more to my point.

thanks for the comments,
JPG

07/31/07 at 22:10
USC at Carolina??

UNC has a better chanc of winning this game as State does vs L'Ville. I guess, like everyone else, you are either afraid of him too much to include a possible uNC victory.

07/31/07 at 22:37
Beezer:

No fear here, would be a good win either way for the league. Given the criteria — what's best for the image of the league — State's win over the Big East champs would be better than UNC's win over the seventh-place SEC team.

— JPG

08/01/07 at 12:41
GO STATE! BEAT LOUSIVILLE!
AND EVERYONE ELSE!

CAN'T WAIT FOR FOOTBALL SEASON!