BTP Roundtable: Preseason Football Guesstimations

The 2018 College Football season is coming up fast, although not fast enough, and we’re all excited. I know it. You know it. It’s awesome. Who doesn’t love this time of year?! Everyone’s in the best shape of their lives (the players, at least, probably not me and you), optimism abounds, and there are about 120 soon-to-be conference champions and playoff contenders out there.

Well, we have the preseason picks from the media “experts”, with their All-ACC selections and estimated final standings, but let’s check out what a few of our BTP writers have to say - you know, the real experts... Hmm. I think I put the quotes around the correct one... Oh well. To the guesstimations!

PirateWolf

NC State

• Overall Record: 10-2
• ACC Record: 6-2
• Offensive MVP: Ryan Finley
• Defensive MVP: Germaine Pratt
• Newcomer-of-the-Year: Chris Dunn

ACC

• Atlantic Division Champion: Clemson
• Coastal Division Champion: Virginia Tech
• Conference Champion: Clemson

Additional Comments

“I’m fully buying in on the Dave Doeren hype machine! Ryan Finley leads a potent attack with an absurdly productive receiving corps, while Reggie Gallaspy never relents his role as the primary ball-carrier. I was going to go with Larrell Murchison for Newcomer-of-the-Year, but he’ll be in a rotation at DT. Chris Dunn isn’t automatic, but he’s enough of an improvement over the last few years that he’s State’s ROY. Pratt is the leader of a defense that surprises. In the rest of the ACC, Florida State will be one of two extremes: either things will click and they’ll win the conference, or things will be disjointed in Year 1 for Willie Taggart and they’ll finish 7-5... I’m going with the latter, although that team is still uber talented. The Coastal will be Miami and Virginia Tech and pile of boring football. Pretty much any team in the Atlantic would immediately be a contender in the Coastal.”

TheRealEssad

NC State

• Overall Record: 8-4 (and that’s okay)
• ACC Record: 5-3
• Offensive MVP: Wheels Finley
• Defensive MVP: Darian Roseboro
• Newcomer-of-the-Year: The Chris Dunn hype train continues

ACC

• Atlantic Division Champion: Dabo’s BYOG all-stars
• Coastal Division Champion: Who cares, I guess Miami
• Conference Champion: Clemson again, yawn

Additional Comments

“I think this is the in between year. Monster recruiting class coming in next year, I just worry that we will be a year off from syncing a great offense and great defense. I don’t think the Pack will be able to get through the gamut of JMU, WVU and Marshall unscathed. At least one gets dropped there. Clemson and FSU are most likely losses, and there’s always the one other game that State shouldn’t lose but manages to lose (had two last year). At least we’re not playing @ WFU this year. I expect much of the conference to look the same this year, FSU being the one big question mark. I am totally fine with an 8-4 season as the staff continues to stockpile recruits and build to something better in the years beyond. I just hope the fanbase is okay with it, too, and can see the bigger picture. I’m also expecting a huge year from Finley, and we will miss him when he’s gone (sad emoji).”

Alec Lower

NC State

• Overall Record: 8-4
• ACC Record: 5-3
• Offensive MVP: Kelvin Harmon
• Defensive MVP: Darian Roseboro
• Newcomer-of-the-Year: Tanner Ingle

ACC

• Atlantic Division Champion: Clemson
• Coastal Division Champion: Who cares
• Conference Champion: Clemson

Additional Comments

“To me, this season will come down to the Pack’s ability to stop squandering opportunities at the end of close games, because I expect a lot of close games. It’s fair to think that’s completely possible too, given the perceived improvement in the place kicking game and hopefully relatively easy adjustments to redzone play calling. In the end though, there’s just a few too many holes, mainly on defense, for me to go all in on this year. West Virginia, Clemson, Boston College, and Louisville will be the losses.

Ryan Finley is really good and has a leg up on everyone for MVP by default, as he is the quarterback. Kelvin Harmon is the best player on the offense though. Darian Roseboro was ready to contribute as a freshman, but has been understandably overshadowed by some guys who were relatively decent at football. This is his time now though, and he could have an incredible season. The Tanner Ingle pick is me being really hopeful that a freshman can come in and make a difference at cornerback.

Alright, BTP folks. Tell us where we’re right, where we’re wrong, and give us your predictions for the 2018 season.