Wizard Weygint's 2017 ACC Preseason Analysis

Overrated

Georgia Tech

·       Jackets more than fit the bill of a Wiz big value, play against squad coming off a 9-4 2016 record in which they were -187 net yards with a Steele game grade of #58.

·       In their final three 2016 regular season games, GT was out first downed a mind-blowing 72-38 yet won and covered all three.

·       Specs were gutted and K/P replacements are true frosh.

·       Loss of QB Thomas is big as green QB’s do no favors for option teams like GT.

·       Both the offense and defense are grossly undersized.

·       Add it all up and this is the Wizard’s #1 fade team in 2017.

Wake

·       Deacs 7-6 2016 record and ultra deceiving bowl win over "throw in the towel" Temple belies the fact they were -768 net yards with a #71 Steele game grade and +8 turnovers.

·       New def coord has just 5 returning starters including the loss of star LB Lee.

·       Wiz will forever hold Wake dear to his heart after the epic 2002 Seattle bowl that featured the hottest cheerleaders on record, the one and only “Deacon for a Day”, and Flem’s “quack quack” return from bakeage beyond recog. That said, Wiz worships at the empirical ‘capping altar and eagerly awaits opportunities to fade the Forest.

North Carolina

·       Fedora is dumber than a box o’ rocks and the departure of def coordinator Chizek sure doesn’t help.

·       Off an 8-5 season and outplaying but losing to Stanford in the Sun Bowl, expectations exceed reality.

·       Defense had an unheard of zero interceptions last year against FBS teams (11 games).

·       A mere 12.7% offensive yards return, and the loss of NFL #1 draft pick QB Trubisky is huge, especially given that hapless hot head Brandon Harris (LSU transfer) is scheduled to start.

Slightly Overrated

Virginia Tech

·       Ultra green QBs along with undersized RBs and receivers will lead to a dramatic decrease in ppg.

·       Off a C.B-like 10-4 season and a bowl win over Arkansas that broke the Wiz’s heart, expectations will be lofty, especially with a head coach in year #2.

·       With a #103 experience rating, the Wiz will find some solid spots to fade the Hokies.

Pitt

·       Pitt’s 8-5 2016 record masks the fact they were -78 net yards.

·       Among the least experienced teams in the country (#123) with new off coordinator Watson who stunk up the joint in Texas in 2014 and 2015.

·       Loss of inspirational leader RB Connor (lymphoma/chemo saga) will have Pitt’s emotional tank hovering around empty.

Underrated

NC State

·       Boatload of upside including 8^th most experienced team in the country off a deceiving 7-6 2016 in which they had a Steele game grade of #20 and were +831 net yards.

·       Don't forget this 2016 team lost in OT at Clemson, and lost 24-20 at Fla State despite a 31-20 first down edge.

·       Defensive line among the nation's best and solid 2016 off. line returns 89 career starts.

·       Boise St transfer QB Finley had a good 2016 and his four top receivers return.

·       Wolfpack are the real deal and only down side is their 9-4 ATS performance last year, which may rob them of a bit of their substantial value.

Duke

·       Expectations low off a 4-8 2016 but a peek behind the curtains reveals comely value playing the Devils.

·       Despite said 2016 record, they were only -256 net yards and in their five ACC losses, they were within a TD in the 4^th quarter.

·       QB and top RB and WR all return.

·       Cutcliffe exceeds expectations when under the radar and he’s in a perfect lurking position in 2017.

Slightly Underrated

Clemson

·       With only 12 returning starters and 25 lettermen lost, the defending national champs are a tad under the radar, which provides value as they have arguably the nation’s best OL/DL combo and Wiz’s #1 rated head coach.

·       Replacing all-world Watson a tall task but don’t see a monster drop off with the stable of young studs on hand.

Louisville

·       Here’s another team a bit under the radar coming off a horrific 0-3 end to last season in which they failed to cover by a cumulative 80 points.

·       Other upsides are the return of Hypeman winning QB Jackson, 5 of top 7 tacklers, excellent K and P, and the fact they were -7 turnovers in 2016.

·       If Jackson wasn’t such a thug and Petrino not such an idiot, the Wiz would tab the Cards “underrated” as opposed to their residing here in the land of the “slightly underrated.”

Boston College

·       Wiz ranks all positions improved over 2016 including QB as the departed Towles underperformed last year.

·       Defense full of deceptively hot talent including DE Landry, he of the 17 sacks last season.

·       Expectations a lil’ higher than the Wiz would like off a 7-6 2016 and a bowl win.

Syracuse

·       A second year coach with 19 returning starters off a 4-8 season sure sounds like a recipe to be in the Wiz’s “underrated category” but the Wiz can’t pull that trigger with a team that gave up 38.6 ppg last year and a laughable 6.9 yards per play.

·       Orange figure to be much improved in year #2 of the new off and def schemes but word outta Syracuse is that the defense still blew substantial wad in the spring.

Jibes with Public Perception

Florida Steak

·       With 17 starters back and just three departed defensive lettermen, this is the year Jimbo Fisher has  been pointing to since 2015.

·       Talent wise the Noles take a backseat to no one, but the Wiz still can’t shake the way they were annihilated last year by a somewhat overrated L’ville team.

·       The loss of RB Gallman, thee most productive player in the country who shoulda won the 2016 Hypeman, is huge despite 5-star recruit replacements.

·       Noles will be out to avenge last season’s losses to the big 3 of Clemson, L’ville and Heels so will play with a chip on their shoulder, but given everyone and there mom is hip to this “being their year”, there’s no value to be found in Tallahassee.

Canes

·       Miami the #2 Phil Steele “surprise team” but the Wiz ain’t buying it as Vegas has also bought into the Canes and robbed them of any play-on value.

·       Canes +21 turnovers the last two years and have ultra green QBs although the drop-off might not be steep as Kaaya was overrated and a pussy.

·       Loss of all-world punter is more important than all but ‘capping geniuses like the Wiz realize.

Virginia

·       Mendenhall in oft-magical year #2 but Vagina sucked sizeable 2016 chode with a Steele game grade of #95 and a whopping -1,124 net yards.

·       Offensive line has just 34 career starts.

·       The Wiz deeply probed Vagina for value but they have way too much ACC ground to make up to be a play-on team, and there’s no way the Wiz is gonna fade them with their sky high spreads and weekly back-door potential.