ACC Bowl Projections
With the 2011 football season coming to a close, the time is ripe to predict where the various ACC teams are headed for bowl purposes. Here are The Confidential’s projections as of November 15, 2011:
ACC #1 goes to the Orange Bowl (BCS)-Miami, Florida to face another BCS team on January 4, 2012.
Last Year’s Matchup: Stanford 40, Virginia Tech 12
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Clemson vs. West Virginia.
Explanation: Clemson has already defeated Virginia Tech once. At Virginia Tech. While the knee-jerk reaction is to think that Virginia Tech gets the better of Clemson a second-time around, The Confidential does not believe that Virginia Tech has the offense to keep up with Clemson. As for the Big East Champion, Cincinnati without Zach Collaros is a lot different than Cincinnati with him. They may not lose out, but they will lose one or two. West Virginia is primed to step in–and they have the head-to-head edge over Rutgers.
ACC #2 goes to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl-Atlanta, Georgia to face the SEC #5 on December 31, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: Florida State 26, South Carolina 17
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Virginia Tech vs. Georgia.
ACC #3 goes to the Champ Sports Bowl-Orlando, Florida to face Big East #2 on December 29, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: North Carolina State 23, West Virginia 7
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Florida State v Notre Dame (eligible to take Big East spot here once every four years)
ACC #4 goes to the Sun Bowl- El Paso, Texas to face Pac-12 #4 on December 31, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: Notre Dame 33, Miami 17
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Georgia Tech v Arizona State.
ACC #5 goes to the Belk Bowl-Charlotte, North Carolina to face Big East #3 on December 27, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: South Florida 31, Clemson 26
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Virginia v Louisville.
ACC #6 goes to the Music City Bowl-Nashville, Tennessee to face SEC #7 on December 30, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: North Carolina 30, Tennessee 27
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Wake Forest v Vanderbilt
ACC #7 goes to the Independence Bowl-Shreveport, Louisiana to face MWC #3 on December 26, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: Air Force 14, Georgia Tech 7
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: North Carolina v San Diego State
ACC #8 goes to the Military Bowl-Washington, DC, to face Navy on December 28, 2011.
Last Year’s Matchup: Maryland 51, East Carolina 20
Projected 2011-2012 Matchup: Miami v Cincinnati (Navy fails to qualify)