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Polling the Fizz: 2022 ACC Football Predictions

We’re under a month away from the Syracuse Football season! SU’s first game is on September 3 against Louisville, and we’ll have full coverage on Twitter, with a postgame Twitter Space, and here on the site. We reacted to the ACC’s preseason poll last week, which predictably had SU near the bottom of the conference. After our reactions, it’s time for the six Fizz staffers to break out their crystal balls.

ACC Champion

NC State – 4 votes

Cam: “I like (Wolfpack QB) Devin Leary, and their schedule, if the defense doesn‚Äôt fold down the line.” 

Clemson – 2 votes

Ethan: “They have the most talent, best head coach, and best program culture, and championship pedigree”

ACC Cellar Dwellar

CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 23: Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels makes a catch against Alonzo Saxton II #21 and Mark Gilbert #28 of the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Duke won 27-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Duke – 4 votes

Georgia Tech – 2 votes

Ian: Although Tech’s offense is in the modern era after years and years of the triple option, the Yellow Jackets had their best player poached this offseason. Running Back Jahmyr Gibbs is off to Alabama, where he was a standout in the Tide’s spring game. Without Gibbs, the pressure is all on junior QB Jeff Sims to turn an inexperienced backfield and a ragtag bunch of young receivers into a productive unit. Geoff Collins might be on the hot seat soon.

Louisville – 1 vote

Biggest Surprise

Florida State – 2 votes

Carter: A strong 5-3 finish after that 0-4 start they had last year has my gut telling me they‚Äôve finally figured something out under Mike Norvell. Quarterback Jordan Travis (22 total TDs, 2,074 total yards) looks like a legitimate upper-sect starter in the ACC, and the team has some intriguing transfers on the offensive end like wideout Mycah Pittman  and running back Trey Benson, who both came over from Oregon. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller‚Äôs unit returns seven starters on what was already the ACC‚Äôs 5th best scoring defense. 

Louisville – 2 votes

John: Louisville has all the pieces to make a surprise run this season. Scott Satterfield enters his fourth year the helm and is ready to lead his program to the next step after an 18-19 showing in his first three seasons. The schedule is very favorable, UL’s road games include BC, UVA, Clemson, and Kentucky. The Cards should go 2-2 there at least, I believe they have what it takes to beat Clemson. Additionally, Louisville can get off to a hot start with potentially a 6-0 record heading into its bye week. Coming out of the week off, UL gets Pitt and Wake at home. Those are tough teams but the Cardinals should be well rested to compete. The final three game stretch it brutal: at Clemson, vs NC State, @ Kentucky. Go 1-2 there and you have a 9 or 10 win team in 2022 and nobody sees it coming. From a personnel standpoint, UL has the electric Malik Cunningham back and garnering about 4,000 yards of total offense one year ago. Additionally, there’s a three man rotation at running back with the addition of Tiyon Evans from Tennessee who can flat out play. Wide receiver is the biggest question mark but 3rd team All-ACC tight end Marshon Ford back they should be just fine. In the trenches, UL returns 4/5 starters on the o-line. On the other side of the ball in the interior d-line is a question mark but there’s experience back at defensive end. In the second level, 2nd team All-ACC linebacker Yasir Abdullah is holding it down with Kenderick Duncan shadowing behind at safety. Louisville wins games with its pistol spread offense, with all the weapons at the disposal of Satterfield, I believe the Cards can outpace the majority of their competition and shock the ACC in 2022.

Boston College – 1 vote

Miami – 1 vote

Biggest Disappointment

Miami – 3 votes

Liam: It doesn‚Äôt really have to do with (new head coach) Mario Cristobal. They were “meh” last year, and I don‚Äôt think they‚Äôve added enough to justify them being better than Pitt or even UNC. I also think (Redshirt Sophomore QB) Tyler Van Dyke will regress.

Boston College – 1 vote

North Carolina – 1 vote

Pitt – 1 vote

Where Syracuse Finishes in the ACC Atlantic

5th place – 3 votes

6th place – 1 vote

Last – 2 votes

We’ll explain Syracuse’s placement in-depth in our next “Polling the Fizz,” in which the Fizz team will pick SU’s team awards.

The Fizz is owned, edited and operated by Damon Amendolara. D.A. is an ’01 Syracuse graduate from the Newhouse School with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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