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ACC Football 2015 Season Preview and Predictions

By Jack Crosby

Sep 6, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; A general view of a yard marker with the ACC logo during the first quarter against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Tigers won 73-7. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; A general view of a yard marker with the ACC logo during the first quarter against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Tigers won 73-7. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) gestures while running onto the field prior to the Panthers game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers won 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) gestures while running onto the field prior to the Panthers game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers won 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Biggest Darkhorse Candidate To Win The Conference: Pitt Panthers

All things considered, when you look at the landscape of the Coastal Division, you can probably pick any team outside of Virginia to take the whole thing when all is said and done. But one team that really sticks out as someone that can surprise a lot of people who aren’t picking them in the preseason is the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Pat Narduzzi is entering his first season as head coach of Pitt, meaning that he’ll be putting a lot of emphasis on fixing a defense that has been not up to par the past few seasons, to say the least. The man has been considered a borderline genius during his time at Michigan State as he put together some of the best defenses in the nation. We don’t know just how much yet, but you can bet that you’ll see an improved Pitt defense on that field in 2015.

Now, offensively? Well, there’s really no question here that this team might have the best trio in the nation. In a sense, they have their own version of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith.

Quarterback Chad Voytik returns for another season at the helm of Pitt after his first season as a starter in 2014. Last year Voytik completed 61 percent of his passes and threw for 2.233 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

His go-to man in the passing game, wide receiver Tyler Boyd, is also back for another year, although he’ll have to miss the opening game against Youngstown State following a DUI arrest this off-season. Still, Boyd is one of the most versatile threats in the entire nation. As a sophomore last season, he followed up a tremendous freshman campaign by catching 78 balls for 1,261 yards with eight touchdowns. Once again, he and Voytik will be looking to damage some secondaries when he returns from suspension for the September 12 game against Akron.

Then, we have James Conner, who may be the most bruising running back in the entire country. There are a lot of good backs this year, but none may be feared by defenses more than Conner is. In his sophomore season last year, Conner demolished opposing defenses to the tune of 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns. A year older as a junior now, there’s no reason to believe that Conner might not surpass the 2,000-yard barrier.

The offense is there for this team to get it done, plus they don’t have Florida State or Clemson on the regular season slate. If Narduzzi does polish up the defense a bit, then don’t be surprised if the Panthers are making a trip to Charlotte in early December.

Next: Most Overrated Team