ACC Football 2018 Preview: Can anyone stop Clemson?

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers accepts the ACC Football Championship trophy from ACC Commissioner John Swofford following the Tigers' victory over the Miami Hurricanes at Bank of America Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

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CLEMSON, SC – APRIL 14: The football team runs down the hill to the field before the game in the Clemson Spring Football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Clemson, SC..(Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Conference Champion – Clemson

Picking anyone else to win the ACC this season would be a great example of trying to over-complicate an issue. The Tigers have the most talent in this league and they are the defending champions. Clemson isn’t a lock to win the league, but they are the strong favorite for a lot of very valid reasons.

The defense is going to be the strength of this team from the outset. The only question for Swinney is whether he can get the offense up to speed quick enough to compete for a national title. History says that Swinney can find a way to get the group to score enough points to win a lot of football games.

Florida State fans will rest their title hopes on sophomore Cam Akers, but he doesn’t have quite enough help to get the Seminoles over the top. Similarly, Virginia Tech and Miami probably need another season or two under their relatively new coaches to legitimately challenge the Tigers.

The irony here is that winning an ACC Championship isn’t going to be Clemson’s primary goal this season. Swinney and the Tigers’ coaching staff will have their squad focused squarely on going back to the College Football Playoff. This season is about winning a national championship for Clemson. Winning a league title is just a means to an end.

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