Writers Pick Virginia Football To Finish Last In Coastal Division

A poll of 167 writers has picked the University of Virginia football program to finish seventh in the Coastal Division this coming season. Florida State and Miami are the preseason favorites to win the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions with the Seminoles the preseason pick to win the 2017 ACC Championship.

Clemson, the winner of last year’s ACC and National Championships, has been picked to finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division. FSU leads the entire conference in first-place vote and point tallies with 121 and 1,108, respectively. Head coach Jimbo Fisher’s group received 118 ACC Championship votes, far more than any other school (Clemson (35) was the only other school in double digits). Miami received 103 first place votes and 1,065 points.

Virginia’s 219 points are the fewest in the entire conference, 64 behind Atlantic Division foe Boston College.

2017 SEASON PREDICTION, COASTAL DIVISION

1. Miami (103 first place votes) – 1,065 points
2. Virginia Tech (40) – 932 points
3. Georgia Tech (9) – 708 points
4. Pitt (7) – 673 points
5. North Carolina (4) – 606 points
6. Duke (4) – 473 points
7. Virginia – 219 points

2017 SEASON PREDICTION, ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Florida State (121) – 1,108 points
2. Clemson (37) – 1,007 points
3. Louisville (9) – 843 points
4. NC State – 658 points
5. Wake Forest – 415 points
6. Syracuse – 362 points
7. Boston College – 283 points

2017 ACC CHAMPION PREDICTION

1. Florida State – 118
2. Clemson – 35
3. Louisville – 7
T4. Virginia Tech – 4
T4. Miami – 4
6. Duke – 1

UVA, which lost seven offensive starters and three defensive starters from last year’s 2-10 squad, begins its 2017 conference schedule with Duke in Scott Stadium on October 7. Also in Coastal Division action, UVA travels to UNC on October 14 and Pittsburgh on October 28, hosts Georgia Tech on November 4, heads to Miami on November 18 and takes on Virginia Tech at home November 24. The Cavaliers meet two Atlantic Division teams this season, hosting Boston College on October 21 and heading to Louisville on November 11.

No Cavalier player received a vote for ACC Player of the Year. Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, received 113 votes to grab the honor. Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois finished second in the voting with 23 followed by Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with 11. No other player received double digit votes.