The ACC wrapped up its annual Football Kickoff today and released the media's selections for ACC champion and awards. The results have the Hokies tabbed to win the Coastal Division and lose to Florida State in the ACC Championship Game.
Virginia Tech received 66 of 71 first-place votes in the division with Miami getting four and Georgia Tech getting one. Florida State was just as overwhelmingly favored in the Atlantic with the Noles gathering 65 first-place votes, Clemson four and Boston College two.
Not surprisingly, Florida State was also tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the conference. What surprised me a little was that 50 of 71 voters picked them. I kind of expected it to be closer, but with the Hokies having to replace a quarterback and two running backs, it's not a shock to see the Noles favored to win the league.
Boston College's Montel Harris was picked as the preseason player of the year by the ACC media, receiving 26 votes. The Hokies' David Wilson was the only player on the team to receive votes, finishing fourth with eight.
Since going to divisional play, the Hokies have been picked to win the Coastal six of seven years with the only exception being 2006 when Miami was picked to win the division, the Hokies were picked second and Georgia Tech won.
According to Patrick Stevens' research, the Hokies have slightly under-performed compared to the media's preseason expectations, but when you're picked first every year, it's kind of tough t out-perform them. The two best teams against expectations, Boston College and Georgia Tech, were picked to finish fourth in their respective divisions this year, but did receive some first place votes.