ACC PREVIEW

AP Sports Writer

updated 5:19 a.m. ET Aug. 8, 2008

Someday, Tommy Bowden says, the fortunes of the Atlantic Coast Conference are going to change.

The Clemson coach is acutely aware of the perceptions about the ACC, a league whose members have lost their last eight appearances in Bowl Championship Series games, haven't boasted a national champion since Florida State in 1999 and tend to struggle against squads from power conferences.

And he doesn't let it bother him one bit.

"Things go in cycles. And this'll go in cycles. It's just a matter of time," Bowden said. "College football's too competitive and there's too many good coaches, I think, for one league or one team to be dominant."

His Tigers might be the ones to change that cycle.

For the first time since 1991, Clemson is the favorite to win the ACC title, even though there's no shortage of contenders.

Florida State and Miami, the perennial league benchmarks, are coming off struggles and might not be ready to reclaim past glory quite yet. Defending champion Virginia Tech is talented, yet has numerous holes to fill. Wake Forest has experience and skill, yet was no match for Clemson a year ago. Georgia Tech is installing new coach Paul Johnson's triple option attack and North Carolina hasn't occupied one of the ACC's top two spots since 1997.

So everything points to Clemson — and the Tigers insist they're finally poised to break through.

"I think if we don't make it to the ACC championship, we let some people down," Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper said.

Thing is, with Clemson's penchant for failing to live up to advanced billing, expectations are high almost everywhere in the ACC. Miami believes this will be a bounce-back year, as does Florida State. North Carolina, with as much talent as perhaps any team in the league, could be on the cusp of a breakthrough.

And then there's defending champion Virginia Tech, which always finds a way to get into the title mix.

"I was surprised that we would be picked to be at the top of our division, to be quite honest with you," said Hokies coach Frank Beamer, who had eight players drafted off last year's team, which fell in the Orange Bowl to Kansas. "I think everybody on our side has a chance."

A capsule look at the teams in predicted order of finish:

ATLANTIC DIVISION
CLEMSON
Key players: QB Cullen Harper, Sr.; RB C.J. Spiller, Jr.; RB James Davis, Sr.; S Michael Hamlin, Sr. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: The consensus pick to win the ACC doesn't have to face Virginia Tech, North Carolina or Miami this season — but visits Wake Forest on Oct. 9 in the game that could decide the Atlantic title. ... Much offensive talent returns, but everything hinges on the offensive line, which lost almost everyone from '07.

WAKE FOREST
Key players: QB Riley Skinner, Jr.; RB Josh Adams, So.; LB Aaron Curry, Jr.; CB Alphonso Harris, Sr. Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense.

Notes: Skinner, Curry and the Demon Deacons won't surprise anyone this year, the way they did two years ago on their stirring run to the ACC title. ... Perhaps the most defensive depth in the ACC, and Sam Swank should be the best kicker in the conference.

FLORIDA STATE
Key players: QB Drew Weatherford, Sr.; RB Antone Smith, Sr.; DE Everette Brown, Jr.; S Myron Rolle, Jr. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Bobby Bowden's farewell season? Maybe so, especially if the Seminoles go 7-6 again. ... Early season suspensions will be tempered by soft schedule, but unless Weatherford plays consistently and Smith becomes the star he's long been touted to be, it could be another angst-filled year in Tallahassee.

MARYLAND
Key players: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jr.; LB Dave Philistin, Sr.; LB Moise Fokou, Sr. Returning starters: 9 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: Terps have best offensive line in the ACC and have most of the offensive starters back from '07, when inconsistency doomed chances. ... Maryland beat Rutgers and outscored Boston College in a shootout in '07, but losing TBs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore (combined 25 TDs) could be tough to overcome.

BOSTON COLLEGE
Key players: DT Ron Brace, Sr.; LB Brian Toal, Sr.; LB Mark Herzlich, Jr.; TE Ryan Purvis, Sr. Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: In the unenviable situation of trying to replace QB Matt Ryan, but the Eagles' defense gets a huge boost with Toal returning from injury. ... Defending Atlantic Division champions will be led by strong defense in '08, a unit that was the second-best nationally against the run in '07.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Key players: TB Jamelle Eugene, Jr.; TE Anthony Hill, Jr.; DE Willie Young, Jr. Returning starters: 6 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Finished strongly in Tom O'Brien's first season with Wolfpack and looking to carry that momentum over. ... Most of the offensive skill players are back, but the defense — which lost seven starters — will need an overhaul. ... Visits to South Carolina and Clemson in season's first three weeks will set the tone.