July 21, 2008
GREENSBORO, Ga. – Georgia Tech was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division by the media attending the 2008 ACC Kickoff at Reynolds Plantation.
Virginia Tech, which received 58 of 65 first-place votes, was the overwhelming choice to finish first in the Coastal Division. Clemson , which earned a similar number of votes, was the pick to emerge on top of the Atlantic Division. The media went on to predict Clemson to beat Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game in Tampa Bay.
So, what does the preseason poll mean to Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson?
“Nothing,” Johnson said. “I am hoping that we can be good enough where we can surprise a few people.”
The media expects a number of teams to battle for second place in the Coastal. North Carolina, which received four first-place votes, finished second in the preseason poll for the division. Miami finished ahead of Tech in third place. The Yellow Jackets, in fourth place, were picked to finish ahead of fifth-place Virginia and sixth-place Duke.
In the Atlantic Division, Clemson was predicted to finish ahead of Wake Forest, Florida State, Boston College, Maryland and NC State.
The media has not correctly picked Georgia Tech’s ACC finish since 1999. Last year the Yellow Jackets were tabbed to finish second in the Coastal and ended the season in third place. The previous season, in 2006, the Jackets were picked to finish third in the division and ultimately played in the ACC championship game.
2008 ACC Football Preseason Poll
Coastal Votes
Virginia Tech (58) 383
North Carolina (4) 288
Miami (1) 253
Georgia Tech (1) 195
Virginia (1) 161
Duke 85
Atlantic Votes
Clemson (59) 383
Wake Forest (5) 304
Florida State (1) 265
Boston College 154
Maryland 147
NC State 112
ACC Championship Game Winner: Clemson (51)
