2009 ACC Football Preseason Predictions: Hokies Picked to Win the ACC

The 2009 ACC Preseason Poll has been released, and Virginia Tech is predicted
to win their division and claim the ACC Championship, according to media votes.
The media members also announced their 2009 Preseason Player of the Year.

The Hokies are projected to defeat Florida State in the ACC Championship
Game, and then go on to represent the ACC in the BCS for the fourth time in six
seasons. Here’s a look at how the voting breaks down, with first place votes in
parentheses.

As expected, the media believes the Atlantic Division has more parity than
the Coastal Division. Four teams from the Atlantic Division received first place votes,
while only Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech received votes to win the Coastal
Division. The Hokies were the overwhelming favorite to win the Coastal.

69 of 87 voters chose Virginia Tech to win the ACC Championship Game. Seven
selected Florida State and Georgia Tech, while Clemson and NC State had two
votes each.

Georgia Tech tailback Jonathan Dwyer was chosen as the Preseason Player of
the Year. He averaged 107 rushing yards per game last year and was the ACC
Player of the Year. He will seek to be the first back-to-back Player of the Year
winner since Charlie Ward.

Dwyer received 39 votes, with Clemson’s C.J. Spiller coming in second with
28. NC State’s Russell Wilson had 16 votes, while Vic Hall (UVA), Christian
Ponder (FSU), Tyrod Taylor (VT) and Riley Skinner (Wake) had one vote each.