GREENSBORO, N.C. — Virginia Tech and Florida State were picked to win their divisions and meet in the ACC Championship game, according to a media poll conducted at the ACC Football Kickoff.
The Hokies, defending conference champions, were the overwhelming choice to defeat FSU in the title game, which will be played in Tampa on Dec. 5.
 JOHNNY CRAWFORD/Cox Newspapers Georgia Tech's Tyler Melton (84) is tackled by Virginia Tech Davon Morgan (2) and Stephan Virgil (22) on Saturday, 9/13/2008 at Virginia Tech. For a larger, high resolution image, click HERE |
Miami was selected to finish fourth in the Coastal Division behind Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Virginia Tech was a decisive favorite to win the Coastal Division, receiving 78 of 87 first-place votes. Georgia Tech received the other nine first-place votes. The Hokies were also predicted to win the conference title game on 69 ballots compared to FSU's seven votes.
Voting was more balanced in the Atlantic Division where four teams were chosen to finish first. The Seminoles were named to win on 56 ballots followed by Clemson (14), North Carolina State (10) and Wake Forest (7).
Georgia Tech tailback Jonathan Dwyer was selected as the 2009 Preseason ACC Player of the Year. Dwyer earned 39 votes, besting Clemson's C.J. Spiller, who received 28 votes.
Atlantic Division (first-place votes in parentheses):
1. Florida State (56) 479, 2. Clemson (14) 387, 3. NC State (10) 364, 4. Wake Forest (7) 295, 5. Maryland 157, 6. Boston College 145.
Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech (78) 512, 2. Georgia Tech (9) 415, 3. North Carolina 350, 4. Miami 282, 5. Virginia 148, 6. Duke 120.
Preseason ACC Player of the Year
1. Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) 39, 2. C.J. Spiller (Clemson) 28, 3. Russell Wilson (NC State) 16, 4. Christian Ponder (FSU) 1, Vic Hall (Virginia) 1, Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech) 1, Riley Skinner (Wake Forest) 1.
Jorge Milian writes for The Palm Beach Post. E-mail: jorge(underscore)milian(at)pbpost.com.
