Before we get to the ACC bowl projections, here’s a quick look at the tie-ins for this season:
College Football Playoff
- Rose Bowl
- Sugar Bowl
ACC Champion (or top non-CFP team)
Orange Bowl
First Pick
Camping World Bowl
First Tier (in no order)
- Belk Bowl
- Sun Bowl
- Pinstripe Bowl
- Music City Bowl/Tax Slayer Bowl
Second Tier (in no order)
- Independence Bowl
- Military Bowl
- Quick Lane Bowl
- St. Petersburg Bowl (if AAC or CUSA can’t fill their spot)
- Birmingham Bowl (if ACC or SEC can’t fill their spot)
ACC Bowl Projections 2017
Boston College
- Best case: Quick Lane Bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: No bowl
The Eagles are leaps and bounds better than they were two years ago, but the Atlantic division is just too tough to break through with 6 wins.
Clemson
- Best case: College Football Playoff
- Worst case: Belk Bowl
- SC8 projection: Orange Bowl
The ACC will have one team in the playoff, but Clemson will drop that 2nd game somewhere in the Atlantic schedule to keep us from getting two.
Florida State
- Best case: College Football Playoff
- Worst case: Camping World Bowl
- SC8 projection: College Football Playoff
The Noles could be a two-loss team, but with that schedule and an ACC championship, the committee can’t keep them out.
Louisville
- Best case: Orange Bowl
- Worst case: Pinstripe Bowl
- SC8 projection: Pinstripe Bowl
Louisville has by far the best player in the conference, but they have the 4th best team in the Atlantic.
NC State
- Best case: Orange Bowl
- Worst case: Sun Bowl
- SC8 projection: Camping World Bowl
The College Football Playoff talk is fun, but the Pack doesn’t have the team to keep pace with that dream. The 3rd best roster in the Atlantic will be too good to pass up for the Camping World Bowl.
Syracuse
- Best case: Pinstripe Bowl
- Worst case: Quick Lane Bowl
- SC8 projection: Quick Lane Bowl
Six wins and a name that doesn’t carry much excitement among bowl reps gets you a trip to Detroit. But Syracuse is on the come up.
Wake Forest
- Best case: Independence Bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: St. Petersburg Bowl
Prepare for the “5-7 teams shouldn’t make bowl games” hot takes, but a 5-7 Wake team would beat a lot of 6 or 7 win teams. And back to back bowls for the Deacs is something to be proud of.
Duke
- Best case: Music City Bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: Belk Bowl
We believe this to be the first published bowl projection that includes the Blue Devils, but Duke will either be playing in Charlotte in the ACC Championship Game or in the Belk Bowl, depending on which side of the Coastal tie-breaker they fall.
Georgia Tech
- Best case: Belk Bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: Independence Bowl
The Jackets will both win and lose games they’re not supposed to en route to Shreveport, but nobody will be complaining about back-to-back wins against the SEC to end the season.
Miami
- Best case: College Football Playoff
- Worst case: TaxSlayer Bowl
- SC8 projection: TaxSlayer Bowl
We’re not convinced of Miami’s back-ness until we see it with our own eyes. They’ll have a good enough record for the Camping World Bowl, but they’d rather sell tickets to State fans than have empty seats.
North Carolina
- Best case: Belk Bowl
- Worst case: Military Bowl
- SC8 projection: Military Bowl
7-5 sounds about right for the Heels, and it would be tough for Charlotte to pass on UNC for a 2nd straight year, but hands will be tied by selection rules that somewhat protect order of finish.
Pitt
- Best case: Pinstripe Bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: No bowl
This is our shocking pick, not because we HAVE to have one, but because Pitt’s schedule is brutal. They’ll be a talented team with a good coach sitting at home because of two non-conference games against top 10 teams and two crossover games against teams that are better than they are. This season could go south quickly for the Panthers.
Virginia
- Best case: No bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: No bowl
Just please beat UConn.
Virginia Tech
- Best case: Camping World Bowl
- Worst case: Military Bowl
- SC8 projection: Sun Bowl
Here’s a hot take – the only reason Virginia Tech is getting preseason buzz is because they’re the least controversial foil to the rash of “The U is back” takes.
Notre Dame
- Best case: Pinstripe Bowl
- Worst case: No bowl
- SC8 projection: No bowl
*whispers* “Last year wasn’t a fluke. The team isn’t great and no one amplifies problems like Brian Kelly”
