The 2010-2011 bowl schedule has been posted, and it will be updated as information becomes available. As much as I would love to cover the national championship this season (and every season), I remain a skeptic about the ACC's chances of producing one of the top two teams in the country this year. That being said, it could be a great bowl season for the conference if some teams (ahem, Miami, Florida State) live up to the hype.
The order of bowl selection will be: the FedEx Orange Bowl or BCS followed by the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Brut Sun Bowl, the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl and the Eagle Bank Bowl.
Here's a way-too-early guess as to who's in and who's out in 2010:
BANK ON IT:
Florida State --If first-year coach Jimbo Fisher can't get that loaded offense to win six games, then maybe North Alabama is hiring?
Boston College -- Regardless of who their quarterback is, the Eagles should be able to scrape together six wins from a schedule that includes Weber State, Kent State and Syracuse.
Clemson -- Redemption against Maryland and South Carolina should help the Tigers reach the postseason.
Georgia Tech --The Jackets are a Top-25 team with a favorable nonconference schedule and get Miami at home.
Virginia Tech -- This is a top-10 team hoping for bigger things than just a top-tier bowl.
North Carolina --Anything but the Meineke Car Care Bowl, please.
Miami -- The Canes have made back-to-back bowl appearances under Randy Shannon. Now it's time to win one.
NOT SO FAST:
NC State --The nonconference schedule could be tricky with two road trips and a home game against Cincinnati, but this could be a seven- or eight-win team. But can the Pack stay healthy and out of trouble?
Maryland --The pressure will be on coach Ralph Friedgen after a 2-10 finish last year, so there's not much choice but to get to the postseason this year. But will he have the offensive line and quarterback to get them there?
MAYBE NEXT YEAR:
Wake Forest --The Deacs have too many questions on the offensive line and too much inexperience at quarterback.
Duke -- The uncertainty on the defensive line, the inexperience at quarterback and the lack of a running game lead me to believe the Blue Devils need one more year.
Virginia -- Don't expect too much too soon in the first year under coach Mike London. He's got a lot of work to do, and it starts with recruiting.