2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 102
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 83

The glory days of the Maryland Terrapins are over. After an embarrassing two win season in 2009, the Terps have a new quarterback and a lot of holes to fill. Head coach Ralph Friedgen will likely be on his way out, as 2010 does not look very bright.

Jamarr Robinson will be stepping in as the new starting quarterback for Maryland. He played ok in limited appearances last season, especially with his legs. Using his 4.5 second 40 yard speed, he rushed for 129 yards against Virginia Tech. His main receiving target will be junior Torrey Smith. Smith caught 61 passes for 824 yards and will once again be the focal point of the passing game. Adrian Cannon and Ronnie Tyler provide decent depth at the position. Da’Rel Scott will start at tailback after gaining 448 yards rushing in an injury shortened season. In 2008, Scott was named first team All-ACC after rushing for 1,133 yards so he has the talent to get the job done. The offensive line was poor last year, and after the loss of Bruce Campbell should be worse. Look for the line to again rank as the worst in the ACC.

Three starters are gone from both the defensive line and secondary. However, the defensive tackles A.J. Francis and Joe Vellano, should be strong up the middle. Francis was an ACC Freshman All American in 2009. The linebackers return all three starters and are the strength of the team. Middle linebacker Alex Wujciak was 8th in the nation with 131 tackles last year and is on the Nagurski and Lott trophy lists watch. Adrian Moten led the team in sacks and Demetrius Hartsfield was on the All-ACC freshman team.

While there are some bright spots, Maryland’s chances as a contender are slim in 2010. The team is rebuilding and has some quality talent, so look for the Terps to be back in the mix in a couple of years.

Maryland’s odds to win the ACC: + 6000

A Look Back – Injuries really crippled the Miami Dolphins in 2009, as the losses of both QB Chad Pennington and RB Ronnie Brown were devastating for their hopes of making the playoffs. Brown is back, but Pennington’s replacement, Chad Henne, now has the pressure on his shoulders for leading the franchise into the next generation.

Key Addition – WR Brandon Marshall – The Dolphins have been craving a legitimate #1 receiver for years. They’ve finally found it in the form of Marshall, who absolutely busted out as one of the Top 5 receivers in the NFL last year. He caught an NFL record 21 passes in a game in 2009 and could pull off a similar stunt if Henne only has eyes for him at some point this year. The key is going to be staying out of trouble off the field, as South Beach provides plenty of opportunities for Marshall and his entourage to get into danger.

Key Loss – LB Joey Porter – Porter was a veteran presence in the linebacking corps for the Fins since coming to Miami. He proved that he still had some game left in the tank by averaging double digits in sacks for his team in South Beach. Porter does have some replacements available for him, most notably second round draft pick Koa Misi and former Arizona Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby, but no one is going to have the motor and desire that Porter does to reach opposing quarterbacks.

2010 Will Be a Success if... – Brown and RB Ricky Williams continue to carry the load. That duo needs to be good for 2,000+ yards this season for Miami to have a chance of making the playoffs. There are several teams with amazing rush defenses that the Fins will run up against this year, and if they can’t successfully run the ball on all of them, the defense probably isn’t going to prove to be good enough to get the job done often enough to reach the second season.

The Crucial Game – The game in the Meadowlands on December 12th could be the difference between getting into the playoffs and missing them for the Dolphins. Either New York or New England is probably going to have to be beaten in order to make the second season, and a win in the Big Apple would go a long way to punching the Dolphins ticket. Pretty much “gimme” home games against Buffalo and Detroit lurk immediately after that game and Chicago, Oakland, and Cleveland are directly before it. Don’t be shocked if a win against the Jets puts the Fins on a six game winning streak by the time it’s all said and done.

Predictions – Miami might have a favorable schedule down the stretch, but that doesn’t mean that it is a playoff team waiting to happen. The Fins have plenty of work to do and have to improve, particularly on defense, throughout the season in order to reach the playoffs. Don’t expect this to be the year that happens. The Miami Dolphins regular season wins over/under is 8.5 wins.

2010 Miami Dolphins Regular Season Schedule

9/12 @ BUF
9/19 @ MIN
9/26 vs. NYJ
10/4 vs. NE
Bye
10/17 @ GB
10/24 vs. PIT
10/31 @ CIN
11/7 @ BAL
11/14 vs. TEN
11/18 vs. CHI
11/28 @ OAK
12/5 vs. CLE
12/12 @ NYJ
12/19 vs. BUF
12/26 vs. DET
1/2 @ NE

2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 74
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 20

How does a team respond after losing its game breaking star running back and top two receivers? That is the question facing the Clemson Tigers in 2010. Playmaking runner/receiver/returner C.J. Spiller was a top 10 draft pick, and wide receiver Jacoby Ford and tight end Michael Palmer have also moved on.

Luckily for the Tigers, quarterback Kyle Parker will be returning after throwing 2,526 yards and 20 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. He should be even better as he matures and develops. He will not have the luxury of having Spiller in the backfield, but tailback replacements Jamie Harper and Andre Ellingtonare no slouches. In back up roles last year, they combined for 900 yards rushing and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Replacing the departed receivers will be trickier. Senior Xavier Dye caught the most passes of any returning receiver and he only had 14. Sophomore tight end Dwayne Allen has potential after catching 3 touchdowns on only 10 receptions in 2009. The offensive line returns four starters who boast much experience. The problem is there is almost no depth behind the starters. If injuries hit the guys up front, Clemson’s season could go down the tubes.

The Tigers’ defense will also have to deal with its share of losses. Both starting cornerbacks, two starting linebackers and sack leader Ricky Sapp are gone. Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson will be the leaders up front, and Brandon Maye provides some experience at linebacker. All three linebacker spots are up in the air though, and will be determined as the season gets closer. Safety DeAndre McDaniel passed on the NFL and will return for his senior season and is a preseason All-American in 2010. Marcus Gilchrist will move from safety to corner, and Byron Maxwell will start opposite him.

After having a strong 2009 season, Clemson will have to rebound from losing a lot of talent. The team consistently recruits well though, this year’s class ranking 19th in the country according to rivals.com. Question marks abound, but if things go their way, Clemson will be in the hunt for the ACC championship once again.

Clemson’s odds to win the ACC: + 500

2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 28
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 108

For the first time in 34 years, Bobby Bowden will not be the head coach of the Florida State Seminoles. Jimbo Fisher takes over the team and hopes he will be able to have even a fraction of the success Bowden did. With new defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, Fisher will try to bring Florida State back to prominence.

There are high hopes in Tallahassee with the return of senior quarterback Christian Ponder. An early Heisman trophy candidate, Ponder played well last season before getting injured in the ninth game. He still threw for 2,717 yards and 14 touchdowns before he separated his shoulder. Some scouts rank him as the best returning senior quarterback in the nation. Last year’s leading receiver Rod Owens is gone, but Bert Reed should be an adequate replacement as the number one. Jarmon Forston will try to contribute on a more consistent basis and Taiwan Easterling gives the team decent depth.

The entire offensive line returns for the second year in a row. With 142 career starts between them, this is one of the most experienced lines in the country and they should excel once again. Last year’s leading rusher, Jermaine Thomas, will again see plenty of action after averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He will be getting some competition though from Chris Thompson. There is a ton of depth at tailback, so the Seminoles will use a running by back committee philosophy.

Florida State’s defense was dreadful in 2009. The new coordinator is installing more zone and blitz packages to improve from last season. The team may have an entirely new secondary, but young cornerbacks Greg Reid, Ochuko Jenjie and Xavier Rhodes should get the job done. Linebacker Nigel Bradham returns after leading the team with 93 tackles. Mister Alexander will try to improve on his five sack total, as the pass rush along the entire line needs to be better.

The Seminole faithful are expecting a lot out of their team in 2010. The offense should do its part, but the defense is another story. With some strong offenses in the ACC, Florida State has a chance to win it all, or finish in the middle of the pack.

Florida State’s odds to win the ACC: + 300

2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 98
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 26

The Boston College Eagles had a strong season in 2009, winning eight games and making the Emerald Bowl. Their top flight defense lost some talent, but the team still has what it takes to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

26 year old sophomore quarterback Dave Shinskie returns as the starter. The former baseball player had a decent season last year, throwing for just over 2,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He should be better with another year of experience under his belt. His top receiving target Rich Gunnell, the school’s career leader in receiving yards, is gone. The team’s second leading receiver Colin Larmond will step in to the number one role after gaining 596 yards with a 20.6 yards per catch average.

Regardless of the passing game, the strength of the team is on the ground. The offensive line returns four starters, led by left tackle Anthony Castonzo, and should be one of the best in the conference. Running back Montel Harris is also one of the best in the conference. Harris set freshman and sophomore rushing records at B.C. in his first two years. Last season he gained 1,554 yards on the ground. His projected backup, Rolandan Finch tore his ACL in the spring and will miss the season. Because of this, the depth at the running back position is thin.

The Eagles’ defense was great in 2009. Five starters are gone, including defensive linemen Austin Giles and Jim Ramella. The biggest story of the defense though, is the return of linebacker Mark Herzlich. The 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year sat out all last season while battling and overcoming bone cancer. How he will play in his return is unknown, but the leadership and courage he brings to the team is immeasurable. Joining him in the linebacking corps is Mike Morissey and Luke Kuechly, who finished second in the nation as a freshman with 158 tackles. The rest of the defense should remain solid and keep Boston College in all of its games.

If Shinskie can play better this season and the defensive transitions will not be too much, B.C. is a team to watch out for. A lot of the season rests on the legs of Harris, but the Eagles should again score about 8 or 9 wins this year.

Boston College’s odds to win the ACC: + 800

2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 69
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 61

The Duke Blue Devils are known as a basketball powerhouse. The football team, however, is starting to gain some traction in its efforts to rebuild. Losing starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis will hurt, but the team still has enough talent to turn some heads in the ACC.

Sean Renfree will be taking over at quarterback for the Blue Devils, but it remains to be seen how effective he will be coming back from a torn ACL. He showed flashes of promise as a redshirt freshman, and Duke hopes he will be able to utilize his talented group of receivers. Wide receivers Donovan Varner, Connor Vernon and Austin Kelly became the first trio in school history to record 50 catches each in the same season. The group is led by Varner, a first team All-ACC pick, who had over 1,000 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns.

The running game desperately needs to improve this year to give Renfree a chance. Last season, the Blue Devils ranked 9th nationally in passing offense, but dead last in rushing. Leading rusher sophomore Desmond Scott, the Durham native, rushed for 262 yards with an average of 3.7 yards per carry. Some of these problems started up front with the offensive line. The line returns a majority of starters from 2009 and must improve if this team is to be successful.

The defensive line will be the weakest unit on that side of the ball after losing four-year starter Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk. Also, John Drew was dismissed from the team for legal reasons after playing in every game as a freshman. Because of this lack of depth on the line, it is likely Duke will switch to a 3-4 system. The team has a very speedy secondary though, so they may make up for a weak pass rush.

Duke has some serious talent, especially on offense. The fate of the team will come down to the play in the trenches, on the offensive and defensive lines. If these units overachieve, the team has a chance to go .500. If they underperform though, this team will once again inhabit the cellar of the conference.

Duke’s odds to win the ACC: + 5000

A Look Back – The Jim Mora Jr. experiment certainly didn’t last all that long. After just one disgraceful season at 5-11, the Seahawks canned the younger Mora coach. Now, Seattle went to the collegiate ranks to take HC Pete Carroll from the purgatory known as USC. Carroll took over a team that has a pretty bare cupboard though, and a ton of work is there to be done.

Key Addition – RB Leon Washington – … Eventually. Washington showed that he has the spark to be a real threat as a featured back in this league with the New York Jets, and for a running game that ranked 26th in the NFL at 97.9 yards per game, that addition is important. However, there’s a question as to whether or not he’ll be ready for the outset of the year after breaking his leg last season.

Key Loss – OT Walter Jones – The great Walter Jones finally decided to call it a career in the offseason, which prompted the Seahawks to use their first pick in the NFL Draft on OT Russell Okung. The transition from one Hall of Fame caliber tackle to a potential Hall of Fame caliber tackle shouldn’t be a tough one, but that pick could’ve been used for a lot of other positions of need for the Seahawks.

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2010 Will Be a Success if… – The defense figures out how to get to the quarterback. This was a real problem last season and will likely be a trend once again. Because of the lack of a pass rush, the Seahawks surrendered 245.4 yards per game through the air last year, ranking third to last in the league. That won’t cut it again this season, and Carroll vows to bring a better pass rush to his new home.

The Crucial Game – The home game with San Fran to start the season is paramount. The Niners are the team to beat in the NFC West, and starting the season with a win at home will be crucial, especially with very winnable games coming immediately thereafter. The season badly needs to get off to a good start to get the “12th Man” engaged on a regular basis at Qwest Field.

Predictions – Carroll should improve this team this season, but it isn’t ready to make the jump back to the playoffs by any means. Seattle is still at least two years and a starting quarterback away from making that push again. It seems as though the days of QB Matt Hasselbeck are just about over, though it is clear that the veteran will start the season under center. Either he has to find the Fountain of Youth, or the Seahawks are going to face another disappointing 6-7 win season at best. Their odds to win the NFC are currently +2200.

2010 Seattle Seahawks Regular Season Schedule

9/12 vs. SF
9/19 @ DEN
9/26 vs. SD
10/3 @ STL
Bye
10/17 @ CHI
10/24 vs. ARI
10/31 @ OAK
11/7 vs. NYG
11/14 @ ARI
11/21 @ NO
11/28 vs. KC
12/5 vs. CAR
12/12 @ SF
12/19 vs. ATL
12/26 @ TB
1/2 vs. STL

2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 118
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 52

Is there anyone left on the Virginia Cavaliers’ offense? The team lost its starting quarterback and its top three running backs who were also three of the top four receivers. There is only one skill player left that had significant production in 2009, leading receiver Kris Burd. For a team that won only 3 games last season and has a new head coach, it will be another long season.

It’s rare to see so much offensive production leave a team all at once. Not that Virginia’s offense was any good last year, ranking ahead of only two schools in the nation. It will be up to quarterback Marc Verica to take over for the departed Jameel Sewell. Verica was the starting QB for most of 2008, but saw only mop up duty in 2009. The leading returning rusher from a year ago is Torrey Mack, who gained a total of 73 yards on the ground as a freshman at 3.2 yards per carry. The only relative threat on offense is Burd. He caught 31 passes for 413 yards last season to lead the team. The offensive line is not good, having given up almost 4 sacks a game in 2009.

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Virginia’s defense was not bad under former head coach Al Groh. This season though, new coach Mike London will be switching to a 4-3 system to improve the overall team speed. Three defensive backs will move to linebacker, Cam Johnson will move from LB to defensive end and Matt Conrath will move inside to defensive tackle. Leading tackler Steve Greer returns along with cornerback Ras-I Dowling. Dowling was named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List and is without question the Cavaliers’ best player.

Virginia is still in a rebuilding mode and will need to work through some growing pains in 2010. It will be a good opportunity for their young players to gain experience to prepare them for future seasons when they should return to relevance.

Virginia’s odds to win the ACC: + 2000

A Look Back – The San Francisco 49ers have been the team of “what if” for the past few seasons. What if they had started QB Alex Smith all last season? What if Mike Nolan was fired at the outset of the year in 2008? What if the offensive line had kept Smith upright for the second half of the season? This year should be a lot better than “what if,” though, as the 49ers are heavy favorites to win the NFC West.

Key Additions – OLs Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis – We’ve already mentioned a porous offensive line from last season, but that was addressed by the Niners right away in the NFL Draft. With a pair of first rounders, the Niners took both Iupati and Davis, both of which will immediately step in and start on the offensive line. Both of these linemen are big boys that love to run block, and they should help out RB Frank Gore quite a bit in the rushing game. Expect significantly better than 100.0 YPG on the ground this year.

Key Loss – DB Dre Bly – Bly is returning to Detroit, which is going to leave San Fran with a bit of a hole at the defensive back position. Bly had three picks last season, and he played in all 16 games. However, Bly was only a starter for six games last year and could be dispensable. If this is the biggest loss that the team has to deal with this year, the Niners should be in great shape.

2010 Will Be a Success if… – The offense really starts to kick it up a notch. Averaging just 290.8 YPG was disgraceful for a team that finished .500 last year, meaning if the offense can start to produce just a little more, San Fran could be incredibly dangerous. Just putting two new offensive linemen in the bunch could make a world of difference. Keep an eye on WR Michael Crabtree as well now that he has an entire training camp under his belt.

The Crucial Game – The home opener this year is incredibly important. In order to give the Niners something positive to go off of, beating the defending champs could be a huge boost. More importantly, it is the only game in the first four weeks of the year played at home, so to keep the fans engaged in San Fran, a victory in that game against the Saints in Week 2 could be huge.

Predictions – The schedule sets up so well for San Francisco this season it isn’t even funny. The rest of the NFC West is in shambles, and playing the NFC South and AFC West should make for a ton of easy games. Finishing with less than ten wins is going to be a disappointment. Not only could the NFC West crown be had, but a bye week isn’t totally out of the question in the playoffs as well. The oddsmakers don’t have a lot of faith in the 49ers once they make the playoffs as they pay +3100 in Super Bowl future lines.

2010 San Francisco 49ers Regular Season Schedule

9/12 @ SEA
9/20 vs. NO
9/26 @ KC
10/3 @ ATL
10/10 vs. PHI
10/17 vs. OAK
10/24 @ CAR
10/31 vs. DEN
Bye
11/14 vs. STL
11/21 vs. TB
11/29 @ ARI
12/5 @ GB
12/12 vs. SEA
12/16 @ SD
12/26 @ STL
1/2 vs. ARI

A Look Back – The Arizona Cardinals proved that their unlikely run to the Super Bowl two years ago wasn’t a fluke. Last year, they finished with a 10-6 record and once again won the NFC West. Though they couldn’t go on the road and win a playoff game again, no one is upset with a first round victory over the Green Bay Packers. The offseason was a tumultuous one though, as the team made a number of moves and gutted the team.

Key Loss – SS Antrel Rolle – Yes, losing QB Kurt Warner hurts, and yes, losing WR Anquan Boldin stings a bit as well, but at least we know that Matt Leinart and Steve Breaston are stepping into those roles respectively. Is there a replacement out there for Rolle? Half of Arizona’s starting secondary from last year was traded at some point during the offseason, which is horrifying news for a team that ranked 20th in the NFL in total defense and 23rd in pass defense.

Key Addition – LB Joey Porter – HC Ken Whisenhunt renews his ties with an old friend from the Pittsburgh Steelers days by bringing Porter in via free agency. There’s still clearly something left in the tank for the 33 year old, as he racked up 32 sacks in three seasons playing for Miami. There has definitely been some decline, but the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker will look great in Arizona red. Perhaps his pressure off the end can help mask some of the pains that the secondary will inevitably endure again this year.

2010 Will Be a Success if… – Someone can replace Warner effectively. Notice we said “someone” and not “Leinart.” Backup QB Derek Anderson was brought in from Cleveland to be a security blanket in case something happens to Leinart or he proves to be ineffective. Expect fifth round draft choice John Skelton to have his chances, particularly in the preseason as well. Leinart is too old now to be called a franchise quarterback, and he will have a short leash this year from Whisenhunt, who would probably rather have a different signal caller.

The Crucial Game – The only hope that the Cards will have this year is winning the NFC West yet again, and the only way they do that is by holding serve against the 49ers. The home game on Monday Night Football on November 29th is the most important game of the entire season. There are enough winnable games on the slate at the outset of the season to make this one count for keeps. However, if the two teams are on level terms going into January 2nd’s duel in San Fran, that game will clearly take the cake.

Predictions - Though we don’t think much of this team, we know that seven games combined against the Rams, Seahawks, Bucs, Raiders, Chiefs, and Panthers should yield at least six wins or so. Are there any more than that on the slate, though? We tend to think that .500 is a possibility, but it’s hard to put Arizona in the playoffs playing a first place schedule in comparison to San Fran playing a second place one. That’s reflected in their Super Bowl futures which list the Cardinals at +6000.

2010 Arizona Cardinals Regular Season Schedule

9/12 @ STL
9/19 @ ATL
9/26 vs. OAK
10/3 @ SD
10/10 vs. NO
Bye
10/24 @ SEA
10/31 vs. TB
11/7 @ MIN
11/14 vs. SEA
11/21 @ KC
11/29 vs. SF
12/5 vs. STL
12/12 vs. DEN
12/19 @ CAR
12/25 vs. DAL
1/2 @ SF