Last year, we outscored our ACC opponents' average pts allowed by at least 6 pts (except VPI three points below and FSU right at). When you consider that we averaged close to two fewer possessions game, that seems to me to be a significant indicator.
While I'm concerned a bit about perimeter blocking, I just can't see us falling off that much in offense. CPJ still seems to me to have Jedi powers when it comes to play calling across a whole game. The only game that I ever felt CPJ may have met his coaching-match was last year's BYU game. So, my gut tells me that CPJ really doesn't want to let that happen again. So, that being said, I expect our offense to play somewhere between 2008 and 2012, not quite up to 2009, 2011 but not as sporadically as 2010.
When it comes to Defense, VPI still sets the standard for the ACC Coastal. Their cross-divisional games last year were BC (rival) and FSU. They ended up 18th in yds/game and 17th in yds/play nationally. That's including their games against Pitt and Cincy where they crapped the bed. While VPI oversigns and so still has somewhat better recruiting classes, they are not that much better. I think they've had the success they've had on Defense because Bud Foster is a legitimately good DC. If Roof can bring that to us, then I reckon we're gonna be really good.
So, my expectations:
1) Offense about the same as 2012 but no worse than 2008.
2) Defense getting more pride, more stops.
3) About the same O and improved D should give us wins against VPI, Miami, and CU from last year, we likely lose 1. I think CPJ wants BYU, so I put that into a likely win. I think we match-up well against UNC and should win that. I expect us to be competitive against U[sic]Ga but recognize that we'll be projected not to be.
3b) So, I expect 9 wins but looking for 11, hoping one of them is U[sic]Ga.