65 Predictions, #57

#57: The ACC will not have 10 bowl-eligible teams again this season. Last season the ACC set a record with their 10 bowl games. Since the expansion to 12 teams in 2004, they have had 8 bowl-eligible teams every season. There were two main reasons behind the jump to 10 last year: non-conference record (which you could argue is because they are a superior conference or that they scheduled mostly patsies outside of the conference), and the fact that there were no dominant teams at the top (you could argue that is parity because the teams at the bottom got better or that it is parity because the teams at the top got worse).

You want to talk schedules, ACC teams only play one more game against BCS teams (not counting Notre Dame) out of conference than they do against I-AA teams, 15-14. Last year, they played BCS teams 18 times and I-AA teams 15. Using that as the only criteria (I know it isn't very robust but whatever) I would say the schedule has eased slightly this year.

I predict they won't get 10 teams bowling this year because of the resurgence of some dominant teams at the top, leaving fewer wins left for the bottom. Last year, BC, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech combined for 12 losses in conference by the top 4 in the league (in 2007 the top 4 combined for 8 ACC losses, 9 in 2006, and 9 in 2005). This year, the ACC losses by the top 4 will go back to 9, leaving 3 less wins available for those trying to get bowl eligible. Maybe their slightly weaker non-conference schedule this year will make up for those 3 wins, but I'm predicting only 8 or 9 bowl-eligible ACC teams.