No. 8 – Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-6 in 2016)
A bowl win to end the season salvaged a late season collapse that saw the Deacs go 1-5 in the second half of the year. That doesn’t give me a lot of confidence for them in 2017.
No. 7 – Syracuse Orange (4-8 in 2016)
Yes, the men from Western New York looked bad against in the final road game of this season – but they were injury plugged and should be light years better when healthy next year.
No. 6 – N.C. State Wolfpack (7-6 in 2016)
Losing four games by seven points or less this season show that this is a team that may not win the Atlantic Division, but can certainly hang with the top teams.
No. 5 – Florida Gators (8-4 entering 2016 Bowl Season)
Yes, it’s a rival and that will always mean something – but until the Crocs can get themselves an actual offense, it’s not going to be all that difficult to beat them.