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Wake Forest and North Carolina have been predicted to finish second in their respective divisions of ACC football, a somewhat surprising vote of confidence from the media representatives gathered at the league's preseason football meetings on Monday.

This is only the fourth year of divisional play, which essentially precludes a ranking from 1 to 12. But if a No. 2 pick within a division equates to a top-third overall choice in the 12-team league, then Wake has its highest spot in preseason rankings in the 33-year history of the process. The Deacons' previous high was a third-place spot in 1977; that team finished seventh and last overall.

The Deacons won the ACC title in 2006, claiming the crown for only the second time. At 20-7 over the past two seasons, they're eroding the skepticism that has understandably surrounded Wake football for decades.

"I'd rather be sixth," coach Jim Grobe said, half-jokingly. "It worked out pretty good two years ago, when we were picked last. It's a little bit scary because you worry about players reading that stuff and being complacent, but on the other hand, you want to get to the point where people respect your program."

Florida State, picked first either overall or in its division from its entry into the league in 1992 through last season, is the consensus choice for No. 3 in the Atlantic. Several key Seminoles will be serving the final game of a three-game suspension for academic fraud when FSU hosts Wake on Sept. 20. Coach Bobby Bowden said the changing tide is more about the improvement of others than it is about his own team's decline.

"We haven't dropped as much as you think," he said.

 Carolina, under the direction of second-year coach Butch Davis, has recruited well and earned the presumption of relevance as a result.

The 65 voters picked Clemson to take the Atlantic and to defeat Coastal winner Virginia Tech in the title game, set for December in Tampa, Fla.
The picks:

Atlantic

1) Clemson

2) Wake Forest

3) Florida State

4) Boston College

5) Maryland

6) N.C. State

Coastal
1) Virginia Tech

2) North Carolina

3) Miami

4) Georgia Tech

5) Virginia

6) Duke

DEFENSIVE: The link between championships and defense probably isn't as strong as most coaches would have you believe, but it's certainly true in Virginia Tech's case.

In their four years of ACC football membership, the Hokies have won two conference titles and have posted the best aggregate record (28-5 including the 2007 title game) in ACC play. And they have done it while standing well below the national average in total offense in that span. In all games, the Hokies have gained 343 yards an outing - well below the NCAA benchmark of 373. Their defense, of course, has been absurd, having held the opponent more than 110 yards per contest below the national average.

Virginia Tech is seeking to become the first team to lead the ACC in total defense in four straight seasons since the Maryland Terrapins did it in five consecutive campaigns, 1972-76. The link between the two programs is Jerry Claiborne, who coached a defensive back named Frank Beamer in Blacksburg from 1966-68 and directed the Maryland program from 1972-81. Beamer was a graduate assistant for the '72 Terrapins before assuming full-time duties at The Citadel and ultimately becoming head coach at his alma mater in 1987.

ABOUT LAST DECEMBER: Grobe, who has been sought by other programs after each of the past two seasons, said it would be unwise to assume his departure for another gig is inevitable. Grobe withdrew from the process at Arkansas in December after premature media reports out of that state said he had agreed to a deal.

"A lot of times, staffs look for head coaches to make moves so they can be mobile," Grobe said. "I told my staff that I'll help them any way I can to bve head coaches or coordinators, but if they're sitting around expecting me to take the next job, they might be disappointed."

Specifically, he pointed to the stadium renovation project, which is about to unveil the $40 million Deacon Tower, and to various annual improvements in funding in his eight years on the job.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com