PINEHURST, N.C. -- The final votes reflecting preseason media hype are in at this week's ACC Football Kickoff and the verdict is a Virginia Tech - Florida State rematch for the ACC title, with the Seminoles turning the tables on the Hokies and taking home their first title since 2005.
Florida State earned 50 first place, while Virginia Tech came in second with 18 and Clemson earned the third spot with two votes.
The Hokies, who defeated the Noles 44-33 in last season's title game, were picked as the top dog in the Coastal Division, with 66 votes, and were followed by Miami and North Carolina.
The Noles are favored to take the Atlantic Division crown with 65 votes and were backed up by Clemson, NC State, and Boston College.
Boston College's Montel Harris, who potentially could break NC State's Ted Brown's ACC's career rushing record of 4,602 yards, was picked as the preseason Player of the Year. FSU and former Bayside High School (Virginia Beach, VA) quarterback E.J. Manuel was second in the voting and the Hokies' running back David Wilson came in fourth.
If the Dr. Pepper sponsored crystal ball proves correct, it will be third time the Hokies and Noles have met in the title game and will mark Virginia Tech's fifth overall title-game appearance.
Manuel went 23-for-31 for 288 yards a touchdown and two interceptions in the 2010 title match up, while his Hokie POY list counterpart, David Wilson rushed for 44 yards, while catching four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown.
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