On the heels of a nine-win season and a trip to the Gator Bowl, Virginia was predicted to finish fifth in the six-member Coastal Division in the ACC’s preseason poll as voted on by members of the media at the league’s annual kickoff in Georgia. UVa, which was picked to better only Duke (85 points), trailed Virginia Tech (383), North Carolina (288), Miami (253) and Georgia Tech (195).

When Clemson rewarded Tommy Bowden with a lucrative contract during the winter, expectations soared as high as his new salary. Bowden had flirted with an offer from Arkansas until Clemson opened its coffers.

Rampant speculation emerged, however, that once Sunday’s votes are tabulated from the members of the media present that the Cavaliers will land in a spot similar — or worse — to that of the past two seasons, when they were predicted to finish fourth.