Columnist Caulton Tudor

1. Duke: With the 18-game league schedule, everyone will lose at least three and maybe four times. I’m picking the Blue Devils because I think they’re more likely to go 9-0 at home than the other teams. But a three-way tie for first is entirely possible.

2. N.C. State

3. North Carolina

4. Florida State

5. Miami

6. Georgia Tech

7. Wake Forest

8. Clemson

9. Boston College

10. Virginia

11. Maryland

12. Virginia Tech

Preseason All-ACC

Player of year: Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State: If Duke wins the regular season, there will be a Blue Devil on the postseason first team, but I just can’t pick the right one at this point. Brown, by the end of last season, was the most complete guard in the league.

C.J. Leslie, N.C. State

Michael Snaer, Florida State

Reggie Bullock, UNC

Travis McKie, Wake Forest

Columnist Luke DeCock

1. Duke: Don’t get hung up on Lehigh. The Blue Devils are positioned to turn many of last year’s weaknesses into strengths with a healthy Quinn Cook, the arrival of Rasheed Sulaimon and Amile Jefferson and a motivated Mason Plumlee.

2. N.C. State

3. Florida State

4. North Carolina

5. Maryland

6. Miami

7. Virginia

8. Georgia Tech

9. Clemson

10. Virginia Tech

11. Boston College

12. Wake Forest

Preseason All-ACC

Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State: Brown might be the ACC’s best all-around guard, and he’ll be surrounded by more than enough talent to shine.

C.J. Leslie, N.C. State

Michael Snaer, Florida State

James Michael McAdoo, UNC

Mason Plumlee, Duke

N.C. State beat writer Joe Giglio

1. Duke: Duke has the best coach and the best home-court advantage. So even if N.C. State is as good as it was in March, or North Carolina can reload, the Blue Devils still have an advantage. Plus, the addition of guard Rasheed Sulaimon, forward Amile Jefferson, forward Alex Murphy, and really sophomore point guard Quinn Cook means Duke also has the most talent in the league.

2. N.C. State

3. North Carolina

4. Florida State

5. Miami

6. Maryland

7. Virginia Tech

8. Virginia

9. Wake Forest

10. Clemson

11. Boston College

12. Georgia Tech

Preseason All-ACC

Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State: No one in the league can match his production or versatility.

Michael Snaer, FSU

Reggie Bullock, UNC

C.J. Leslie, N.C. State

Mason Plumlee, Duke

North Carolina beat reporter Andrew Carter

1. N.C. State: Any one of the top four teams could win the regular-season title, but N.C. State is the most complete team, with a blend of proven returnees and talented freshmen who could make an immediate impact.

2. North Carolina

3. Florida State

4. Duke

5. Miami

6. Maryland

7. Virginia

8. Clemson

9. Georgia Tech

10. Virginia Tech

11. Wake Forest

12. Boston College

Preseason All-ACC

Michael Snaer, Florida State: If I’m starting a college team and could pick any player in the country, I’m going with Snaer. He’s the best perimeter defender in the ACC, a proven scorer who wants to take the last shot and an intense, confident leader.

C.J. Leslie, N.C. State

James Michael McAdoo, UNC

Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State

Reggie Bullock, UNC

Duke beat reporter Laura Keeley

1. N.C. State: On paper, why not? The Wolfpack has a terrific point guard in Lorenzo Brown, a terrific option down low in C.J. Leslie and arguably the best incoming impact freshmen. Mark Gottfried got this team going late last year — let’s see if they can sustain that for an entire season.

2. Duke

3. Miami

4. North Carolina

5. Florida State

6. Maryland

7. Virginia

8. Clemson

9. Virginia Tech

10. Wake Forest

11. Boston College

12. Georgia Tech

Preseason All-ACC

C.J. Leslie, N.C. State: It will be easy to look good with Brown getting him the ball.

Michael Snaer, Florida State

James Michael McAdoo, UNC

Mason Plumlee, Duke

Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State