Probably the first ACC basketball prediction article has appeared on CBS Sports online and the college basketball writer has North Carolina State as the team to beat followed by the depleted North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils. Rounding out the top five are Miami and Florida State.

Just like in the old days, “Next season, Tobacco Road will control the top of the ACC, with the middle and bottom of the ACC needing to work their way up,” CBS Sports’ Jeff Borzello said.

However, Borzello said that the ACC as a whole is headed for a rebuilding season. “The top of the league has multiple questions, and it remains to be seen if any are legitimate Final Four threats at this poin,” he said. “Moreover, the entire All-ACC first team is gone, as are two more players from the second team. There are several candidates for breakout seasons, though, and eight top-100 recruits are entering the fold. Youth will be a theme of the ACC this season.”

On the Wolfpack, he wrote, “Pack have two all-league players, four returning starters and a national top-five recruiting class. On paper, might be best in the league.”

On the Tar Heels, he wrote, “Heels are talented, but have questions. Is Marcus Paige ready at PG? Are P.J. Hairston, James McAdoo and Reggie Bullock ready to break out? ”

And on the Blue Devils, he wrote, “Rasheed Sulaimon could be a top-10 frosh, but the Blue Devils have questions on the perimeter. Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly have to step up.”

The predicted all-conference team is Lorenzo Brown (North Carolina State), Michael Snaer (Florida State), C.J. Leslie (North Carolina State), James Michael McAdoo (North Carolina) and Mason Plumlee (Duke).