Back by popular demand are my "fearless" predictions for how the various conferences will shake out on both the men's and women's sides. I'll look at each of the major conferences over the next few days. As always, if you think I'm on target or off base, make sure to let me know with your comments.

Today's conference: ACC
Tomorrow's conference: SEC

Conference preview: ACC

MEN
2008-09 outlook
Predicted champion: Clemson
Predicted player of the year: Kyle Stanley, Clemson
Predicted freshman of the year: Jacob Berger, Clemson
NCAA Regional bound: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, N.C. State
Team on the rise: North Carolina
Biggest question mark: Georgia Tech
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Florida State's Drew Kittleson, runner-up at last month's U.S. Amateur, use the confidence built at Pinehurst No. 2 to win at least one tournament this fall and become an all-ACC selection by year's end.
Would shock me to see: The Seminoles fail to bounce back after winning their first ACC title last year, only to miss out on advancing to national, and be a top-10 program again this season.

2007-08 accolades
Team champion: Florida State
Player of the year: Webb Simpson, Wake Forest
Freshman of the year: Kevin O'Connell, North Carolina
Coach of the year: Trey Jones, Florida State
ACC medalist: Webb Simpson, Wake Forest
All-ACC First team:
Jonas Blixt, Florida State
Chris Gold, Maryland*
Chesson Hadley, Georgia Tech*
Matt Hill, N.C. State*
Clark Klaasen, Duke*
Kevin O'Connell, North Carolina*
Matt Savage, Florida State*
Michael Schachner, Duke
Webb Simpson, Wake Forest
Kyle Stanley, Clemson*
Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech*
Jurrian van der Vaart, Virginia Tech
* returns in 2008-09

2008-09 predicted finish:
1. Clemson
2. Florida State
3. Georgia Tech
4. North Carolina
5. Wake Forest
6. Duke
7. N.C. State
8. Virginia Tech
9. Virginia
10. Maryland
11. Boston College

WOMEN
2008-09 outlook
Predicted champion: Duke
Predicted player of the year: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Predicted freshman of the year: Mina Harigae, Duke
NCAA Regional bound: Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida State
Team on the rise: Wake Forest
Biggest question mark: North Carolina
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Wake Forest and Virginia give Duke a run for its money at the ACC Championship.
Would shock me to see: Blumenherst not win medalist honors in at least four tournaments her senior season.

2007-08 accolades
Team champion: Duke
Player of the year: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Freshman of the year: Natalie Sheary, Wake Forest
Coach of the year: Kim Lewellen, Virginia
ACC medalist: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
All-ACC First team:
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke*
Kelly Calkin, Maryland
Sydney Crane, North Carolina*
Lauren Doughtie, N.C. State*
Nannette Hill, Wake Forest*
Lene Krog, Virginia*
Jennie Lee, Duke*
Calle Nielson, Virginia*
Jennifer Pandolfi, Duke
Natalie Sheary, Wake Forest*
Caroline Westrup, Florida State*
Alison Whitaker, Duke*
* returns in 2008-09

2008-09 predicted finish:
1. Duke
2. Wake Forest
3. Virginia
4. North Carolina
5. Florida State
6. N.C. State
7. Maryland
8. Miami (Fla.)
9. Boston College

PINEHURST, N.C.--Clemson junior Kyle Stanley has a number of goals he still wants to achieve as a college golfer, but he's going to have only the next nine months to accomplish them. The 20-year-old from Gig Harbor, Wash., informed Tiger coach Larry Penley that this season will be his last at Clemson, eventually forgoing his senior year at the South Carolina school.

"I'm hoping to play on the [U.S.] Walker Cup team next fall and then I'm going to turn pro," Stanley told Golf World. "I think with another year of play under my belt, my game will be ready to make the move."

Stanley was a first-team All-American during his freshman season at Clemson, when he finished second at the 2007 NCAA Championship. He failed to match his standout performance as a sophomore, but his 72.4 average and six top-10s still earned him honorable mention All-American honors.

"I put a little too much pressure on myself to follow up my freshman year," said Stanley, a member of the 2007 American Walker Cup squad. "I was working on a few things too with my swing. I really see it as a transition year to [this junior season] where I've got a lot of things I still hope to accomplish."

Stanley's form has definitely returned of late. In addition to qualifying for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines earlier this summer, he won the Southern Amateur, reached the quarterfinals of the North & South Amateur and reached the Sweet 16 at the Western Amateur. He advanced through the first round of the U.S. Amateur Wednesday, beating UNLV All-American Seung-su Han, 4 and 3, and faces Connor McHenry in Thursday morning's second-round match.

Photo credit: Charles LaBarge