The North Carolina baseball team, looking to bounce back from two straight years without an NCAA tournament bid, has been picked as the favorite to win the Coastal Division this season in a preseason poll of the league’s 14 head coaches. Coach Mike Fox’s team received six first place votes and 86 points, to edge out Virginia (4, 84), Miami (3, 77), Georgia Tech (1, 59), Duke (40), Virginia Tech (26) and Pittsburgh (20). Florida State was the overwhelming pick to win both the Atlantic Division and the overall ACC championship with 10 first place votes and 96 points, followed by Louisville (2, 79) and defending league champion Clemson (1, 66). The most surprising result of the preseason poll that was announced Wedneday is that NC State, which will begin the season ranked sixth nationally by D1Baseball.com, was only picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division with 64 points and one first place vote. Wake Forest is fifth in the preseason divisional poll with 38 points. Boston College and Notre Dame tied for sixth with 26 points each. The ACC tied a record last season by sending 10 teams to the NCAA tournament, which four of its teams advancing to the Super Regionals. The 2017 season is scheduled to begin with nonconference games on Friday, Feb. 17. The ACC tournament, which was moved to Louisville from Durham because of HB2, is scheduled will be played on May 23-28.ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches PollOverall ChampionFlorida State (10)Clemson (1)Louisville (1)North Carolina (1)NC State (1)Atlantic Division1. Florida State (10) – 932. Louisville (2) – 793. Clemson (1) – 664. NC State (1) – 645. Wake Forest – 38T6. Boston College – 26T6. Notre Dame – 26Coastal Division1. North Carolina (6) – 862. Virginia (4) – 843. Miami (3) – 774. Georgia Tech (1) – 595. Duke – 406. Virginia Tech – 26
