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First SI.com's Stewart Mandel labeled him the worst coach in America. Now check out SI.com's ACC preview. Specifically, the predicted records.

Yep, that's a 1-7 ACC record and 3-9 overall next to State. I can't seem to find the link on the site, but somewhere on there SI also ranked State as the No. 67 program in the nation.

In a word ... wow.

Or maybe ... huh?

I realize that beat writers sometimes get sucked into the optimism that exists in every school's preseason camp, but I think SI's a bit off here.

Why? I have an immense amount of respect for the national writers and am truthfully jealous of the access they can often get to the programs that we local scribes cover. But these sorts of national previews put them in an impossible position. Rank all 119 teams? Predict the order of finish for each conference? Look, it's hard enough for me to tell you what State's going to be like, and I'm talking to players and coaches three or four times a week. I can't imagine trying to form an opinion on schools I've never even seen.

Yet that's what national guys like Mandel - whom I have a lot of respect for - are asked to do each August. Here's my guess as to how the though process on State went:

1) Played horrible on ESPN against Clemson and Amato was booed. Therefore coach is on hot seat.

2) Only managed a 7-5 record despite having three first-round draft picks on the defensive line.

3) Those defensive linemen are gone, as well as three other NFL draftees. So the talent level is down.

4) Lower talent level + coach on unsure footing = recipe for 3-9 season.

It's not an unreasonable conclusion to reach, but I don't think it's correct, either. Here's why I think State will be better than that. How much better? Read my season preview article when it comes out next Saturday (How's that for self-promotion?)

1) If you know anything about State fans you know that they are an emotional bunch. Booing Amato on a Thursday night does not equal wanting the man fired. Leading the Wolfpack to five bowl games in six seasons puts you on a pretty cool seat, actually.

2) Why did State only go 7-5 with three first-round picks? Simple. None of those three threw the football for the Wolfpack. Once State switched quarterbacks and simplified the offense, it rallied to win five of its last six games. Does that sound like a program sinking to the bottom of the ACC?

3) Yes, there will be less talent ... on defense. The offense should - and I use this word carefully - be able to pick up at least some of that slack. Toney Baker and Andre Brown are two of the most talented running backs in the country. The line is pretty darned experienced and really responded to the emphasis on running the ball last season. The wideouts are young but are drawing rave reviews in practice. Yes, I still have plenty of questions about Marcus Stone - who doesn't? - but he shouldn't have to be the Return of Philip for this team to move the ball.

4) Finally, having five guys off your defense drafted means you're doing a) a pretty good job of recruiting talent and b) a pretty good job of developing it once it gets to your school. So why shoudn't we assume that Amato and Co. might have some pretty talented players - whose names we don't know yet - ready to fill in the holes left after last season?

Now, you could read what I just wrote and assume I'm thinking 10-2 and Peach Bowl bound. Let's not get carried away. We're in the post-expansion era in the ACC, where one or two plays seem to determine every game. But unless those one or two plays go against State every single time I think the Wolfpack will be better than what the guys at SI are predicting.