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Virginia Football: Can Cavaliers meet lofty 2019 expectations?

By Michael McDaniel

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 29: Bryce Perkins #3 celebrates with Ryan Nelson #54 of the Virginia Cavaliers after throwing for a touchdown during the third quarter of the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 29: Bryce Perkins #3 celebrates with Ryan Nelson #54 of the Virginia Cavaliers after throwing for a touchdown during the third quarter of the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Virginia football is the preseason pick to win the ACC Coastal division for the first time ever. Can the Cavaliers live up to the justified hype?

The Virginia Cavaliers enter the 2019 season with something that has eluded the program for quite some time.

Expectations.

Virginia had a successful 2018 football season in which they finished 8-5, 4-4 in ACC play, and blew out a shorthanded South Carolina in the Belk Bowl 28-0. Due to the Coastal Division being a largely unknown commodity entering the new season, Virginia should feel strongly about their chances to win the division for the first time in a long time.

The media feels good about UVA’s chances too. The Cavaliers were picked in the preseason media poll to win the ACC Coastal for the first time ever, something that Bronco Mendenhall is expecting his bunch to do.

“We have a returning quarterback, a strong defense, and a culture of excellence. We have confidence, and an expectation that that’s what we’re capable of,” Mendenhall said at the ACC Kickoff.

With dual-threat quarterback Bryce Perkins returning to the fold after a breakout season a year ago, expectations are high for the Cavaliers to not only beat Virginia Tech for the first time in 15 years, but to head to Charlotte for the ACC Championship against the conference’s heavyweight favorite, Clemson.

With expectations at an all-time high, how will this year stack up for the Cavaliers? Let’s start by taking a look at the offense.

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