ACC Conference: NCAA Football Gambling Predictions | Futures

NCAA Football Betting Futures – 2011 ACC Season Preview

Whatever happens with the NFL lockout, football bettors can at least take solace in the fact that college football isn’t going anywhere.

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It’s time for conference previews – starting with the ACC.

While the ACC isn’t the superpower in football that it is for basketball, it has plenty of solid teams.

With several squads losing key seniors over the offseason, is the door open for a new ACC king?

For the second straight season, Florida State is the favorite with odds of +175. Wha? The Seminoles still the favorite despite losing starting quarterback Christian Ponder to the NFL? Not to mention Rodney Hudson, a stalwart o their O-line? The whole season depends on junior quarterback E.J. Manuel, whom Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles seem to have confidence in.

If Manuel can show more consistency than he has over his 199 career pass attempts and Nigel Bradham and Brandon Jenkins can continue their ferocious play on “D,” maybe Florida can return to the ACC title game.

Joining the Seminoles with odds of +175 are the Virginia Tech Hokies, who beat Florida State to win the conference title last season. Their offense is a bit of wildcard this season. Sure, Tyrod Taylor wasn’t an elite talent at quarterback, but he was versatile, a good leader and reliably above-average. Is Logan Thomas ready to be the man?

At least Virginia Tech’s entire offensive line returns for 2011. It also helps that they have last season’s national interceptions leader, Jayon Hosley, back on “D.”

The Miami Hurricanes are close behind with odds of +400. Could they be a bit undervalued? After he battled injuries and at times looked worse than backup Stephen Morris, Jacory Harris turned off many scouts and handicappers who were high on the ’Canes last season. But Miami could do a lot worse than Morris or Harris under center.

Also, their running game looks like it could be elite in 2011. And let’s not forget this was an elite defensive team a year ago.

Rounding out the top contenders is North Carolina at +650. The Tar Heels’ defense looks downright awesome up front. Tydreke Powell, Quinton Coples and Donte Paige-Moss look like they could be NFL stars. But UNC’s offense is a total question mark with T.J. Yates graduating.

Bryn Renner just hasn’t had a chance to show us what he can do yet.

There’s a big gap between the top four and Maryland (+1500) according to the oddsmakers. But is it justified? The Terrapins are one of the only contending teams in the ACC to return their starting quarterback. Danny O’Brien was excellent in 2010, throwing 22 touchdown passes in 10 starts.

He’ll have to find some new targets with Torrey Smith and Adrian Cannon gone and Maryland’s defense is unstable with four starters gone, but I see the Terps as a viable sleeper team. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Clemson joins Maryland with odds of +1500. I like Andre Ellington in the backfield but, to me, Clemson’s arrow is pointing down. The Kyle Parker experiment is over, as the quarterback is focusing on his baseball career now. That leaves the unproven Tajh Boyd in his place.

The Tigers just don’t know what they have with him yet. More importantly, the defense is gutted. It loses a pile of key starters, most notably Da’Quan Bowers, who is irreplaceable in one offseason.

Russell Wilson’s departure has knocked N.C. State’s odds down a couple pegs, meaning Boston College (+2000) rounds out the list of legit ACC contenders. Is the glass half empty or half full?

Chase Rettig had nine starts at quarterback as a freshman and pretty much all the Eagles’ offensive skill players return, including stud running back Montel Harris, but Boston College’s outstanding run defense loses three starters from the front seven.

THE FREE 2011 ACC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PICK

The ACC is a tough conference to handicap. To me, it has zero elite teams and a pile of second-tier teams, all of which can contend. I’m feeling a little crazy with my pick for 2011. I’m a believer in the “quarterback is the most important position” theory.

And, after all the offseason departures, I legitimately think Maryland has the best option in Danny O’Brien.

It’s insane, but I think the Terps will be the shocking ACC champion this year.

Pick: Maryland +1500

CappersPicks.com brings you the only college football handicapping guide you’ll need. Use the College football previews for the 2011 NCAA football season to help you with your college football handicapping at our top sportsbooks online this season.

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