Sportsbook ACC Gambling Preview | Betting Odds

[Qbins Missile Crisis]

NCAAF: Upset coming in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)?

Clemson is a solid favorite to win the ACC, but there’s a good chance an underdog could emerge and knock the Tigers from their perch.

Sportsbook.com will be previewing all the major conferences leading up to the first college game of the year in late August. Note that Odds-to-Win the ACC are listed in parenthesis.



Clemson Tigers (8:5)

2007 Record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC
2008 Over/Under in Wins: 9.5

Clemson is coming off a somewhat disappointing 5-3 record in the ACC, so why are most people convinced they will win the conference? It starts at the skill positions where Cullen Harper returns at quarterback with the running back duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller right behind him.

Of course, the skill players can’t do their thing unless the Tigers’ inexperienced offensive line steps up. Fortunately, the 9th ranked defense in the nation returns mostly intact, and they’ll more than hold their own. Will that be enough to deliver Clemson its first league title since 1991? It better be for Coach Tommy Bowden’s sake.

Virginia Tech Hokies (3:1)

2007 Record: 11-3, 7-1 ACC
2008 Over/Under in Wins: 9

Virginia Tech is the defending ACC champion, going 11-3 overall including a 24-21 loss to Kansas in the Orange Bowl. Quarterback Sean Glennon is returning for his senior season, but he will do so without his four leading receivers and running back Branden Ore. Ore, who rushed for 992 yards, was dismissed from the program in March.

The Hokies defense was decimated in the front seven with just a couple of starters returning. The secondary is actually the strongest unit even with cornerback Brandon Flowers off to the NFL. Add in some tough road games and you can easily see why their Over/Under of nine wins could be problematic for Over bettors.

Florida State Seminoles (4:1)

2007 Record: 7-6, 4-4 ACC
2008 Over/Under in Wins: 8

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden returns for his 33rd year with the team, but he’s under the gun after a 7-6 record last year. The 78 year-old has two national titles and the most wins of any major college coach, but fans are demanding better results beginning this season.

If that’s going to happen, senior quarterback Drew Weatherford must step up and grab the job for the whole season. The defense is loaded with talent and should be very good. Right now, Wake Forest looks slightly better, and the teams meet in Tallahassee on September 20th with the Seminoles early 5.5 point favorites.

Miami Hurricanes (6:1)

2007 Record: 5-7, 2-6 ACC
2008 Over/Under in Wins: 7.5

Remember the good old days for Miami when anything less than a national championship was considered a disappointment? The Hurricanes are far from that caliber these days and they’re just hoping that their 2-6 ACC record last year was a low point.

Offense was the problem for Miami last year and inexperience at quarterback this year means they will be relying on the running game. The defense always has talent but they also suffered a lot of turnover. Overall, Miami will be fortunate to go Over the 7.5 win total, with the Under the more solid bet.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8:1)

2007 Record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC

Jim Grobe’s Wake Forest squad is ranked 23rd in the preseason Coaches Poll, that’s ahead of both Florida State and Miami who have better odds. The Demon Deacons return nine starters on defense from a team that ranked 27th in the nation overall.

The offense is once again led by junior quarterback Riley Skinner, one of the more underrated players in the country. There are some issues on the offensive line with three new starters, but this team is just two years removed from winning the ACC Championship and is a good value at 8:1 odds.

ACC Field

North Carolina is poised to make big leaps over last season, but their 8:1 odds still seem like too big a jump. Boston College could be a sleeper at 25:1 if senior quarterback Chris Crane can remotely replace Matt Ryan.

Georgia Tech and Maryland are both at 30:1. Tech has a new coach in Paul Johnson as Chan Gailey was fired after six seasons. Maryland is desperate to shed its ‘average’ label but it could continue another year.

Virginia (50:1) won six games in the conference last year, but they suffered a lot of personnel losses. Duke is 100:1 after dropping their last 25 ACC games.