College Football Odds: ACC Betting Preview
A little sheen has fallen off the ACC footballers recently, but the 2010 season might revive some of the former luster. It's going to be strange not seeing Bobby Bowden roaming the Florida State sidelines, but his replacement Jumbo Fisher has a solid squad led by Christian Ponder to help him through his inaugural season. One team likely on the slide straight up and at the betting window is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The ACC hasn’t had the bite of the Big 12, Big Ten, or Pac-10 lately, but the former big boy on the block appears to be as strong as it’s been in recent years with the 2010 season on the horizon.
When we think of the ACC, we think of Miami and Florida State. When those schools aren’t dominating the conference and competing for the college football national championship, we tend to think the ACC is a lesser version of its former self.
The Hurricanes and Seminoles should be back at the forefront in the ACC this season, and hopefully they’ll make some money along the way.
Only three ACC schools made any positive headway at the window last season: Clemson (9-5 ATS, 9-5 SU), Virginia Tech (8-5 ATS, 10-3 SU), and conference champion Georgia Tech (8-5 ATS, 11-3 SU).
Don’t bet on Miami having a more profitable season for bettors. Yes, the ‘Canes should improve slightly on their 9-4 SU record from last season, but it’ll be around the .500 mark against the number.
Oddsmakers have Miami pegged as +240 favorites to win the ACC, and the public perception only drives up the price on it.
The Hurricanes are also priced as +125 chalk to win the ACC Coastal Division, but the value is with the Hokies (+225). What’s interesting is that, even though it trails Miami on the betting odds list to win the Coastal and the ACC outright, Virginia Tech is listed at +1600 to win the national title, ahead of the ‘Canes (+2000).
Regardless of of the differences between the Hokies and Hurricanes, take the ‘over’ on VT’s 9.5-win total. The Hokies have won 10 or more games for six straight seasons, and there’s good reason to think they’ll keep the streak alive in ’10.
North Carolina is under investigation by the NCAA for possible recruiting violations, but it should contend in the Coastal Division. The Tar Heels went 6-6 ATS (8-5 SU) last season behind the nation’s sixth-ranked defense, and they should be at least that good once again.
Georgia Tech represented the conference in the Orange Bowl last January, where it fell 24-14 to Iowa as 6-point chalk. With Jonathan Dwyer and Demaryius Thomas out the door, don’t expect the same results this season.
Rounding out the ACC Coastal are Duke and Virginia. The Blue Devils have to recover from the departure of quarterback Thad Lewis, while the Cavaliers are looking to improve on an offense that was third worst among FBS teams in 2009.
In the ACC Atlantic Division, Jumbo Fisher is in for Bobby Bowden at Florida State, and he’ll have the task of leading the +125 favorites to win the division. Clemson (+250) and Boston College (+300) challenge the Seminoles in the Atlantic, the weaker of the two divisions by a long shot.
Florida State was the worst spread wager in the conference last season at 4-9 ATS (7-6 SU), and they should be overvalued given high expectations. Preseason publications have the ‘Noles ranked in the top 10-20 teams in the country.
The good news is quarterback Christian Ponder is back at school; the bad news is FSU is set to play one of the toughest out-of-conference slates in the nation.
The Tigers have the good fortune of Kyle Parker returning to call plays, but his presence won’t be enough to offset the loss of C.J. Spiller. Handicap Clemson to remain pat in the ACC at the window if only because of the dearth of top teams in the Atlantic.
The same goes for the Golden Eagles, who were only 6-6 ATS despite surprising everyone with an 8-5 SU record in ’09. It’s hard not to root for Boston College: Mark Herzlich is back on the field after overcoming cancer, while quarterback Dave Shinskie is a 25-year old former minor league baseball player.
Not expected to challenge in the Atlantic are Wake Forest, North Carolina State, and Maryland.
The Demon Deacons are set to rebuild with four-year starting quarterback Riley Skinner now gone, while the Wolfpack should have a prolific offense again this season. Keep an eye on their totals: NC State went 10-2 O/U (5-7 SU, 5-6-1 ATS) in ’09.
Don’t pay too much attention to the Terrapins, unless they make some early noise. Maryland went 2-10 SU (4-7-1 ATS) last season, and Athletic Director Debbie Yow is demanding a winning season. Not going to happen.
A little sheen has fallen off the ACC footballers recently, but the 2010 season might revive some of the former luster. It's going to be strange not seeing Bobby Bowden roaming the Florida State sidelines, but his replacement Jumbo Fisher has a solid squad led by Christian Ponder to help him through his inaugural season. One team likely on the slide straight up and at the betting window is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The ACC hasn’t had the bite of the Big 12, Big Ten, or Pac-10 lately, but the former big boy on the block appears to be as strong as it’s been in recent years with the 2010 season on the horizon.
When we think of the ACC, we think of Miami and Florida State. When those schools aren’t dominating the conference and competing for the college football national championship, we tend to think the ACC is a lesser version of its former self.
The Hurricanes and Seminoles should be back at the forefront in the ACC this season, and hopefully they’ll make some money along the way.
Only three ACC schools made any positive headway at the window last season: Clemson (9-5 ATS, 9-5 SU), Virginia Tech (8-5 ATS, 10-3 SU), and conference champion Georgia Tech (8-5 ATS, 11-3 SU).
Don’t bet on Miami having a more profitable season for bettors. Yes, the ‘Canes should improve slightly on their 9-4 SU record from last season, but it’ll be around the .500 mark against the number.
Oddsmakers have Miami pegged as +240 favorites to win the ACC, and the public perception only drives up the price on it.
The Hurricanes are also priced as +125 chalk to win the ACC Coastal Division, but the value is with the Hokies (+225). What’s interesting is that, even though it trails Miami on the betting odds list to win the Coastal and the ACC outright, Virginia Tech is listed at +1600 to win the national title, ahead of the ‘Canes (+2000).
Regardless of of the differences between the Hokies and Hurricanes, take the ‘over’ on VT’s 9.5-win total. The Hokies have won 10 or more games for six straight seasons, and there’s good reason to think they’ll keep the streak alive in ’10.
North Carolina is under investigation by the NCAA for possible recruiting violations, but it should contend in the Coastal Division. The Tar Heels went 6-6 ATS (8-5 SU) last season behind the nation’s sixth-ranked defense, and they should be at least that good once again.
Georgia Tech represented the conference in the Orange Bowl last January, where it fell 24-14 to Iowa as 6-point chalk. With Jonathan Dwyer and Demaryius Thomas out the door, don’t expect the same results this season.
Rounding out the ACC Coastal are Duke and Virginia. The Blue Devils have to recover from the departure of quarterback Thad Lewis, while the Cavaliers are looking to improve on an offense that was third worst among FBS teams in 2009.
In the ACC Atlantic Division, Jumbo Fisher is in for Bobby Bowden at Florida State, and he’ll have the task of leading the +125 favorites to win the division. Clemson (+250) and Boston College (+300) challenge the Seminoles in the Atlantic, the weaker of the two divisions by a long shot.
Florida State was the worst spread wager in the conference last season at 4-9 ATS (7-6 SU), and they should be overvalued given high expectations. Preseason publications have the ‘Noles ranked in the top 10-20 teams in the country.
The good news is quarterback Christian Ponder is back at school; the bad news is FSU is set to play one of the toughest out-of-conference slates in the nation.
The Tigers have the good fortune of Kyle Parker returning to call plays, but his presence won’t be enough to offset the loss of C.J. Spiller. Handicap Clemson to remain pat in the ACC at the window if only because of the dearth of top teams in the Atlantic.
The same goes for the Golden Eagles, who were only 6-6 ATS despite surprising everyone with an 8-5 SU record in ’09. It’s hard not to root for Boston College: Mark Herzlich is back on the field after overcoming cancer, while quarterback Dave Shinskie is a 25-year old former minor league baseball player.
Not expected to challenge in the Atlantic are Wake Forest, North Carolina State, and Maryland.
The Demon Deacons are set to rebuild with four-year starting quarterback Riley Skinner now gone, while the Wolfpack should have a prolific offense again this season. Keep an eye on their totals: NC State went 10-2 O/U (5-7 SU, 5-6-1 ATS) in ’09.
Don’t pay too much attention to the Terrapins, unless they make some early noise. Maryland went 2-10 SU (4-7-1 ATS) last season, and Athletic Director Debbie Yow is demanding a winning season. Not going to happen.
