ACC Over/Under Win Total Predictions

Evan Norris Posted On August 14

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August 24th, that is the date we have been given for the start of the ACC football season. This is when we will see the Hurricanes of Miami take on the Florida Gators for their first matchup since 2013. The ACC is looking to increase in competitiveness and will surely twist some predictions around. We are going to play it simple with you: pick over or under and ties are a wash. Capeesh?

Boston College Eagles – O/U: 6 Wins

8/31 vs Virginia Tech
9/7 vs Richmond
9/13 vs Kansas
9/21 at Rutgers
9/28 vs Wake Forest
10/5 at Louisville
BYE
10/19 vs NC State
10/26 at Clemson
11/2 at Syracuse
11/9 vs Florida State
BYE
11/23 at Notre Dame
11/30 at Pittsburgh

Poor Boston College is all I can muster up at this point. It is like the first half of their schedule is a party and their last half is the hangover the next day. I can see the Eagles easily gathering 4-5 in that first half. However, the last half they might be able to pull off one…maybe two. It just appears that the games @ Clemson, @ Syracuse, and @ Notre Dame will be guaranteed loss. It really comes down to what Boston College team we will see come the second half of the season. Will it be the strong offensive one or a very depleted one that everyone is predicting? Games like NC State and Pittsburgh should provide some clarity for that.

Bottom Line: Go under. The 6-win mark is really dependent on AJ Dillon and Anthony Brown to maybe slip a quick one. Them even winning to make it to a bowl might be a stretch. And to think they will win that much when it looks like someone went at their defense with a hole puncher, it’s a no for me.

Pick: Under 6

Clemson Tigers – O/U: 11.5 Wins

8/29 vs Georgia Tech
9/7 vs Texas A&M
9/14 at Syracuse
9/21 vs Charlotte
9/28 at North Carolina
BYE
10/12 vs Florida State
10/19 at Louisville
10/26 vs Boston College
11/2 vs Wofford
11/9 at NC State
11/16 vs Wake Forest
BYE
11/30 at South Carolina

I think this is a favorable O/U for the Tigers and all the betters hoping to make a quick buck off of them. The only two pressing games for the Tigers come at good times or good settings. For example, playing a tough Texas A&M team will be favorable at home and going against South Carolina off of a bye week is a plus. And the Tigers are obviously going to be a top team in the nation, so their conference play should be very manageable. It is really up to whether you trust them to clean the slate against Syracuse and Texas A&M, which is looking to be pretty solid.

Bottom Line: It is the Clemson Tigers who have won the College Football Playoff twice now. I would go over on this one, with them going 12-0 into postseason play. The openings on defense will be filled by hungry players ready to get the job done. They know what they have to do.

Pick: Over 11.5

Duke Blue Devils – O/U: 5.5 Wins

8/31 vs Alabama
9/7 vs North Carolina A&T
9/14 at Middle Tennessee State
BYE
9/27 at Virginia Tech
10/5 vs Pittsburgh
10/12 vs Georgia Tech
10/19 at Virginia
10/26 at UNC
BYE
11/9 vs Notre Dame
11/16 vs Syracuse
11/23 at Wake Forest
11/30 vs Miami

Blue Devil fans will really be feeling like true fans this season, as they will turn blue like their favorite team. There is absolutely nothing that looks too friendly outside of maybe (vs NCA&T, at MTSU) or (vs Pitt, vs GT). The rest of the games that they might work some magic are on the road. And their hardest games against great opponents are at home, which means nothing for Duke (sorry guys). It is looking like a great year of disappointment for Duke after losing Daniel Jones, Johnathan Lloyd, and Keyston Fuller.

Bottom Line: Take under for the sake of the college football gods. Only in a miracle will the Blue Devils get six wins. This is not meant to be a standout year for the Blue Devils, and that is okay. The roots of a growing program will show and hope for the future will ring out in Durham.

Pick: Under 5.5

Florida State Seminoles – O/U: 7.5 Wins

8/31 vs Boise State
9/7 vs UL Monroe
9/14 at Virginia
9/21 vs Louisville
9/28 vs NC State
BYE
10/12 at Clemson
10/19 at Wake Forest
10/26 vs Syracuse
11/2 vs Miami
11/9 at Boston College
11/16 vs Alabama State
BYE
11/30 at Florida

This is one of the harder ones for the ACC. The fact that this team, practically the same, went 5-7 last year scares me. The schedule shows some hope that they might be able to pull out some good wins, especially in the stretch of the first five games. However, with Clemson, Syracuse, and Florida lurking in the schedule, you can’t be too sure about how the Seminoles will do. And now you really have to question if Taggart can show some skillful coaching or if it will be another shamble like last season. But I think at least five wins for Florida State is a safe bet.

Bottom Line: Almost every analyst is scared to pick on this line. However, it is safe to assume that the Seminoles don’t have a superb, breakout year where they gather eight wins. I wouldn’t bet on this young, talented team to do any of that, especially with this schedule.

Pick: Under 7.5

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – O/U: 3.5 Wins

8/29 at Clemson
9/7 vs USF
9/14 vs Citadel
BYE
9/28 at Temple
10/5 vs North Carolina
10/12 at Duke
10/19 at Miami
BYE
11/2 vs Pittsburgh
11/9 at Virginia
11/16 vs Virginia Tech
11/21 vs NC State
11/30 vs Georgia

I am not going to lie, I am actually hyping up this Georgia Tech team quite a bit now. First off, in some winnable games, they have home-field advantage such as: UNC, Pittsburgh, and NC State. All of those could easily go the Yellow Jackets way on top of their three grouped “wins” against USF, Citadel, and Temple. That would put Georgia Tech at six wins, if that happened. And if you scrap off their four hardest games with Clemson, Georgia, Virginia, and Miami, you see them in a win range of 3-8. It all depends on if you trust this new system team to get the job done with their talent.

Bottom Line: If you don’t have the guts to pull the trigger, don’t do it. I am feeling like this Georgia Tech team can get the above on this over/under. But there is a part of me that can see them face-planting and ruining that. However, we are here for a good time, not a long time.

Pick: If you have guts: Over 3.5 . If you don’t: don’t touch it.

Louisville Cardinals – O/U: 3.5 Wins

9/2 vs Notre Dame
9/7 vs Eastern Kentucky
9/14 vs Western Kentucky
9/21 at Florida State
10/5 vs Boston College
10/12 at Wake Forest
10/19 vs Clemson
10/26 vs Virginia
BYE
11/9 at Miami
11/16 at NC State
11/23 vs Syracuse
11/30 at Kentucky

Louisville should have another disappointing season, as they are still in their slump after the Lamar Jackson Era. And the schedule they have isn’t going to give them much leeway to work with. The Cardinals have to work with teams like Notre Dame, Clemson, Virginia, Miami, Syracuse, and Kentucky all after going 2-10. It is looking more that mark will be to strive for four wins over everything else. At this point it is just a waiting game for the Cardinals until Satterfield can return them to something of what they used to be.

Bottom Line: This Cardinal team has improved slightly from last year on the defensive side. However, that wasn’t the problem, it was the offense. If Jawon Pass and company cannot improve on that side of the ball, then it’ll be another two or three win season.

Pick: Under 3.5

Miami Hurricanes – O/U: 9.5 Wins

8/24 vs Florida
BYE
9/7 at North Carolina
9/14 vs Bethune-Cookman
9/21 vs Central Michigan
BYE
10/5 vs Virginia Tech
10/11 vs Virginia
10/19 vs Georgia Tech
10/26 at Pittsburgh
11/2 at Florida State
11/9 vs Louisville
BYE
11/23 at Florida International
11/30 at Duke

This one is a toss up for everyone, rookie at this or not. The Hurricanes have been known to be a very inconsistent team when it comes to season over/under win totals. You can see them shift from an eleven win powerhouse to a seven win dumpster fire. Fortunately for Miami fans, they should be swimming around the eight wins to ten wins. The home game stretch from September 14th to October 19th should provide a nice basis for this team going into the second half. Some games that should provide a challenge late season will be at Pittsburgh and at Florida State. Should be interesting for bet takers to see how this season falls for the Hurricanes.

Bottom Line: I personally wouldn’t touch this one at all. The Hurricanes are definitely a team that can hit ten wins, but something is telling me that a competitive season in the Coastal might ruin that.

Pick: Don’t Touch It

North Carolina Tarheels – O/U: 5.5 Wins

8/31 vs South Carolina
9/7 vs Miami
9/13 at Wake Forest
9/21 vs Appalachian State
9/28 vs Clemson
10/5 at Georgia Tech
BYE
10/19 at Virginia Tech
10/26 vs Duke
11/2 vs Virginia
11/14 at Pittsburgh
11/23 vs Mercer
11/30 at NC State

The Tarheels have some new company with Mack Brown back at the reigns of it all. This should be a program that will progress its way back to the top of the ACC Coastal. And that is surely to happen, but looking at this first year of the Mack Brown Era, I wouldn’t bet on anything special. This is a really talented roster, but nothing happens that first year, almost ever. And we see some hardships in the first half of the season with games like: South Carolina, Miami, Wake Forest, Appalachian State (yes, they are good), and Clemson. The Tarheels could easily be going into Blacksburg with a 1-5 or 2-4 record. Their upside is the last half, where some winnable games are lurking around with Duke, Pittsburgh, Mercer, and NC State.

Bottom Line: If you gave me 5 as the O/U, instead of 5.5, I might’ve taken the wash. However, now that this line forces the Tarheels to make a bowl the first year under Mack Brown, I just don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very talented team, but not with that schedule.

Pick: Under 5.5

North Carolina State Wolfpack – O/U: 7 Wins

8/31 vs East Carolina
9/7 vs Western Carolina
9/14 at West Virginia
9/21 vs Ball State
9/28 at Florida State
10/10 vs Syracuse
10/19 at Boston College
BYE
11/2 at Wake Forest
11/9 vs Clemson
11/16 vs Louisville
11/21 at Georgia Tech
11/30 vs North Carolina

Honestly, this doesn’t look to bad for the Wolfpack and could easily be another 8-4 year for the program. Yes, it does get really repetitive, but it works for them. I am liking the first four games off of the bat, of which all are winnable. It really comes down to the stretch of @ Florida State, vs Syracuse, and @ Boston College. If the Wolfpack can come together for those showings, then hypothetically they will be in a great place to get the seven wins. But then again, some of the talent lost may not allow them to do that.

Bottom Line: Once again, like the Florida State O/U, it all depends on if the newly formed talent can get things done. I personally will not be taking any bet on this because it looks very risky.

Pick: Don’t Touch It

Pittsburgh Panthers – O/U: 6 Wins

8/31 vs Virginia
9/7 vs Ohio
9/14 at Penn State
9/21 vs UCF
9/28 vs Delaware
10/5 at Duke
BYE
10/18 at Syracuse
10/26 vs Miami
11/2 at Georgia Tech
11/14 vs North Carolina
11/23 at Virginia Tech
11/30 vs Boston College

What to do with this one? The famed Pittsburgh Panthers who made the ACC Championship with a daring record of 7-5. Let’s just get it out of the way now: NOT HAPPENING AGAIN. The Panthers will be a solid Coastal team, but nothing more. The race is between Miami, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Now, for the Panthers, they don’t have a schedule that will allow them much flexibility. There will no be stint in which they can regroup. Maybe, the stretch of Delaware and Duke on top of their Bye Week, but nothing more. They will most likely come out of that first half at 3-3. And the last half will give them some trouble, where they might slip another two to three wins. It is just not looking good for any better to take this O/U of 6 on. This meaning they must get seven wins to make you money on the over. Not favorable.

Bottom Line: The very best I can see this Pittsburgh team doing is seven wins in some miraculous triumph. However, it is more realistic for them to hit that six win spot, which would make the O/U a wash. Don’t bet on this one folks.

Pick: Don’t Touch It

Syracuse Orange – O/U: 8 Wins

8/31 at Liberty
9/7 at Maryland
9/14 vs Clemson
9/21 vs Western Michigan
9/28 vs Holy Cross
BYE
10/10 at NC State
10/18 vs Pittsburgh
10/26 at Florida State
11/2 vs Boston College
11/16 at Duke
11/23 at Louisville
11/30 vs Wake Forest

Can Dino Babers shock the college football world again and pull out another ten win season? Probably. Hear me out, this team did lose a lot on offense, especially at the line and at wide receiver. Now though, the Orange have a new man with Tommy Devito, who should be able to match Dungey’s productivity. And with a stellar secondary, this team should be solid enough to clinch at least eight wins on the season. That is why when I saw the O/U for Syracuse this year, that I was a bit hurt emotionally as an ACC fan. This is a Syracuse team that proved a lot last season with what they had and I am sure they can do it again. The only true tests for the Orange come with: vs Clemson, @ NC State, and @ Florida State. This should be a favorable schedule for the Orange.

Bottom Line: Go watch some Tommy Devito film for the Orange, then return back here. Also, make sure to watch the defensive secondary too, they are worth watching. Then will you be able to understand how ridiculously low this line is.

Pick: Over 8

Virginia Cavaliers – O/U: 8 Wins

8/31 at Pittsburgh
9/6 vs William and Mary
9/14 vs Florida State
9/21 vs Old Dominion
9/28 at Notre Dame
BYE
9/11 at Miami
10/19 vs Duke
10/26 at Louisville
11/2 at North Carolina
11/9 vs Georgia Tech
BYE
11/23 vs Liberty
11/29 vs Virginia Tech

It seems that the Cavaliers have a new-found identity with Bronco Mendenhall of “win at any cost”. We have seen this program go from 2-10 to 8-5 in the matter of 3 seasons. Also, the Cavaliers return a great quarterback in Bryce Perkins and a lockdown secondary including Bryce Hall in it. Those groups should be a huge factor going into this season. First half of the season we can see that Virginia will be up against some tough competition. They might be able to pull out of it with a record of 4-1 or 3-2. And a nice Bye Week before Miami should be a good gathering before war. The whole over/under for the Cavaliers really comes down to the big Virginia Tech game at the end of the season. And I know fans will hate to hear it, but it is not wise to pick against a fifteen game win streak.

Bottom Line: I think the Cavaliers can pinpoint eight wins exactly, making this over/under a wash. Many will try to argue with me over this, but there is room for upsets and hard teams to snag wins in their schedule.

Pick: Don’t Touch It

Virginia Tech Hokies – O/U: 8 Wins

8/31 at Boston College
9/7 vs Old Dominion
9/14 vs Furman
BYE
9/27 vs Duke
10/5 at Miami
10/12 vs Rhode Island
10/19 vs North Carolina
BYE
11/2 at Notre Dame
11/9 vs Wake Forest
11/16 at Georgia Tech
11/23 vs Pittsburgh
11/29 at Virginia

I don’t know about y’all, but this line is looking favorable. Some might say, but last season they were horrible and they are falling apart. However, many are forgetting just the season before, the Hokies had the 4th best defense in the nation. This is just a program that had a year full of injuries and young players. The Hokies now bring in the 11th highest production in the nation. And also, look at their schedule, where would they drop all of these games? At worst, I see the Hokies going 8-4, at worst. It seems that all of their hard games are so spread out from each other that they could easily pick off one against Miami, Notre Dame, or Virginia. I am just saying that people should be liking what they see here.

Bottom Line: The Hokies tripped up last year, but this year is served to them on a silver platter. They have a base set of wins at eight games. I like the Hokies to improve to eight or nine wins this season.

Pick: Above 8

Wake Forest Demon Deacons – O/U: 6 Wins

8/30 vs Utah State
9/7 at Rice
9/13 vs North Carolina
9/21 vs Elon
9/28 at Boston College
BYE
10/12 vs Louisville
10/19 vs Florida State
BYE
11/2 vs NC State
11/9 at Virginia Tech
11/16 at Clemson
11/23 vs Duke
11/30 at Syracuse

I am not entirely wanting to take this bet on the Demon Deacons. I feel at their worst they are a five win team and at their best they can sit at eight wins. It narrowly depends on if their defense can step it up, unlike last year. Also, the quarterback competition that is brewing up should push out the best starter come fall. The first six games for the Demon Deacons look nice, only a road test at Boston College should be very tough. Should see them go 5-1 or 4-2 going into the last half. However, that last half will be absolutely brutal for Wake. They have tough road tests against Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Syracuse. Then also have to defend their home field against Florida State and NC State. It will be very interesting and intriguing to see how this season pans out for Wake Forest.

Bottom Line: I am going to give the Demon Deacons some slack on this one. They had a lot of injuries last season, and their schedule looks about the same difficulty as this one. So let’s just call it a wash because I am not too confident they can spike over six wins.

Pick: Don’t Touch It

Cover Image Credits: https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article233624592.html

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