College Football Betting: 2020 ACC Preview
It is a rare year not just because of the pandemic, but because the pandemic has created a different framework for ACC football. In 2021, the ACC will go back to its standard two-division setup, the Atlantic and the Coastal, but in 2020, everything will be weird and unusual for one season.
Introducing the unified 15-team ACC for 2020. There will be no divisions, just one grouping of 15 teams, with Notre Dame being the 15th ACC team this year. The Fighting Irish will not have permanent ACC membership, but they are being considered a conference member for 2020 alone. Notre Dame’s games against other ACC teams will count in the conference standings for every ACC school. Notre Dame will be eligible to play in the 2020 ACC Championship Game this December in Charlotte. Notre Dame could represent the ACC in the College Football Playoff. With all of that in mind, let’s look at the 2020 ACC.
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Team That Will Surprise
Miami Hurricanes
Odds To Win ACC: +1000 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The top five in the ACC should be some combination of Clemson, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Louisville. If a team outside that top five has a chance of making a real run, it’s Miami. The Hurricanes have struggled for a very long time to field a high-level quarterback who could make their offense perform to its potential. The Hurricanes genuinely haven’t had a gifted quarterback who can minimize the flaws elsewhere on the roster. This year, the Hurricanes might have found a proper solution: D’Eriq King, a transfer from the University of Houston.
King has a strong arm and is extremely fast. He is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback who will give opposing defenses fits. If the combination of King and first-year offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee can work well together, Miami could have its best offense in many years. Given that the Canes have a strong defensive front seven, especially at linebacker, a breakthrough on offense could give this team the missing piece it has needed for a long time.
Team That Will Disappoint
Virginia Cavaliers
Odds To Win ACC: +5000 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The Virginia Cavaliers won their first ACC Coastal Division championship last year. They went to the ACC Championship Game for the first time and played in the Orange Bowl. The Cavaliers grew up, but a big reason they were able to make such a noticeable improvement is that Bryce Perkins was their quarterback. Perkins had devastating speed and could elude defenders when plays broke down. He wasn’t a fantastic deep passer, but his ability to improvise was an added ingredient other recent Virginia quarterbacks lacked. Virginia was able to outscore rival Virginia Tech, snapping a 15-game losing streak to the hated Hokies.
This year, the Cavs won’t have Perkins, and they won’t have the veteran leadership of cornerback Bryce Hall. Hall was indeed injured for much of the 2019 season, but he was still a leader for the team. Not having Perkins or Hall this year could lead to a drop-off after 2019’s big successes.
Team That Will Win ACC
Clemson Tigers
Odds To Win ACC: -455 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The Clemson Tigers, with a returning starting backfield of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne, remain the class of the ACC. It is going to be almost impossible to stop Clemson’s loaded offense this year. The main question is which team will face Clemson in the ACC title game. Notre Dame will get a shot at Clemson in the regular season, but the Irish don’t have the team speed of Clemson. North Carolina, with a veteran offense returning a lot of stars from 2019, figures to give Notre Dame a very tough battle, but the Irish probably have the strength up front to wear down the Tar Heels. Clemson will beat Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game.
Prediction: Clemson Wins ACC (-455 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
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Dave Golokhov is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Dave, check out his archive and follow him @davegolokhov.