Getting used to seeing Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC shouldn’t take too long, and coming to grips with USC and UCLA in the Big Ten will eventually feel normal since former Pac-12 schools had a connection to their new league thanks to the Rose Bowl.
But SMU, California and Stanford in the Atlantic Coast Conference? That’s never going to feel right, and only seems to spotlight a deficiency in the geography departments at both schools and the conference headquarters.
It’s certainly going to be an interesting first season with the new schools joining the ACC, not to mention the current lawsuits by two of the old members against the league. Those two schools just happen to be the favorites at top-rated sportsbooks to win the title, adding even more intrigue.
2024-25 ACC Championship Odds
| Florida State | +270 |
|---|---|
| Clemson | +300 |
| Miami (FL) | +450 |
| Louisville | +600 |
| North Carolina State | +650 |
| Virginia Tech | +1400 |
| SMU | +1800 |
| North Carolina | +4500 |
| Syracuse | +4500 |
| California | +10000 |
| Georgia Tech | +10000 |
| Duke | +11000 |
| Pittsburgh | +11000 |
| Virginia | +13000 |
| Boston College | +13000 |
| Wake Forest | +25000 |
| Stanford | +50000 |
‘Noles & Tigers Top the Chart
Heading into spring practices, Florida State and Clemson shared the title as co-favorites to win the 2024 ACC Championship. The Seminoles have since edged ahead of the Tigers on most college football futures odds lists.
For Mike Norvell and Florida State fans, the wound is still fresh from being snubbed by the College Football Playoffs Selection Committee last season. It goes without saying that snub will motivate the Seminoles in 2024.
The lawsuit that’s pending between Florida State and the ACC should also make for contentious matchups along the way, though we’re disappointed there isn’t an FSU-NC State contest on the slate. The Seminoles have a long-running feud with Wolfpack AD Boo Corrigan, who was part of the CFP committee this past season.
Clemson’s lawsuit against the conference is far less antagonistic than Florida State’s, but since it involves a big sack of Benjamins, it’s still very prickly. Both lawsuits could eventually signal the end of ACC membership for the Tigers and Seminoles, and the conference would take an immediate step down in the rankings if that happens.
Coming off a 4-loss season, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers are looking to get back to their usual upper-echelon rankings, and are generally priced around +300 on the ACC odds. Clemson opens with a not-so-neutral site battle against Georgia, and plays at Florida State on October 5.
‘Canes Moving Up, Lead 2nd-Tier of Hopefuls
There was a bigger gap between the Seminoles and Tigers and the rest of the pack prior to the spring games, but Miami has made up some of that ground with late additions through the transfer portal.
The Hurricanes have moved from +600 at some shops to +450 as Miami’s high-octane offense added QB Cam Ward and RB Damien Martinez via the portal. That has made Mario Cristobal’s crew a chic pick among bettors.
Assuming Cristobal and his staff can fix some of the defensive issues that plagued the Hurricanes last year, they do make for a tempting pick with a schedule that avoids both Clemson and NC State, and finds Florida State playing in Coral Gables.
Louisville shows up fourth on the list of current NCAAF odds, and also beefed up the offense via transfers. The Cardinals are priced +600, but have a pair of tough road trips on the fixture with games at Notre Dame (Sep. 28) and Clemson (Nov. 2).
North Carolina State finishes off the second tier of challengers, with the Wolfpack generally showing up around +650 to +700. Once again, the schedule appears kind for Boo’s bunch with the lone ACC toughie a trip to Clemson in Week 4.
Could Ponies Make Noise in 1st ACC Season?
Virginia Tech and SMU make up the next group of NCAAF picks to win the ACC title, with the Hokies and Mustangs sitting in no-man’s land with futures of +1400 and +1800 respectively.
Brent Pry has an abundance of returning lettermen back in Blacksburg, with the offense led by QB Kyron Drones, who passed for more than 2,000 yards and ran for another 800+ last year. Virginia Tech’s toughest games are an October trip to Miami and a November home date with Clemson.
Rhett Lashlee and the Mustangs will be making a big step up from the AAC to the ACC, but they also have a big chunk of their skill players coming back on offense. Back-to-back games at home against Florida State and at Louisville in Weeks 5 and 6 are the dates to circle.
And the Rest…
There is a big gap from Virginia Tech and SMU to the rest of the ACC. Qualifying as dark horses are North Carolina and Syracuse, each providing a return of around +4500.
The bottom half of the league fit more into the super long shot category. That group includes the other two new members of the conference, California (+10000) and Stanford (+50000). The schedule is a huge reason why the Cardinal bring up the rear, with matchups against Clemson, NC State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Louisville.
