2022 College Football: ACC Conference Preview & Betting Odds
The ACC conference ended in 2021 with some unfamiliar names taking the spotlight, Wake Forest (10-3) won the Atlantic conference and Pittsburgh (11-3) won the Coastal conference.
Pittsburgh will likely suffer this season with the departure of former star quarterback Kenny Pickett, but Wake Forest should continue rolling as Sam Hartman looks to make a bigger name for himself on the national stage.
With the 2022 college football season quickly approaches, bookmakers have released season long betting lines for team win totals. These betting lines give the public an idea into the market’s perception of a team’s predicted success for the upcoming season.
The Draft Kings betting markets predict Pittsburgh and Wake Forest to remain successful in 2022 with betting lines set at 8.5 wins each, however, Clemson is perceived to return to their formal glory with a total of 10.5 wins. This article will dive into each ACC conference team’s current win total line and a few factors that could result in that total going over or under.
Read more about football odds.
Coastal
Pittsburgh – 8.5 wins (over 8.5 -110 / under 8.5 -110)
With the loss of both Kenny Picket and star wide receiver Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh has some serious gaps to fill on the offensive side of the ball if they are to go over their high total of 8.5 wins. Key matchups for the Panthers include West Virginia, Tennessee, and back-to-back ACC conference road games against North Carolina and Louisville.
Miami – 8.5 wins (+100 / -120)
The Hurricanes are proving to be one of the stronger sides going into the 2022 college football season. Their chances of winning the Coastal conference, and possibly going over the 8.5 win total, boils down to their back-to-back matchups against Clemson and Pittsburgh. The week before Miami clashes with Pittsburgh they travel to Clemson while the Panthers have an easier matchup against Duke. If Miami struggles against Clemson the week before there could be trouble for covering this number.
Virginia Tech – 6.5 wins (+125 / -145)
The Hokies may be the most unpredictable team in the ACC conference this upcoming season. Brent Pry has taken over the head coach role while there has been significant turnover on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball. This team will need to find chemistry quickly in order to make it to bowl season and cover the 6.5 win total.
Virginia – 7.5 wins (+130 / -150)
The offensive side of the ball for Virginia could be set for an explosive year in 2022. Brennan Armstrong is coming into the season as a top 10 QB draft prospect, and the Cavaliers have a very impressive receiving group. Virginia is another team with a first-year head coach, which makes the 7.5 win total seem much larger than it is.
North Carolina – 7.5 wins (+115 / -135)
North Carolina will be one of the bigger storylines in the 2022 season with the recent departure of start quarterback Sam Howell, who was drafted by the Washington Commanders. This team has seriously lacked consistency in previous seasons, so it is hard to imagine that stops in 2022 with a new QB leading the offense.
Georgia Tech – 3.5 wins (-125 / +105)
2022 will likely be a challenging season for the Georgia Tech squad. With matchups against Georgia, Clemson, Ole Miss, UCF, and Pitt it is hard to imagine that the Yellow Jackets make any sort of run for the post season. This team made some additions from the transfer portal and there are shake-ups in the staffing as well, but it is hard to imagine Georgia Tech reaches 4 wins.
Duke – 3 wins (+100 / -120)
The Duke Blue Devils have never been much of a football, and it is difficult to see that change in 2022. Mike Elko is taking over the head coaching position with a roster that has not made any significant additions. To go over this win total, Duke will likely need to beat Temple, North Carolina A&T, Northwestern and Kansas.
Atlantic
Clemson – 10.5 wins (+110 / -130)
Can the Clemson Tigers regain their former glory? That will be the main storyline of the 2022 ACC conference football season. The defensive unit on this roster is regarded as one of the best in the nation coming into the season, which balances out for the struggling passing game. If the Tigers go over this win total it will be on the defense’s shoulders along with improved QB play from either D.J. Uiagalelei or Cade Klubnik.
Wake Forest – 8.5 wins (+110 / -130)
Sam Hartman leads the Demon Deacons into the season with an offensive loaded with weapons. They key this season with be the defense. Hartman can put points on the board against any opposing side this season, but it will be up to the defense to see if they can slow the opposing side down to win games.
NC State – 8.5 wins (-150 / +130)
This NC State team is one that has attracted a lot of buzz in the preseason. With a projected top 3 defense and QB in the ACC conference, they are primed to make a breakthrough with a very weak schedule. The Wolfpack’s non-conference schedule includes ECO, Charleston Southern, Texas Tech, and UConn. If NC State can go 4-0 in these games, then the season win total becomes very achievable.
Louisville – 6.5 wins (+105 / -125)
After a disappointing couple of seasons since the departure of Bobby Petrino and Lamar Jackson, the Cardinals look to prove people wrong in 2022. There has been minimal turnover on the roster and Malik Cunningham is perceived as a Heisman darkhorse. If the pieces come together, the 6.5 win total might not be any issue.
Florida State – 6.5 wins (-125 / +105)
The Seminoles have the most difficult conference schedule in the ACC conference on paper. They have matchups against Wake Forest, NC State, Miami, and Clemson. If this team wants to hit the over on the season long wins they will need to capitalize on at least one of these games.
Boston College – 6.5 wins (+110 / -130)
A very polarizing schedule is in place for Boston College in 2022. They should have no problem against the likes of Maine, Duke, Syracuse, and UConn. However, Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State, and Notre Dame all stand in the way of hitting this total and making a bowl. Boston College needs to beat some of the weaker ACC conference teams to hit this number.
Syracuse – 5 wins (+110 / -130)
The Orange finished the 2021 season going 5-7, winning a couple of toss-up games. They will likely need to do the same in 2022 to at least push their win total. Syracuse is strongest at the QB and RB positions this upcoming season, and will need to put points on the board in order to stay competitive in all ACC conference games.
