2025 Preview and Predictions for the ACC Football Conference

The ACC football 2025 media days concluded in Charlotte, NC last week, and kickoff to the college football season is less than a month away. The 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference has a preseason national title contender as the Clemson Tigers are the prohibitive favorite to win the conference for the 9th time in the last 11 seasons. 

The Miami Hurricanes are an ACC contender along with SMU, and those teams play in Dallas on Nov. 1 for homecoming at Southern Methodist. Clemson and Miami do not play in the 2025 regular season, but SMU travels to death valley Oct. 18 for a rematch of last season's ACC Championship Game won by Clemson, 34-31. 

Big conference news that will continue to draw more media attention this season is NFL coaching great Bill Belichick takes over as head coach at North Carolina. The Tar Heels have a huge turnover in personnel, and no set starter at quarterback with three left-handers competing ahead of their Sept. 1 Monday night home game vs. TCU to conclude Week 1 action.

Four ACC teams made Phil Steele's Most Improved list (top 12) topped by Florida State at No. 1 followed by North Carolina (6), NC State (10) and Virginia Tech (12). The Seminoles fell hard last season to 2-10 just one season after going 13-1 but getting left out of the 4-team College Football Playoff. Only SMU is on Steel's 2025 Surprise Teams with Florida State and Georgia Tech mentioned as second-tier potential surprise teams. 

Check out the SEC football preview and Big Ten football coverage I provide here at Off Shore Gaming Association with information you can bet on. 

ACC Teams, Odds, Season Wins And Position/Unit Rankings 

Here are the ACC teams with regular season O/U wins, odds to win the conference and national championship plus position and unit rankings for each team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Check back for more added stats and notes. 

College football odds from BetOnline, BetUS and Bookmaker, plus other leading online sportsbooks and reduced juice books like rebranded BetAnyThing (formerly BetAnySports) refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.

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Clemson

Head coach: Dabo Swinney (18th year)
Season Wins: O/U 9/5 (over -216)  
Last 2 years: 10-4, 9-4 
National Title: +1000 (BetUS)
ACC Title: +105 (BetOnline)
ACC Unit rankings: QB (1), RB (4), REC (1), OL (1), DL (1), LB (1), DB (1), ST (8), Coach (1)

Notes: Bye Weeks 5 and 9. The Tigers are loaded this season with top position units across the board in the ACC, and senior QB Cade Klubnik is a Heisman favorite. Clemson returns 16 starters - tied for most in the country with Arizona State and Illinois, and the Tigers experience and production rankings are top 2 in the nation. The Tigers will be favored in every game this season, and Clemson's power rating is among the top-7 in the country to start the season, and +7 points higher than the end of last season (Powers Sports) when the won the ACC Championship Game 34-31 over SMU. The ACC media poll has Clemson as the most dominant team, and the Tigers have the highest power rating differential between the first and second rated teams of the four power conferences with only Boise State in the Mountain West separating themselves more from the next closest team. Memorial Stadium in Death Valley is also one of the strongest home fields in college football. 

Miami

Head coach: Mario Cristobal (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (over -160, BookMaker)  
Last 2 years: 10-3, 7-6  
National Title: +3500 
ACC Title: +375 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (3), RB (2), REC (2), OL (1), DL (2), LB (3), DB (2), ST (8), Coach (6)

Notes: Bye Weeks 5 and 7. Miami is far less experienced with 9 returning starters, but senior QB Carson Beck transfers in from Georgia after passing for nearly 3,500 yards and 28 TD's last season. The Hurricanes open Week 1 at home as an underdog against highly-rated Notre Dame and have early season bye weeks before playing Florida State and Louisville. Miami avoids Clemson during the regular season and expectations are high for another 10-win season with Miami strong across the offensive and defensive lines and top ACC skill position players on offense. 

SMU

Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (over -108) 
Last year: 11-3 (first year ACC) 
National Title: +10000 
ACC Title: +900 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (4), RB (8), REC (2), OL (3), DL (5), LB (13), DB (2), ST (1), Coach (3)

Notes: Bye Weeks 5 and 12. A strong first season in the ACC for SMU last year advancing to the ACC Championship Game before getting blown out at Penn State in the College Football Playoff. Phil Steele has SMU among his top-10 surprise teams this season, but they lost 14 starters and the Mustangs have a tougher schedule with five games against top-30 teams including Week 8 at Clemson. 

Georgia Tech

Head coach: Brent Key (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (over -148)  
Last 2 years: 7-6, 7-6  
National Title: +15000 
ACC Title: +900
ACC Unit rankings: QB (2), RB (2), REC (2), OL (6), DL (10), LB (3), DB (8), ST (8), Coach (9)

Notes: Bye Weeks 6 and 11. The Yellow Jackets upset Florida State as a 10'-point 'Dog to open last season, and lost 44-42 in OT as a 17'-point 'Dog to Georgia to conclude the regular season. Expectations are higher than 7 wins with their best team in HC Key's fourth season, plus their best recruiting class in more than a decade. Georgia Tech has senior starters at QB, RB and two WRs, but drop off on offensive and defensive line ratings. The Bee's opens ACC play at home in Week 3 vs. Clemson, but avoid Miami, Louisville and SMU this season.

Florida State

Head coach: Mike Norvell (6th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (over -150)  
Last 2 years: 2-10, 13-1   
National Title: +20000
ACC Title: +2500 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (4), REC (2), OL (6), DL (5), LB (3), DB (2), ST (8), Coach (2)

Notes: Bye Weeks 3 and 9. Florida State's power rating fell more than 20 points last season - the biggest drop in college football on their way to a 2-10 season following 13-0 regular season in 2023. The Seminoles are expected to be vastly improved this season, and a Week 1 home game vs. Alabama as a rare double-digit home 'Dog is a tough start to build confidence. Senior QB, RB and WR starters plus all five returning senior offensive lineman should provide the foundation on offense. Late season road games starting in Nov. at Clemson, NC State and Florida will seal their fate as a season O/U win total of 6.5 is un-FSU like.   

Louisville

Head coach: Jeff Brohm (3rd year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (over -132)  
Last 2 years: 9-4, 10-4 
National Title: +8000 
ACC Title: +850 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (5), RB (1), REC (2), OL (3), DL (5), LB (3), DB (8), ST (13), Coach (5)

Notes: Bye Weeks 3 and 7. The Cardinals are among the most experienced teams in the country (top-10), and last year's USC Trojans starting QB Miller Moss comes to Louisville and is one of eight senior starting quarterbacks in the ACC. The Cardinals have won 19 games in HC Brohm's first two seasons including 12-5 in ACC play, but did lost five games as a TD favorite or more. Louisville has eight home games including Clemson late season and a road game at SMU follows before their state cross-conference rival Kentucky. 

North Carolina

Head coach: Bill Belichick (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (under -160)  
Last 2 years: 6-7, 8-5  
National Title: +50000 
ACC Title: +2800 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (8), REC (9), OL (3), DL (10), LB (10), DB (8), ST (4), Coach (3)

Notes: Bye Weeks 5 and 7. NFL coaching great Bill Belichick, 73, coaches college players for the first time with his girlfriend barely out of college. Age is just a number, but the Tar Heels have lots of turnover and inexperience among their incoming transfers. Three left-handed quarterbacks are battling for the to-be-determined starting job, and their are added questions across many position groups as they adjust to a new coaching staff. Still, North Carolina's power rating is 3-points higher than the end of last season with plenty of excitement in Chapel Hill with the Hall of Fame coach on the sidelines. 

Pittsburgh

Head coach: Pat Narduzzi (11th year)
Season Wins: O/U 5.5 (over -197)  
Last 2 years: 6-7, 3-9  
National Title: +30000 
ACC Title: +4000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (5), RB (4), REC (9), OL (8), DL (2), LB (1), DB (2), ST (4), Coach (6)

Notes: Bye Weeks 4 and 11. Pitt started last season 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS, but the offense went South and the Panthers finished the season and bowl game on a 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS slide and bankroll burner. Underrated coach Narduzzi starts his 11th season at Pitt, and the Panthers have an experienced group of 15 returners with a stronger defense this season after allowing the most points (28) and yards (378) over their past six seasons. Pitt power rating is up sharply from the end of last season, and the Panthers avoid Clemson but close the season with Notre Dame, at Georgia Tech and home to Miami.  

NC State

Head coach: Dave Doeren (13th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (under -140) 
Last 2 years: 6-7, 9-4  
National Title: +30000 
ACC Title: +4000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (12), RB (8), REC (2), OL (6), DL (5), LB (3), DB (8), ST (4), Coach (6)

Notes: Bye Weeks 8 and 11. NC State started last season in the top-25, but never really recovered after early season blowouts to Tennessee and Clemson. A bowl game loss as a TD favorite left them 6-7, and a top-half of the conference finish is not likely despite avoiding Clemson, SMU and Louisville. The Wolf Pack play road games at Notre Dame, Pitt and Miami and close the season at home vs. Florida State and North Carolina with the potential to miss a bowl game for the first time since 2016.  

Duke

Head coach: Manny Diaz (2nd year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (over -175)  
Last 2 years: 9-4, 8-5  
National Title: +30000
ACC Title: +2500 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (5), RB (13), REC (9), OL (6), DL (2), LB (10), DB (2), ST (1), Coach (11)

Notes: Bye Weeks 7 and 9. Duke's power rating is 3-points higher than the end of last season, and the Blue Devils avoid SMU, Miami and Louisville this season. Still, Duke is going to fall off from 9-wins last season despite more experience as they were out-gained by more than 50 yards per game in ACC play last year but managed to go 5-3 and 6-1 in one-score games. 

Virginia Tech

Head coach: Brent Pry (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (under -155)  
Last 2 years: 6-7, 7-6  
National Title: +50000 
ACC Title: +3300 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (5), RB (4), REC (9), OL (11), DL (5), LB (3), DB (8), ST (1), Coach (11)

Notes: Bye Weeks 8 and 11. Virginia Tech opens the season vs. South Carolina in Atlanta, and the Hokies likely drop off on offense with zero returning starters on the offensive line. They avoid Clemson and SMU, but even with wins over Old Dominion and Wofford, it will be a struggle to win 7 games. 

Syracuse

Head coach: Fran Brown (2nd year)
Season Wins: O/U 5.5 (under -177)  
Last 2 years: 10-3, 6-7 
National Title: +50000 
ACC Title: +5000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (13), RB (13), REC (2), OL (15), DL (14), LB (13), DB (15), ST (16), Coach (11)

Notes: Bye Weeks 7 and 12. Syracuse drops sharply in experience, production and power rankings off a 10-win season and it shows in their position and unit rankings. Road games at Clemson, SMU, Georgia Tech, Miami and Notre Dame plus a Week 1 game vs. Tennessee makes it significantly tougher in coach Brown's second year leading the Orange.   

Virginia

Head coach: Tony Elliott (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (under -140)  
Last 2 years: 5-7, 3-9  
National Title: +100000
ACC Title: +8000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (13), REC (9), OL (14), DL (10), LB (10), DB (14), ST (8), Coach (14)

Notes: Bye Weeks 7 and 13. Virginia avoids Clemson, Miami, SMU and Georgia Tech this season, and North Texas senior transfer QB Chandler Morris passed for 3,700+ yards and 31 TD's last season. The Cavs season win total (6.5) is higher that their wins in each of the last two seasons with the expectations higher and an offense that has 182 career starts along the offensive line. Surprisingly low OL position ranking, and they should average more than 24 points per game for the first time in four seasons with more than 30 transfers looking to make their mark in a bowl season for the first time under fourth year coach Elliott.  

Boston College

Head coach: Bill O'Brien (2nd year)
Season Wins: O/U 5.5 (under -139)  
Last 2 years: 7-6, 7-6 
National Title: +100000 
ACC Title: +6600 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (13), RB (13), REC (9), OL (11) DL (10), LB (15), DB (2), ST (16), Coach (10)

Notes: Bye Weeks 4 and 13. The Eagles play Clemson, SMU, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame at home, but 2nd year coach Bill O'Brien has a tougher challenge this season to return Boston College to a bowl game for the 9th time in 10 years. The Eagles are juiced 'under' 5.5 wins and road games at Louisville, Pitt and early-season non-conference Michigan State add to the challenge to reach 7 wins again.   

California

Head coach: Justin Wilcox (9th year)
Season Wins: O/U 5.5 (under -148)  
Last year: 6-7 (first ACC)  
National Title: +50000 
ACC Title: +8000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (13), RB (8), REC (15), OL (11), DL (10), LB (3), DB (8), ST (15), Coach (14)

Notes: Bye Weeks 7 and 12. Cal and Stanford at the bottom of the projected standings with lots of cross-country travel. The only 'Big Game' on their schedule is Week 13 vs. each other and both teams avoid Clemson. At least five starters left Cal since spring, and two new coordinators are added for 9th-year coach Justin Wilcox, who is on the hot seat. The Bears won 6-games last season, but none vs. winning teams and 7-36 vs. winning teams under Wilcox. 

Wake Forest

Head coach: Jake Dickert (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 4.5  (under -148)  
Last 2 years: 4-8, 4-8
National Title: +100000 
ACC Title: +3000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (13), RB (8), REC (16), OL (15), DL (16), LB (15), DB (15), ST (14), Coach (16)

Notes: Bye Weeks 4 and 8. New head coach Dickert takes over a program that lost 18 starters, but does have a decent transfer class. But bottom-level position groups and especially along the offensive and defensive line makes it tougher. The defense looks weaker again and Wake has allowed at least 27 points per game in 7-straight seasons. A softer schedule avoiding Clemson and Miami helps, but the Demon Deacons will be an underdog in all ACC games.  

Stanford 

Head coach: Frank Reick (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 3.5 (under -182)  
Last year: 3-9 (first ACC)  
National Title: +100000 
ACC Title: +3000 
ACC Unit rankings: QB (13), RB (13), REC (16), OL (15), DL (14), LB (17), DB (8), ST (4), Coach (16 )

Notes: Bye Weeks 6 and 12. A long season on the Farm for new Stanford coach and former NFL head coach Frank Reich. Continued rebuild as starters have left the program and a struggling offense has failed to average more than 23 points in each of the past four seasons. Road games at SMU, Miami and early-season BYU from the Big 12, which would have been a better conference for Stanford. 

Also, I've added last year's National Championship runner-up Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the ACC coverage as they compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports except football and hockey (independent). 

Notre Dame 

Head coach: Marcus Freeman (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 10.5 (under -146)  
Last 2 years: 14-2, 10-3   
National Title: +1200 

Notes: Bye Weeks 2 and 9

Key ACC Contests And Game Of The Year Odds

Key games between ACC teams and preseason Game of the Year college football odds from BetOnline to compare to betting lines and adjustments each week when the matchups take place. Betting favorites in (  ). 

Week 1 - Aug. 30
- LSU at Clemson (-4), 57.5
- Georgia Tech (-4.5) at Colorado, 55.5 (up from -1.5)
- Syracuse at Tennessee (-14.5), 53
- Alabama (-14.5) at Florida State, 50.5
- Notre Dame (-2) at Miami, 54
- TCU (-3) at North Carolina, 59

Week 2 - Sept. 6
- Baylor at SMU

Week 3 - Sept. 13
- Clemson at Georgia Tech
- Pittsburgh at West Virginia
- Boston College at Stanford

Week 4 - Sept. 20
- Florida at Miami (-3.5)
 
Week 6 - Oct. 4
- Miami (-7.5) at Florida State
- Clemson at North Carolina

Week 8 - Oct. 18
- SMU at Clemson
- Louisville at Miami

Week 10 - Nov. 1
- Miami at SMU

Week 11 - Nov. 8
- Florida State at Clemson 

Week 12 - Nov. 14 (Fri)
- Clemson at Louisville

Week 13 - Nov. 22
- Duke at North Carolina (-1.5)
- Louisville at SMU 

Week 14 - Nov. 29
- Clemson (-6) at South Carolina
- Florida State at Florida (-14)
- North Carolina at NC State 
- Virginia Tech at Virginia
- Georgia Tech vs. Georgia (Nov. 28)

Check back for more updates and team notes, stats and follow the Atlantic Coast Conference football schedule, weekly odds, picks and information you can bet on. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.