The ACC has been the “Clemson and everyone else” conference during the College Football Playoff era. Is there any reason to think that will change in 2021? Below, we look at the odds to win the ACC divisions with college football picks, predictions and best bets.
Clemson has won the ACC every year since 2015, and despite losing first-round picks QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne to the NFL, it’s the clear-cut favorite to win a sixth straight Atlantic Division title. Clemson doesn’t rebuild, it reloads, and it should be the class of the conference yet again in 2021.
Parity reigns in the Coastal, on the other hand. Six different teams have won the division over the last six seasons (there were no divisions for the 2020 season), but it hasn’t produced a conference champion since Virginia Tech in 2010. The odds in the Coastal are far tighter than in the Atlantic.
2021 ACC Atlantic Division odds
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, Aug. 24.
- Clemson: -3030 (bet $3,030 to win $100)
- NC State: +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)
- Louisville: +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)
- Florida State: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)
- Wake Forest: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)
- Boston College: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)
- Syracuse: +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)
2021 ACC Coastal Division odds
- North Carolina: +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Miami: +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Virginia Tech: +750 (bet $100 to win $750)
- Pittsburgh: +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000)
- Virginia: +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)
- Georgia Tech: +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)
- Duke: +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)
2021 ACC Atlantic picks and prediction
Clemson (-3030) is the overwhelming favorite to win the Atlantic yet again. Lawrence and Etienne are out, but five-star QB D.J. Uiagalelei has already proven to be a fine replacement to run the offense. The Tigers return most of their offensive line, all-everything WR Justyn Ross is back after missing 2020 due to injury, and they arguably have the nation’s best defensive line.
Depth at QB is an issue—walk-on QB Hunter Helms would likely start if Uiagalelei gets hurt—so Clemson’s a PASS at these odds given the minuscule payout for doing what it’s supposed to do.
New to sports betting? A $100 bet on Clemson to win the Atlantic would return a profit of just $3.30.
Best bet
If you’re looking for a speculative play to supplant the Tigers, consider NC State (+1200). The Wolfpack went 8-4 last season thanks to a more explosive passing game and an improved defense that returns 10 of 11 starters. The schedule won’t help—NC State gets Miami and North Carolina as its Coastal crossover opponents—but it’s the second-best team in the Atlantic on paper.
A small-unit play on the Wolfpack could pay huge dividends if Clemson’s QB depth becomes an issue.
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Long shot
An even longer shot to win the Atlantic is Boston College (+2000), who took both Clemson and UNC down to the wire last year, losing by a combined 10 points in those games. QB Phil Jurkovec leads a revamped passing game with most starters back on offense, while the defense should improve in the second year under defensive-minded head coach Jeff Hafley. It’s a long shot, but BC is a decent dart throw with lucrative odds.
2021 ACC Coastal picks and prediction
Best bet
North Carolina (+115) is your 2021 Coastal favorite. The Tar Heels lose their top two running backs and wide receivers to the NFL, but QB Sam Howell is an early Heisman candidate, and the Tarheels return their entire offensive line as well as 10 of 11 starters on a young, talented defense.
UNC is a great bet to win the Coastal and it could give Clemson its toughest test in years for the conference.
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Contender
With four top-15 recruiting classes in the last five years and game-changing QB D’Eriq King back under center, Miami (+130) has the goods to win the Coastal.
The Hurricanes lost NFL talent along the defensive line and will need to flip a brutal 62-26 loss to UNC at the end of last season to do it. Miami doesn’t quite match up to the Tarheels on paper, but it’s a cut above the rest of the division.
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