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None of the last three College Football Playoffs included a team from the ACC. That comes after Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers played in six straight CFPs between 2015 and 2020, winning two national championships (2016, 2018) in the process.
2023 ACC champion Florida State finished 13-0 but failed to make last year’s playoffs. A season-ending injury to QB Jordan Travis had a lot to do with the CFP Selection Committee bypassing the Seminoles. Florida State should be right in the thick of the NCAA football championship race this season.
Clemson failed to win 10 games in 2023. That’s the first time that has happened in over a dozen season under Swinney. The Tigers could be on the verge of something special in the ACC in 2024. The same could be said for teams like Miami, Louisville (which played in last year’s ACC championship game), NC State, and even Georgia Tech.
The ACC will actually kick off the 2024 College Football season with a Week 0 Florida State-Georgia Tech matchup on Aug. 24. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic will kick off at noon from Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. You can see all the early season NCAA football odds here at Scores & Stats.
ACC Conference Realignment
With Pac-12 falling apart last season, the ACC picked up a few new members for 2024: Stanford Cardinal and California Golden Bears. The two schools academic profiles fit in with the ACC despite being located on the West Coast.
The ACC also added SMU from the American Athletic Conference. The Mustangs have longed to become a Power 5 member and the ACC was a great fit. SMU had some great seasons under Sonny Dykes before going 7-6 and 11-3 the past two seasons under Rhett Lashlee. The addition of SMU gives the ACC 17 teams and the conference decided to get rid of divisions. The top two teams at the end of the regular season will play for the conference title.
2024 ACC Conference Odds
Check out the latest ACC Conference odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites:
| ACC Conference Teams | Conference Odds | Total Wins | Make Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State Seminoles | +280 | O/U 9.5 Wins | Y(+160)/N(-200) |
| Clemson Tigers | +325 | O/U 9.5 Wins | Y(+190)/N(-240) |
| Miami Hurricanes | +400 | O/U 9.5 Wins | Y(+210)/N(-270) |
| Louisville Cardinals | +700 | O/U 8.5 Wins | Y(+450)/N(-700) |
| NC State Wolfpack | +700 | O/U 8.5 Wins | Y(+450)/N(-700) |
| Virginia Tech Hokies | +750 | O/U 8.5 Wins | Y(+900)/N(-1800) |
| SMU Mustangs | +1600 | O/U 7.5 Wins | Y(+1000)/N(-2200) |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | +2800 | O/U 7.5 Wins | Y(+1600)/N(-6600) |
| Syracuse Orange | +3300 | O/U 7.5 Wins | Y(+2500)/N(-30000) |
| California Golden Bears | +7500 | O/U 6.5 Wins | Y(+4000)/N(-100000) |
| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | +8000 | O/U 5.5 Wins | Y(+6600)/N(NA) |
| Boston College Eagles | +10000 | O/U 4.5 Wins | Y(+5000)/N(NA) |
| Duke Blue Devils | +12500 | O/U 5.5 Wins | Y(+6600)/N(NA) |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | +12500 | O/U 5.5 Wins | Y(+10000)/N(NA) |
| Virginia Cavaliers | +12500 | O/U 4.5 Wins | Y(+10000)/N(NA) |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | +25000 | O/U 4.5 Wins | Y(+15000)/N(NA) |
| Stanford Cardinal | +50000 | O/U 3.5 Wins | Y(+20000)/N(NA) |
Who Wins the 2024 ACC Football Championship?
Among the 17 teams in the ACC now, there are really only a handful that will compete for the conference title. Last year’s champion Florida State had six players taken in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft. The Seminoles return just 10 starters, but Mike Norvell has cultivated some depth in Tallahassee.
Miami should be intriguing with the offseason transfer portal addition of QB Cam Ward. QB Cade Klubnik and RB Phil Mafah return to a Clemson offense that should be better than last year. The Tigers defense boasts LB Barrett Carter, a preseason All-American who will be up for all of the season-ending defensive awards.
Florida State +280
- Head coach: Mike Norvell
- 2023 Record: 13-1 (8-0)
When Travis went down late last season, Norvell knew he would need depth at the quarterback position. He went out and got former Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei in the transfer portal. He also signed Luke Kromenhoek, the No. 4 QB in the 2024 recruiting class. The Seminoles return three offensive linemen, which should help FSU lead the ACC in rushing (214 ypg) again in 2024.
The defense should be special. The front seven returns four All-ACC selections. Florida State’s defense finished among the top-20 teams in the country against the pass and in scoring defense (19.3 ppg). Patrick Payton (6-5, 254) had seven sacks last season and CB Azareye’h Thomas is the next FSU lockdown corner. If Norvell can replace all three linebackers, his 2024 defense could be the best in the country.
Clemson +325
- Head coach: Dabo Swinney
- 2023 Record: 9-4 (4-4)
Klubnik returns to run the Tigers offense again in 2024. Mafah, who rushed for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, will take some of the pressure off of Klubnik who failed to finish some late drives last season against FSU, Miami, and NC State. WR Tyler Brown (52-531) and TE Jake Briningstool (50-498) return to give Klubnik and the Clemson offense some experienced weapons.
The success of Clemson’s 2024 season will likely come down to a defense led by one of the best players in the country – Carter. Five Clemson defenders went in the 2024 NFL draft and several more are likely after this season. Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin will simply reload a defense that was eighth in the nation last year against the pass (173.2 ypg) and in total defense (287.8 ypg).
Miami +400
- Head coach: Mario Cristobal
- 2023 Record: 7-6 (3-5)
The big news in Miami is the arrival of Ward, who completed 65.5 percent of his passes for nearly 7,000 yards and 48 touchdowns in two seasons at Washington State. Ward will have WR Xavier Restrepo (85-1,092) and a pair of veteran tight ends – Cam McCormick and Elijah Arroyo – to work with. The Hurricanes offense averaged 431.2 yards of offense and 31.5 points per game last season. With Ward running the show, expect even better numbers.
Ward may also help the Hurricanes win more close games. Miami went 1-4 last season in games decided by seven points or less. The ‘Canes run defense was one of the best in the country in 2023 and both linebackers – Wesley Bissainthe and Francisco Mauigoa – and DE Reuben Bain Jr. (7.5 sacks) are back. Miami held opponents to just 105.6 rushing yards per game, the 11th-best total in the nation.
2024 ACC Football Championship Prediction
Swinney’s lack of using the transfer portal has put the Tigers in a three-year slide and Miami is probably still at least a year away. FSU will insert Uiagalelei into an offense centered around the running game and the Seminoles defense will be the best in the conference.
Bet: Florida State +280
Will Any ACC Football Teams Make the Playoffs?
Norvell has built a winner in Tallahassee, going 31-17 over the past four seasons and finally winning the ACC conference title last season. With a plug-and-play new quarterback and one of the best defensive units in the country, I clearly expect the Seminoles to be among the top five teams in the country at season’s end.
Bet: Florida State to Make the CFP +160The Best ACC Football Teams Overs
Rhett Lashlee’s SMU team went 11-3 last season, but that was in the American Athletic Conference. The offense returns seven starters and should continue to be prolific (38.7 ppg, 8th in the nation). SMU plays Florida State at home and avoids Clemson, Miami, and NC State.
Bet: SMU Over 7.5 WinsBrent Key has done an outstanding job at Georgia Tech, going 7-6 in his inaugural campaign last season. The schedule is a challenge, but the Yellow Jackets running game (203.8 ypg, 12th in the nation) and an improved defense will help them go over this number.
Bet: Georgia Tech Over 5.5 Wins
The Best ACC Football Teams Unders
Syracuse welcomes new head coach Fran Brown and new QB Kyle McCord, who transferred from Ohio State. The Orange have just four offensive starters from a year ago, the offensive line has had issues for the last several seasons, and the defense is suspect. Syracuse hasn’t won eight games in a season since 2018 and it’s not happening under a first-year head coach.
Bet: Syracuse Under 7.5 WinsBefore Cal gets welcomed to the ACC, the Bears will play at Auburn on Sept. 7 and play at ACC favorite Florida State on Sept. 21. Cal has won at least seven games in a season just twice under Justin Wilcox and the most recent was in 2019. The defense returns eight starts, but that defense ranked in the bottom-30 in passing, total, and scoring defense.
Bet: California Under 6.5 WinsThe Biggest ACC Football Team Sleeper
Not many expected a seven-win season from Georgia Tech a year ago. It’s probably not expected in 2024 either and the Yellow Jackets season win total reflects that. Georgia Tech opens the season with FSU, but it’s in Dublin and they avoid Clemson. Plus, they get Miami and NC State at home.
The offense, led by the 12th-best rushing attack in the country, is explosive and returns seven starters, including QB Haynes King (2,755 yds., 25 TDs). The defense also returns seven starters and should be much better than 2023. Experience is everywhere and an upset of Notre Dame in Atlanta in mid-October could propel the Yellow Jackets to its best season in years.
ACC Heisman Watch
The ACC’s best shot at a Heisman Trophy winner is Miami’s new quarterback – Cam Ward. A dynamic player who completed 66.6 percent of his passes last year for 3,735 yards and 27 touchdowns last season at Washington State, Ward could have the type of year at Miami that will turn heads. In the latest Heisman Trophy odds race, Ward is listed at +2000.
The only other realistic ACC Heisman contender is Florida State’s Uiagalelei. With the Seminoles likely in the thick of the national championship race, Uiagalelei will have plenty of opportunities to prove his value. Currently, he is listed at +2800 to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
