College basketball 2022-23 ACC betting guide

ACC Basketball has always been a thing but times are definitely changing. The most obvious change is the retirement of Coach K at Duke, but with the talent they have flowing into the program it might not make much of a difference who is on the sidelines — we see Duke just behind UNC at the top of the odds table and in most national Top 10s.

The greater changes might actually be at the bottom. Louisville has a proud hoops reputation but they have cratered badly and are hoping a coach that is "one of their own" can build them back up to where they "belong." Pitt is another proud program that used to be a bully in the Big East but since joining the ACC has just been on a steady decline.

The ACC is a mess, err, looks very difficult to predict after you get past the top 2-3 teams in the league. UNC was in the NCAA title game a year ago and returns most of their key players so they are easy to install in the top spot right now. I am not sure I would pick them to get back to where they were in April but a strong regular season and an ACC Championship look likely. 

I am not a Tobacco Road guy but it is good for the game when Duke and UNC are true rivals. That is obvious from the odds below.

ACC Regular Season Futures Odds

North Carolina Tar Heels +130

The Tar Heels look loaded with the return of Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, and RJ Davis. Hubert Davis should be better on the bench in year 2 also. What they lack is that one truly elite player (as compared to past UNC teams). I love the addition to forward Pete Nance. He gives them a lot of versatility. The probability is high but not worth the payout to tie up your money for so long. 

Duke Blue Devils +200

We have a new coach and lots of new players. The coach has no experience and the team's best players are all freshmen. That is not the perfect formula, but it just might work for the Blue Devils this season. They are going to look really good coming off the bus, that's for sure, and against a lot of teams, that's enough. Wait and see on these guys right now. 

Virginia Cavaliers +650

There is a big gap in the odds after UNC and Duke, but here is something to keep in mind. Tony Bennett is probably the best coach in the conference and he has all of his starters returning from a year ago. The defense is always elite and more continuity on offense is going to make this team very tough to beat. 

Miami Hurricanes +1400

It is a sign of the times that Miami is predicted to have a Top 4 finish in the league and people are not calling them the "Best Miami Team Ever". They were strong last year and played well in the Tournament but lost a lot of production. Isaiah Wong and transfer Nijel Pack might be the best-scoring duo in the league though. As long as they do not get pushed around inside too much they can have another good season. 

Virginia Tech Hokies +1400

There was a lot of optimism about the Hokies last season. They did not have a bad year but it kind of fell short. Now they are looking for a new top scorer to replace Keve Aluma. There is a lot of experience with this team and they generally stay within themselves. Consistency is their superpower but they are not the most talented. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish +1600

Guard Blake Wesley was a rare 1 and done player for ND last season. With Prentiss Hubb gone too, they are overhauling the backcourt but Mike Brey never lets the Irish slip too far and JJ Starling is an even rarer 5-Star recruit. I am not sure there is much upward mobility for the Irish but they never fall too low either. 

Florida State Seminoles +3000

The Seminoles just took a hit with Baba Miller being ineligible for half the season. He is just a frosh but he was going to be the latest in a long line of "long" athletes that are part of FSU's success. No power conference team spreads around minutes the way they do, mostly for the better, but last season this team failed to find a groove. Sophomore Matthew Cleveland has to live up to his 5-Star billing for this team to make a leap. 

Syracuse Orange +5500

Jim Boeheim is still there but his kids are gone and so is their combined 33ppg. That is a lot to replace and it is not clear who does it. They are going to play the way they always do and guard Joseph Girard might be All-ACC but it is hard to see this team having a great season. The best they can hope for is getting hot at the right time. We have definitely seen that before. 

Wake Forest Demon Deacons +6500

The Demon Deacons won 25 games last season. A repeat of that performance looks impossible though after losing multiple players to the NBA. Wake Forest just can't restock that quickly. Senior guard Daivien Williamson is the only returning starter. Experience at the point is invaluable but he does not have much help. 

Clemson Tigers +9500

The talk coming into the season is that coach Brad Brownell is on the hot seat. Unfortunately, it does not look like he has a team to save his job. PJ Hall is a productive inside player but he is coming off an injury and is not the kind of player you can just crank up the volume with. Just not finishing last in the league might be an accomplishment with this group. 

Boston College Eagles +20000

Boston College used to compete well once a recruiting cycle but those days seem long done now. Whenever anyone seems to have potential they lose them to another program. The exception of late is guard Makai Ashton-Langford. He keeps this team respectable but the ceiling is very low. 

NC State Wolfpack +20000

NC State always leaves you wanting more. There has been NBA talent in Raleigh under coach Kevin Keats but they have not done much with it. Terquavion Smith looks like an NBA lottery pick and possible ACC scoring champ but that still might not be enough. This is an experienced group though so perhaps something just clicks. 

Pitt Panthers +25000

Jeff Capel is yet another coach who needs some results to keep his job. He does have an anchor in John Hughley IV but having a legit big man is no longer the key to success in college hoops. Perhaps the pairing with Dior Johnson, an exciting freshman guard kickstarts the program. 

Louisville Cardinals +25000 

My how the Cards have fallen. Chris Mack was a total bust and 7 players have left the program from last year. El Ellis is a scorer but he has no help and somebody has to take the shot. With the brand they have they won't be at the bottom for long but teams are going to take their shots at Louisville this season. 

Best Bet - Virginia - They could be in the sleeper category at their current price, but there is just so much to like about a Bennett team with continuity. 

Best Sleeper - Miami - An elite backcourt just might be enough to win enough games in an unbalanced regular season.