The ACC Coastal hasn’t had as much success in recent years as its divisional counterpart. Either Clemson or Florida State has won the last seven ACC titles. The last winner from the ACC Coastal was Virginia Tech in 2010.
However, there has been a bit of a resurgence from ACC Coastal heavyweights Miami and Virginia Tech. While neither squad has been a national title contender in the last two seasons, they have started putting the pieces together to catch up to Clemson.
The Atlantic has been the better division recently, but the bottom of the ACC Coastal is also improving. If every team in the ACC Coastal matched or went over their projected win total, they’d all make a bowl game.
Throughout July, we are giving out our over/under picks for every team in college football. We are also giving out best bets for each division and conference. Here are our over/under picks for each team in the ACC Coastal.
Note: all win totals are for regular season only. Conference championship games and bowl games do not count towards a team’s over/under projection. All win totals are from BetDSI.com.
ACC Coastal Over/Under
Miami (9.5)
The Hurricanes went 10-1 a season ago, and they won the ACC Coastal for the first time since joining the conference in 2004. They lost a good bit of experience to graduation and the NFL, but this is still a talented roster.
Miami could be a better team in 2018 and still not hit the over. The schedule is much tougher this season. They start out with a neutral site game against LSU, and they also have back-to-back road games at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Miami hosts Florida State, but the Seminoles have had an advantage in that series aside from last year.
A season ago, the Canes won four straight games by eight points or less. It’s extremely difficult to duplicate that two years in a row, and usually those one score games even out over time. Miami will still be a good team and might even win the ACC Coastal again in 2018, but we’re taking the under.
The Pick: Miami UNDER 9.5.
Virginia Tech (8.5)
In the last two regular seasons, the Hokies have finished 9-3. Justin Fuente is entering his third season in Blacksburg, and he’s aiming to get his squad back in the ACC title game.
Virginia Tech’s schedule is more favorable this year despite a season opening showdown in Tallahassee against Florida State. The Hokies have a tough non-conference game against Notre Dame, but that contest is in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech also hosts Miami, and the Hurricanes haven’t fared well in those meetings in the past.
The Hokies have most of their difficult games at home. One issue that could plague them early on is they are entering the season as one of the most inexperienced teams in the country. Several defensive players graduated or left for the NFL — including Terrell and Tremaine Edmunds, who became the first brothers selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. But Fuente is an excellent offensive coach, and the Hokies should be fine relying on their offense to carry them in the early stages of the season.
The Pick: Virginia Tech OVER 8.5.
Georgia Tech (6)
Vegas usually has a difficult time projecting Georgia Tech because they run such a unique system that can succeed without highly touted players. The Yellow Jackets have had a losing record in two of the last three seasons, which is uncharacteristic of a Paul Johnson team.
Even if Georgia Tech is improved this year, it might not show in the win-loss column because the schedule is so tough. They have non-conference games on the road at South Florida and Georgia. The Yellow Jackets also cross with Clemson and Louisville from the Atlantic division. While they host Miami, they have to go to Virginia Tech, Pitt and North Carolina.
On the optimistic side, six wins feels about right. Taking the under is the safe move because it’s hard to imagine the Yellow Jackets winning over six games.
The Pick: Georgia Tech UNDER 6.
North Carolina (6)
Nothing went right for the Tar Heels last year. They were the worst team in the ACC — which is shocking considering the were in the conference title game two years earlier.
Here’s the good news: it can’t get much worse than last year, and Brandon Harris won’t take any snaps at quarterback. The schedule is also easier, and they lost 37 players to injury a season ago. They don’t play Clemson, Florida State or Louisville — the projected top three teams from the Atlantic division.
Of course, there are a few negatives. They will be one of the most inexperienced teams in the country, which is never a good thing. But it’s especially not great when you’re coming off of a three-win team.
Larry Fedora is a good coach, and North Carolina will likely bounce back in 2018. You probably won’t feel comfortable if you take either side of this bet, and a push is a likely outcome. But there are enough opportunities for wins to go over the total.
The Pick: North Carolina OVER 6.
Duke (6)
Duke is probably the toughest job in the conference, but David Cutcliffe still manages to have success each year. The Blue Devils have posted a winning record in four of the last five seasons. It’s been one of the best stretches in school history.
With quarterback Daniel Jones returning, the Blue Devils should be a good offensive team again in 2018. The problem is the schedule. Aside from an easy game against NC Central, the non-conference slate is very difficult. Duke hosts Army and travels to both Northwestern and Baylor. None of those three games will be easy wins.
The Blue Devils also have to play at Clemson and Miami late in the year. It’s tough to bet against Cutcliffe, but seven wins is a stretch for this team.
The Pick: Duke UNDER 6.
Pitt (5.5)
The Panthers took a step backwards last year as they finished 5-7 in Pat Narduzzi’s third season. To make matters worse, they lost several veteran players off of last year’s team, and they will be very inexperienced early on in 2018.
Additionally, Pitt has a very difficult schedule this year. The non-conference schedule is particularly daunting after the season opener against Albany. The Panthers host Penn State in Week 2, and they also travel to UCF and Notre Dame.
Pitt avoids the best teams from the Atlantic division, but this over/under will come down to about four toss-up games.
The Pick: Pitt UNDER 5.5.
Virginia (5)
It didn’t take long for Bronco Mendenhall to turn Virginia from a cellar dweller into a formidable squad. After a 2-10 inaugural season, Mendenhall led the Hoos to six wins and a bowl berth last year.
Can the Cavaliers make it back to a bowl game in 2018? The schedule is very manageable. Virginia hosts Richmond, Liberty and Ohio in the non-conference. They travel to Indiana, which is a winnable game despite being on the road.
Virginia crosses with Louisville and N.C. State, and they have to play Virginia Tech on the road. But overall, the schedule sets up nicely and Mendenhall should be able to get the Hoos back into the postseason.
The Pick: Virginia OVER 5.
Best Bets
Virginia Tech OVER 8.5
Virginia OVER 5
