The ACC heads into the 2012 season unscathed by all the conference realignment going on around it.
Editors Note: For 2013 conference preview, click here
It currently has six teams battling it out for the Atlantic Division title and five teams squaring- off for the top spot in the Coastal Division. The following is a betting preview for a couple of the top contenders in each division along with all the team’s current odds to win the ACC title this season as provided by Sportsbook.
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Atlantic Division
Many football experts believe that the Florida State Seminoles will not only win the ACC this season going away, but that Jimbo Fisher’s squad is ready to legitimately compete for a BCS title. The Seminoles have been opened as prohibitive favorites at 1/2 to win their division and even-money favorites to win the conference at 1/1.
The talent should be there with 18 starters back from last season’s 9-4 squad and the schedule remains very favorable with no major out-of-conference tests. The team received a scare when quarterback EJ Manual injured his ankle in practice, but he appears to be ready to go for Florida State’s home opener against Murray State on Sept.1
The Clemson Tigers will certainly have something to say about this race as the second-favorite to win the Atlantic Division at 11/4 and 5/1 third-favorites to win the ACC.
The defending conference champions will have seven starters back on offense including junior quarterback Tajh Boyd, who threw for 3,828 yards and 33 touchdowns last year and running back Andre Ellington, who led the team in rushing with 1,178 yards. The Tigers also return seven starters on defense with the entire secondary intact.
The odds to win the conference for the other four teams in the Atlantic are North Carolina State at 20/1, Wake Forest at 40/1, Boston College at 60/1 and Maryland at 100/1.
Coastal Division
The team at the top of this division is no stranger to high expectations. The Virginia Tech Hokies have been opened as 11/10 favorites to once again win the Coastal Division and second-favorites to win the ACC at 3/1.
Longtime head coach Frank Beamer will have nine starters back on a defense that finished last season ranked seventh in the nation in points allowed. The offense will be a whole other story with just three starters left from last season’s roster.
Logan Thomas returns at quarterback but sophomore tailback Daniel Dyer will have huge shoes to fill for the departed David Wilson.
Despite playing under cloud of some impending NCAA sanctions, a sleeper team in the ACC this season could be the Miami Hurricanes. They have been opened as 17/2 second-favorites to win the division and 9/1 fourth-favorites to win the conference title.
They are coming off a very vanilla 6-6 record last season that included a disappointing 3-5 record in the conference. Add in the fact that there are just 11 starters returning from last year’s team and a lot of things have to go right for the Hurricanes to stay in this race.
Junior quarterback Stephen Morris should get the start on Sportsbook day against Boston College as he takes over the reins for the departed Jacory Harris.
The odds to win the division for the rest of the teams in the Coastal are Georgia Tech at 12/1, Virginia at 18/1, and Duke at 100/1. North Carolina is ineligible for postseason play due to current NCAA sanctions.
Check out ACC betting odds and props courtesy of Sportsbook:
2012 Season - Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have more Passing Yards
Tajh Boyd (Clemson) -120
Mike Glennon (N.C. State) +120
Bryn Renner (North Carolina) +150
2012 Season - Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have more Passing Touchdowns
Tajh Boyd (Clemson) -105
Mike Glennon (N.C. State) +110
Bryn Renner (North Carolina) +145
2012 Season - Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have more Rushing Yards
Giovani Bernard (North Carolina) +145
Orwin Smith (Georgia Tech) +225
Andre Ellington (Clemson) +275
Devonta Freeman (Florida State) +300
Perry Jones (Virginia) +475
2012 Season - Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have more Rushing Touchdowns
Giovani Bernard (North Carolina) +150
Andre Ellington (Clemson) +240
Orwin Smith (Georgia Tech) +250
Devonta Freeman (Florida State) +290
Perry Jones (Virginia) +500
2012 Season - Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have more Receiving Yards
Sammy Watkins (Clemson) +175
DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson) +200
Erik Highsmith (North Carolina) +245
Phillip Dorsett (Miami) +360
Rodney Smith (Florida State) +400
2012 Season - Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have more Receiving Touchdowns
Sammy Watkins (Clemson) +150
DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson) +190
Erik Highsmith (North Carolina) +210
Phillip Dorsett (Miami) +450
Rodney Smith (Florida State) +550
