NCAA Basketball ACC Season Preview and Odds

by | Nov 2, 2022 | Basketball

The ACC is full of excellent college basketball teams. Two of the teams from the conference were still alive in the 2022 March Madness Final Four, Duke and UNC. This season, the competition in the division grows even stronger with an influx of great transfers and freshman recruits. We’ve broken down every team in the ACC and where they stand entering the 2022-2023 season. Also, the best ACC basketball odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

2021-2022 Regular Season Winner: Duke

2021-2022 Conference Tournament Winner: Virginia Tech

Teams in 2021-2022 Tournament: Five (Duke, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech)

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Boston College Eagles

2021-2022 Record: 13-20

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC quarterfinals

Head Coach: Earl Grant

Record at School: 13-20 (1 year)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 74

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 13

Key Returners: Quinten Post, Makai Ashton-Langford, Jaeden Zackery

Key Newcomers: Prince Aligbe, Donald Hand Jr.

Boston College will return big Quinten Post for Earl Grant’s second year as head coach. However, don’t expect too much improvement from the Eagles. Though, Grant brings in a solid freshman class that should be able to lay the foundation for better days ahead. You can bank on this BC team competing and hanging around in every game.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +10000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +60000

Clemson Tigers

2021-2022 Record: 17-16

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in 2nd Round of ACC

Head Coach: Brad Brownell

Record at School: 218-166 (12 years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 60

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 11

Key Returners: PJ Hall, Chase Hunter, Alex Hemenway, Hunter Tyson

Key Newcomers: Dillon Hunter, Brevin Galloway, RJ Godrey

There is plenty to be concerned about at Clemson as star player PJ hall is coming off a knee surgery. This program has been gradually trending downward for several years now and Brad Brownell will have his hands full. Especially in a conference that has improved over last year. Clemson brings in some talented freshmen, but they might not be ready to carry the load this season.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +6000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +40000

Duke Blue Devils

2021-2022 Record: 32-7

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Final Four

Head Coach: Jon Scheyer

Record at School: First Year

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 15

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 2

Key Returners: Jaylen Blakes, Jeremy Roach

Key Newcomers: Dereck Lively, Dariq Whitehead, Kyle Filiposki, Mark Mitchell

A new era of Duke Blue Devil basketball starts this season with Jon Scheyer taking over from Coach K. Coach Scheyer will not be without talent, bringing in four five-star high school prospects and returning guard Jeremy Roach. Due to the inexperience of Scheyer and his talented squad, it may take a while for this Duke team to take shape. However, the tools are there to keep Duke basketball playing at an elite level.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +240

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +1600

Florida State Seminoles

2021-2022 Record: 17-14

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC First Round

Head Coach: Leonard Hamilton

Record at School: 394-240 (20 years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 65

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 5

Key Returners: Matthew Cleveland, Cam’Ron Fletcher, Caleb Mills

Key Newcomers: Baba Miller, De’Ante Green, Cameron Corhen

Florida State was riddled with injuries in the 2021-2022 season. As a result, they failed to make the tournament for the first time since 2016. The positive takeaway is that Leonard Hamilton got to play his young guys, which will pay dividends this year. Matthew Cleveland will lead this group of fresh faces with the intent on returning Florida State to the top of the ACC and making another tournament run.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +1600

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +8000

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2021-2022 Record: 12-20

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC First Round

Head Coach: Josh Pastner

Record at School: 94-96 (6 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 117

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 15

Key Returners: Deivon Smith, Kyle Sturdivant, Rodney Howard, Deebo Coleman

Key Newcomers: Javon Franklin, Lance Terry, Freds Pauls Pagatskis

Georgia Tech is coming off a rough 2021-2022 campaign. To make matters worse, they lost nearly half of their scoring from last season. There is a concerning void of talent with this Yellow Jacket squad. 

Josh Pastner is going to have to count on some young talent or transfers for a significant increase in productivity. Otherwise, Pastner may be looking for a new gig at the conclusion of this season.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +15000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +50000

Louisville Cardinals

2021-2022 Record: 13-19

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC Second Round

Head Coach: Kenny Payne

Record at School: First Year

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 91

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 12

Key Returners: El Ellis, Sydney Curry, Jae’Lyn Withers

Key Newcomers: Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Kamari Lands, Devin Ree

There is a lot to be excited about in Louisville as former Cardinal star Kenny Payne takes over this proud program. It is fair to expect big things from the coach who has spent time on the Kentucky bench as well as with the New York Knicks, but it may be unfair to expect it this season. The Cardinals are very inexperienced and will need its returners and transfers to step up in a big way if Louisville wants to make any noise this year.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +3000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +10000

Miami Hurricanes

2021-2022 Record: 26-11

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Elite 8

Head Coach: Jim Larranaga

Record at School: 226-141 (11 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 42

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 4

Key Returners: Isaiah Wong, Anthony Walker, Jordan Miller, Bensley Joseph

Key Newcomers: Norchad Omier, Nijel Pack, AJ Casey, Christian Watson

The Hurricanes finished up the 2021-2022 season with an incredible run to the Elite 8, the first in program history. Miami will lose several pieces from that team but return star Isaiah Wong. They also brought in Nijel Pack from the transfer portal. The question is whether Jim Larranaga can recreate the magic with new faces or were the departures essential to the secret sauce.  

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +1400

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +10000

North Carolina Tar Heels

2021-2022 Record: 29-10

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Final

Head Coach: Hubert Davis

Record at School: 29-10 (Year)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 9

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 1

Key Returners: Armando Bacot, Leaky Black, RJ Davis, Puff Johnson

Key Newcomers: Pete Nance, Jalen Washington, Seth Trimble

North Carolina tops the preseason AP poll after a run to the National Championship game last season. The Tar Heels return the core of their roster and will plug in transfer Pete Nance for Brady Manek. It is easy to see why the expectations are high for Hubert Davis’s second year, but now we will get to see how this team performs when the target is on its back. If Nance can come close to replicating Manek’s production, then Carolina is primed to make another deep run in March and April.

After making it to the National Championship game in 2022, their ACC basketball odds are the best to win the conference. However, at +900, there is a lot of value to bet them to win the whole thing. Especially since they were just a few points away last year.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +140

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +900

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North Carolina State Wolfpack

2021-2022 Record: 11-21

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC First Round

Head Coach: Kevin Keatts

Record at School: 90-68 (5 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 81

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 10

Key Returners: Terquavion Smith, Casey Morsell, Ebenezer Dowuona

Key Newcomers: Jarkel Joiner, Jack Clark, LJ Thomas

Kevin Keatts brings in five transfers with the hope of getting this Wolfpack program back on the right track. Keatts will need it to work, as his seat is getting warmer after losing a school record 21 games in 2021-2022. They also failed to make the tournament for the fourth straight season. Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner will be relied upon for most of the production this year. 

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +8000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +35000

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2021-2022 Record: 24-11

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Second Round

Head Coach: Mike Brey

Record at School: 472-259 (22 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 43

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 6

Key Returners: Dane Goodwin, Cormac Ryan, Nate Laszewski

Key Newcomers: JJ Starling, Marcus Hammond, Ven-Allen Lubin

In his 23rd season, Mike Brey has a team that Notre Dame fans should be very excited for. The Fighting Irish will return several veterans while getting an influx of fresh talent, including five-star freshman JJ Starling. That is the recipe for success these days, and Notre Dame will count on it to make another tournament run. They will need Nate Laszewski to be a big presence in the post to shore up any rebounding deficiencies.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +2500

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +10000

Pittsburgh Panthers

2021-2022 Record: 11-21

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC First Round

Head Coach: Jeff Capel

Record at School: 51-69 (4 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 84

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 14

Key Returners: John Hugley IV, Jamarius Burton, William Jeffress

Key Newcomers: Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliott, Jorge Diaz Graham, Guillermo Diaz Graham

There seems to be a lot of drama surrounding the Pitt program under Jeff Capel. Recently, we saw seven players enter the transfer portal. Even more recently, we saw top recruit Dior Johnson charged with assault and suspended indefinitely. On the positive side, this Pitt team will have several shooting threats, including transfers Nelly Cummings and Greg Elliott.  

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +20000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +60000

Syracuse Orange

2021-2022 Record: 16-17

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in ACC Quarterfinals

Head Coach: Jim Boeheim

Record at School: 998-426 (46 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 54

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 8

Key Returners: Joseph Girard, Jesse Edwards, Symir Torrence

Key Newcomers: Judah Mintz, Chris Bunch, Justin Taylor

Jim Boeheim enters his 47th season as head coach of Syracuse and looks to get his team back into the tournament in the 2022-2023 season. Based on preseason projections, the Orange will be on the bubble, which seems to be a trend for this program. The seasoned coach will have a young roster and rely on several incoming freshmen, including Judah Mintz, to be immediate impact players.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +3500

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +12000

Virginia Cavaliers

2021-2022 Record: 21-14

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NIT Quarterfinals

Head Coach: Tony Bennett

Record at School: 316-117 (13 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 5

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 3

Key Returners: Kihei Clark, Jayden Gardner, Armaan Franklin, Reece Beekman, Kadin Shedrick

Key Newcomers: Isaac Traudt, Ben Vander Plas, Isaac McKneely

Virginia might just be the sleeper of the preseason. While they were voted in the top 3 of the ACC, the Cavs are rated number five in the country. They are also rated the top team in the ACC by Kenpom. It is easy to understand their rating since Virginia returns its entire starting five, which will consist entirely of upperclassmen. The concerns for this team are whether they can get a jump in 3-point shooting.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +750

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +4000

Virginia Tech Hokies

2021-2022 Record: 23-13

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA First Round

Head Coach: Mike Young

Record at School: 54-36 (3 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 21

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 7

Key Returners: Justyn Mutts, Sean Padulla, Darius Maddox, Hunter Cattoor

Key Newcomers: Grant Basille, Rodney Rice, John Camden

The Hokies won four games to become the lowest seed to ever win the ACC Tournament, putting them in the field of 68. Mike Young doesn’t want to count on that type of run again and from the looks of his team, he might not have to. Young will have his work cut out for him after losing Keve Aluma, Storm Murphy, and Naheim Alleyne. The Hokies do bring back some lethal shooters and welcome transfer Grant Basille to replace the production.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +1500

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +15000

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2021-2022 Record: 25-10

2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NIT Quarterfinals

Head Coach: Steve Forbes

Record at School: 31-26 (2 Years)

Preseason Kenpom Rating: 80

Preseason Conference Media Poll: 9

Key Returners: Damari Monsanto, Daivien Williamson, Cameron Hildreth

Key Newcomers: Jao Ituka, Andrew Carr, Zach Keller, Tyree Appleby

Steve Forbes is moving this program in the right direction and getting the most out of his players. He might be doing too good at the latter as four players opted to turn professional after last season. Wake Forest will rely on a handful of transfers to step in and replace those departures. If Forbes can maximize production out of those guys, the Demon Deacons can have another solid season. Perhaps they can even knock on the door of the tournament.

From a betting perspective they have some of the longest ACC basketball odds to win the conference. Now is the time to bet them, because if they play to their ceiling, those odds will improve significantly.

Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +6000

NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +25000