Predicted Order of Finish
1. Clemson- sophomore dual threat QB Cade Klubnik takes over the offense and will be joined by RB’s Will Shipley and Phil Mafah (1,700 yards and 19 TD’s combined last year) as well as 4 returning starters on the O-line, on defense the Tigers lost both DE’s Myles Murphy and KJ Henry to the NFL OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
2. North Carolina- QB Drake Maye was superb as a freshman (4,321 yards 38 TD’s) and should be better protected with the return of 4 starters on the O-line, the defense, under first year coordinator Gene Chizik, allowed 30 plus points in 6 games including 61 against Appalachian State OVER/UNDER Total Wins 8.5
3. Florida State- the cupboard is full on offense with senior QB Jordan Travis, junior RB Trey Benson, and WR Johnny Wilson all back, the defense ranked 74th in rush yards allowed last year and the Seminoles must navigate through a schedule includes Clemson, Wake Forest, and Florida on the road OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
4. Duke- reigning ACC Coach of The Year Mike Elko has 17 starters back including junior QB Riley Leonard (2,976 yards and 20 TD’s) and top senior WR Jalon Calhoun (873 yards, 4 TD’s), the defense will be working under new coordinator Tyler Santucci and must replace All-ACC LB Shaka Heyward OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
5. Louisville- former Purdue HC Jeff Brohm reunites with senior transfer QB Jack Plummer hoping to ignite the Cardinals’ offense that ranked 98th in pass yards per game last year, top 2 receivers Tyler Hudson (1,034 yards, 2 TD’s) and TE Marshon Ford (434 yards, 3 TD’s) are gone along with 3 starters on the O-line OVER/UNDER Total Wins 8.5
6. Wake Forest- HC Dave Clawson has taken the Demon Deacons to 7 straight bowls and new QB Mitch Griffis has a viable RB in junior Justice Ellison along with 2 talented WR’s in Taylor Morin and Donavan Greene, for the 1st time since 2017 the offense won’t have Sam Hartman and the D-line must be rebuilt OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
7. North Carolina State- the Wolfpack defensive front, led by DE Davin Vann and LB Payton Wilson is stout, holding opponents to 100.7 yards per game in 2022, both Devin Leary and Ben Finley decided to leave the program via the transfer portal leaving the quarterback position in question entering 2023 OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
8. Pitt- senior Phil Jurkovec (5,406 career yards, 37 TD’s) returns home where he starred as a high school QB and on defense leading tackler junior LB Bangally Kamara is back, Jurkovec has struggled to stay on the field due to injuries and there isn’t much experience behind him on the depth chart OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
9. Syracuse- senior QB Garrett Shrader (2,640 yards, 17 TD’s in 2022) returns on offense and newly hired veteran defensive coordinator Rocky Long will have plenty of playmakers at his disposal, the Orange start ACC play at home against Clemson, followed by road games at North Carolina and Florida State OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
10. Miami- junior QB Tyler Van Dyke looks to return to his 2021 form when he threw for 2,931 yards and 25 TD’s and will be taking snaps from senior UCF transfer C Matt Lee (36 career starts), with only 9 starters back the Hurricanes’ will be relying heavily on transfers to step into key roles this season OVER/UNDER Total Wins 7.5
11. Virginia- second year HC Tony Elliot snagged former Monmouth QB Tony Muskett (51 career TD’s) in the offseason and the defense returns 8 starters from a formidable unit that ranked in the top 50 nationally in points and yards allowed, the O-line, which allowed 38 sacks last year returns only 1 starter OVER/UNDER Total Wins 3.5
12. Boston College- sophomore QB Emmett Morehead showed promise throwing for at least 250 yards in 3 of the final 4 games and DE Donovan Ezeiruaku finished 4th in the ACC in sacks with 8.5, the Eagles O-line was dreadful in 2022 and the offense will be without the services of first round WR Zay Flowers OVER/UNDER Total Wins 5.5
13. Georgia Tech- HC Brent Key had the interim tag removed after posting a 4-4 record that included wins at Pittsburgh and North Carolina as well as a 3-point win at home over Duke, on defense the Yellow Jackets must replace their top 2 tacklers from last year at LB along with second round pick Keion White at DL OVER/UNDER Total Wins 4.5
14. Virginia Tech- senior QB Grant Wells has 3 years of starting experience going back to his time at Marshall while on defense senior DT Norell Pollard anchors a stout D-line, the O-line was a disaster last year allowing 33 sacks and struggling to create running lanes for the Hokies’ 112th ranked rushing attack OVER/UNDER Total Wins 5.5
Buy- Virginia- if Muskett can spark the offense the Cavaliers could flirt with bowl eligibility
Sell- FSU- a lot of preseason hype for a team that didn't beat a single ACC opponent with a winning conference record last year
Best Bet- FSU- UNDER total wins