Before spring football kicks in, how do the win totals look for all of the ACC teams? Here’s where the bar should be set … for now.
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Just how good are all of the ACC teams? There are still plenty of injuries, suspensions, and depth chart changes to come over the next several months – and spring football still has to kick in – but here’s the first look.
Based off of the schedules, timing of the big games, and the talent coming back, here’s around where the win total futures should be set.
The win total line projections are based on the regular season – bowl games or conference championships don’t count. And remember, this is a cold business. The investment market will set the line as the offseason goes on.
ACC Atlantic
Boston College Eagles
The Eagles need some help on the lines, and the secondary was gutted, but the offensive backfield should be special as long as RB AJ Dillon is being AJ Dillon. However, there’s just enough rebuilding to do to be a problem.
The schedule has a few sure-thing wins early, but road games at Clemson, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pitt – all wrapped around a home game against Florida State – make it tough to push for more than seven wins.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6.5
2018 Record: 7-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Clemson Tigers
It might seem obvious that the defending national champ will roll, but the ACC is tougher this season, there are more landmines, and there are just enough scary games to make this a wee bit of a call.
The team is amazing again – of course. The O line needs a little work, and the D line is all but starting over, but there’s still more than enough skill to win another national title. However, Texas A&M is going to be a tough out, Florida State will be better, and road games at Syracuse, NC State and South Carolina are just enough to worry about two slips. And heaven forbid something happens to Trevor Lawrence.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 10.5
2018 Record: 15-0
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Florida State Seminoles
Just how much can Willie Taggart turn things around? Will the quarterback situation be okay? The experience is returning on both sides of the ball, but the offensive from that to be far stronger and the defense has to be a killer again.
The road games at Clemson and Florida are the only almost certain losses, and there are just enough nasty dates – Boise State, NC State, Syracuse, Miami, at Virginia, at Boston College – to be afraid of a few more misfires.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 7.5
2018 Record: 5-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Louisville Cardinals
New head Scott Satterfield should make the Cardinals far better in a big hurry, but just how much can he help out the woeful defense and the bad O line? There’s experience, but how much was it the coaching last year and how much was it the talent?
Games against Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky should equal last year’s two win total early on, but there isn’t a sure thing win the rest of the way after September 14th. Even so, expect the Cardinals to flirt with a winning season.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 5.5
2018 Record: 2-10
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack have to replace QB Ryan Finley, but the rest of the parts should be there, especially on defense. The offense should come around once the line is in place, and if there’s more balance. matching last year’s nine-win total isn’t going to be impossible
The Pack have at least five sure-thing wins without breathing too hard, and the only almost-certain loss is against Clemson – but that’s at home. Going to West Virginia, Florida State, and Georgia Tech will be tough.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 9-4
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Syracuse Orange
Can Dino Babers keep it all going? If the quarterback situation is strong – Tommy DeVito needs to step up – and the offensive line can fill in the parts, there’s a lot to like. There shouldn’t be a step back, if any.
Clemson has to come to Syracuse – the Orange have given the Tigers problems over the last two seasons. There isn’t another almost-sure-thing loss on the slate, but going to NC State isn’t going to be easy, and the date at Florida State will be a problem.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The offensive line has a few issues in the interior, and the defense has to find several new parts, but the program is still solid under Dave Clawson, if not more dangerous.
The problem is the lack of sure-thing wins. There’s a trip to Rice, and a date against Elon, but even the home game against Louisville should be a bit of a fight. Going to Clemson, Virginia Tech and Syracuse in November will make a winning season tough, but if you like the potential of the offense, it’s possible.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6
2018 Record: 7-6
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
NEXT: ACC Coastal
ACC COastal
Duke Blue Devils
As long as the quarterback situation is settled and okay, the Blue Devils should be able to battle for a bowl again. The experience is on the defensive side, and given time under head man David Cutcliffe, the offense should come around.
Forget about the opener against Alabama, but the Notre Dame game is at home after a week off. There are just enough tough road games – at Virginia and at Virginia Tech – to go along with Miami, Pitt and Georgia Tech to make it a push to get to seven wins. Ten games are against teams that went bowling.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6.5
2018 Record: 8-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The new look Yellow Jackets under head man Geoff Collins might take a little bit, and starting out at Clemson doesn’t help. However, the schedule is built for a base of at least five wins. However, the back half is tough, and ten of the games are against teams that went bowling.
The receivers are in place to make the switch, but the defensive front needs an overhaul and a few new parts have to take over in the back seven or eight. The running game will still be solid.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6.5
2018 Record: 7-6
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Miami Hurricanes
Here’s the caveat – the quarterback situation is in a massive state of flux. The receiving corps will be great, the defense will be a killer, and the enthusiasm of new head man Manny Diaz should make a big difference.
The hidden gem here is the schedule. If the Hurricanes can own home, start with seven wins as a base – barring a total meltdown and the offensive issues of last season. There’s a game against Florida in Orlando, and the Florida State showdown is in Tallahassee, but there aren’t any sure-thing losses.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 9
2018 Record: 7-6
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
North Carolina Tar Heels
Mack Browns’s first year back has the potential to be a big step forward for the program. The experience is more than there, but the talent is a bit questionable. Almost everyone is back, but the Tar Heels have to be ready again for shootouts.
The schedule has just enough winnable games to hope for six wins, all of the 11 FBS teams on the slate went bowling last year. There’s a chance there’s a quick pivot back to respectability, but it’ll take a few big road wins – like at Pitt and Wake Forest – to get there.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 5.5
2018 Record: 2-9
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Pitt Panthers
Can the Panthers repeat the magic – and get the breaks – they had last year? The passing game should be better, but the O line needs a whole lot of help and the defense has to come up with a whole slew of replacements.
The schedule has a few almost-certain wins, but there are way too many 50/50 battles and too many scary road games – like Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Syracuse. UCF and Miami home dates, but they’re hardly sure things. It’s a good team, but it’ll take a lot to come up with a winning season.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6
2018 Record: 7-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers keep getting stronger under Bronco Mendenhall, and this should be his most talented team yet. QB Bryce Perkins leads a dangerous offense with plenty of weapons, and eight starters return on defense.
The schedule isn’t that awful. Assume wins over William & Mary, Liberty and Old Dominion, and there should be a few more victories tacked on with Duke and Georgia Tech at home and North Carolina and Louisville on the road. However, with road games against Notre Dame, Miami, and Pitt, there are plenty of landmines.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8
2018 Record: 8-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Virginia Tech Hokies
2018 was an aberration – the Hokies will be a whole lot better than that. Even with some big departures, the offense should be okay, and there’s no way the defense will be as mediocre with eight starters returning.
The schedule helps the cause with more than enough winnable games – Old Dominion, Furman, Rhode Island, home games against North Carolina and Wake Forest – to at least get to the six victories of last year. But how much better can the Hokies really be?
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 6-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
