ACC Betting Preview: UVA vs. Wake Forest, NC State vs. Tennessee, Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse and more

Looking back at Week 1, everything was fine until the Florida schools took the field. In fact, we were right with our bets until 3:30. The Heels lost their quarterback and the under bet was a slam dunk. Georgia looked like Georgia and Dabo looked the other way. And supposed playoff underdog Virginia Tech went to overtime and lost to the worst program in the SEC.

As for the Virginia Cavaliers, the defense against Richmond or any other FCS opponent has to be the foundation for the future. The fan base, the university and the conference expect you to win these games and win them a certain way. I'm confident in Colandrea, but I need to see continued success from this team before I buy more stock. Here are my thoughts on the UVA-Wake game and four others.

Virginia Cavaliers @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Forest in Wake Forest -1.5; Over/Under 57

Can the sophomore version of Anthony Colandrea win in the ACC? Is UVA ready to take the next step and win its ACC opener, something it hasn't done since Duke in 2020? Those questions will be answered Saturday night in Winston-Salem. Both programs had their 2023-24 seasons spoiled with more than a few possession losses, and both programs won their week one exhibition games against FCS opponents handily.

Virginia has a 9-4 record against the spread in its last 13 games as a road underdog and has covered four straight spreads to end the 2023 season. I prefer Colandrea's potential to make big plays with his arm and feet over Wake's slower mesh offense. This coin flip game feels like one that will come down to the final possession like it did last year in North Carolina.

Selection: Virginia +1.5

Duke Blue Devils @ Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern -2.5; Over/Under 37

Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy was pressured just six times in their 26-3 win over Elon, and on those six dropbacks, Murphy completed just one pass for six yards. That was against Elon, a program in the CAA. Northwestern – a program in the Big Ten where games are won and lost in the trenches – returns seven of its best defensive players. In Week 1 against Miami (Ohio), they allowed just 267 total yards of offense.

I was torn between betting on the under here or on Northwestern at two and a half points. 37 is just too little for me, and I would have reached that over in four of the last five meetings between these schools since 2017. I'm betting on the Wildcats -2.5 at home.

Selection: Northwestern -2.5

#23 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Syracuse Orange

Georgia Tech Institute -2.5; Over/Under 61

The Week Zero win over Florida State has lost some of its luster after the Seminole's recent performance against Boston College. This is still a very dynamic offense built around a confident and capable Haynes King, who now has multiple channels through which to run this offense, including himself.

Through two games, over 60% of Georgia Tech's offense has come on the ground. Add to that Syracuse defense, which allowed 10 10+ yards against Ohio and is now without arguably their best defender, Marlowe Wax. I think this is a very loose Buster Faulkner offense. The only thing that can save 'Cuse is their venue, the JMA Wireless Dome, which doesn't even sound right anymore.

Selection: Georgia Tech -2.5

California Golden Bears @ Auburn Tigers

Auburn -13; Over/Under 53.5

It's a tough travel week for the Golden Bears (how many times are we going to say that in the next few years). A 3:30 p.m. EDT start basically means a 12 o'clock kickoff for the Berkeley boys. It's a repeat of last year's second week, when Payton Thorne threw for just 94 yards in a 14-10 win for Auburn. I just don't think these two teams will get to 54 points on Saturday.

A 10-touchdown win over SWAC-bottom Alabama A&M doesn't freak me out, and I think Cal could surprise some people this year. Seven of the Golden Bears' last eight games against non-AP ranked teams have gone awry, so we'll take this.

Selection: Under 53.5

No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 24 NC State Wolfpack (Charlotte, NC)

Tennessee -8.5; Over/Under 61.5

After the conference's flagship programs suffered ugly losses over the past two weeks, the ACC is now completely open to an ascending second- or third-tier program going from good to great. Miami and NC State seemed poised for an ascension, especially the Wolfpack, who will face Josh Heupel's Tennessee Volunteers in week two.

Unfortunately, Nico Iamaleava, who is a week into his redshirt freshman season, looks like a potential Heisman vote-getter in Heupel's high-powered offense. I don't care if it had been Chattanooga, Iamaleava looked like a future superstar. The RPO potential against NC State's defense should strike fear into Dave Doeren's group, which trailed 21-17 against Western Carolina early in the fourth quarter last weekend.

Selection: Tennessee -8.5

Record 2024: 4-3-0