2024 ACC football preview: Best bets to win the conference

The 2024 college football season kicks off Saturday, August 24. Nate Jacobson and Ben Wittenstein preview the major conferences with their predictions and best bets.

Nate’s pick — Florida State to win the ACC (+290, Caesars)

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The Seminoles have the shortest odds to win a wide-open ACC, but they are my pick to win the conference for the second consecutive season. That decision comes down to fading both Clemson and Miami, as both teams are narrowly behind FSU in the ACC championship pecking order.

Florida State lost a lot from a 2023 team that went 12-0 in the regular season and was controversially left out of the College Football Playoff due a late-season injury to quarterback Jordan Travis. Head coach Mike Norvell reloaded with another strong transfer portal class led by former Clemson and Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei. I trust Norvell has the offensive mind to get the most of Uiagalelei and provide the Seminoles with a high enough floor to finish in the top two in the ACC regular season and reach the conference title game.

I’m against Clemson this year because Dabo Swinney hasn’t adapted to modern college football and the use of the transfer portal to supplement his roster. Miami has a very talented team, but I don’t believe head coach Mario Cristobal can get the most of the Hurricanes’ talent. Being lower on those two teams than most provides enough value on Florida State to win the ACC.

Ben’s pick — North Carolina State to win the ACC (+700, Caesars)

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Because Nate is better and smarter than me, he got to Florida State first. I think he’ll probably be right, so let me offer you a realistic long shot — the North Carolina State Wolfpack!

Dave Doeren is a hell of a coach. He’s like the Denny’s breakfast of college football coaches — never awful, never incredible, just consistently solid.

Doeren hasn’t had his football team lose fewer than eight games in five years. He’s consistent and brings in good talent both on the field and in the coaching room. And he somehow managed to field a nine-win team last season with a starting quarterback who ranked 92nd in passing yards and threw a measly 6.8 yards per completion. Sure, Doeren is still chasing that legendary 10-win season, but those dreams could become reality this year with the addition of Coastal Carolina QB legend Grayson McCall.

McCall gives the Wolfpack the quarterback play they deserve, and with four of five starting offensive linemen returning, he’ll be well-protected in his attempt to replicate the 24-TD, two-interception campaign he had in 2022. N.C. State also no longer has to deal with divisions in the ACC that put them with Florida State, Clemson and Louisville. Kinda nice.

So look, Florida State is a machine and has a good chance to bowl over everyone in the conference this season. However, I trust Miami less than a professional Simon Says performer and Clemson might feel the impact of not putting effort into the portal. That leaves an often overlooked but good N.C. State team to swoop in and do something special.

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