ACC Report – Week 9

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The Atlantic Coast Conference will have 11 of 15 schools in action for Week 9 for a total of five conference games and one non-conference tilt, while four teams are on a bye.

All games are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.

Conference

• Boston College at Clemson
• Wake Forest at Syracuse
• Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
• Virginia Tech at Louisville
• North Carolina at Virginia

Non-Conference

• Charlotte at Duke

Not In Action

• Florida State, Miami-Florida, N.C State, Pittsburgh

Boston College at Clemson (ABC, 12:00 p.m. ET)

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Saturday's game against Boston College.

Betting Odds: Clemson -31.5, O/U 60.5

• Last Week: Boston College W 48-27 vs. Georgia Tech (-3.5, 57.5)
• Last Week: Clemson W 47-21 vs. Syracuse (-47.5, 64.5)

Boston College bounced back in a big way after getting steamrolled at Virginia Tech 40-14 on Oct. 17. They returned home to Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill and doled out a little punishment of their own to Georgia Tech, winning 48-27. While they only outgained the Yellow Jackets 409-362 overall, they were much more careful with the football, not turning it over while forcing three. They also won the possession battle 33:21 to 26:39, running the ball with authority. The Eagles started out well with QB Phil Jurkovec tossing a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to WR C.J. Lewis, building an early lead. The quarterback also ran for 94 yards in the game. The run game was what was impressive for B.C., as they rolled for 264 yards on the ground, with 6.0 yards per attempt and three scores.

For Clemson, they were home to Syracuse and favored by more than six touchdowns. The Tigers got off to a nice 17-0 start, but Syracuse hung around into the middle of the third quarter, down just 27-21. Don't ask head coach Dabo Swinney about it, however, or you might get laid into. The Tigers got a 21-yard fumble return for touchdown to close out the third quarter, and RB Travis Etienne ran for his second and third touchdowns of the day to help Clemson pull away early in the fourth quarter. Yes, Clemson won by 26, but no, they weren't perfect, and didn't come close to covering. The Tigers are just 2-4 ATS, and they are 0-4 ATS when facing a number of 27.5 or higher so far this season. The 'over' hit in the game against Syracuse, and they have hit back-to-back 'over' results for the first time this season.

Wake Forest at Syracuse (ACC, 12:00 p.m. ET)

Betting Odds: Wake Forest -10.5, O/U 58.5

• Last Week: Wake Forest W 23-16 vs. Virginia Tech (+10.5, 69)
• Last Week: Syracuse L 21-47 at Clemson (+47.5, 64.5)

The Demon Deacons were involved in a defensive battle with the visiting Hokies of Virginia Tech last week, which was strange. Oddsmakers were thinking it would be a track meet, with a total of 69. Any over bettors quickly found out that things weren't going to go their way, as Wake just 10-0 after one quarter, and 17-10 at halftime. It got worse for 'over' bettors, as we saw a total of just four field goals in a defensive slog of the second half. Despite the win, Wake was actually outgained 433 to 316 in total yards, including a 223 to 110 disparity in the pass game. QB Sam Hartman wasn't tasked with doing much, as the Deacs kept it on the ground. If not for a 3-0 turnover margin in their favor, the Deacs might have been in a different boat against the favored Hokies. Virginia Tech also helped them out with 10 penalties and 112 yards.

Syracuse went down to Clemson and actually hung around into the third quarter. They were expected to get dusted by almost seven touchdowns, but instead they totaled 325 yards to Clemson's 455, which isn't terrible. However, the Orange did turn the ball over four times to just one for the Tigers, and they had just 11 first downs to 27, so neither of those areas were very good. It was Syracuse's first cover since their lone win of the season against Georgia Tech, 37-20 on Sept. 26. The Over has connected in four in a row for the Orange, mostly due to points allowed. They have yielded 38, 38 and 47 in their past three outings.

Notre Dame at Georgia Tech (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Betting Odds: Notre Dame -19.5, O/U 56.5

• Last Week: Notre Dame W 45-3 at Pittsburgh (-9.5, 43.5)
• Last Week: Georgia Tech L 27-48 at Boston College (+3.5, 57.5)

The Irish struggled in a 12-7 home win over Louisville on Oct. 17, so there were some doubts about Notre Dame heading into Pittsburgh. However, they righted the ship in a big way, posting a 45-3 rout of the Panthers to easily cover a 9.5-point number. The Panthers turned the ball over three times to zero for the Irish, but that wasn't the major story. It was domination in all other facets, too. Notre Dame outgained Pitt 434 to 162 in total yards, while posting 28 first downs to just 10 for the Panthers. The Irish also had a blocked punt for touchdown, and QB Ian Book tossed three touchdowns in a complete game for the visitors.

Georgia Tech could not get out of their own way last week at Boston College, turning it over three times. Despite a 48-27 score, they weren't overly dominated in this one, but the turnovers were crushing. They were actually only outgained 409 to 362 in total yards, and 23 to 19 on first downs, so they were right there. The time of possession game was fairly even, too. The Yellow Jackets are a young team, so they're going to make mistakes, but it makes them a difficult team to figure out. They opened with a 16-13 win at Florida State, and they rolled to a 46-27 win over Louisville on Oct. 9, but those are the only highlights. They're 1-4 SU/ATS across the past five, including a 73-7 beatdown from Clemson. The only thing that is consistent is 'over' results, hitting in each of the past five outings.

Virginia Tech at Louisville (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)

Betting Odds: Virginia Tech -3.5, O/U 65.5

• Last Week: Virginia Tech L 16-23 at Wake Forest (-10.5, 69)
• Last Week: Louisville W 48-16 vs. Florida State (-5, 62)

The Hokies suffered a surprising 23-16 road loss against Wake Forest as 10.5-point favorites. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the setback was their lack of points, as they had scored 45, 38, 56 and 40 across their first four outings, and the Demon Deacons aren't exactly known for their defense. Virginia Tech is now just 1-3 ATS across the past four outings, and they have hit the 'under' in each of the past two after hitting the 'over' in the first three. They hit the road where they're now 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS in three trips, including straight-up losses in each of the past two. The one facet which has worked for Virginia Tech all season is the run game, as they rank fourth in the nation with 291.6 yards per game on the ground. Defensively they're just so-so with 440.6 total yards per game allowed, and 29.6 PPG.

The Cardinals re-discovered their offense last week against a Florida State team which was coming off a win over then-No. 5 ranked North Carolina. The Seminoles figured to pose quite a threat to the struggling Cardinals, but instead, it was Louisville with the 48-16 easy win and cover last week, giving them back-to-back covers for the first time this season, and its first win since Sept. 12 against Western Kentucky. The 48 points also marked a season best, as their previous high was that aforementioned opening game win against the Hilltoppers. Louisville has now covered five of its past six at home, but they're still just 7-16-1 ATS across the past 24 as an underdog. The 'over' has cashed in five in a row for the Cards at home dating back to last season, and nine of the past 11 overall.

Charlotte at Duke (ESPN3, 7:00 p.m.)

Betting Odds: Duke -10.5, O/U 55.5

• Last Week: Charlotte W 38-28 vs. UTEP (-17.5, 50)
• Last Game: Duke L 20-31 at N.C. State (+3.5, 59.5)

The Blue Devils step out of conference to battle Charlotte. The 49ers opened with a pair of road losses to Appalachian State and Florida Atlantic, but they were able to cover in the losses. They have since rattled off two wins in a row over conference foes North Texas and UTEP, although last weekend's home opener win against the Miners marked their first time failing to cover in four outings. The 49ers are also 4-0 ATS in their past four road outings, and 8-2 ATS in the previous 10 against losing teams.

Duke has won just once in six outings, a 38-24 road trip to Syracuse on Oct. 10, covering as 2.5-point favorites. It was just the second time this season they were favored. The other was a dismal 26-6 loss against Boston College in the home opener at Wallace Wade back on Sept. 19. The Blue Devils have been a bit inconsistent, going 3-3 ATS, and last week's 'under' result made them 3-3 against the total, too. The Blue Devils just haven't been doing much well this season, although the pass game has been somewhat effective with 250.8 yards per game. Defensively, they do not really have a strength, as they're so-so against both the pass and run. Charlotte should be able to move the ball against them. Duke is coming off a bye, and that's usually a good thing for side bettors. The Blue Devils are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 following a bye. Duke is also 36-15-1 ATS in the past 52 non-conference tilts. This will be their first such situation in 2020.

North Carolina at Virginia (ACC, 8:00 p.m.)

Betting Odds: North Carolina -6.5, O/U 61.5

• Last Week: North Carolina W 48-21 vs. N.C. State (-14.5, 61.5)
• Last Week: Virginia L 14-19 at Miami-Florida (+13.5, 54.5)

The Tar Heels got knocked down a peg two weeks ago at Florida State, digging a huge, early hole and failing to climb out of it. They lost 31-28 as 13.5-point favorites, tumbling from the ranks of the unbeaten. They rebounded nicely at Kenan last week against rivals North Carolina State, pulling away in the second half for an impressive 48-21 victory and cover as 14.5-point favorites. Home has been fine for the Heels, as they're 3-0 SU/ATS. The road has been an issue, as UNC is just 1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS, with 27.0 PPG scored while yielding 26.5 PPG. In other words, they have been rather mediocre away from Chapel Hill. Last week's 'over' against N.C. State gave them two 'overs' in five outings, but the 'under' has hit in each of their two outings away from home.

Virginia's QB Brennan Armstrong was back from a concussion, and he is the team's best option for victory. In the previous outing the Hoos were forced to use three different quarterbacks against Wake Forest and it was a train wreck, falling 40-23. The Cavaliers went down to Miami as 13.5-point underdogs and put a scare into the Hurricanes, as the Top 20 ranked Canes came away with a narrow 19-14 victory. It was Virginia's first cover since Oct. 3 against Clemson, so they are 2-0 ATS in two games against ranked teams, and 1-2 ATS in the other three battles. The 'under' result was also its first of the season against four 'over' results. If the Cavaliers are going to have continued success, they need to be better against the pass. They're 86th in the nation with 286.0 passing yards per game allowed.

ACC Betting Results - 2020

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