ACC Report – Week 12

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

18 minute read

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The Atlantic Coast Conference will have 10 of 15 schools in action for Week 12 for a total of four conference games, with two nonconference tilts, two games postponed due to COVID-19 and three teams on a bye.

One game takes place Frday, Nov. 20, 2020, while the remaining five games take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020.

Conference

• Syracuse at Louisville (Fri.)
• Clemson at Florida State
• Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh

Non-conference

• Abilene Christian at Virginia
• Liberty at N.C. State

Postponed

• Georgia Tech at Miami-Florida
• Wake Forest at Duke

Not In Action

• Boston College, North Carolina, Notre Dame

Syracuse at Louisville (Fri., ESPN, 7 p.m. ET)

Betting Odds: Louisville -18, O/U 56.5

• Last Game (Nov. 7): Syracuse vs. Boston College L 13-16 (+14.5, 54)
• Last Week: Louisville at Virginia L 17-31 (+6.5, 63)

The Orange showed a little pride last time out 13 days ago against Boston College, falling just 16-13 at the Carrier Dome as 14.5-point underdogs. Perhaps they caught B.C. looking ahead a little bit, but that's neither here nor there. Take nothing away from Syracuse, who played to the horn despite, really, nothing to play for anymore at 1-7 SU. Despite just the one win, they have covered four of eight, and that includes a 3-0 ATS mark as underdogs of 14.5 or more points. The 'under' has cashed in back-to-back games for Syracuse, too.

Louisville has won just once in the past seven games, while going 2-4-1 ATS during the run. Offensively they can be dangerous at times, as they erupted for 48 points in a win over Florida State, and they dropped 35 on Virginia Tech on Halloween, albeit a loss. Overall they're posting 27.9 PPG to rank in the middle of the pack nationally, and they're allowing 29.8 PPG, which is also good for 67th, and rather so-so. They're pretty strong against the pass, but that's people most teams run roughshod over the Cards, allowing 196.5 rushing yards per game to check in 94th in the land. The Cardinals have a dynamic trio in QB Malik Cunningham, RB Javian Hawkins and WR Tutu Atwell. 

In the head-to-head trends, Syracuse has failed to cover in four straight trips to Louisville, while going 1-5 ATS in the past six meetings overall. The favorite is also a perfect 6-0 ATS in the past six in the series, while the 'over' has cashed in four of the past five.

Clemson at Florida State (ABC, 12 p.m. ET)

Betting Odds: Clemson -34.5, O/U 66

• Last Game (Nov. 7): Clemson at Notre Dame L 40-47 (2OT) (-5, 51)
• Last Week: Florida State at N.C. State L 22-38 (+11.5, 61)

The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season at Notre Dame two weeks ago, falling 47-40 in double-overtime while playing the Irish without QB Trevor Lawrence. The Heisman hopeful quarterback is practicing again after a bout with COVID-19, and he is set to return after missing the past two games. Clemson has failed to cover in the past three games, while the 'over' has hit in four consecutive outings for the Tigers. That includes 0-2 ATS in the past two as a favorite of 26 or more points, and 1-5 ATS as a favorite of 26 or more.

Obviously FSU is having a down season, but the Tigers are 11-4 ATS in the past 15 meetings in this series, and 4-1 ATS in the past five trips to Tallahassee. The 'over' is also 8-2 in the past 10 meetings at Florida State.

The Seminoles looked like they might be turning things around with a 31-28 win over then-No. 5 North Carolina on Oct. 17, winning outright as a 13.5-point favorite. However, they laid an egg at Louisville, losing 48-16 on Oct. 24, they were bounced 41-17 at home against Pittsburgh on Nov. 7, and they were dusted 38-22 at N.C. State last weekend. That's 0-3 SU/ATS since their big upset victory. The struggles have carried over from last season, as they're 1-6 ATS in the past seven at home, and they're 1-8 ATS in the past nine on a grass surface and 2-6 ATS in the past eight as an underdog. They're also a dismal 7-18-1 ATS in the past 26 games overall. Not good.

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh (ACC, 4 p.m.)

Betting Odds: Virginia Tech -3.5, O/U 55.5

• Last Week: Virginia Tech vs. Miami-Florida L 24-25 (-1, 68.5)
• Last Game (Nov. 7): Pittsburgh at Florida State W 41-17 (-1.5, 52.5)

The Hokies are coming off a heartbreaker at home, falling 25-24 to Miami, and that comes on the heels of that stunning home loss against Liberty. The Gobblers are reeling as they limp into the Steel City looking to get untracked. The Hokies slipped to 2-5 ATS across the past seven with their non-cover against the Hurricanes, while hitting the 'under' for the third time in the past five outings. They're also 1-3 ATS in the previous four as a favorite, and 1-2 ATS this season as a favorite on the road.

For the Panthers, they have been a bit of a difficult team to figure out. They emasculated FCS Austin Peay 55-0 to open the season, and followed it up with wins over Syracuse and Louisville to go to 3-0 SU out of the gate. Of course, we have learned Syracuse and Louisville aren't terribly good, and the Panthers barely scraped by both at home, so maybe we do know what we're getting from Pitt. They dropped four in a row until spanking Florida State 41-17 at Tallahassee on Nov. 7, and that's a good win no matter what you think of the Seminoles. It came on the road, and the Panthers easily covered a 1.5-point number. They're still 1-5-1 ATS across the past seven, but the one thing that is consistent for Pitt - the 'over'. They have hit the over in five in a row entering play.

As far as trends are concerned in this battle of 4-4 teams, they're not terribly good on either side. Virginia Tech is 1-5 ATS in the past six on the road, and 8-24 ATS in the previous 32 as a road fave. Pitt counters with a 1-7-1 ATS mark across the past nine league games, and they're 0-3-1 ATS in the past four at home while going 0-4 ATS in the past four against winning sides.

In the head-to-head trends, Tech is 0-6 ATS in the past six trips to Pitt, and 2-10 ATS in the previous 12 overall in this series. The home team is 7-2 ATS across the past nine meetings.

Abilene Christian at Virginia (ESPN3, 4 p.m.)

Betting Odds: Virginia -39.5, O/U OFF

• Last Game (Nov. 7): Abilene Christian vs. Angelo State L 21-34 (OFF)
• Last Week: Virginia vs. Louisville W 31-17 (-6.5, 63)

FCS Abilene Christian took it on the chin at home last time out against Angelo State, a Division II member. That doesn't bode well for their chances heading into a road game against a Power 5 team, albeit a mediocre one from Virginia. The loss dropped the Wildcats to just 1-4 SU on the season. They dropped their previous games against FBS teams at UTEP on Sept. 19, and Army on Oct. 3, splitting 1-1 ATS in those two road outings.

For the Cavaliers, they have won consecutive games for the first time this season, and they enter play on a 3-0 ATS run, too. The fact they have been a lot healthier has helped, especially under center. QB Brennan Armstrong tossed one touchdown and ran for two more scores to lead the Hoos past the Cards last time out, and he has four rushing touchdowns to lead the team despite missing some time in October. The defense has been much better lately, too, allowing 17 or fewer points in two of the past three battles.

Liberty at N.C. State (ESPN3, 7:30 p.m.)

Betting Odds: N.C. State -3.5, O/U 67

• Last Week: Liberty vs. Western Carolina W 58-14 (-39, 63)
• Last Week: N.C. State vs. Florida State W 38-22 (-11.5, 60.5)

The Flames put their Top 25 ranking on the line in a road game against N.C. State, and they are looking to go to 9-0 SU while trying to cover a sixth consecutive outing. The 'over' is also 4-0 in the past four games for Liberty. The Flames have scored at least 38 or more points in five straight outings, and they have scored 28 or more in each of their eight games. As far as games against the ACC, Liberty is a perfect 2-0 SU/ATS in two road outings against the conference so far, topping Syracuse 38-21 on Oct. 17 as three-point favorites, while stunning Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium 38-35 as a 17-point underdog on Nov. 7.

If you haven't watched N.C. State football this season, but enjoy playing video games, you have really missed out. The Wolfpack score tons of points, and they cough up plenty of points and yards, with stat lines looking like those from the old NCAA Football video games back in the day. The Wolfpack have rolled up 33.5 PPG to rank 36th in the nation, and they're allowing 33.9 PPG to check in 87th in the country. As a favorite, N.C. State has posted a 2-0 SU/ATS mark this season, including last time out against Florida State, 38-22 as an 11.5-point favorite. The only thing surprising about that game was that officially the line closed at 61, and it was a rare 'under' for the Pack. The 'over' was 6-1 in the first seven.

ACC Betting Results - 2020

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