CFB win totals 1st look: Who can get the ACC back to the playoffs?

The ACC had no representation in the College Football Playoff the past two seasons. The last time an ACC team other than Clemson made the CFP was 2014-15, the inaugural campaign of the four-team playoff.

The ACC will never be the powerhouse football conference the SEC and Big Ten are, but it certainly hopes to get some representation back in the playoff.

Clemson is the most likely team to achieve that after missing out last season with an 11-2 record. The Tigers are +145 to win the conference, while Florida State is close behind at +150.

There's a significant drop in odds following those two favorites. North Carolina and Louisville have the next best odds at +1000.

We broke down the best Big Ten win total bets earlier this week. Now, let's get to the best in the ACC.

ACC win totals

Syracuse under 6.5 wins

Dino Babers' reign in upstate New York has been filled with peaks and valleys. He had continuous bad seasons followed by a surprisingly successful campaign and then right back to a losing record. Babers made two bowl games in his seven years at Syracuse, including a Pinstripe Bowl appearance last season.

It'd be foolish to use that pattern to predict Syracuse's success or lack thereof this campaign. However, last year's team overachieved with seven wins, and this squad is similar. The Orange return seven starters on each side of the ball with limited impactful additions from the transfer portal.

Syracuse started 6-0 last season because of an easy schedule and some luck. The Orange defeated Purdue and Virginia by a combined five points in two thrillers that could've gone either way.

Anyone who followed closely knew the cliff was approaching for Syracuse, and the team lost its next five games before winning the season finale.

The Orange are likely headed for a similar trajectory this fall. They could start 4-0 with a weak nonconference schedule before hitting a rough stretch against Clemson, North Carolina, and Florida State - the three ACC favorites.

However, the back end of the schedule opens up for Syracuse. It should be substantial favorites against Boston College and Georgia Tech, which could get it to six wins and bowl eligibility.

Seven victories are attainable for Syracuse, but expect a regression from this group. A five- or six-win season is more likely.

Pick: Under 6.5 wins -145 (playable to -155)

North Carolina over 8 wins

North Carolina has its best chance of winning an ACC title and competing in a New Year's Six bowl since Mack Brown took over the program in 2019.

Freshman quarterback Drake Maye emerged as a legitimate NFL prospect in 2022, breaking the school record for single-season passing yards with 4,321. He also threw 38 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.

Maye is a Heisman candidate this campaign with the sixth-best odds to win. North Carolina's offense will be one of the best in the conference and the country. Nine offensive starters return from last season.

The defense is the bigger question. But with eight starters back, the Tar Heels hope reps and experience prevail.

North Carolina is a projected favorite in 11 of its 12 games this season, according to VSiN. It's only a projected underdog to Clemson, the odds-on favorite to win the conference. The Tar Heels also lucked out by avoiding Florida State on the schedule, who have the second-best odds to win the conference.

The Tar Heels only have four true road games. Upsets are likely as the season goes on, but an offense this prolific won't lose more than four contests.

Pick: North Carolina over 8 wins -130 (playable to -150)

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.