The most dominant ACC program for a while has been Virginia Tech, but the Hokies missed out on the ACC Championship Game last year for only the second time in the five years of its existence. However, Virginia Tech opens the 2010 season as the highest-ranked ACC team in the preseason polls, with the Hokies at No. 10 in the AP poll and No. 6 in the USA Today poll. Yet they are slightly behind Miami as the favorite on Bodog’s NCAA futures odds to win the ACC Coastal Division and the conference title.
The offense should be spectacular this year with seven starters back. In fact, Virginia Tech has the best 1-2 punch in the nation at running back. As a freshman last year, Ryan Williams had ACC-leading totals of 1,655 yards and 22 touchdowns and a 5.6-yards-per-carry average. And what’s scary is the team also welcomes back Darren Evans, who missed last season after tearing an ACL in August. He rushed for 1,265 yards, 11 touchdowns (both ACC freshman records until Williams blew past them in 2009) in 2008, which earned him ACC Freshman of the Year honors just like Williams last year. QB Tyrod Taylor, who is 23-5 as a starter in his career, returns for his senior year after leading the ACC in pass efficiency with a 149.39 ranking, throwing for 2,311 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 56 percent of his passes. Tech’s top three wideouts and three offensive line starters are back.
The defense, which is usually what carries this team, may need some time to jell with only three starters back. The Hokies don't return anyone who had more than 3.5 sacks last season and also have some issues at linebacker. CB Rashad Carmichael is on the verge of stardom after picking off six passes last year.
Whether this team can compete for a national title could be decided as early as next Monday, when Tech faces Boise State at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. Boise is a 2-point favorite on Bodog’s NCAA odds.
Virginia Tech’s over/under total on Bodog is 9 wins this year. So be a player and bet on whether you think the Hokies will beat that number.
The Clemson Tigers won the ACC Atlantic Division in 2009 and reached the conference championship game for the first time – losing to Georgia Tech – largely on the shoulders of electrifying running back and return man C.J. Spiller, and it’s Spiller’s shoes that will be the biggest to fill when the Tigers open the season Saturday against North Texas as 24-point favorites on Bodog’s NCAA football odds.
Can the Tigers win their first ACC title since 1991? They are generally picked to finish second in the Atlantic behind Florida State, but there certainly is enough talent still at Clemson. Plus the team caught a break when quarterback Kyle Parker decided to return for his sophomore season after turning down a full-time career as a baseball player at least until next year. Parker threw for 2,526 yards and a Clemson freshman record 20 touchdowns last year. He is one of seven starters back on offense. Sophomore Andre Ellington should be the featured back after averaging 7.2 yards per carry last season. Top WR Jacoby Ford also has moved on, and the No. 1 guy this year should be senior Xavier Dye, who has just 24 career receptions. Four of five starters are back on the offensive line.
Six starters are back on the defense. The line lost star Ricky Sapp but brings back junior end Da'Quan Bowers, who had 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hurries last season. SS DeAndre McDaniel decided to return for his senior season after picking off eight passes and making 102 tackles last season. Linebacking could be a problem. And starter Brandon Maye had arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday and will miss at least North Texas game. Maye has started 25 of the last 26 Clemson games at linebacker and has 190 career tackles, including 103 last year.
Clemson’s over/under for wins on Bodog’s NCAA futures odds is 7. Think you know better? Then be a player at put your money where your mouth is.
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