Take mighty North Carolina out of the mix and ACC teams were just 54-55-4 ATS outside the conference last season, far from the expected dominance and a college basketball betting trend worth watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
NORTH CAROLINA (34-4 SU, 18-19 ATS, 21-16 O/U): Four starters from a year ago are in the NBA and, remarkably, UNC still has enough talent to win the conference.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:4-10
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:6-6
Away Underdog:0-0
Neutral site:8-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Tar Heels were 5-13 ATS in conference games last season.
Sports Betting Angle: UNC is 28-8 ATS in non-conference games the last two years.
DUKE (30-7 SU, 16-18-2 ATS, 15-21 O/U): More beef than usual but Coach K still needs a point guard.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-7-1
Home Underdog:0-01
Away Favorite:3-6
Away Underdog:2-0
Neutral Site:4-4-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Blue Devils were 3-6 as away favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 13-6 when Duke played a conference opponent.
MARYLAND (21-14 SU, 16-12-1 ATS, 12-16-1 O/U): Four returning starters, including Greivis Vasquez (17.5 PPG) make the Terrapins a solid Big Dance team.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:4-4-1
Home Underdog:1-2
Away Favorite:0-1
Away Underdog:5-2
Neutral Site:6-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Terrapins were 11-3-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: Maryland is 10-5-1 as an away underdog the last two years.
GEORGIA TECH (12-19 SU, 11-16 ATS, 14-13 O/U): The Yellow Jackets could be a major surprise if recruit Derrick Favors is as good as advertised.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:2-8
Home Underdog:2-2
Away Favorite:1-0
Away Underdog:4-6
Neutral Site:2-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Yellow Jackets are 5-13 as home favorites the past two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Georgia Tech was 6-12 ATS after a SU loss.
CLEMSON (23-9 SU, 12-14-1 ATS, 14-13 O/U): In Trevor Booker (15.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG), the Tigers have the best big man in the ACC.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:4-5-1
Home Underdog:1-0
Away Favorite:5-3
Away Underdog:1-2
Neutral Site:1-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Tigers 10-5 as road favorites the past two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 8-2 when Clemson was a home favorite.
FLORIDA STATE (25-10 SU, 18-10-1 ATS, 11-18 O/U): The Seminoles have seven of their top nine scorers back and should make a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:3-3
Home Underdog:4-1
Away Favorite:3-0
Away Underdog:4-3-1
Neutral Site:4-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Seminoles were 12-6-1 ATS in ACC play.
Sports Betting Angle: FSU is 19-9-2 as an underdog the past two years.
VIRGINIA TECH (19-15 SU, 13-16 ATS, 19-10 O/U): The Hokies have Malcolm Delaney (18.1 PPG) and Jeff Allen (13.7 PPG), plus a strong recruiting class, aiding their Big Dance hopes.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-7
Home Underdog:1-2
Away Favorite:0-1
Away Underdog:5-3
Neutral Site:4-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Gobblers were 4-11 as favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 8-2 when Virginia Tech was a home favorite.
BOSTONCOLLEGE (22-12 SU, 15-13-1 ATS, 14-14-1 O/U): Four starters return but the Eagles will miss point guard Tyrese Rice (16.9 PPG, 5.3 APG) enough to slip a bit.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:6-5
Home Underdog:1-2
Away Favorite:1-1-1
Away Underdog:3-4
Neutral Site:4-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles were 6-0 ATS in regular season tournaments.
Sports Betting Angle: BC was 10-7-1 ATS in games following a SU win.
WAKEFOREST (24-7 SU, 15-12 ATS, 16-11 O/U): Al-Farouq Aminu (12.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG) was spectacular as a freshman but he’s going to need some help from a pair of senior guards.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:6-3
Home Underdog:2-0
Away Favorite:4-4
Away Underdog:2-1
Neutral Site:1-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Demon Deacons are 15-6-2 ATS at home the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: WakeForest was 5-1 as an underdog.
VIRGINIA (10-18 SU, 10-13 ATS, 7-16 O/U): The Cavaliers welcome back all five starters but they’ll have to play better for Virginia to turn it around.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:1-2
Home Underdog:3-6
Away Favorite:0-0
Away Underdog:6-4
Neutral Site:0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cavaliers are 4-8 as a home underdog the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 14-6 when Virginia was an underdog.
NORTH CAROLINASTATE (16-14 SU, 15-9-1 ATS, 13-10 O/U): The top three scorers are gone and there are six frosh on the roster so don’t expect too much from the Wolfpack.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:5-4
Home Underdog:2-2
Away Favorite:0-1
Away Underdog:7-1-1
Neutral Site:1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Wolfpack was 7-1-1 as road underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: NC State was 11-2 ATS in games after a SU victory.
MIAMI (19-13 SU, 13-13-1 ATS, 12-15 O/U): The Hurricanes always play good defense but somebody has to put the ball in the hole.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:2-6-1
Home Underdog:2-0
Away Favorite:2-2
Away Underdog:5-3
Neutral Site:2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Hurricanes are 15-4 ATS versus non-conference foes the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Miami was 8-4 ATS in games after an ATS loss.
This is the second of 11 NCAA basketball betting previews.
