Projecting the Win Totals for Every ACC Team
How many games is each ACC team going to win this fall?
The last time I embarked on this win totals exercise, I ended up writing almost 5,000 words solely about the Big Ten. It was a lot for me, and for you also, I have to imagine. While there are zero promises that this won’t be that long, I hope that it’ll be just as worthwhile. (Editor’s note: it is as long. The editor apologizes.)
One point that stands the test of all these win totals projections is that these conferences have way too many dang schools. The fact that the ACC is made up of 17 members, two of which are in California and one in the middle of Texas, is borderline blasphemy. College football fans of old would’ve fallen to the ground and torn their clothes in agony at the sight of the atrocities that have befallen the sport because of conference realignment.
Anyway, I’ve already previewed and predicted the seasons for several different ACC schools. Today, it’s time to cover the rest. Everybody is going to get their moment in the sun, including the nobodies and wannabes. Was that too mean? Probably.
For those who are unfamiliar, here’s a little blurb (edited slightly to fit this specific piece) from my Big Ten win totals prediction post:
This exercise is quite simple: for every team in the conference, I’ll predict whether that particular school will go over or under its projected win total. That win total, for the uninitiated, is put out by sportsbooks like FanDuel, Caesars, MGM, etc. I am not a gambler, nor do I suggest anyone partake in the practice, but the number those entities generate is helpful in setting a baseline for how well or poorly a school will do in a particular campaign.
Again, I can make no promises that this won’t be long. Either way, it’s time to lock in. Let’s get into it.
All lines are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook unless explicitly mentioned otherwise. Win total lines are listed in parentheses next to the team names.
Boston College (5.5)
Year in and year out, the goal at Boston College should be to make it to a bowl. Six wins—that’s the standard the Golden Eagles should be reaching for. And with head coach Bill O’Brien, a guy who’s been there and done that at almost every level of football, that feat is definitely attainable.
Boston College was able to do just that last season, going 7-6. That might be replicable in 2025, but with a difficult slate of games that features trips to Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Syracuse, and home games against Clemson, Notre Dame, SMU, and Georgia Tech, there are a ton of losable contests.
The path to 6-6 exists; however, I don’t see it. For that to occur, BC has to beat Michigan State on the road and take one of the coin flips against Pittsburgh and Syracuse. With both those games being on the road, it’s tough for me to foresee that path becoming reality.
My prediction: UNDER
California (5.5)
Speaking of teams desperately attempting to scratch and claw their way toward six victories, here’s Cal!
I hate to break it to any fans of the Golden Bears, but Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff aren’t walking through that door ever again. As such, where are the wins coming from? Texas Southern? Sure. San Diego State? Probably. Stanford? Hopefully. Everything else is a question mark, though, and with no absolute wins available, I’m left throwing my hands in the air.
Sure, Cal could come away from this season with six or more wins under its belt, but there’s also the possibility of a complete disaster transpiring. Going to Corvallis to play Oregon State presents tons of challenges. Hosting Minnesota is probably a loss. Can it steal one against Duke or North Carolina? What about against Louisville and SMU? I say no.
Cal is not set up for success in this new era of college football. Its lofty academic standards on top of the dwindling fan support make winning consistently in Berkeley a task that not many people could succeed at.
Also, why in the world are they in the ACC? Somebody needs to restart the server because clearly something went awry here.
My prediction: UNDER
Clemson (10.5)
It wasn’t pretty, but Clemson finally made it back to the College Football Playoff last season. After three disappointing losses to Georgia, Louisville, and South Carolina, the Tigers proved their mettle by defeating SMU in the ACC Championship Game before falling to Texas in the first round of the CFP. Overall, it was a decent season, though one that I’m sure Clemson fans thought could’ve been a lot better.
The Tigers are bringing back 80% of their production from a year ago, which makes them an easy pick to succeed in 2025. Quarterback Cade Klubnik returns, and after the impressive run he went on during the stretch run of the season—particularly against Texas—Clemson feels confident that he can lead them back to the promised land. Pair that with an offensive unit that might be Clemson’s best in years, and all the signs point to a successful season.
Also, keep an eye out for T.J. Parker on the defensive line. He’s a legitimate star and will be picked very high in next year’s NFL Draft.
I’m extremely bullish on the Tigers, which might just be me flowing with the rest of the crowd. But I legitimately believe that Dabo Swinney still has it in him to coach a team to a national championship, so that’s what I’m picking. The Clemson Tigers will win the national title this season and, as such, will go over their win total.
My prediction: OVER
For more of my thoughts on Clemson’s 2025 season, click the link below to listen to Seth’s College Football Corner.
Duke (6.5)
This win total is disrespectful. Duke is going to win, and win a lot, in 2025. Mark it down and take that to the bank.
Seriously, though, what are the oddsmakers thinking? Have they not watched the Blue Devils’ operation over the past several seasons? Clearly not. Even after Mike Elko left for supposedly greener pastures in College Station, Manny Diaz led the program to a 9-4 campaign in 2024, marking a continuation of success that’s been building in Durham for a while now.
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