The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is just as top-heavy as ever. Duke has won the ACC regular season title two of the last four years, but there are a couple of teams that are capable of challenging. There are also several teams that will be eliminated from contention as soon as the regular season tips off. However, North Carolina and Virginia won a lot more regular-season championships than most probably remember before Duke’s recent run.
Will Duke continue their run of dominance, or will another team step up? Let’s dig into our best bet for the 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season champion.
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2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion Best Bet
Louisville to win the conference: +225
Duke comes back with a host of five-stars and future NBA first-rounders. The Blue Demons have one of the most talented rosters in the country. However, Duke lacks depth and experience. These types of teams aren’t always the best in the regular season. Duke may drop a couple of tough road games in conference this year.
Louisville has a five-star and a four-star recruit coming in, but they also have a mainly veteran roster. Mikel Brown Jr. was rated as the sixth-best prospect in the country last year and for good reason. From a ball-handling and distribution standpoint, Brown rates off the charts. Point guard prospects can struggle when they make a jump in competition. Brown may struggle with his shot at times, but he’ll have success when running the point.
The Cardinals also bring in four-star Sananda Fru from Germany. Fru will be 22 years old before he suits up for Louisville because he spent a few seasons playing in Europe. He’s an absolute mountain who can protect the rim on defense and finish at the rim on offense.
J’vonne Hadley returns as a starter for the Cardinals. Louisville will round out its starting five with shooters Ryan Conwell from Xavier and Ian McKneely from Virginia.
Louisville can shoot, distribute, and protect the paint. They also have a bench that has several true veterans to use in their rotation. The Cardinals also have a deep bench and can absorb an injury or two. What happens to Duke if they lose Patrick Ngongba II or Cameron Boozer for a few weeks? The Blue Devils become a lot less special.
The Cardinals have the skill and experience needed to compete and win on the road in the ACC. It’s unclear if Duke’s five-star lineup is going to want to compete in tough environments on the road. Duke will have a great season, make the tournament, and then say ‘goodbye’ to another roster. Louisville has guys who have been around the block and want to win.
Duke will be the side that gets helium before the season tips off, but Louisville is the best bet right now. Lock up the Cardinals at better than 3-to-1 odds.
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