Who else can’t wait for College Basketball to tip off? As the calendar flips to November, it’s just that time! As we continue to preview every team and conference in College Basketball, one of the most historic basketball conferences is up next. Let’s dive into the 2026-27 ACC preview, odds, and best bets.
Last season, Duke was in a class of their own. They were almost unchallenged when it came to the ACC. They were the regular-season champions, ACC Tournament champions, and then they secured the No. 1 overall NCAA Tournament seed. The team led by Cameron Boozer went 17-1 in ACC play and only lost three games in the entire season. Virginia was one of the biggest stories of the season, particularly under first-year head coach Ryan Odom. The Cavaliers finished second in the regular season and proved they could compete with Duke.
The conference sent eight teams to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, its highest total since 2018. SMU made their first appearance in the tournament as a member of the conference. Five teams made coaching changes over the offseason. North Carolina hired Michael Malone who comes in after winning an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets. This is a massive hire, but he has never been a college head coach. How quickly he adjusts to recruiting, the transfer portal and college basketball will be fascinating.
At North Carolina State Will Wade lasted just one season before returning to LSU. Justin Gainey, a former Wolfpack player and Tennessee assistant, takes over. Georgia Tech’s Scott Cross arrives from Troy after Damon Stoudamire’s departure. He has a strong mid-major coaching résumé and will be tasked with rebuilding the Yellow Jackets. Boston College hired Luke Murray, and Syracuse brought in Gerry McNamara.
Odds to Win the ACC Regular Season Championship
Duke -136
Louisville +425
Virginia +590
Miami FL +770
Virginia Tech +2600
Clemson +3000
North Carolina +3500
NC State +5800
SMU +8400
Syracuse +14000
Florida State +20000
Wake Forest +23000
Stanford +23000
Notre Dame +32000
Pittsburgh +45000
Georgia Tech +50000
California +50000
Boston College +50000
ACC Conference Best Bets
Clemson Over 9.5 Wins (+125)
Brad Brownell’s squad had a solid year last season going 12-5 in conference play. They had a lot of roster changes, but brought in some solid players in the transfer portal. Cole Certa from Notre Dame averaged 12.8 points last season and adds perimeter scoring. Dylan Faulkner comes over from Samford. He averaged approximately 17 points and eight rebounds, giving Clemson an interior presence. David Fuchs transfers in from San Francisco, adding size and rebounding.
Clemson’s schedule lines up nicely. They host Duke and Virginia, but also gets Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Cal, Syracuse, Stanford and Notre Dame at home. Road trips to Miami, Louisville, NC State and Virginia Tech could prove to be difficult tests.
Virginia ACC Regular Season Winner (+590)
Duke is the heavy favorite for a reason. They should be great this season, and at -136, they might make a solid parlay piece. However, if I’m looking for a months-long future to bet, it’s the Virginia Cavaliers. Year one of Ryan Odom was incredible. The team won 30 games. They did lose a few key players like Ugonna Onyenso, Jacari White, and Malik Thomas. But, they returned a large portion of last year’s roster including Thijs De Ridder. Ridder is the preseason ACC Player of the Year.
Year one of Odom they proved they could hang with the likes of a great Duke team. With a year of experience under their belt, and retaining the combination of continuity on the roster is huge. Watch out for the Cavaliers this season.
