Week Two of the college football season is here across North Carolina sports betting, and unless you’re a Florida State fan, there’s no real reason for anyone to be down their favorite team. The season’s still young, and anything can happen.
That being said, obviously, fans of some schools are more optimistic about their teams than others. Such optimism can be expressed in many different ways. Some fans will post more smack on social media. Others will buy more merch, and those who haven’t gone to a game in a while may buy tickets for an upcoming matchup.
Another way fans may express their optimism about their team is by placing a wager on them through a licensed North Carolina sports betting operator. As this is the first football season where sports betting is legal in the Tar Heel State, BetCarolina.com wanted to see what ACC team offers the best betting experience.
We factored in the 2023 record, the status of legal betting on college football in the state, the strength of schedule for this season and AP polls heading into Week Two. While you're here, bookmark our UNC Bowl Projections page, where we'll track the Heels' postseason chances all season.
Rank | Team | Total Score |
T1 | Louisville Cardinals | 72 |
T1 | NC State Wolfpack | 72 |
3 | UNC Tar Heels | 65 |
4 | Florida State Seminoles | 64 |
5 | Clemson Tigers | 57 |
6 | Syracuse Orange | 56 |
7 | Duke Blue Devils | 55 |
8 | Miami Hurricanes | 51 |
9 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 48 |
10 | Pittsburgh Panthers | 43 |
Apparently, it’s a great time to be a little brother. NC State, long looked down upon by many UNC and Duke fans, and Louisville, often standing in Kentucky’s shadow despite its record of gridiron success, are the clear top choices in our betting experience rankings.
For the Wolfpack, that excitement could bubble over rather soon. Dave Doeren’s team, currently ranked No. 24 nationally, plays No. 14 Tennessee in a primetime affair Saturday night at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium. Beating the Volunteers would certainly help the Pack’s College Football Playoff resume, even if they don’t get an automatic bid by winning the ACC title.
Oddsmakers at DraftKings North Carolina have NC State as a decided underdog despite being the home team. The Wolfpack are 8-point underdogs to Tennessee. For fans who believe an upset is imminent, DraftKings has the Pack moneyline (odds they will win outright) at +245. That means a $10 bet would net a profit of $24.50.
There are more big games on the NC State schedule, too. In two weeks, the Pack will travel to Clemson for a contest that may help determine who will play for the conference title in December. A couple more road games at the end of the regular season stand out, too. The Wolfpack plays at Georgia Tech on Nov. 21 in another primetime matchup before going to Chapel Hill to face the Tar Heels on Nov. 30.
BetCarolina is also home to all Clemson Tigers College Football Playoff Odds.
Speaking of North Carolina, Heels fans are probably breathing a sigh of relief after last week’s close call at Minnesota. It should get somewhat easier for the Tar Heels this Saturday with an afternoon tilt against Charlotte. That being said, many State fans probably thought the same of Western Carolina last week, but the Catamounts led into the fourth quarter before the Pack finally prevailed.
At bet365 North Carolina Sportsbook, oddsmakers have set UNC as a 22.5-point favorite against the 49ers. Tar Heels fans who just want to bet the moneyline get odds of -2200. With an implied probability of 95.7%, that means a $22 bet would net a profit of $1.
Many thought Florida State would likely defend their conference title this year and get a playoff bid some thought the Seminoles deserved last year. However, after disappointing losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College, the Noles, the preseason No. 10 team in the AP Top 25, now find themselves No. 17, also known as last, in the conference.
Florida State’s losses now mean Ceasars Sportsbook has a new favorite to win the ACC this year. The Miami Hurricanes, fresh off a convincing win at Florida last week, are the current favorites at +160 to win the title. Clemson is the second choice at +375, while NC State and Louisville are both next at +750.
FSU’s odds, meanwhile, have grown to +3000.
USA Today photo by Jaylynn Nash.
Author
As a writer and analyst for BetCarolina.com, Steve not only covers gaming news and developments in North Carolina but also provides insights into what they mean for bettors, licensed operators and the state. A veteran journalist with 25 years of experience covering sports, politics and business, Steve has reported on the gambling industry intently over the past five years.
Cited by leading media organizations, such as:
