The ACC Championship between the Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers carries a lot of interest in the weekend of the conference competition, because it plays a direct role in determining who fills the remaining spots in college football. If Virginia wins, the Cavaliers can. If Duke wins, well … the riots continue. The action kicks off at 8:00 PM et on ABC from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Here are my favorite ACC Championship bets.
Duke Blue Devils vs Virginia Cavaloers Odds
Money Line: Duke +152 / Virginia -180
Spread: Duke +3.5 (-102) / Virginia -3.5 (-120)
Total: Over 57.5 (-115) / Under 57.5 (-105)
Duke Blue Devils vs Virginia Cavaliers Best Bet #1: Virginia -3.5 (-120)
These teams met at Duke less than a month ago and Cavale wiped the floor with the Blue Devils. Va outshot Duke 540 to 255 despite two turnovers, rushing for 5.3 yards per carry while QB CHAD MORRIS threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. Since then, Duke has won at North Carolina and has been upset but has given up a combined 57 points in those games. Meanwhile, Virginia earned a BEE week after beating Duke and then holding Ramsung River Virginia Tech to just seven points last week.
I tried to see any case being made about Duke, but it’s hard to see much change in this given that this confusion has played out so much. Virginia ranks first nationally in yards per game allowed and third in turnovers this season, while sitting in the top-15 in most efficiency metrics and passing downs against November and passing since the start of November. On top of that, Virginia is second in the nation in construction over the past five weeks. Meanwhile, Duke is outside the top 115 in major league metrics no matter how you measure it, and 118th in yards allowed since Week 10. I don’t see it.
Duke Blue Devils vs Virginia Cavaliers Best Player Player Bet: J’mari Taylor over 89.5 rushing yards (-115)
J’Mari Taylor dominates Virginia’s backfield. His 207 carries are 140 more than his backup, as his usage has gone through the roof. In fact, he carried the ball at least 15 times in every FBS game this season — at least four of those carries.
In Virginia’s last four games, Taylor has returned 90 yards three times – including his 18th performance, given the cold conditions in Charlotte on November 15.
