Florida State University’s football team went 13-0 during the 2023 regular season, easily won the Atlantic Coast Conference and watched four other schools get to play for the National Championship.
If the Seminoles plan to make amends for that in 2024 and qualify for the now 12-team playoff, it will start by winning the ACC title again. And the Tallahassee school is the favorite to do just that.
According to which New Jersey book you choose to use, Florida State is anywhere from +250 to +300 to win the expanded 17-team conference for the second consecutive season. Clemson, with probably the best defense in the conference and quarterback Cade Klubnik, is the second choice at anywhere from +350 to +370.
Miami (+400-+450), North Carolina State (+600-+650), with Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall at quarterback and ACC newcomer SMU (+1,600) round out the top five favorites to win the 2024 conference title with the current bet365 bonus code. Another newcomer to the conference, Stanford, out of the old Pac 12, is the longshot on the board at a whopping +50,000.
Florida State, which opens the season in Dublin, Ireland against Georgia Tech, Aug. 24, will have its two biggest conference games during the month of October. The ‘Noles host Clemson, Oct. 5 and travel down to Miami, Oct. 26.
Two Alabama transfers, wide receiver Malik Benson and running back Raydell Williams, will be keys to the FSU offense. Williams, will pair with returning back Lawrence Toafili, to help offset the loss of last season’s leading rusher Trey Benson, who was one of 10 Seminoles drafted into the NFL this past April. Malik Benson should provide a reliable No. 1 target for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, a massive 6-5, 250-pound specimen.
Patrick Payton, who had seven sacks last season, will look to double that total this season and lead the Seminole defense.
Miami, the third choice, according to the oddsmakers, could be the most interesting team to watch in the ACC this season. Head coach Mario Cristobal, who signed a 10-year deal to leave Oregon and return to his alma mater, is just 12-13 in his two years with the Hurricanes with two of those losses to Florida State.
The last time the Seminoles visited Miami was in 2022 and they went home with a 45-3 win. Last year’s game at FSU was a lot closer (a 27-20 ‘Noles win), but it still made three straight wins for FSU in the rivalry that Miami still leads, 35-33.
Cristobal also hit the transfer portal and came away with his quarterback, Cam Ward, formerly of Washington State and running back Damian Martinez from Oregon State. Ward, with paltry odds of just 2-1, is the favorite to lead the ACC in passing yards this season. Clemson’s Klubnik is the second choice at 8-1.
Can Ward give Cristobal his first-ever win over the Seminoles? If he does it could go a long way in winning the conference and earning one of those 12 playoffs spots.
What is the Best Way for New Jersey bettors to use this knowledge?
There are a few picks here that we like.
Ward to win the passing yards title at +200 looks like a very good wager, and you might even be able to find that price a little higher if you shop around at the other Garden State books. Make sure you use the NJ.Bet sportsbook page to compare and contrast to get the best value.
As for the league winner, Florida State and Clemson could decide the title Oct. 5, and if you get both teams–and one of them does win the title–you would be guaranteed to win money if you split your bets equally between the Seminoles and Tigers.
We also recommend looking at the Over team total for the Seminoles in their opening week game in Ireland.
