CBB Futures Picks: ACC
The college basketball season is inching its way closer and closer. Get yourself prepared with a deeper look into which teams you’ll want to place your futures bets on to win conference titles.
Here’s a look at the top five programs ready to compete for the ACC title in the upcoming season.
Duke Blue Devils
Odds to win: +225
Record last season: (32-6 OVR, 14-4 CONF)
During the offseason, Duke lost three players to the NBA Draft - all which were drafted in the Top 10. Typically, you’d think there would be a decline for the Blue Devils heading into this year, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen.
Duke returns one of the top point guards in the country in Tre Jones. He lead the team in assists (5.3 apg) and was a force on defense with 1.9 stlpg.
Joining the Blue Devils this season is the nation’s third-best recruiting class, including the 6th and 11th overall ranked players with center Vernon Carey Jr. and power forward Matthew Hurt.
Virginia Cavaliers
Odds to Conference: +225
Record last season: (35-3 OVR, 16-2 CONF)
The reigning ACC and NCAA National Champions Virginia Cavaliers head into this season tied with the best odds to win the conference at (+225).
Just one year removed from becoming the first number one overall seed to be eliminated by a 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Cavaliers were redeemed and cut down the nets as national champions defeating Texas Tech 85-77 in overtime.
Virginia’s odds to win the ACC is out of respect to them cutting down the nets last year, but the team will have a completely different look in the upcoming year. The Cavaliers lost all three of the team’s leading scorers to the NBA Draft - Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome.
The key returning player for Virginia is sophomore guard Kihei Clark, who averaged 4.5 ppg, 2.6 apg and 2.3 rpg.
North Carolina Tarheels
Odds to win: +450
Record last season: (29-7 OVR, 16-2 CONF)
North Carolina finished last season with a bitter taste in their mouths after a rough exit from the NCAA tournament, losing to the Auburn Tigers by 17 points in the Sweet 16.
The Tarheels’ recruiting class ranked eighth in the nation, but there’s one incoming freshman who will make an immediate impact.
Point guard Cole Anthony is the second overall ranked player in the class of 2019. Anthony is poised to be the next big thing and will be the focal point of the Tarheel offense.
Despite the addition of Anthony, North Carolina had some key departures in the offseason. The Tarheels will be without all four of the team’s top scorers last season, Cameron Johnson, Colby White, Luke Maye, and Nassir Little.
Louisville Cardinals
Odds to Conference: +500
Record last season: (20-14 OVR, 10-8 CONF)
The Louisville Cardinals are a dark horse to win the AAC after finishing tied fifth in the ACC standings last season. Louisville suffered a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament losing as a seventh seed to the Minnesota Gophers 86-76.
The Cardinals return the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, junior forward Jordan Nwora. He averaged 17.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg and a team-high 0.9 stlpg.
Joining Nwora at Louisville is a Top 10-ranked recruiting class featuring four four-star recruits and a five-star in small forward Samuel Williamson. He is the fifth-ranked small forward in his class standing tall with a 6-6 athletic frame.
Syracuse Orange
Odds to Conference: +2000
Record last season: (20-14 OVR, 10-8 CONF)
The Syracuse Orange are my strongest longshots to win the ACC and have profitable odds to do so at (+2000).
Although Syracuse has yet to win the ACC since joining the conference in 2013, you can never count out the Orange under head coach Jim Boeheim and his infamous 2-3 zone defense.
The Orange lost three key players to graduation and the NBA Draft including team leading scorer Tyus Battle (17.2 ppg).
However, despite those loses, the second leading scorer senior forward Elijah Hughes (13.7 ppg) is staying put at the Cuse. If Hughes can elevate his game, Syracuse will be in contention for the conference title.
By Stephen Rodriguez