It’s no surprise that the favorite to win the 2025 ACC football championship is the Clemson Tigers. After somewhat of a drop-off in 2023, the Tigers were officially back in the national championship race last year. Clemson went 10-4 overall last season, finishing second in the ACC regular season.

That earned the Tigers a slot in the ACC championship game where they beat SMU 34-31 to take their eighth conference title in the last ten years. At +100, head coach Dabo Swinney and his Tigers are the betting favorite to win another in 2025.

Clemson is also among the handful of teams considered to be contenders for the 2025 College Football Championship. The Tigers have two national championships – 2016 and 2018 – to their name. Over the last 10 seasons, Swinney and his Tigers have made the College Football Playoffs eight different times.

Last season, Clemson and SMU both made the College Football Playoffs. Both teams were eliminated in the first round. The Tigers lost to Texas while the Mustangs were beaten by Penn State. Miami and Syracuse both finished with 10-3 records last season. Could more than two ACC teams make the playoffs in 2025?

What Teams Are In The ACC Conference?

The following teams currently play in the ACC Conference:

• Boston College Eagles: joined in 2005
• California Bears: joined in 2024
• Clemson Tigers: joined in 1953
• Duke Blue Devils: joined in 1953
• Florida State Seminoles: joined in 1991
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: joined in 1979
• Louisville Cardinals: joined in 2014
• Miami Hurricanes: joined in 2004
• North Carolina Tar Heels: joined in 1953
• North Carolina State Wolfpack: joined in 1953
• Pittsburgh Panthers: joined in 2013
• SMU Mustangs: joined in 2024
• Stanford Cardinal: joined in 2024
• Syracuse Orange: joined in 2013
• Virginia Cavaliers: joined in 1953
• Virginia Tech Hokies: joined in 2004
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons: joined in 1953

NOTE: Notre Dame is independent in football but has a scheduling arrangement with the ACC and, on a rotating basis, plays five ACC schools each college football season.

When Is The ACC Championship Football Game?

The 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference championship game will be played on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The stadium is the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

The regular season ACC champion will face the team that finishes second among the conference’s 17 teams in the ACC championship game. The defending regular season champion is SMU, which was beaten by last year’s regular season runner-up, Clemson.

2025 ACC Conference Odds

Check out the latest NCAAF odds for the AAC Conference, courtesy of the top sports betting sites:

These odds will change throughout the season. Check back to see the updated ACC football betting lines and how are predictions have evolved. Additionally, if you need any further assistance with your College Football bets, then check out the industry’s top betting membership as it features the best handicappers around.

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ACC Conference Favorites

The following College Football teams are considered the favorites to win the ACC Conference:

Clemson Tigers (+110)

If you’re talking about the ACC championship, the first name to come to mind is Clemson. It’s not just because the Tigers have won eight of the last ten conference championships either. Swinney returns a ton of talent from last year’s conference champion and playoff qualifier.

On offense, eight starters return led by QB Cade Klubnik who threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns last season. He is on most preseason All-America lists and is a Heisman Trophy contender. He’ll have all three of his wide receivers – Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore – back from last year and the offensive line returns four of five starters.

Defensively, the Tigers return six starters and gained former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Swinney felt like Clemson just wasn’t good enough and decided to make a change. Allen has a strong reputation for tough, physical defenses that don’t give up much to opponents. Penn State was a top 10 defense in almost every category last season.

The schedule is favorable too. The Tigers get SMU and Duke, two top ACC contenders at home. The toughest road game will be at Louisville on Nov. 14. Nothing less than a return trip to the ACC title game would be a step backward for Swinney’s program.

Miami Hurricanes (+400)

Head coach Mario Cristobal enters his fourth season. The Hurricanes went 10-3 last year with Heisman Trophy winner Cam Ward at quarterback. The ‘Canes led the FBS in scoring, averaging 43.6 points per game, but the defense was awful. Miami allowed 30-plus points in five of its eight conference games.

Cristobal hired former Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman in the offseason. The Gophers were one of the best defenses in the FBS last season. Miami returns four defensive starters plus a couple transfers that could make an immediate impact.

Carson Beck comes in from Georgia to take over at quarterback. Hopefully for Cristobal, Beck doesn’t throw 12 interceptions like he did last year. The offense really gets an overhaul as only three starters, all on the offensive line, return.

We’ll get a look at Miami early as they kick off the season against Notre Dame at home on August 31.

Louisville Cardinals (+800)

If there is a team that could surprise everyone in 2025, it might be the Cardinals. Head coach Jeff Brohm led Louisville to a 9-4 mark last season. All four losses by a touchdown or less. The offense will need to fill some holes, but Brohm brought in former USC QB Miller Moss. Isaac Brown and Duke Brown are back at RB and the offensive line gets some transfer help.

The defense returns four starters, three linebackers, and leaned heavily on the portal to improve upon its pass defense from last year. Louisville finished 87th in pass efficiency and 100th in opponent passing yards. The Cardinals play at Miami in October but get Clemson at home on Nov. 14.

SMU Mustangs (+800)

Last year, the Mustangs won the ACC regular season in their first season in the conference. SMU returns QB Kevin Jennings (3,245 yards, 23 TDs) and three offensive linemen as well as their top two tight ends. Head coach Rhett Lashlee is a Gus Malzahn disciple who builds the offense around a strong running game, but the Mustangs can throw it also with Jennings at quarterback.

The Mustangs defense surprised some people last year. SMU ranked 30th in total defense, allowing opponents 339 yards per game. That helped the Mustangs finish 37th in scoring defense, giving up 23.2 points per game. Only two starters are back, but Lashlee has done a good job in recruiting and SMU’s depth from a year ago will pay off in 2025.

The Best ACC Conference Betting Value

Brent Key was definitely the right guy for the job at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets (+1200) have gone 7-6 in each of Key’s first two seasons at GT. That’s actually a pretty big accomplishment for a school that produced five straight losing seasons before Key.

Georgia Tech is one of the top rushing offenses in the country. They return QB Haynes King, a dual-threat guy who can beat you with his arms and legs. Five starters return on the offense. The defense has five starters too and a new defensive coordinator in former Texas coach Blake Gideon.

Key has instilled a mindset within the program. The Yellow Jackets beat Florida State to open the season last year. They beat Miami and then almost upset in-state rival Georgia in the regular season finale. The Yellow Jackets don’t play Miami this season and they get ACC favorite Clemson at home.

The Top ACC Conference Longshot

As they headed into November last year, the Pittsburgh Panthers (+4000) were 7-0. They did lose their last six games of the season, but the potential is there to sneak up and surprise some teams in 2025. The Panthers get Louisville and Miami at home and they don’t face Clemson in the regular season.

QB Eli Holstein threw for 2,225 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. He actually didn’t finish out the season as a nagging ankle injury affected his play in the final six games (he only played in three) of the season. Holstein will have RB Desmond Reed (962 rush, 579 receiving) back as well as his top two receivers (Kenny Johnson, Raphael Williams Jr.). Three starters return on the offensive line and Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi is known for his defenses. Seven starters return.

ACC Conference Predictions

There’s really no question here. Barring massive injuries, the Tigers are the class of this conference. They have a wealth of returning talent. Clubnik is the ACC’s best quarterback. He’s experienced and he’s a winner.

There are eight offensive starters back and six on defense. New defensive coordinator Tom Allen will turn this Clemson defense into one of the nation’s best. Don’t be surprised if the Tigers are among the top teams in point differential this season.

Find NCAAF picks like this one and much more at ScoresandStats all season long.

Bet: Clemson Tigers (+110)

The Best ACC Win Total Bets

The following ACC teams offer the best Win Total odds to bet on:

North Carolina Tar Heels Under 7.5 Wins (-170)

In the first season under legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick, the Tar Heels will fail to reach eight wins. If you have followed the offseason at UNC, you know there are some issues with Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend. Yes, 24 years old!

That type of drama doesn’t fit well in any locker room. The Tar Heels were a mess last season, losing their final three games to finish 6-7 overall. They’ll get two wins early this season when they play at Charlotte and host FCS Richmond, but then they’ll travel to UCF where the Knights are no slouch.

To the Tar Heels benefit, the Miami Hurricanes are not on the schedule. Still, UNC must play at Cal, Syracuse, Wake Forest, and rival NC State in the season finale. Belichick will have a mediocre quarterback from the Sun Belt – former South Alabama QB Gio Lopez – and just two returning defensive starters from a unit that gave up nearly 30 (29.6) points per game last season. The Tar Heels will not reach eight wins in 2025.

Bet: North Carolina Tar Heels Under 7.5 Wins (-170)

Virginia Cavaliers Under 6.5 Wins (-140)

There is no reality where Virginia wins seven games in 2025. Yes, it’s a do-or-die season for head coach Tony Elliott, but there are too many holes in this offense and not enough William & Marys on the schedule for the Cavaliers to get Over this win total. The best handicappers here at ScoresandStats agree that Virginia goes Under its team total in 2025.

Chandler Morris comes over from North Texas to take over at quarterback. He’s a good one. He played in an Air Raid offense for the Mean Green and finished ninth in the country in passing with 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. The problem for Morris is the Cavs must replace all of their receivers, three of five offensive linemen, and their tight end.

The defense does have six starters back, but that was a defense that gave up 30.2 points per game last season. Virginia gets Florida State at home, but the Cavaliers have to play at NC State, at Louisville, and at Duke this season. There are also trips to North Carolina and Cal and the Cavaliers close the season with rival Virginia Tech, a team that is way ahead of Virginia in its rebuilding process.

Bet: Virginia Cavaliers Under 7.5 Wins (-140)

Which ACC Teams Will Make the Playoffs?

SMU is not going to sneak up on anyone this season. With their conference schedule, they may find themselves right back in the ACC title game again against Clemson. This year, though, the Mustangs have an early season non-conference game with a pretty good Baylor team. They also play at TCU in Week 4.

Miami has too many holes to fill on offense. There just isn’t another team in the ACC that feels worthy of a playoff spot other than Clemson. The Tigers offense should be one of the best in the nation. The defense will be outstanding as usual and Swinney’s team could run the table in conference play.

That is why Clemson is a -180 favorite to make the College Football Playoffs in 2025. The Tigers will be the only ACC team in the CFP this season.

Bet: Clemson Tigers (-180)

ACC Conference Winners

The following is a list of the most recent ACC Conference champions: