ACC Tournament Odds & Picks

By Mike Rose

The Duke Blue Devils have won 15 ACC tournaments under Mike Krzyzewski’s watch. Linemakers at DraftKings Sportsbook have the Dookies lined as favorites to earn him No.

 16 when the 2022 ACC tourney tips off from the Barclays Center on Tuesday, March 8 with first round betting action. Being the only ACC team to log a double-digit win tally on the road this season, it makes perfect sense. But do they really have what it takes to win three games in three days knowing it’s already penciled in as a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament with likely no shot of making it up to the one-line? Duke is a solid overall team, but it’s hardly one of the best Coach K has marched onto the hardwood throughout his historic reign in Durham. Regardless, they’re going to be a tough out for whichever conference opponent finds a way to bounce them; if it occurs. Along with Duke, here are my underdog and longshot selections to win the ACC tournament.

ACC Tournament Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook

Duke -130

North Carolina +800

Wake Forest/Virginia Tech/Notre Dame +1000

Miami +1100

Virginia +1800

Syracuse +5000

Florida State +6000

Clemson +8000

NC State +10000

Louisville +12000

Georgia Tech +15000

Pittsburgh +20000

Boston College +25000

Favorite to Bet: Duke Blue Devils -130

At -130 to cut down the nets on Saturday night, those booking the bets are telling you that the Dookies have a near 57 percent implied probability of winning the whole enchilada. Considering UNC has an 11 percent probability of pulling it off and clock in right behind their hated rivals, it almost feels like it’s a foregone conclusion. For it to all come to fruition, Paulo Banchero, Wendell Moore Jr., and Mark Williams will need to continue dominating much like they have a bulk of the season. Banchero is a specimen unlike any other in the game. He can take it to the rack, shoot from the outside, and compete with the best of them on the glass (7.7 RPG). Moore Jr. is the team’s most lethal shooter from long range (41%), and will need to be locked in for Duke’s unforgiving 3-point shooting to excel in this tourney. But the straw that ultimately stirs the drink is Williams due to his ability to clog the paint, alter shots (2.8 BPG) and compete for loose caroms (7.1 RPG). Should any of these three get into foul trouble against say a team like Miami or Wake Forest, it could be curtains. Even so, Duke is the class of the ACC right now.

Underdog to Bet: Virginia Tech Hokies +1000

I wouldn’t fault you if you decided to take fliers on either the Demon Deacons or Hurricanes instead. I went to the other side of the bracket as an alternative with the Hokies due to those other two mentioned teams likely squaring off against one another before running into Duke in the semis. Mike Young has done a solid job since coming over from Wofford with this year’s team putting forth its best record under his watch (19-12, 11-9). Only Duke ranks out higher on the Pomeroy Ratings in the ACC than VTECH with it marching the No. 28 offensive and No. 53 defensive efficiencies onto the hardwood every passing game. Though its defense allows some bloated shooting percentage from the field (No. 136) and beyond the arc (No. 140), slowing every game down to a crawl (No. 345) has only seen it surrender just over 61 points per game (No. 18). I really like VTECH’s path to the finals. After defeating either Clemson or NC State, it’ll matchup with a Notre Dame team it beat in the regular season. A trip to the finals would likely depend on preventing North Carolina from beating them a third time. I believe!

Longshot to Bet: Louisville Cardinals +12000

Personally, I don’t think any of the lesser tiered teams have a shot at making any noise in this tournament. That being said, I also wouldn’t blame you for taking a stab with NC State, Clemson, Florida State or Syracuse either. The ACC isn’t a dominant conference much like the last few seasons. I truly believe this tourney is completely up for grabs regardless of the Dookies attempting to do it in Coach K’s Swan Song season. The Ville has had it rough in going 12-18 SU and only logging six ACC triumphs while firing its coach midseason. That being said, there’s still some nice talent on this roster that could feed off a “win and in” mentality much like the Oregon State Beavers did last season. It beat Georgia Tech in the lone regular season meeting, and was competitive in a pair of sweeps at the hands of Virginia and UNC. If Malik Williams decides to flip the HAM switch, look out – the Ville could be dangerous!