ACC picks and predictions: Miami vs. Louisville & 4 more

This Saturday we’re set to get our first true marquee matchup of the season, as the 17th-ranked Miami Hurricanes travel to Louisville to face the 18th-ranked Cardinals in the ABC primetime game. We have odds and picks for that ACC game as well as four more.

Miami vs. Louisville

Both teams enter the game at 1-0 straight up and 1-0 ATS for the season, and Louisville has been a solid 2.5 point favorite all week. In last year’s matchup, Miami managed something it really struggled to do for much of the rest of the season - score a lot of points. The Hurricanes won the game 52-27, but for the season were just the 99th-ranked scoring offense in the nation, averaging only 22.6 points per game.

Louisville had a much more successful offense in 2019 under their new coach, Scott Satterfield, averaging 32.3 points per game, and I expect the same in 2020. Louisville is led by talented junior quarterback, Micale Cunningham, who can stretch the field and has plenty of weapons at his disposal.

As Miami breaks in new QB and Houston transfer, D’Eriq King, there will inevitably be some learning curve to overcome. King also excels more as a runner than a passer, and while Miami’s defense is undoubtedly better than Louisville’s, in this early-season matchup before Miami’s offense is given time to work out kinks, I expect Louisville to make more big, explosive plays in a high-scoring affair.

The favorite and home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four games between these two.

Pick: Louisville -2.5

Boston College vs. Duke

Boston College has a new head coach, with former Ohio State assistant Jeff Hafley taking over the program in the offseason. Duke has longtime veteran coach, David Cutcliffe, returning on the sidelines, and while Duke suffered a Week 2 defeat to Notre Dame, they still got some game experience that Boston College has yet to have.

With the pandemic limiting spring and fall practices, and Hafley having zero prior head coaching experience, I will be shocked if there aren’t mental lapses from players and coaches alike on Saturday.

Pick: Duke -5.5

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh kicked off its season with a dominating offensive performance against the poor Austin Peay Governors, as returning QB Kenny Pickett threw for 277 yards on just 14 completions in a 52-0 victory.

Pitt enters vs. Syracuse as 21.5 point favorites, and while Syracuse has serious deficiencies on offense, this feels like too many points to lay for a team making a step-up in competition and now playing a conference game. Syracuse failed to cover as bigger underdogs in Week 1 against North Carolina, but their defense kept them in the game and covering through much of it.

Pick: Syracuse +21.5

Wake Forest vs. North Carolina State

Wake Forest got thrown right into the fire with a season-opening loss against Clemson. While the offense struggled and QB Sam Hartman threw for just 182 yards, Wake still covered the spread. Last year vs. North Carolina State, Wake won 44-10, and this NC State roster doesn’t look to be that much better, just older. I like Hartman better than Wolfpack QB Devin Leary, and it can’t hurt to have a game under the belt.

Pick: Wake Forest +1

South Florida vs. Notre Dame

Both teams enter the season 1-0 straight up, but Notre Dame is a massive favorite against their visitors from South Florida. This Notre Dame roster has a lot of talent, including returning QB Ian Book.

The Irish are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as home favorites. I expect a long night for a South Florida offense that doesn’t appear too lethal.

Pick: Notre Dame -25.5