ACC Odds Preview: Florida State Favored in Conference Preseason Betting

In fact, the Seminoles, who once owned the ACC, have now gone six seasons since winning their last conference championship.

Last year the ACC had a surprise champion, as the Clemson Tigers beat defending conference champion Virginia Tech twice, the second time in the ACC title game.

This season FSU is again the favorite at most college football betting outlets to win the ACC. But as we've seen, early-season favoritism doesn't mean anything in this conference.

Here's a quick look at the upcoming season in the ACC conference championship futures betting odds courtesy of Odds Shark, the college football odds provider to SBNation.

Florida State is listed as a 1-2 favorite to win the ACC Atlantic Division this season and an even-money favorite to win the conference championship. The 'Noles went off last year not just as the favorites to win the ACC, but as legitimate national championship contenders.

Instead, FSU lost its first two conference games, to Clemson and Wake Forest, and later fell to Virginia. This year the Seminoles get 17 starters back, including senior quarterback EJ Manuel and nine on defense. But while they get Clemson at home they have to play at Miami and Virginia Tech.

Those Hokies are 11/10 favorites to win the Coastal Division this year and the second choice to win the conference at 3/1. V-Tech lost its ACC opener last year to Clemson, won its next seven ACC games, then lost badly to the Tigers again in the conference championship game.

This year the Hokies return 12 starters, but just three on offense. And while they get FSU at home they have to play at Clemson and Miami.

Those defending conference champion Tigers are getting 11/4 to win the Atlantic Division and 5/1 to repeat as ACC champions. Clemson went off last year getting upwards of 15/1 to win the conference, then proceeded to do just that, as they led the league in scoring at 34 PPG.

This year the Tigers return seven starters on both sides of the ball, led by QB Tajh Boyd, RB Andre Ellington and six of the defensive back seven. Also, while they play at Florida State they get Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech at home, and don't have to play Miami.

The Hurricanes, with 10 starters back, are getting 17/2 to win the Coastal Division and 9/1 to win the ACC title. And Georgia Tech, with 13 returning starters, is lined at 5/1 to win the Coastal Division and 12/1 to win the ACC.

Rounding out the 2012 ACC championship board Virginia, after going 5-3 in conference last year, is listed at 18/1; North Carolina State, with 13 returning starters, is lined at 20/1; Wake Forest, which also went 5-3 in conference last year, is getting 40/1; Boston College, with 17 starters back, is getting 60/1; and Duke and Maryland are both listed at 100/1.

North Carolina, in its first season under its new head coach, is ineligible for the post-season this year.