Posted on 8/21/2007 8:06:51 PM

NCAA Football Betting - Hokies Head And Shoulders Above Rest

By Charles Jay

Atlantic Coast Conference - Coastal Division

The Atlantic Coast Conference was really not a part of the national title picture last season, but that might change this year. While teams like Virginia Tech, Miami and Florida State were down, solid programs like that are never down for long, and in the particular case of those two Florida schools, some spicing up in the coaching staff may invigorate things. It wouldn't be shocking if at least a couple of schools from this conference wound up in the top ten by year's end. When doing your college football betting you need to watch these trends and college football betting odds and lines to cash in.

There will understandably be a lot of emotion surrounding the program at VIRGINIA TECH this season, as the Hokies dedicate the season to those students slain on campus earlier this year. V-Tech will likely find out how good it is on September 8, when it visits LSU. But they'll have a shot; the team returns nine starters on a defense that ranked first in the country in points allowed last year. Virginia Tech finished the regular season strong, allowing just 29 points in its last six games, but Georgia tallied 31 against them in the bowl game.

Sean Glennon is obviously a key to V-Tech's success. The returning starter at quarterback was not consisten;, Glennon threw for 11 touchdowns, but just as many interceptions. He will be protected by an offensive line that brings experience to the table. Special teams are always a staple in Blacksburg, and this time it will be no different. Early on, the hopes for an unbeaten season may be dashed, but in a division of the ACC filled with teams that are going through a bit of transition, there shouldn't be a big problem in Virginia Tech unseating defending champion Georgia Tech.

At GEORGIA TECH, the Yellow Jackets must deal with the loss of Calvin Johnson, who was the second pick in the NFL draft. James Johnson (38 catches) returns, but more importantly, Tashard Choice (1473 yards, 12 TD's) is in the backfield. Taylor Bennett will also have the QB position all to himself, and he is a much better passer than the departed Reggie Ball. Bennett hit on 60% of his attempts last season, compared to 44% for Ball.

After 13 years as an assistant, Randy Shannon replaces Larry Coker as head coach at MIAMI, which has to look at its win over Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl as a momentum-builder. Of course, the Hurricanes were plagued by a weird season, low lighted by the Pier Six brawl that took place against cross town rival Florida International, and can use an injection of life into the program. Whether Shannon provides it or not is a question that remains to be answered. QB Kyle Wright (61%, 8 D, 7 INT) comes back, but Miami coaches may be making a mistake by creating a QB battle. The defense is solid; only Louisville and Georgia Tech scored more than 17 points against it, and seven starters return. Javarris James (Edgerrin's cousin) gained 802 yards last season, and needs to step up some more to give the 'Canes a running game.

VIRGINIA loses only one starter off its defense, and 19 starters overall are back for the Cavaliers, who gave up only 64 points over the last five games of their bowl-less season, 33 of them to Florida State. Virginia had made four straight trips to the post-season prior to missing out in 2006, but may be primed for a return to some minor bowl this season, even though the leading receiver, Kevin Ogletree, is out with an injury to his ACL.

Butch Davis, the former Miami coach, has taken over for the beleaguered John Bunting as head man at NORTH CAROLINA, and proceeded to have a very successful recruiting season. That will not bear fruit right now, which might result in a tough first year at the helm for Davis. Offense was a big problem for this team, and that was why it was uncompetitive for much of the year. T.J. Yates will start the season at quarterback, but heralded freshman Mike Paulus might grab the job by mid-season. Seven starters on both offense and defense must be replaced, but one positive thing that should be said about the Tar Heels is that they never folded up for the lame duck coach coming down the stretch.

DUKE gets all eleven offensive starters back. That's the good news. The bad news is that this defense can't stop anyone, and doesn't look like it will climb much higher than the 114th spot in the nation's defensive rankings they occupied last year. QB Thaddeus Lewis can make plays, but he's mistake-prone. One might expect some games to go "over" for the Blue Devils this year, at least until oddsmakers catch up to it.

THE CHARLES JAY LINE

Who will win the ACC Coastal Division?

* Virginia Tech EV

* Georgia Tech + 775

* Miami +120

* Virginia + 600

* North Carolina + 400

* Duke + 5000

Virginia Tech might not have things wrapped up in the ACC Coastal, but you've got a sure thing at BetUS.com Sportsbook - that you will have access to more college football odds, lines, props and futures than anywhere else. Join up with BetUS.com at turn those opinions of yours into cold, hard cash.

With NCAA football just around the corner, the BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the Heisman winner, Conference and Divisional winners and, of course, the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!

(Charles Jay of TotalAction.com, a graduate of the University of Miami who DOES know how to behave himself, is a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)