ACC Football Betting

Each week this notebook goes over all you need to know about ACC football betting. Entering week four of the college football season there are going to be a lot of opportunities to take advantage of the lines offered by your sportsbook and we are here to help you do just that.

Our analysis start with Miami, where the AD, head coach Larry Coker and starting quarterback Kyle Wright all got a vote of confidence. Sadly though that might not be the news fans wanted to hear.

After embarrassing themselves to Louisville last week in a 31-7 loss, the Hurricanes' demise became was the talk in South Florida. The fans are clamoring for a change after their 1-2 start but they are going to have to wait. Dee said Coker's job is safe and that Miami can still reach their goals of winning the ACC and making a BCS bowl.

Dee, also, became part of the rumors, but UM president Donna Shalala told the Miami Herald that an unscheduled meeting of the school's trustees had nothing to do with Dee's job status. There had been speculation that Dee would be forced to retire. Dee said he expects to fulfill his final contract, which runs through 2010.

Coker, who got a three-year extension last year extending his contract through 2009, said he expects to be on the hot seat and the Hurricanes do have a $2 million buy-out option.

The endorsement hasn't stopped the Miami faithful from speculating about a future coach. The two names that lead the way are Butch Davis, the former UM head coach, and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, an ex-Miami assistant. Former Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez also earned some buzz as a possible replacement.

"You don't like (the rumors) at all," Coker said. "But you understand it, realize it. I've been in high-profile programs before at Oklahoma and Ohio State. I understand it and understand the frustration of our fans. We have great fans, and this is a great program, and they expect greatness out of the program. So I understand it. Believe me, nobody wants to win any more than I do and our staff does and our players do."

Coker indicated that he's not worried about his future at with the Hurricanes.

"I'm not concerned about job security, I'm really not," Coker said. "I'm concerned about getting our football team back to where they need to be and winning football games. We do that, and job security will take care of itself."

With an off week and Houston next on the schedule (Sept. 30), Coker is trying to build the confidence in his team. He started by saying that Wright is still his starting quarterback. "He's our starter," Coker said.

As for the rest of the team, Coker admits that a shakeup could happen.

"You always consider (making changes)," he said.

Miami is expected to get big left tackle Reggie Youngblood back in the starting lineup. Youngblood, who missed the Louisville game because of ankle injury, returned to practice this week.

Coker isn't the only one on the hotseat as Florida State offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden is getting accustomed to criticism. So why should his habits or the fans' outrage change because the Seminoles' offense is 105th in the nation?

The Seminoles message boards have called Bowden's firing for sometime. When asked if he's still avoiding the newspapers and message boards, Bowden answered, "Why?"

"Just asking," said the reporter.

Bowden laughed and then said, "Why, you don't have to ask me that question."

Despite the obvious answers, Bowden admitted that a quarterback controversy might be brewing. With starter Drew Weatherford not exactly setting the world on fire, the coach said that there was a plan to give backup QB Xavier Lee a look.

"We had a plan (to get Xavier in the game) last week and a plan the week before. I sure would like to see that plan happen," Bowden said.

The lack of offense hasn't prevented WagerWeb from making No. 18 FSU a 30-point favorite over Rice on Saturday.

TURN BACK THE CLOCK: Georgia Tech will feature an old look Thursday night against Virginia in the nationally televised game. The Yellow Jackets will wear throwback uniforms from the 1970s. With white helmets, gold jerseys, white pants and black cleats, head coach Chan Gailey doesn't get too hyped about the threads.

"It's a uniform," Gailey said. "We've got a job to do, and a game to play. It's fun for the fans and for the marketing people, I guess, but fun is not the word I would use. We've got make sure it's not a distraction."

We are going to have to take the Yellow Jackets this week with our free college football picks. Georgia Tech (2-1) is a WagerWeb 16.5-point favorite over Virginia (1-2).

SPECIAL SEASON: With its second double-overtime victory, Boston College is looking as if it might have one of those storybook seasons. The miracle wins are shades of 1984 and Doug Flutie. And QB Matt Ryan is starting to remind people of Flutie. At his current pace of 297 yards passing per game, Ryan would smash the school's 22-year-old record. Flutie threw for 3,454 yards in 1984.

Boston College moved up three spots, from 23 to 20, in the AP poll with the win over BYU. The Eagles are a 7-point road favorite on WagerWeb against North Carolina State on Saturday.

DYING FOR RESPECT: At Clemson, head coach Tommy Bowden commemorates big road wins against Top 25 opponents by putting a tombstone on the practice facility. But as of Wednesday, the tombstone denoting the 27-20 win over No. 9 Florida State had not been delivered.

Bowden joked about the absence of the marker.

"Most people die, and they get it in three days," Bowden said.

North Carolina is a 16-point underdog at WagerWeb this weekend at home against Clemson and is probably not looking forward to being the No. 19 Tigers' next victim.