Week Five Vegas Odds: Home teams are going to cover ACC games big this week

Two important things happened last week: I switched from analysis to snark in this column…and Virginia won its first game of the season. I've stuck to snark this week in hopes of keeping the good times rolling.

You're welcome.

Conference Games

Virginia is a 4-point underdog on the road at Duke

It's not hard to understand why Virginia struggles at Wallace Wade. The atmosphere is so dead there that UVA players don't wake up until they're behind. I unfortunately don't see that changing this weekend. Duke covers at home.

NC State is a 10.5-point favorite at home against Wake Forest

I nearly spit out my coffee when I saw this line. NC State won't cover. They won't even win. The only way the Wuffies would be less impressive is if Mark Gottfried was coaching them. The national title dreams in Winston Salem will live another week.

#12 Florida State is a 10-point favorite at home against North Carolina

The tutors at UNC must have made the Tar Heel football players stay late last week. The Heels eked out a win at home against Pitt. They won't be as lucky against the Noles. FSU rolls and covers at home.

#14 Miami is a 7-point favorite on the road at Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech can't be as bad as it played last week, can it? I'm not a believer in Miami until the Canes beat someone. A win in Atlanta would count. I'm taking the Jackets to cover.

#3 Louisville is a 2-point favorite on the road at #5 Clemson

The most important ACC game of the year will take place in Death Valley Saturday night. Clemson's defense has looked better than expected and its offense finally got on track last week. But none of that will matter if Lamar Jackson does what Lamar Jackson does. I'll take the Tigers at home to cover In front of a rabid crowd.

Syracuse is an 11.5-point underdog at MetLife Stadium against Notre Dame

Syracuse did the impossible last week. The Orange won at UConn. Notre Dame is in turmoil after a 1-3 start. All signs point to a close game. So I'll buck the trend and take the Domers to cover.

Games That Shouldn’t Be Close

Boston College is an 18-point favorite at home against Buffalo

Boston College will pick up their third crappy win of the season this week. Woohoo! Buffalo must be the worst FBS team in the country to be getting 18 points. Buffalo covers by 1.

Pitt is a 16-point favorite at home against Marshall

Poor Pitt. Two tough losses in a row have brought the Panthers back to earth. Pitt's not playing Penn State this week, so I'd expect a sparse crowd at Heinz Field. Pat Narduzzi's squad will take its frustrations out and cover against Marshall.