The 2026 ACC men’s basketball tournament kicks off today at 2:00 PM EST with the 10-seed Stanford Cardinal facing off against the 15-seed Pittsburgh Panthers. Virginia Cavaliers, thanks to their impressive 15-3 conference record, secured a double-bye, trailing only behind the dominant 17-1 Duke Blue Devils.
Virginia is currently listed at +700 on FanDuel to claim the ACC Tournament title, with Duke as the frontrunner at -330.
Now, let's dig into the potential value plays in this tournament. While Duke is the favorite, they’re missing key players Patrick Ngonba II and Caleb Foster, who are crucial to their lineup, each logging over 20 minutes and combining for more than 19 points per game. Given these absences and their heavy odds, looking elsewhere for value might be wise.
Virginia at +700 is an intriguing option. They’ve been consistent throughout the season, with their only notable stumble occurring at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Should they face Duke again, it would be in the championship game, and Virginia would likely come in more prepared and competitive. Holding a +700 ticket could offer more value than the potential +300 or +400 moneyline odds in that matchup.
Louisville, sitting at +1300, is another team to watch. They wouldn’t meet Duke until the finals, and under the guidance of Pat Kelsey, they have a talented roster ready to make waves both in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. Freshman standout Mikel Brown Jr. is day-to-day with a back injury, but the odds suggest confidence in their potential.
Florida State, a long shot at +20000, is heating up just in time, winning nine of their last eleven conference games. They’re the only team to have truly challenged Duke at Cameron Indoor this season.
If they can get past California in the second round, a rematch with Duke could be on the cards, and they might just have the right matchup to pull off an upset. It’s a gamble, but one that might be worth considering.