Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - ACC SQUAD - What to Expect in Week One for the ACC

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

ACC football's opening week promises fireworks. Can North Carolina's revamped roster under Bill Belichick shock TCU?Alex Dono and the ACC Squad break down key matchups, including Clemson vs. LSU's trench warfare and Miami's strategy against Notre Dame's inexperienced QB. Florida State's preparation for Alabama remains shrouded in mystery, while Syracuse eyes a potential upset over Tennessee. The hosts analyze offensive lines, quarterback battles, and defensive strategies that could shape the conference's early narrative.Tune in for bold predictions and insider insights on the ACC's most anticipated Week 1 showdowns. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's officially week one in college football. And with the other 16 teams in the ACC in action, they'll try to do what Stanford couldn't. Win. Let's bring in the squad. You're talking ball with the ACC squad, sponsored by game time. From Florida State to North Carolina, from Syracuse to Miami, and from NC State to California, it's the local experts of the Locked-on podcast network, bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming ACC weekend. Hang on. It could get loud. It could get heated and it will

definitely be fun. Squad up. You're part of the ACCC squad. 16 ACC teams in action in 16 separate games. Shout out to the everydayers and welcome into the squad. I am Alex Dono from Locked on Cain's. We got Isaac Shade from Locked on Tar Heels, Kenton Gibbs and Grayson Boone from Locked on Wolfpack, AJ Black from Locked on Boston College, and J.J. Jackson from Locked on Blue Devils. All right, so fellas, I'm going to let Isaac Shade by the first round on this one. Now, there are bigger games happening this weekend involving ACC teams, but we got the Bill Belichick debut, Isaac. Bill Belichick is going to be on the sidelines in Carolina Blue for the first time hosting TCU.

We know Belichick keeps things, you know, since his NFL days very close to the best. How much do we actually know about the tar heels heading into this first game? Donnell, you probably know as much as I do, if we're being honest. I mean, this is insanity. And you said it, right? Like, there, while this game isn't the massive, you know, this is an LSU Clemson, which is the game I'm sure we'll talk about the most on this show. It's all about the Bill Belichick.

And that's the funny thing is I think about like the excitement and the anticipation around Chapel Hill. It's like, is the excitement because Bill Belichick is the head coach at North Carolina or is the excitement because this team's actually going to be. be good. And Dono, as you alluded to, none of the six of us here on the show know the answer to that, including myself, who covers this team literally every day. They could win four games or 10 games and none of it would shock me. Dono, part of that, let me just give you three quick reasons why the, why they're like, I don't know. Number one is, as you said, Bill Belichick, as we record this,

we don't yet know who will be QB1 for this team. I mean, we have an anticipation. I think it's going to be G.O. Lopez, but we don't know for certain because Bill, like I just talked to a beat right. yesterday who told me he had been asked by the coaching staff to take down practice footage he had put up on YouTube right like just like trying to do everything they can another reason is y'all 70 newcomers to this roster combined between freshmen and transfers and we know that famously bill bellichick teams thrive on details and discipline can that group of newcomers get to that level of intensity i don't know. And then the third reason for the unknown is the schedule. Carolina plays five of the

bottom six teams in the preseason ACC media poll while avoiding Miami, Florida State, SMU, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame. The only like tip top team they play is Clemson. And so there's just a lot of uncertainty. But man, going to be a crazy scene on Monday night. We do know that for sure. You know, Sometimes I'd look at that Fanduel over under of seven and a half for North Carolina. And I stare at that and I think the under seems like one of the smartest preseason bets you can make. But, guys, I mean, Isaac made a great point. The schedule lines up favorably for Carolina. So if you're wondering why the powers that be the odds makers are making the number that high at seven and a half,

I think the schedule has a lot to do with that. Um, anyone but Kenton is free to jump in on this one because I feel like you're, you're going to be smashing that under all day long. But does anyone think, anyone think Caroline is going to be going over seven and a half this year? No, I do not. I, I, you know, as a person who's grown up in New England, I, what are we laughing at? Me? No, I'm laughing at Grayson who is zipping his lips so he doesn't say it. Okay, gotcha. Well, anyways, I think just my personal opinion. I, you know, Bill Belichick, who is one of the greatest coaches of all times, lived in New England, watched and play.

I think the game has passed him. And I don't expect him to be this legendary new head coach in the ACC that's going to change everything. Because I don't think that's going to happen. I think it's going to be, you know, he's going to, you know, hit that medium mark that what you expect that you see seven wins maybe six wins and that's going to be it i don't think that he's going to magically change the tar heels yeah i will allow grason or kenton if you want to to jump in j j you go first i just i'm i'm in the same page as everybody else i just don't know what to expect necessarily i do think when you look at this weekend it's just i know i'm the dup guy here but as a college

football fan i'm excited just to see what this looks like like bill bellichick the great greatest NFL six Super Bowls is going to walk into a college football stadium and be a head coach. Like, this is wild to sit here and think about. I mean, look, his resume is purely get on here and say he's not one of the greatest of all time. However, shout out to Brian Smith. It was actually just talking about this the other day. Be wary of the teams that have added like 50 plus players over the course of him off. 70 players, Isaac, is insanity.

And you can have the best system and the most regimented, team ready to go, you have an objective of what you want to do for the team. He's never done at the college level. In fact, you would never have to go level either. This is a brand new scene for him. At some point, football becomes football, but I have a hard time believing,

maybe their schedule does help them out because it is pretty soft. But for Carolina to have an exceptionally well done year this year, I don't think I see it. You know, I'm so confused. Jarvis, I know you in the background. David Locke, I know you're not here, but we need to start drug test knees holes. Isaac, you wouldn't be shot by 10 wins. You wouldn't be shot by this team getting 10 wins.

I don't know what type of excitement he has bought to Chapel Hill in your mind, but I live in the triangle. I live in Rowley. And I'm telling you, 10 wins would be the most shocking result that many of these folks have ever seen out of the North Carolina team. I am sorry to tell you all this. If you are a North Carolina fan list of this, go ahead, log off now. Go ahead. Go ahead.

I'll give you a second. Go ahead. Thanks for being here, guys. The last time we saw Bill Belichick, he stunk. He stunk. And that was a situation where he stunk, where in the pros, we all. know that you could have a situation where a third string guy could just get hot and whoop the wheels off a pro bowler on any given day. It's not the same in college. A future

accountant is never checking Jeremiah Smith. It's not happening. It's not going to happen because the delineation of talent is too big. And you're telling me that I'm supposed to sit here and believe this team has added 70 new players of vast majority, which did not start at their old school, by the way. He didn't add a bunch of great, you know, these amazing guys. He got the great value being players, okay? And everybody's talking about, oh, yeah, all these new players. And what does it matter if the new players aren't good? I'm sorry to say this. It hurts my heart to say this. I hate giving good people bad news. I'm lying. I'm like. I enjoy giving Tar Heels fans bad news. This is not going to be a 10-win season. And if it is, if it is, I will eat an entire steak

Burrito on air. I'll do it. I'll do it. What a sacrifice. Is that a lot? I'm a man of my word. I'll do it. But no, in all seriousness, this team is going to be God awful.

And I'm excited to see game one. I'm excited. I'm excited to see. Well, the team that's probably not going to be God awful is Clemson. And they're involved in one of the three biggest games of this weekend. In fact, two of the three top 10 matchups this weekend involve ACC teams. We'll talk about Miami hosting Notre Dame a little bit later on. But guys, let's start with Clemson hosting LSU.

Now, first of all, this is a heavyweight quarterback matchup between Kade Klubnick on the Clemson side, Garrett Nussmeyer on the LSU side, two of the preseason Heisman darlings. But friends, I think that this game is going to be decided in the trenches as a lot of football games are. And one of the things that I have circled about this one is. is LSU is breaking in four new offensive line starters. They lost four guys into the NFL draft this past year. And they're going up against arguably the best defensive line in the entire country where LSU features guys like Peter Woods and T.J. Parker up front.

So this, that particular matchup could get a little ugly and it could make Garrett Nussmeyer's life a little bit miserable. What do you guys think is going down in that game? I think the worst part of it all is the type of archetype that Garrett Nussmeyer is makes it worse for LSU. If this was a situation where he was a guy like a Caleb Williams who would extend plays for forever in a day and make something happen, or if he was a Lamar Jackson, that he could put it down and run and all of a sudden he adds a new dimension to the game, you can kind of hide and disguise that lack of an offensive line, a la what Rich Rod did at West Virginia. Somebody tell me how many of those West Virginia offensive blindmen went to the NFL when Pat White was playing. Yeah, exactly.

We can't name any. But you know what did happen? They had a quarterback that could move the spot. He could very easily maneuver in the pocket and say, you know what? Pat, you're going to need to pull it down and go. And that's what could do. Garrett Nussmeyer, on the other hand, despite what that one guy from TikTok said where he said, you got to pull the ball and run head first into T.J. Parker, I wouldn't advise that if I was.

was y'all. I would not advise it. I think this is going to be a long day because like you said, you're bringing in new offensive linemen against, you talk about the defensive line group, think about the linebacking court. Won't somebody think about having to deal with Sammy Brown and Wade Wooders coming on an all-out blitz? And now you've got freshmen and guys who have not played any meaningful football trying to deal with that, best of luck to you. I don't think it's going to work out more. Kittin's basically saying if this was two years ago, and Jaden Daniels was still playing quarterback for LSU. This might be, you know, we don't have to go too far to find that quarterback he's looking for there.

I'm with you, Kent, and I think that the front of Clemson defensively is terrifying. And I hope LSU's been putting in work this entire offseason, getting those new linemen as ready as possible. Over the summer, when you see like the top 100 player list, it doesn't matter all that much. But then when you're lined up alongside of them and you have T.J. Parker to defend and Peter Woods to defend, that's where it's going to show up. And I do expect Clemson's defensive line to be unstoppable virtually. I mean, LSU's LSU. Don't get me wrong.

They're teaming with talent always. But Clemson this year, they just have that feel to them. They have like that 2016, 2020. They have that feel to them. This defense for Clemson is not even getting enough love because I think the offense is going to be firepower as well. But this defense, I think that's going to be the story in this one for Clemson. Let me jump in on that offense because I think that's the other piece that I think is going to really pop for Clemson this weekend. You have two of the best wide receivers in the entire country. One of them who I feel like is just blooming, Bryant Westco. This kid's going to be something special. You have him, you have Antonio Williams out there, you know, with Kade Klubnick, arguably the best quarterback in the country, one of the

top. Your offense at home at Clemson, this place is going to be rocking. They're going to be, you know, if they get up early, they could really start to step on that gas on LSU and really put some pressure on them. And I think if that happens, that's when you watch out because that's the type of thing that Clemson could use. You know, a really fast start on offense, let that defense settle in. And boom, you got a win for the ACC. And speaking of that win for the ACC, Dono alluded to it in the cold open. But boy, we need something to erase that Hawaii game. Stanford, what are we doing?

Good grief. I wish I was surprised is the only thing. thing. Like they were actually, they were two and a half under two and a half point underdogs in that game. They lost by three. Let me tell you something. I was out in San Francisco this last week, starting my new job. And I'm going to tell you something right now. There has never been, if there had ever been less care for a football program in their city, then Palo Alto and Stanford football, I haven't seen. And I'm a Detroiter that saw the lines go 0 and 16. And people still would at least say something about it, be it negative or positive.

I mean, for Christ's sake, you tell folks in Palo Alto, yeah, you know, Stanford's playing white coming up. Oh, that should be nice, I guess. I don't know. Are they good this year? So I'm- In what? Yeah, I'm worried about them boys, man.

I'm worried about them. We're looking at a defeated season. We're staring that thing right in the eye with them. As Boston College writer, I cannot judge on a large city not caring about your school. Well, there's another top 10 matchup involving an ACC team for the first time since 2017. It used to be an annual rivalry, and I'm sad to admit I'm old enough to remember when it was. Miami versus Notre Dame. Hurricanes will be hosting the fighting Irish.

There is a lot of experience on that Notre Dame football team with the exception of the quarterback. Will it matter? We'll discuss. You want to keep it locked right here. We're only getting started on the locked on ACC squad. Hey, ACC fans, are you still paying full price for gas? I haven't been for the past four years. Stop leaving money behind.

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for 5% off your order. That's supplyhouse.com. Real people, real service. Thank you for making the ACC squad, your first listen. I will be at Hard Rock Stadium this Sunday night fellas covering Miami hosting Notre Dame.

And, you know, for me, I think the key for Miami pulling off, what would I describe as a mild upset, you know, Miami two and a half point underdogs. You have a really good Notre Dame team. You have to have to. give yourself the ability to rattle CJ Carr, who's Notre Dame's redshirt freshman, first time starting quarterback, zero collegiate experience, all the talent in the world.

Now, in order to rattle CJ Car, I don't think there's any way to shut down Notre Dame's running game with love and price, but you've got to limit them and you have to force CJ Car to make big throws and big spots. I think that's Miami needs to make his life difficult. for Miami offensively. I think the Hurricanes now, Notre Dame's got a very good defensive line. It's a very good football team. But Miami's got one of the best offensive lines in the country. They have to establish a running game of their own. Carson Beck needs to keep the mistakes low to zero if possible. Because ND's secondary, as we saw in that Penn State semifinal game where they allowed zero receptions from a wide receiver in that game, they can make it very difficult to complete passes downfield. So I'm going to, I'm going to

to sound like a broken record, guys, when I talk about line of scrimmage, because I mentioned that for the Clemson LSU game, but I think that's going to come very much in a play for this Miami-Noderdame battle as well. Oh, what a shock. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. I was just going to say last week on our preseason preview, you know, I had the Clemson and Miami matchup in the ACC title game, and I'd like to think for Miami, it starts off the year

with a big win like this and taking advantage of the inexperience. that Notre Dame has at that quarterback spot. I mean, it's a Notre Dame squad that was playing for a national championship last year with a former Duke guy at quarterback. Shout out. And now you've got this red shirt freshman coming in against a Miami group that has just a little bit more experience. I think about Carson Beck and what he was able to do in his time at Georgia playing in those big time meaningful football games.

I like to think that matters. I like to think Miami is motivated in a game like this. And Donald, you're going to be there at hard. I'd also like to think that environment will lend itself to be favorable for the hurricanes as well. Donnell, I cannot believe that a sport played by big, angry, violent men is going to be determined by whose big angry men are more violent and better. But in all seriousness, this is a situation where the big men are going to lead. You will look back at this game and you will say, wow, these offenses were able to put up a lot of points because they could run a

ball well or well points were real scarce in this thing because both offenses are they're breaking in new quarterbacks they're breaking in new wide receiver wands they're breaking in all of these new pieces everywhere in terms of their passing game but you know what remains big old c c milanoa you know what remains jeremiah love and price you know what remains the mystique of the noturday offensive line that has been what they have been for years now i mean they've basically taken over and become what Wisconsin used to be in terms of an offensive line factory. So I look at what we see in this game, and I don't think you're wrong at all to be repetitive in saying, hey, it's going to be one in the trenches.

Because this game more than any other, I think the skill position guys will have less of an impact than we're particularly looking at for an LSU and Clemson per se. I think this game right here, you're going to look at this, and the bigs are going to be your weapons or lack thereof. Yeah, I wouldn't jump to the trenches. Correct. Connecting to the trenches. If I'm Miami, sell out to stop the run.

Because CJ Carr is true freshman. He's extremely talented. So if I'm Miami, I have to make that kid beat me. If I lose to that, then I tip my hat and move forward. But you cannot let Jeremiah Love run all over you. That will be the story of the game. Of course, yes, connecting to the trenches. Yeah.

And I look at what Carson Beck has to do in this game. You know, as you mentioned, Dono, like, this is a guy that has tons of experience, whether you think he's going to be an NFL level quarterback or not. He's done it. He's been through these types of games before. And the big difference between him and Carr is Carr hasn't done that. And so I think that is like a real edge. Like, you have the big guys. You have, you know, the battle in the trenches.

But when it comes to those big moments, who is going to make the bigger plays? And I think it's going to be, I think it's going to be Carson Beck in this game. I think at home, he's going to be able to make those few plays. I expect this to be a really low scoring game. I feel like it's just going to be a slog, but I do think Miami will have just a few more bullets in the chamber to win that one. And Donnell, you've told us, if I remember correctly from your conversations with Coach Cristobal, Beck's ready to go, right?

100%. He's full go. Yeah, and he's looked good. I mean, it's, you know, I doubt he would be the reason if Miami lost this game, unless it's like a turnover heavy performance, which, you know, I know people will point out he had 12 interceptions last year, which is way too many. You only had six the year before. So it's like, you know, are we going to get the more of the 2023 version of Carsonbecker, the 2024? I guess the last thing I would add, Isaac, on this game is I think special teams will also be a big factor because that's an area where Notre Dame really shined last year, including blocking kicks.

I think they led the nation in blocked kicks last year. So, look, if there's any team out there that really made a meal out of. X plays on special teams, it was the fighting Irish. So, you know, Miami needs to watch out for that when they line up field goals. And, you know, hopefully their field, their kickoff specialist, because I think Miami's going to have two different kickers this year, kickoff specialists and a field goal specials.

Hopefully the kickoff special puts as many in the end zone as possible, because you don't want to give Jeremiah love an opportunity to return something. I'll tell you, somebody who's been a part of my own personal version of Catholics versus convicts, I'll always root for the convict. I'll always root for Miami because they were wrongly labeled that as if those boys in South Bend weren't up the bad things too. So I'll always root for Miami.

And I'm hoping they pull off the soft upset here because we're going to need something to offset a team potentially going to defeat this season. And Clemson and Notre Dame could, I mean, Clemson and Miami could definitely be that for it. Now, guys, another ACC team. It's been pretty enigmatic, kind of like North Carolina. is Florida State.

I have no question they're going to be a lot better than they were. I mean, they set the bar pretty low last year with two and ten. You know, Tommy. Nice take, Donald. Tommy Costellanos has poked the bear a little bit with some of the things he said about Alabama over the last couple of months. AJ is going to keep his mouth shut on that one. Now, Florida State, they're hosting Alabama.

They're 13 and a half point underdogs. But it's like, I don't really know what we're going to get from Florida State because we question some of their depth, like offensive line depth, but it's the first game of the season. So it's not as if they're, you know, they got guys banged up on the O line right now. And Florida State, I think, have had their training camp practices closed off to the media and to the public for the entirety of their fall camp. So there's a big sense of mystery there. But what are you guys feeling like? And whoever wants to jump in first, go ahead.

Is Florida State going to keep this one close and possibly even pull off the upset? it. I'll jump in first. I'll take this one because any chance I can talk about Tommy Castle out against Alabama. I'm going to take it. Now, again, I appreciate what he did for BC. Didn't appreciate how it ended. I don't think poking the bear against Alabama is a wise move for a guy that's probably 5-7 and has a history of getting hurt. Like, he can't see over his offensive line. He struggles to throw the ball downfield. He's playing against the best defense in the country. And he is going to struggle.

If he, I mean, you know, last year, I know it was all because of like, he just was not a good fit for Bill O'Brien. That is absolutely clear. But that's not to say the year before, he could do, he was like an effective dual threat quarterback. He could run the ball. But he, he struggles with reads and making, you know, good passes. And I think a team like Alabama, you know, this is the work, like, I would think if

they played them later in the season, maybe Tommy would get his feet under him and and have a better game. I just don't think there's enough there to beat a team like Bama, and we'll have to wait to see what happens there. Tell us how you really feel, AJ. Tell us how you really feel. Go check out Locked on Boston College. I got a whole...

I've been told to stop talking about him. I'm going to tell you something. The Consolano's family probably about to put some money on your head or something, brother. My Lord, this man. But I will say, I do think that, you know, him going for a mystical, saying, if you ever seen me fighting in the force with a grizzly bear,

Help the bear was not the idea for him. That was not the moment. At the core of what made Florida State so bad last year was chemistry problems more than anything else. It was not that Florida State didn't have talent. The guys that left Florida State last year that everybody said were malcontent and they were no good and all this and all that. Look at where they went. Those guys are transferring into big-time programs as starters or projected start. There was talent there.

The culture was the problem. And I walked away from ACC Media Day significantly more concerned about Florida State than I came into, quite honestly. And how you lose Media Day, I don't know. But Florida State somehow is starting off 0 and 1 because Mike Norville was telling everybody who would listen, we're desperate. We're desperate, man. He was yelling the entire time.

It was very weird. Exactly. Yelling desperation will never work. It was the first thing. Bill Belabees how to be a player. You can't be desperate. What are we doing here? Okay, so I'm deeply worried about that team. I'm deeply worried about Thomas Costellanos. We remember what happened last time a Florida State team that was on the brink of falling apart and not played Bama to start the season off. Here we are again. We've gone this whole time without talking about Ryan Williams

or, you know, Ty Simpson, Jeremy Bernard, what Alabama could do offensively. There's so much focus on Florida State and, you know, hey, in the 21st century, it's been really hard for people to beat Alabama. And Florida State does have someone on the sidelines and Gus Malzahn who did that four times at Auburn, but that's not happening here this weekend when you look at all the talent that Alabama has offensively. I think that is just as big of a part of an equation as looking at that FSU offense. Now, when we come back, another team with an opportunity as a big underdog, are the Syracuse Orange. They go up in Atlanta

against the Tennessee volunteers, and Syracuse has the toughest schedule in the ACC, one of the toughest in the country. And it starts week one for them. You want to keep it locked right here. We're not done yet on the ACC squad. Folks, college football is back.

I couldn't be more excited. The tailgates, the rivalries, the energy in the stands, there's just nothing like it. But let's be real. Actually, getting tickets can feel like more of a battle than the game itself.

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for helping us out. All right, folks. So another 13.5 point underdog Syracuse Orange. I don't hear a lot of, a lot of buzz for people thinking that they can pull off this upset. I actually, I like, not only for the season, but for this game that Syracuse named Steve Angelly, the starter, because he's got some experience, right, compared to Ricky Collins, who he competed with. And Angelly going up against the Tennessee volunteers. Kenton, I'll let you buy the first round on this one because I'm pretty sure on Monday's locked on ACC, you said you think Syracuse is going to pull this off. Hey, listen, I've gotten ball fans mad before.

Bring it on, Rocky Top. I think that the Syracuse Orange win this. game and let me tell you why. When I think about who is the better coach in this game, I don't think that anybody would argue that with what they were given and what they have done so far, Hegel is above Fran Brown. I just don't think anybody would seriously make that argument. And then the biggest dejection of Syracuse has been they lost so much. They lost so much. They lost their starting quarterback. They lost their starting running back. They lost their top receivers, all that. I'm sorry. Last time I checked, Sampson they walked through that door.

ain't walking through that door. Squirrel White ain't walking through that door. James Pierce ain't walking through that door. Half of the defensive line from last year is not walking through that door. So I'm very intrigued to see what, you know, everybody is talking about, oh, we just know the Tennessee's going to be better just because, well, I'm sorry, I'm a firm believer in nobody's giving a guy, given a right to be good. Nobody's giving a guy giving right to be great. You got to go out there, line it up and earn that thing. And at the end of the day, I believe in Fran Brownmore. The quarterback battle to me, somewhat of a wash, offensive line battle. I would say Tennessee has a slight edge there. Running backs, not a ton of

proven commodities on either side. Same thing for the wide receivers can be said. But defensively, in terms of the defensive backfield, both sides bring back some talent. Fran Brown is a DB coach. So that, to me, gives them an edge there. Lawback accord, you know, I would say Tennessee has a definitive edge there with some of their guys that they're returning from last year. But I honestly and truly look at this game. And I see Fran Brown has been, his team has been disrespected perpetually in this game. A 14-point spread means folks are thinking this going to be a blowout. I don't know.

It's something that's telling me Syracuse is going to be the ones to pull off a big upset this week. I don't know if I think Syracuse can pull it off, but I do think this game will be close. Like I would take Syracuse to cover. And I think a lot of that comes from a similar line of thought of what Kenton was just giving you there. Everyone's focused on what Syracuse lost, but Tennessee lost a great deal of stuff too. So I think Syracuse, or actually, let me say that, for Tennessee, I think they'll be a little bit of a slow burn. I think eventually might end up being a good team, but it's going to take a little bit to get off the ground. And so I think Syracuse, again, I don't think they can beat them, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're in a good spot to shock them.

To that slow burn point, Grayson, would you? The over under is 50 and a half on this thing. Would you, would you grab the under on that too? I'm going to say, yeah. I'm going to say, yeah. Again, I'm grabbing the under. I'm grabbing Syracuse winning. And you know what?

People may call me crazy for that, but big risk, big reward. By the way, I'm not telling you to bet because I'm not a bet degenerate. So I don't want nobody saying, oh, Kenton lost my rent money, my mortgage money this month. I'm ready to blame you for this one, Kenton. Is it? See how they already read? No, not. If you win, am I going to get a piece of that action?

Am I going to get a piece of that action? Yeah, you'll get your 3%. Uh-huh, uh-huh. But again, I really do think that Syracuse, this game is the type of game that sets them on a path to shock the world for the rest of the season. And I'm not joking when I say that at all. This game for Tennessee, it's a slow Tuesday.

That's another part of this where I'm like, hey, this Syracuse team is one to be looked out for it. Because while Syracuse does have an extremely competitive schedule, Tennessee has not been shown the same type of, oh, they're going to be terrible. Everybody keeps saying, well, how good was Nico last year? Well, you know, what was that team offensively really last year? As if losing your starting quarterback, starting running back, top receiver is just nothing. Also, the poetic justice that this happens to be the episode where locked on Syracuse host,

Jackson Holzer is not here. And Kenton speaking profitably and like in good terms is getting. You know what? If Jackson was here, he'd be saying the opposite. opposite. Exactly. Exactly. I know, Jackson. I know he liked to get under my skin like that. Just because I believe in Syracuse, he'll tell me they're the worst team in the world this year. Oh, man. Well, I do want to get, because there's a couple of other teams represented here that even though they may not have mega games this weekend. I got to pick A.J. Black's brain on the Fordham game for Boston

College. And AJ, there's not even a line for that, at least like for JJ's Blue Devils, there's 34 and a half points favored against Elon. I can't even find a number for Boston College. So what do you want to see in a game like this? I'm just looking to see Dylan Larnigan start. Like this is his first start in college football. Like I know Fordham is bad. B.C. beat Duquesne last year, 42-0.

And Duquesne, you know, if you look at like common opponents, Fordham was even worse than them. So I'm not really expecting a whole lot. I'm just looking to see how this offense moves. And can this defense really just dominate against a lesser opponent? like, is there enough there to do that kind of stuff? And if they can do that, that's basically, you know, you escape, don't get hurt, get your guys out there, get some of your kids out there that want, you know, you're looking to play, and get some valuable game reps and move on to Michigan State in week too.

All right. Now, JJ, Duke going up against Elon and the Blue Devils are favored by 34 and a half. And I said this to Ken earlier this week. Nothing against Duke. I think it's going to be a pretty good team this year. But I will be locking in Elon plus 34 and a half, because my rule tends to be when I see an underdog of more than 30 points, I lock them in. What are you expecting on Saturday?

We're right at five touchdowns before this line is at for Duke and Elon. Consecutive years now, Duke has opened up the season with Elon. Don't see that too often that you play the exact same team to open up the year in the non-conference portion of Duke's schedule like this. And just last season, Duke opened up the year with a 26 to 3 win over the Phoenix. It's honestly pretty underwhelming with what we saw in Malik Murphy's debut at quarterback a year ago. I am expecting a little bit more flash and fireworks out of Darien Mintsa under center, some more explosive plays for Duke here. So I feel comfortable with Duke earning a win, getting the game out of the way here on Thursday this week.

They'll get to enjoy the Labor Day weekend and all the other great matchups there because they'll need it. Week two is when the real challenge comes in when they get set to host the top 15 Illinois team. So a few extra days to prepare for that one's not a bad thing at all. Yeah, you're right, Thursday. So you guys will be seeing that shortly after this episode comes out. And let me give Grayson and Kenton. Let me give you guys a little time here because this is a another Thursday night game and a revenge game for NC State after following the ECU in the bowl game.

Yeah, you got some juice for this matchup. Grace, I'll let you go first and then Kenton. You can see us out on that. It's a tricky one. In fact, ECU was the last team that we saw on the gridiron. I don't want to talk about the result, but we played them in a bowl game last bowl season. They got the best of us,

which was a shock to all of us wolfpackers. I don't really know what to think about this one. And I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't a tad nervous. And most of y'all are like, ECU, you're nervous about ECU? Well, we just lost to them. Bowl game, no bowl game. This one now is in Raleigh, and that means something a little bit different,

especially in this type of matchup. The last couple times that ECU's come to Raleigh, we've laid it on pretty thick, hoping to get one of those performances. but two new coordinators for NC State, a lot of younger guys still trying to define their legs. NC State's going to have pretty much a statement game on Thursday night. We just hope to show up for it.

I want to end this show with a question to all of you all, okay? If you had a player that was averaging over 10 yards of touch and you were in a close game, would you have three options here? Would you A, keep him in the game and give him the ball repetitively? Would you B, keep him in the game, and use him as a decoy? Or would you see, outsmart yourself and put him on the bitch for an entire quarter

despite the fact that he's averaging more than a first down per touch? Which one would you do, guys? Probably not see. Hmm, probably not see. I'll give you one guess what happened. Well, Pete Carroll would definitely not give the ball to Marshawn Lynch. I'll tell you that much. Well, congratulations.

Pete Carroll, meet Robert and I, his shaking over not giving your best player to ball. I'm pulling up to Carter Finley bumping Sosa Band Draws. That's Hollywood Smothers' Rap Nade, by the way. I'm pulling up bumping that Sosa Bandros because he's going to be playing the hits all night in Carter Finley. The young man needs to be striking up the band, and Mr. and Mrs. Wolf need to be doing lots of push-ups in the end zone, which they do every time they score points, which it needs to happen because he needs to be touching the ball a lot.

He needs to be your bell cow. You need to feed him. You need to force-feed him down the Pirates' throat. and make them boys walk the plane. That's a good way to close it out. We appreciate everyone for making Lockdown ACCC Squad your first listen. Make sure you check out all of our shows, Kenton, Gibbs and Grayson Boone on Lockdown Wolfpack, Isaac Shade covering Bill Belichick at Lockdown Tar Heels, J.J. Jackson, Lockdown, Blue Devils,

AJ Black, Lockdown Boston College. I am Alex Dono from Lockdown Canes. And we'll talk to everyone next time on another episode of the ACC Squad, right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every day.