Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Can NC State Wolfpack Upset Clemson Tigers This Weekend?

Episode Date: September 18, 2024

ACC Football Showdown: Can NC State and Clemson Rise to the Challenge?Dive into the thrilling world of ACC football as we explore the weekend's pivotal matchups, including NC State vs. Clemson and Georgia Tech vs. Louisville. Discover what these games might reveal about the teams and the conference. Our analysis spotlights top ACC quarterbacks like Cam Ward from Miami, Eli Holstein of Pitt, and Haynes King from Georgia Tech, examining their standout performances this season. We also discuss Florida State's unexpected struggles and their upcoming clash with Cal, questioning the odds in FSU's favor. Plus, we touch on intriguing non-conference games, such as Miami vs. USF and North Carolina vs. James Madison, and the surprising prominence of quarterback play over anticipated star running backs.Tune in for an engaging discussion that unpacks the ACC's evolving dynamics and offers insights into the season's unfolding drama. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We've got some spicy matchups in the ACC this weekend. Which of them is going to teach us the most about the conference? You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Shout out to the everydayers. Thank you so much for making Lockdown ACC, your first listen and your first watch today. We're available free wherever you get your podcast. We're free on YouTube.

We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code, locked on college for $20 off your first purchase. We're going to talk about some of the most important matchups in the ACC this weekend on this episode. What's going to teach us the most about who might be able to win this conference?

I do want to talk about who I believe, we believe have been the top five quarterbacks in the ACC so far. And if anyone can creep in later on in the season, but I'm Alex Dono from Lockdown Cains alongside Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. And Kenton, I'm certainly looking at the Wolfpack's matchup this weekend. Vegas doesn't give them much of a chance. I'd love to see them make this interesting. So between NC State on the road at number 21 Clemson at noon on Saturday and Georgia Tech on the road at number 19, Louisville, at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, which one of those two matchups is going to take?

teach us more about this conference this week. See, Locked on ACC fans, y'all thought Candace like to make fun of me. Y'all thought that Candace liked to poke fun and make jokes about me. But Dono, he's the worst type of jokester. He's the jokester that does it with a straight face. He's the guy that shows up as a whole other person that says, what do you mean, Dwight? I'm definitely Jim. I'm Jim.

Yeah, you know I'm Jim. What's the problem here? I am telling you right now. If NC State and Clemson teaches us anything, if it teaches us a damn thing about this conference, congratulations, they're lighting the bell tower, red and rally. They are running on Western Boulevard. They're going crazy on Hillsborough Street

because that has been an upset of the century and C.J. Bailey's first start. Let me tell you something, though. You said the spread was how much now? 20 and a half. 20 and a lot of points. What the hell? we're going to learn from a potential blowout, Dono.

What are we going to learn from something that the sharps are saying, hey, listen, this one's over before it even starts. Well, here's the thing, though. I'm looking at this as much of a measuring stick for Clemson as I am for NC State because, okay, week one against Georgia, and I know Georgia's really good, but Clemson's offense was completely ineffective, right? and then they take on, you know, a group of five opponent in Appalachian State. But Appalachian State has this amazing reputation because they pulled off big upsets before.

So it's like any time a big program beats Appalachian State, the reaction is, oh, they beat Appalachian State. That's awesome. They usually upset it. It's happened like twice, but they've got this reputation of upsetting everybody. And Clemson scored 66 points in that game. Cade Clubnik, who, you know, neither of us are very high on through for five touchdowns the 3508 yards in that game. So I want to look at this and say, okay, is Clemson's offense, is it closer to the one

that almost got shut out against Georgia, or is it closer to the one that racked up 66 points against a group of five opponent? Like that, that to me is, you know, I know I know you think I'm trolling you when I bring up this game, but I'm really not. Like I want to see, you know, what, and I know NC states, their defense is underperform so far this year as has their offense, but I want to see if Clemson can do anywhere close to a second time what they did before their by week against Appalachian State. And here's the thing, right?

I definitely understand where you're going with that. But Georgia Tech and Louisville actually will answer questions because both of those teams have a lot of questions out there, right? Yeah. NC State right now, offensively, they got the Dick Vermil thing going, you know, when he said, we can't stop her from scoring and we can't score. Other than that, we're just fine, right? that's what NC State's offense has going. They struggle to run the ball.

They struggle to fire continuity in the past game. But other than that, they're perfectly fine. And don't get me wrong, I'd be remiss if I didn't say, NC State has had pass catchers running open all year. They have had guys getting butt-naked open. And I'm telling you, I'm sitting here like, it's mind-blowing because it's almost a complete 180 of last year where your wide receivers, I mean, they were stuck to guys like glue.

every defensive back that was near him, you would assume they go into the bathroom to shake it for them. And so you sit here and you say, the wide receivers are getting open now, but now our quarterbacks can't stay up. Now our quarterbacks can't hit stick. Now it's basic concepts that we just can't do. So Georgia Tech and Louisville, on the other hand,

how does Louisville perform against a Power 5th team? How does Georgia Tech look against the bounce back from Syracuse? Are they the real deal? Which is the real Syracuse? And it's Florida State just that bad because let's be honest, if you beat Florida State and then you go out there and lay an egg in your first two conference games, that makes Florida State look even worse than they already do. So, you know, this thing to me, Georgia Tech Louisville actually answers questions amongst two teams that are supposed to be close, amongst two teams that, you know, and granted, that's a double-digit line as well, but that's a double-digit line. Yeah. looking at it saying, hmm, it's, it's, you know, it's, why is it a double digit line?

This is a pick of more so than anything else. So, you know, I definitely a thousand percent feel like Georgia Tech Louisville will answer more questions. But hey, I'd be glad to be wrong about this. I'd be glad to find out that NC State and Clemson are answered a lot of questions. Yeah, I mean, you're right to bring up the Louisville, Georgia Tech game because I also want to see how for real Tyler Shuck is because he's, You know, he's already, and again, they've played two lesser opponents. They've only played two games because they had a buy week as well. But so far, Tyler Shuck looks so much better than Jack Plummer did last year.

And Louisville looks like a better team so far than they did a year ago. So is that the type of barrage that you could create when you're taking on lesser opposition? Is that going to hold up, like you said, when you're in ACC play? And of course, you know, Tyler Shuck has Brom, the quarter of. back whisper as his head coach who tends to bring out the best at players who played that position. And then at the same time, like with Georgia Tech, we're certainly not sleeping on Haynes King. I mean, Haynes King has been one of the best pastors in the conference so far. He's got, I believe, a six to one touchdown to interception ratio. And he's also got mobility, Kenton. And that's another

angle where Georgia Tech may be able to, their offense may be more effective against Louisville on the road than people think because they've got a quarterback who can do a lot of different things in a good running game overall. Yeah, for sure. And at the end of the day, when I look at that Georgia Tech team, I'm asking myself, can you all be consistent? That's my biggest question because Georgia Tech, when they're rolling at their highest clip, they look like they can play with anybody. And I'm not even talking about just the game against Florida State.

I mean, in general, when you think about who Georgia Tech is, defensively, they've had a massive turnaround from last year. Are they perfect? No. But are they much better at stopping the road? they were last year? Absolutely. And granted, you can't go nowhere but up front of the bottom, but they have. They have risen in that regard. Now they need to show up some things in that secondary, but either way you cut and slice it. Georgia Tech is looking like a potential dark horse

contender that many people thought other teams would be. And so it'll be interesting. Like you said, this game will answer questions. Because let's be honest, is there any result to this game that doesn't leave you walking away a little differently than you did before? No, it's a great point. That's a great point, whereas in the other game there is. And then she's state Clemson. If Clemson goes out there at Drubon, we're like, yeah, it's pretty much what we figure. Because, again, I'm a big, somebody on Twitter said nobody changes their opinion fashion than you can.

And well, that's true because I do this thing called ingest new information. And I'm not so rigid that I see something. And I say, hmm, that stove is probably hot. And then I turn that stove on and I leave it on for an hour and I'm like, wait a minute, this stove is cool to the touch. What's, maybe this stove is cool. That's just me. And I believe that there's much more, there are many more answers to definitively be had

from the Georgia Tech Louisville game. Because again, there are many outcomes that are like, we didn't learn anything about state or Cleveland. But there's only a couple that's like, oh, hold on now. But in Georgia Tech and Louisville, either way this goes, either way you cut or slice it, we'll walk away doing a little neck beard talk, doing a little, hmm, interesting. Very interesting, that. Now, there's a couple of non-conference games

that I think might teach us a little bit about the ACC, but then there's another conference game. We'll talk about this when we come back. Is Cal at Florida State? Is that going to teach us anything? It might. It just might. We'll explain you want to keep it locked right here.

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Kenton does an awesome job on Locked on Wolfpack. I host Locked on Cains. We have you covered on everything, NC State and Miami Hurricanes. So, you know, Kenton, I know we've been piling on Florida State a lot this season, but they have another conference matchup coming up 7 p.m. in Tallahassee on Saturday night. Florida State Seminals are favored by two points against the visitors from Cal, despite the fact that two weeks ago, Cal went into Auburn as big underdogs and outplayed and upset an Auburn team that was pretty high on themselves at that point, whereas Florida

State is 0 and 3. I feel like the wrong team is favored here, but at the same time, I do think we have some things to learn in this one because is Florida State going to continue to spiral or are they going to get some kind of an emotional response? That's important. Are they going to be playing for pride at home? or are they already acting like their seasons over? And then for Cal, an opportunity for them to get.

I know Florida States down, but this would still be a signature win for them. Their quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been playing so well, taking care of the football. Their defense has been lights out so far this season. So I am intrigued by this game. You're looking sleepy hearing me talking about this game. Are you all right? No, this isn't sleepy. This is not sleepy.

This is the look that my mother would give when she was thoroughly disappointed. something I was saying. And let me tell you why. I know. Oh, no, no. It's not you. It's not you. It's the Sharps.

What are you doing? What are you doing? Why? No, Donno, the first game of the year was in Dublin, Ireland. Apparently only one team had to travel there. Georgia Tech, you know, those are like the MIT of the South type of people. They built a board. Yeah, I mean, their flight was like an hour shorter.

So Florida State had jet lag. They didn't. They didn't. They didn't. Okay. So that's the first game excuse. They were favorite in that one, right or wrong. Donham.

They were, yeah, they were favored by double digits in that one. Okay, they're favorite in double digits. Okay. And then, then, you know, there's no place like home. There's nothing like that home cooking. You know, those greens for mama, you know, grandma's ox tales, those ribs for Monty. There's nothing like they went home.

They got some home cooking. They had Boston College coming in, a quarterback that can't throw a coordinator Jackson Holzer, and a head coach that I I can't stay. I'm going to be honest about that. I don't believe in them. I can't stay. And so they were favorite about double-dissons novel, too.

Weren't they, though? Yes, they were. How'd that game turn out for? Not well for Florida State. Pretty good for Boston College. So the home-cooking didn't help. Yeah. Oh, okay.

And then we go forward. We go forward one more again. We go forward one more again. We give them, hey, listen, we get it. Those first couple weeks, it was rough. It was rough. Don't worry about it. We even gave you a little money game in here.

You know, you paid Memphis. Memphis wouldn't come here no other way. They're, you know, that's a group of five thing. You know, the power for a little too tough. You just don't have the money. That's why you're suing. You just need more money and you can beat those financial powerhouses that beat you. And then you got Memphis coming through.

Finally, somebody that's on your level financially, right? Somebody that you're comparable to financial. Of course, of course. You got a shot. You got a job. your favorite there as well it's at home as well right mom's and a half points they were favored mama's cooking didn't work so this time you got your old lady's cooking you know you got some girlfriends kid you know she did a little new thing you know what i mean she did a new way you know she's

she found a way to make a little healthier a little more it's not quite a vegan option but it's a little more healthy for you how that work out bottom not well they lost they scored 12 points and they lost how the hell do you keep favoring this team where is it coming from. I'm not, Donald, these eyes don't mean disappointment in you. These eyes are disappointment in Vegas. But you know what? Actually, let me take away disappointment in Vegas. I'm not a betting man. But what I will tell you is this. Sometimes Vegas has those moments where they're just begging to give you some money. And right now, Vegas is saying, please, the house is willing to know, take some, take some, please. I don't got Florida State to cover. I don't

got Florida State to win, I don't think they have the countenance to get up off the mat and bounce back. I think that's a team is going to roll over and show their stomach, now that things are hard for. Here's what you want. You want Cal money line. You can get plus 108 odds on that at Fandall. So if you bet $100, they're going to give you your money back plus an extra $108 if Cal wins the game outright. I think that's what you're looking at for this week. Give me Cal on that money line, baby. Give me Cal on that money line right now. So a couple of non-conference games that are going to be interesting. Miami, who I cover, is off to, they're off to a fast start.

But I'm not sleeping on USF, South Florida, who they're playing on the road this weekend. That's a team that two weeks ago really challenged Alabama until the fourth quarter. The game was not, didn't look as close as it really was. It looked like a blowout for Bama. They had a few late touchdowns that kind of piled. it on in the fourth quarter. And South Florida, they run a very fast-paced offense, no huddle. And they've got a top 10 rushing attack in the country.

So I'm going to be interested to see, you know, Miami who's blown everybody out, including Florida on the road to start the season. And, you know, Cam Ward is currently the high has been favorite. I think USF will probably end up being an even bigger challenge than Florida was. So I think we're going to learn a lot about Miami because Miami's become the ACC front runner, but they have an open conference play yet, and USF might be the toughest challenge that they face so far. And then I'm going to also say, you know, North Carolina has 10 and a half point favorites

against James Madison. You know, we've been talking with Isaac Shade about this. You're going to hear Isaac talk about this on the squad episode as well tomorrow that, you know, North Carolina, they tend to struggle against Sunbelt opposition. And James Madison is pretty good. They might be able to challenge UNC despite the Tar Heels. being favored by 10 and a half points. Okay, so let's go in sequential order here.

In terms of what we're looking at with USF in Miami, you say don't sleep all that. I'm taking it now. I love me some Byron Brown. That's the quarterback for USF. He's a Raleigh guy. Let me tell you so. I rarely ever tell guys.

I really ever say, hey, a head coach of a team needs to recruit this guy. I was a thousand percent like knowing whatever you got to do to go get that man. Go get it. go get them because he's a certified stud. But with that being said, I just think that they lack the versatility to win that game. Defensively, they're extremely tough. They shut down, run games, all that good stuff.

They'll make it hard for a while. They don't have the depth to keep up with Florida late. And the other thing is, again, you need to pass the ball. You're not going to be good enough to push Florida around. I'm sorry, push Miami around up front in terms of, of, you know, getting what you want out of that running game, you need to find a way to pass the ball. I just don't think they got the guys on the outside to do it right now. That's a good point because I mentioned, I met like I gave them the good stat, which is their

USF is eighth in rushing offense, but they're 120th in passing offense. So there's, you know, it paints the picture of a one dimensional team. Exactly. Again, love me survivor, Brown. I think he's going to be a star in the future. If he stays there, I think the USF has, he's, they've got their QB1 for the next three years or so. But with that being said, again, Miami is Miami is Miami. You've got to stop Cam Ward all game.

You've got to stop Martinez all game. You've got to stop restrapal all game. You've got to stop so many weapons all game. I'm not sure that they're going to be able to do that. UNC James Madison is very interesting because James Madison plays with a tough countenance. They play with an attitude. They play with an edge. They're like, you know what?

You may have better athletes than us, but we're going to beat you up. You're going to need that ice tub after the game. They're very physical, amazing at stopping the run. One of the best run stuffing teams in the nation over the past three years or so. With that being said, that's UNC strength. Omar Ghanpton is a one-of-one guy. He's a guy you do not see him in the Sunbelt Conference. And to be honest, you don't see one of him nowhere else in the damn country.

That's how good that young man is. So with that in mind, I really am intrigued to see the match up. of James Madison's run defense against North Carolina's running game. Because passing game-wise, I think North Carolina has days there, but they also have a third string quarterback that's going to start. So, you know, you've got a lot of dynamics going on there that make that line only being 10 and a half make a lot of sense. All right.

Well, when we come back, are these the top five quarterbacks in the ACC so far and are we leaving anybody out? You want to keep it locked right here, my friends. We're not done yet on this brand new episode of Lockdowne ACC. Guys, I hope you have checked out Roy, or you will check it out because this is incredible. Have you heard about Roy? It stands for Return on You, and it's a new platform that lets you, the fans, get involved in NIL like never before by making contributions directly to your favorite athletes. By supporting players directly, you can help shape rosters, retain talent, and keep your favorite athletes out of the transfer portal.

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we're available free wherever you get your pods. We're free on YouTube. Smash that thumbs up button if you're watching us on YouTube. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. So maybe this is in no particular order, Kenton, but these are my top five quarterbacks in the ACC so far. Cam Ward at Miami has had the dazzle, and he's had the stats over 1,000 passing yards, 11 touchdowns.

So you just won an interception so far. So he's in there for sure. Ward at Miami. I have been super captivated by Eli Holstein at Pitt. We've talked about him a lot. And it's like you've got to put Holstein in the top five so far because he's getting

all these weekly honors, Kenton. He's been ACC rookie of the week twice. He's been ACC quarterback of the week flat out once already and only three games played. And Holstein, he played with all the poise of a senior in that victory in the

backyard brawl. Captain Cool, 100%. you know, Haynes King, I'm putting Haynes King in the top five. I think he's cut out, he's cut down the turnover so far, so far, of course, which was, you know, an issue for him last year. Now, Tyler Shuck and Kyle McCord are the other ones that I'm putting in the top five Shuck at Louisville. And as we talked about, like they have, they've only played two games. I haven't faced any huge tests yet, but Chuck has been playing really well.

And so is McCord and the victory that Syracuse got against Georgia. Georgia Tech was impressive. He's been ACC quarterback of the week before within the first three weeks as well. So that's my top five so far. Other other ACC quarterbacks that have been putting up big stats so far, you know, Hank

Bachmeier at Wake has put up big numbers. Anthony Calandria at Virginia has been a top five passer so far in the ACC. Malik Murphy at Duke has put up the six most passing yard so far. You know, another one I could have put

its top five. Maybe I should have, maybe the guy that I'm leaving out here is Fernando Mendoza, Cal. I probably should have given him more consideration. What do you think? You know, I think there is multiple guys who have played very well early. Thomas Castiano's being one of them as well. Another guy

that, you know, he belongs in this conversation as well. I will say this. Your top five is very respectable because all those young men have led their teams to victories. That's just an objective truth. And beyond that, all of those guys have been consistent.

you have not been left with a ton of questions about men. How are they going to be with this guy a quarterback? All of these teams may have other things to figure out. For the most part of your top five, I don't think one of those teams is like, oh, what are we going to do about quarterback? I want to say all my top five except for, except for Haynes King, the other four are undefeated so far.

Yeah. Yeah. Again, all of those teams have questions that they'll answer later on down the road, or there are things about them. For example, like Shuck, you say the health situation and also you ain't played nobody. That's just an objective truth there. But you look at these guys and you say all of them have done what they needed to do for their teams in separate but kind of close to equal ways, right?

Cam Ward has been Mr. Incredible. He's been everything to that team. He's been a guy that's phenomenal when he pulls the ball down and runs. He's been a guy that's made good decisions and been very protective of the ball. Haynes King, same thing. He's been a guy who, like you said, the turnover's way down. The turnover worthy plays way down. He plays within himself.

He knows when it's throwing away, when to take a sack, all those types of things. Hosting. What can we say about this young buck here? I mean, he just looked like he's been in this thing for four or five years. We're down double digits against a fellow power 14. Calm. It's calm, everybody. Be calm.

You know, I'm a move. around in the pocket and make something happen. A lot like that little piece of dust that was just a paid actor right here. This little tough time will pass. And it surely did fall. So you look at him and you say special things. But again, all of these guys all have their arguments for, hey, I belong in this conversation. Because again, there's been a lot of good quarterback playing ACC.

When you and I thought that this was going to be a running back league, the running backs are taking over. The running backs are going to be toting them out this year. And it hasn't necessarily happened. What type of world are we looking at where Cal is undefeated and the story is Mendoza and not I? Yeah. And by the way, Damien Martinez at Miami, he's not done as much through three games as I expected. So it's like, and not that Cam Ward being the headliner, there's nothing unsurprising about that. But I thought it'd be more of a co-headliner between Ward and Martinez and it's been the Cam Ward show.

Yeah, and, you know, there's many ways that that could have happened. And I think one of the biggest things is when you know that you've got a physical runner on your hands, why run them a lot if you don't have to? Because he's going to take some lumps. He's going to take some thumps. He's going to take some bruises all throughout the season. So there's no reason to necessarily put him in position to take those big hits and take a lot of them early in the season if you don't have to. Which, do you need them against family? Do you need them to rush for 150 against Florida?

Do you need them against Ball State? I'd say no. No. No, it's been good. So we'll see which quarterback step up this week. I always like to track who the players of the week are. And it's been the Eli Holstein show so far. And with a little Cam McQuard and Kyle McCord mixed into that. A huge shout out and thank you guys for making Lockdown ACC,

your first list, to your first watch today. Make sure you check out Kenton and Grayson on Lockdown Wolfpack. Make sure you check me out as well on Lockedon. on Cains, and we'll talk to you guys again next time. We'll get the squad together on Thursday for another episode of Lockdown ACC, part of the awesome Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day.