Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - DESTINY: SMU and Virginia CONTROL ACC Fate with Pitt & Three More Teams LURKING | Who gets in?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Six teams for two spots. Who's playing for an ACC championship next weekend? You are Locked-on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, everyone, and welcome into Locked-on ACC. I'm Jackson Hulzer, the host of Locked-on Syracuse, and thank you for making Locked-on-A-C. your first listen of every single day here on the locked on podcast network.

Starting point is 00:00:36 Now the number one sports podcasting network. It's your team every day. And of course, we are always free and available wherever you get your podcast. And on today's show, we are previewing the final weekend of regular season college football for 2025. We'll go over all the rivalry games in the ACC for this week. We'll also go over all the teams that still technically have a chance. at playing next weekend in the ACC championship and what those teams have to do to reach the ACC title game.

Starting point is 00:01:11 And ultimately, who's actually going to be representing the conference next weekend? All that and more coming up here on today's edition of Locked-on ACC. First and foremost, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, spent time with friends and family, enjoyed some of you. good food, enjoyed some good football. I hope you're now also taking advantage of Black Friday and all the deals that are going on. Cyber Monday as well coming up. I know that that's big as well for some people.

Starting point is 00:01:45 Let's dive into some ACC action. There are, you're ready for it? I'm sure you guys might be aware by now, but in case you're not, there are six teams that are mathematically alive to play next weekend in Charlotte. for the ACC Championship. Those six teams are, and I'm doing this in alphabetical order, not necessarily the odds of them actually reaching the conference title game. Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, Pitt, SMU, and Virginia.

Starting point is 00:02:20 Of that group, there are two teams that have the best case scenario. The scenario that any team wants, which is being able to control its own destiny. Of course, I'm talking about win and you're in. Those two teams where all they have to do is win their game this weekend and they will be playing next weekend in the conference championship are Virginia and SMU. First up, let's go with Virginia. They are hosting Virginia Tech as the 18th ranked team in the country this Saturday at 7 p.m.

Starting point is 00:03:00 Eastern. Virginia Tech has owned this rivalry. Absolutely owned it. They have won 19 of the past 20 matchups. But this year could be 20 of the past 22 because Virginia enters this game, obviously as a pretty good team. All they have to do is win and they're in the ACC championship. they've had a very nice season, despite my doubts about them, they're here. And that's a credit to the season that they have had. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, well, they may be a pretty good team next year. They'll have James Franklin as their head coach. They're already getting a lot of victories on the recruiting trail.

Starting point is 00:03:45 I do think that Virginia Tech, at minimum, next year, is going to be a bowl team. The thing is about Virginia Tech this time around, though, is that James Franklin is not yet their head coach, and they're already not bowl eligible this season. Fandu has Virginia as eight and a half point favorites. Virginia has everything on the line. Virginia Tech trying to play spoiler. But at the end of the day, Virginia comes into this game with a top five offense in the ACC.

Starting point is 00:04:14 Meanwhile, Virginia Tech, not exactly the greatest defense, bottom five in the conference. Give me Virginia to hold serve at home and reach the ACC title game. they beat their rival Virginia Tech 312. Comment your thoughts right now in the comment section below. You agree with me that Virginia is going to hold their own and they're going to beat Virginia Tech. Or is Virginia Tech going to play spoiler? Since, of course, this is rivalry weekend and anything can happen.

Starting point is 00:04:45 Next up, SMU, number 21 in the country against Cal going on the road, Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern. SMU is in its second season in the ACC, and SMU can reach the ACC championship game for the second consecutive season. They're pretty big road favorites, 13 and a half points last time I checked over on Fandul. That being said, Cal, they are a sneaky bunch. They are six and five, so they are bowl eligible and they should be respected. And also, you have to be careful with any team that is. traveling to the West Coast. It can affect every team differently.

Starting point is 00:05:29 We saw specifically last year as a big example with Miami. Granted, they won at Cal, but Miami had to stage a miracle comeback to beat Cal in a West Post game. We saw Florida State as a pretty big favorite this year, go on the road at Cal and, well, or it wasn't Cal. It was Stanford, and they lost that game. They should not have lost that game,

Starting point is 00:05:50 but you know what, they did. So that being said, cow's offense, not exactly great. Meanwhile, SMU, they have only given up 20 plus points just twice in conference play this season. Remember earlier in the year, we were talking about SMU and how poorest their defense was. Well, it seems like they have corrected it because their defense has been pretty good in conference play. I'm going to go SMU to win this game 3517. So because I am picking Virginia and because I am picking SMU and both teams are winning in in the ACC, guess what folks?

Starting point is 00:06:33 My official prediction for what is going to happen this weekend is that both teams who all they have to do is win and they're in the conference title are both going to win. Therefore, your ACC championship next weekend will be Virginia versus SS. I'm sure that was on all of your bingo cards heading into the season, right? Remember we were in the preseason and the off season and all that stuff? We were going over our predictions and some of the best teams in the conference. SMU isn't necessarily the biggest surprise if they were to reach the conference title game because they were good last year and most of us thought they'd be a top five team in the conference. Virginia, quite frankly, has come out of nowhere.

Starting point is 00:07:16 Not many people expected that this Virginia team was going to be very good. Yeah, maybe they'd reach a bowl, but certainly not playing for an ACC title. Congratulations to that team. Not yet, but for the fact that they're here and they have a chance to get there, deserve some praise. As far as what I think will happen in that matchup, if it were to occur, well, tune in next week when we break down the matchup, which I'm predicting to be SMU and Virginia.

Starting point is 00:07:49 Comment your thoughts in the comments section below coming up. If for whatever reason, those teams slip up, there are still four teams in the ACC with a mathematical chance at getting in the conference championship next weekend, which teams have the best shot at doing so? Find out next on Locked-on ACC. The holidays always feel a little easier when you already know the perfect gift,

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Starting point is 00:09:21 Because all Pitt needs to do is win their matchup, which we'll get to in just a moment, and they need one of Virginia or SMU to lose. So all Pitt has to do is take care of business, get a little bit of help, just one of those teams to slip up. And next thing you know, Pitt is in the ACC championship. and if they win the conference championship, they are in the college football playoff with an automatic bid.

Starting point is 00:09:55 Sound easy enough. Well, not so fast. The Pit Panthers are at home. Saturday at noon Eastern, they come into the game ranked 22nd in the nation. Problem is they're going up against a team ranked 12th in the nation. The Miami Hurricanes.

Starting point is 00:10:15 Miami, by the way, is also a team that is playing for a chance at reaching the ACC championship. They need a lot of help, and it starts by potentially beating the Pitt Panthers. This game is fascinating because Miami is not just seeking a chance at playing in the ACC championship. That would be cool for Miami, and it might be necessary for. for Miami because what they're really playing for is the college football playoff. They come in ranked 12. Now, the college football playoff does take 12 teams. So on the surface, you would think, okay, they're sitting at 12.

Starting point is 00:11:03 All they need to do is just win, stay where they're at, and they're good. Not exactly. Because of the automatic bids. And there will be, if it's not Miami, two teams below them, that get automatic bids, meaning Miami will be on the outside looking in for the college football playoff for the second consecutive season, since the playoff of course expanded to 12 teams. They need to put up some style points. They need to have some teams lose ahead of them.

Starting point is 00:11:40 And quite frankly, they might need to blow out pit, which does not seem like it would be on the table. I do think Miami is going to win this game. However, Pitt, did you catch the game last weekend against Georgia Tech? Did you? They crushed them. I know Georgia Tech, to their credit, they battled. Then they somewhat made it a game, but it was too little too late. However, Pitt was going up against Georgia Tech's defense.

Starting point is 00:12:19 Georgia Tech's defense, we'll get to in a moment here. They ain't exactly that good. Miami's defense has been pretty stout all year. That's been the most consistent unit of the two between offense and defense this entire season for this team. And if for whatever reason, the conditions are not exactly favorable from a team coming from South Florida, well, you know what their formula is anyway, which is play good defense and run the football.

Starting point is 00:12:48 And guess what? playing good defense and running the football can translate in any condition. So we'll see what happens. Would it surprise me if Pitt won this game? Absolutely not. That being said, I am taking the Miami Hurricanes to win. A little bit low scoring, 2420. Now, let's get to two more teams here that need a lot of help to reach the college football

Starting point is 00:13:18 or not the college football playoff. I mean, that's certainly on the table. But the ACC championship game next weekend. Georgia Tech and Duke. Also Miami, but we just talked about them. If you want to know exactly how Georgia Tech and Duke can reach the ACC championship game, here's what you can do. Since we don't have all the time here on this podcast to really break everything down for you all,

Starting point is 00:13:44 I would look up ACC tiebreakers on the official ACC website. and it would break it down for you. So if you are a Duke fan, if you are a Georgia Tech fan, and if by now you don't exactly know how your team can reach the ACC title, all you got to do is go to ACC.com, look up the tiebreakers. They're right there laid out for you. They need a lot to break their way. Let's start with Georgia Tech, who by the way is not even playing a conference game this weekend.

Starting point is 00:14:15 They're at home. They're 23rd in the country. rivalry matchup Friday at 3.30 p.m. Eastern. That means it is today this afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, against number four, Georgia. Now, here's the funny thing about Georgia Tech. So they are 9 and 2. In any other conference, 9 and 2, they would be ranked higher than where they're at right now, currently sitting at 23. At 23, it's kind of hard to fathom. that they would move up the necessary spots it would take to secure an at-large bid in the college football playoff.

Starting point is 00:15:01 But say they do win this game, it would be very similar to what is happening right now with the Notre Dame and Miami debate. Because Georgia Tech would be 10 and 2 to end the season with a win over Georgia, who would also be 10 and 2. Just food for thought. Having said that,

Starting point is 00:15:31 Georgia Tech's defense, particularly in the last three games, has apparently been optional. It's been optional. They can decide to play defense whenever they feel like it down there. They can do it whenever they want. Maybe this would be a good weekend for them to play defense because in the last three games,

Starting point is 00:15:49 Georgia Tech has allowed 48, 34, and 42 points. No wonder why they went from the team that looked like they were going to be the representative from the ACC and the college football playoff to now well on the outside looking in. And yeah, they could have a very successful season. I mean, it already has been a successful season, but not quite the season that you were truly, truly hoping for. Do I think they're going to pull off this upset against Georgia? As we saw last year, it's possible. They can hang with this Georgia team. I just don't think their defense is going to get enough stops.

Starting point is 00:16:27 I'm going to pick Georgia to win 3831. Comment your thoughts in the comments section below. Finally, let's get to Wake Forest against Duke Saturday 3.30 p.m. Eastern. Duke is a one and a half point favorite over on fan duel. Even the folks who get paid to do the absolute best in trying to predict these games, they can't figure out what's going to happen in this game. Does anyone truly know what is going to happen in Wake Forest and Duke? Seriously, do you know, comment your thoughts right now in the comments section below?

Starting point is 00:17:06 Because let me summarize it for you. Okay. You have the Wake Forest offense, not very good. You have the Duke defense, not very good. You have the Wake Forest defense. Well, they're good. And we know that the Duke offense is good as well when they're not turning the ball over. So it's strength on strength, weakness on weakness.

Starting point is 00:17:29 And so my rule of thumb, and I've said it before here on this podcast, and I will say it again, when I don't necessarily feel like I have a good read on a game, when it's a matchup like this, when you have a strength on strength and a weakness on weakness, I tend to just naturally lean towards the home team. So I am going to pick Duke 27, 24. Duke with a win and a bunch of help, well, maybe they somehow get to Charlotte. They need a lot, but it is possible. You can look it up for yourself.

Starting point is 00:18:06 Comment your thoughts in the comments section below. Who do you have ultimately playing in the ACC championship next weekend? Now coming up, we'll go over the rest of the rivalry games on this week's slate. So stick with me here on Locked on ACC. see. The NBA is back and there's no better place to get in on the action than Fandu, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of a game or you want to ride the hot hand, Fandu has live bets on everything from who's going to store next to fourth quarter comebacks. And plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay

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Starting point is 00:19:29 So head to fandle.com to sign up and play your game with Fandu with the official sports betting partner of the NBA. It's rivalry weekend. Now, we've already gone over some of the rivalry games here on Locked-on ACC, but those games have a lot of stakes. You got Virginia, Virginia Tech, obviously. That's the big one. You know, where Virginia wins that game, they're in the ACC Championship. But there's still plenty of more rivalry games that we got to go over. Florida State and Florida Saturday at 4.30 p.m. Eastern.

Starting point is 00:20:08 Fun fact about Florida State. And I'm sure the Florida State fans may know this, but maybe they don't. Maybe you don't. if you don't really follow Florida State, and that's okay. You ready for this fact? Florida State has not won a road game since the end of the 2023 season. That was in the swamp. Remember that one?

Starting point is 00:20:38 End of the 2023 season. That is the last time that Florida State won a true road game in the swamp. incredible how it's basically been two years. Florida State, they are playing to be bowl eligible, so there is something to play for for this team, not that I think many Florida State fans care about doing 6 and 6 and making a bowl. Meanwhile, Florida, they're just praying that Lane Kiffin picks them, which he probably won't.

Starting point is 00:21:13 It's probably going to go to LSU or stay with Ole Miss. Sorry, Florida. Oh, by the way, you're not going to get Eli Drinkwitz either. He just got an extension with Missouri. Yeah, you fired Billy Napier, but you might hire the next Billy Napier. Florida Gators, for those that don't know, that is my second favorite team. I drew up a Florida Gators fan before I went to Syracuse. Fun times.

Starting point is 00:21:39 Florida State, on the other hand, I mean, look, they're bringing back Mike Norville, and they can sit here and they can tell us. that we have all the confidence in the world in Mike Norvell and he's going to fix it and he's going to turn it around. We know the real reason why Florida State is bringing back Mike Norville. It's because of the money. They can't fire him because of the money. The buyout is just too much. They're not going to tell it like it is because nobody is actually going to say that publicly.

Starting point is 00:22:18 but that is the true. So this matchup, while it is a big rivalry on paper, there really isn't much juice to it. I honestly wish they didn't have to pick a winner because no matter what, I'm going to sound like an idiot. I can't believe you took the Florida Gators to win a game. I can't believe you picked Florida State to win a road game for the first time in two years.

Starting point is 00:22:42 See what I'm saying? No matter what, you're kind of screwed picking this game. But you know what? I'm going to pick it anyway. I don't mind looking like an idiot. 2017, Florida. Next up, Clemson, South Carolina, Saturday at noon Eastern.

Starting point is 00:23:01 Before the season, you would have probably thought that this game would have a lot of stakes attached to it. Clemson obviously had a ton of preseason hype, preseason top five team in America. We thought that Clemson could be back this year as one of the premier programs in all of college football. Yeah, last year was.

Starting point is 00:23:20 good and they were in the college football playoff, but no, this was supposed to be the year for Clemson where they became what they were a few years ago. One of the elite elite teams in college football with a legitimate chance at winning a national championship, not just sneaking in to a college football playoff and losing in the first round. With South Carolina, well, free season, myself as a Jets fan, was really in. intently looking at them because they have a quarterback in Lenora Sellers, and a lot of people thought that Lenora Sellers, by the end of the year, could be considered the number one overall pick in the NFL draft. Fast forward? Well, that's not exactly what happened.

Starting point is 00:24:07 Clemson isn't necessarily a bad team. They are bowl eligible, but they have fallen well short of expectations, which we have covered extensively here on locked on ACC. And South Carolina, I don't know. They're just flat. Lenora Sellers has regressed this season. He is not the guy he was last year. He's not the guy we thought he could be for this year. And he certainly is not going to be the number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL

Starting point is 00:24:43 draft. In fact, it's more likely that Lenora Sellers probably transfers out of the program and goes to another team to try to resurrect his career intent. it might be with the Miami Hurricanes. Because Miami might be looking for a quarterback. I'm going to take Clemson to win this game. 2720. They end the regular season on a high note.

Starting point is 00:25:06 Next up, you got Kentucky against Louisville, Saturday at noon eastern. Louisville, yucky, no, no. Oh, my goodness. What was last week's debacle? Yeah, I know you didn't have Miller Moss. I'd... Awful.

Starting point is 00:25:23 The Louisville Cardinals were 7 and 1. Had everything to play for. They had beaten Miami a couple of weeks prior. And Louisville, well, since I've lost three straight. And in this game, all they're playing for is either their eighth regular season win or end the season on a four game losing streak. Who's going to be the quarterback this weekend for Louisville? At the time of this recording, we have no idea.

Starting point is 00:25:52 Miller Moss, he may or may not play according to Jeff Brom. and Jeff Brom, the head coach also said, we could see multiple quarterbacks this weekend. So who knows? Kentucky, 5 and 6, they need to win to become bowl eligible. And I think that they are going to beat Louisville this weekend. I got Kentucky on the road winning 2420. North Carolina and NC State this Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Eastern, NC State is bowl eligible at 6 and 5.

Starting point is 00:26:26 UNC, they are not bowl eligible this season. But to their credit, they have gotten better over the course of the year. Too little too late, but they're certainly better now than when they were first day of the year when they just dropped a massive egg, whatever, against TCU. So they've come a long way. They've picked up some wins. They've looked more respectable in recent weeks. So credit to them.

Starting point is 00:26:58 We'll see if they can develop that. Keep up the momentum potentially for next season. I don't know. We'll see. Could this be Dave Doran's final game coaching NC State? Will it? He's been there for a long, long time. He has already said he doesn't want to retire,

Starting point is 00:27:18 but his NC State can let him go anyway. This matchup could have a pretty big role in determining that, actually. These schools don't like each other. And if NC State, who is at home, even though they are bowl eligible, if they lose to an inferior North Carolina team, it might be enough. It might already be enough to let go of Dave Doran. But I don't think that's necessarily going to happen. I don't know if this is going to be Dave Doran's final year, but what I do think is that NC State is going to win this game by a final store of 2817.

Starting point is 00:28:02 Two more games to talk about here on Locked-on ACC. You got number nine, Notre Dame going on the road playing Stanford, Saturday at 10.30 p.m. Eastern. Notre Dame just won a football game over Syracuse, 70 to 7. And I honestly think if Notre Dame had really tried, if they had left in their starters for the entire game, easily would have gone over 100. Easily.

Starting point is 00:28:30 They might have gotten to like 125. It might have been, it's already bad 70 to 7. Could you imagine maybe like 125 to nothing? That legitimately was on the table. This week, they're going on the road. They're playing Stanford.

Starting point is 00:28:53 Yeah, I know it's a rivalry. Notre Dame is going to win the table. game by a lot of points. And finally, this is a football game. Somebody does have to win it, so I guess we can crown this week's winner if somebody has to win bowl. You could say that the loser of this game will get the number one overall pick in the college football recruiting draft. You got Syracuse hosting Boston College. 3 p.m. Eastern. Here's what you need to know about this game. As someone who covers Syracuse for locked on Syracuse, the Orange are starting a walk-on, true freshman lacrosse player at quarterback Joe Filarty again, again.

Starting point is 00:29:50 It is so insane that you have Miami fans online actually questioning whether or not Fran Brown is trying to stick it to Miami. because instead of playing Ricky Collins, who is just a terrible backup, but still a backup, he is playing Joe Fulardi, who is a walk-on lacrosse player. Now, I wouldn't necessarily start Ricky Collins either in this game. I laid out on Locked on Syracuse exactly what my plan would have been for this weekend. Weeks ago, Fran Brown said, uh-uh, that's dumb. Let's keep going with the lacrosse player.

Starting point is 00:30:28 He can keep going with the lacrosse player all. he wants. I don't think it's going to go very well. Boston College has actually been somewhat competitive in games. They were competitive against Notre Dame, a team that beat Syracuse 70 to seven last week. Boston College is going to win this game on the road by a final store of 31.13. And so therefore, Syracuse would earn themselves the title as the worst team in the ACC for this season. And in my opinion, post-Stevangeli injury, the worst team in power. conference football. Congratulations to my very own Syracuse Orange. I love them so much. Now, as far as what's coming up on Locked-on, ACC, your next episode is going to be with

Starting point is 00:31:13 the regular host, Alex Dono and Kenton Gibbs. You will see me next Friday when we preview the conference championship game. Folks, thank you all so much for watching. Thank you all so much for listening. If you like this podcast, be sure to hit that like button. If you really enjoy the podcast, be sure to hit subscribe. Tell all your friends about locked on ACC. We'll see you all again soon.

Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - DESTINY: SMU and Virginia CONTROL ACC Fate with Pitt & Three More Teams LURKING | Who gets in?

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