Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Miami Hurricanes top ACC power rankings: Can they maintain the lead?

Starting point is 00:00:01 These ACC week five football power rankings are indisputable. You are locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Heading into another critical weekend of ACC games, including a Louisville versus Notre Dame matchup that is for the pride of the conference, because Notre Dame is not a football member. Louisville is ranked 15 and 16 respectively. big one. Thank you so much to the everydayers 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.

Starting point is 00:00:45 We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. Place your first $5 bet and you'll get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. Visit fanduel.com to get started. I am Alex Dono. He's Kenton Gibbs. Kenton from Locked on Wolfpack. I am from Locked on Payne. Cain's Lockedon. No, Kenton's hosting Locked on pain with the way that his team has been playing. We are going to give you on this episode our ACC football game picks for this coming week. We'll talk about who's on upset alert because there are some big favorites within the conference. But I want to talk about our power rankings.

Starting point is 00:01:21 And Kenton, before I start unveiling these, is Florida State no longer the worst team in the conference? Because they got a must-win conference dub last week against Cal. Absolutely. You know, they talk about how Cal is big believers in redistribution of wealth, and they redistributed a win to Florida State because they said from each, according to ability, to each according to need, and that's what they did in giving Florida State that win there. But I'll tell you what, Florida State has proven that while they did seemingly fall off a cliff at the beginning of this season,

Starting point is 00:02:00 you know, something in that team was broken by the playoffs. of they've proven even after falling off a clip, they're still good enough to win some ACC ball. Yeah, I think if anything, Florida State was very motivated by the Cal Twitter memes, the Calgary rhythm when they started talking about turning Doke Campbell into Woke Campbell Stadium. I think it woke up the Florida State team, at least the defense it woke up. Absolutely, absolutely. That defense definitely showed up in a way that we have not seen all year.

Starting point is 00:02:31 So more power to them. All right, so unveiling this week's ACC power rankings, it's unchanged at the top. Now, I'm probably a little bit biased given, you know, the logos that I'm wearing. So I will run this by Kenton just to make sure he is in agreement. We're both going to have to turn our keys on this one. The Miami Hurricanes, they stay up at the top. Number one in the conference, they lead the nation in sacks so far this year. number two in overall passing offense. Cam Ward, the quarterback, has thrown the most

Starting point is 00:03:04 touchdown passes this season in major college football. And Miami's not been tested yet. You can only play the teams that are on the schedule. So I'm going with the canes at number one. Yeah, I would agree. I would agree. I'm also turning my key and pressing the red button. I agree this team, they have shown the most out of every team this far so far this year. I mean, you can make an argument for maybe the team that's in second showing a lot as well, but they're undefeated. You can't beat undefeated as showing a lot. Okay, let me see if you agree with who we have at second and third, Kenton,

Starting point is 00:03:40 because I've got Louisville at number two and Clemson at number three. I think that one is very much up for debate. You know, Clemson, Clemson's earned more style points over the past couple of weeks, but Louisville is undefeated, and they just got. got a pretty nice conference win against Georgia Tech. And they are ranked higher than Clemson is right now, Louisville. And they've got a tough test against Notre Dame this weekend. Miami, who we talked about has Virginia Tech for their conference opener. Louisville has Notre Dame. That's a big game. Clemson has got Stanford this week. So that's probably going to be

Starting point is 00:04:16 another easy win for them. So do you agree with Louisville at two, Clemson three, or should we have that flip? I think that this is the right direction because the games have to mean something, right? We talk about, hey, you can only play who's in front of you and all that. Well, if you line up the biggest, baddest bully on the block in front of you and he whoops the wheels off you, we still have to factor that in, even if you then show, hey, I'm the second biggest bully on the black. It doesn't really seem like it because the third biggest bully ain't lost yet. He's going around still bullying people.

Starting point is 00:04:45 So, you know, in all fairness, this could switch, this could flip, depending on some results this weekend. But as we have it now, you're Louisville Cardinals, number two. the program, number one in the good folks of Kentucky's hearts. Yeah, in Louisville, they are their touchdown underdogs at Notre Dame. So if they lose this weekend and if Clemson steamrolls Stanford, like they very well might, then yeah, that could that could probably be flipped by next week. But for right now, like Kenton said, the games have to matter.

Starting point is 00:05:16 That's why Louisville's number two, Clemson's number three. So I've got Boston College at four team that should be ranked. They're just outside the top 25. And also Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh at five, all they've done is win and put up big points. They've got a redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein who's playing lights out. And they have a signature win.

Starting point is 00:05:36 I mean, that backyard brawl victory and the comeback was a big one, Kenton. So I've got BC4, Pittsburgh 5. And this part of the list, I feel like is indisputable. I don't know how anyone could argue with those teams being top five. Here's the thing that I find so interesting. If you still don't like Boston College, If you still do not believe that's one of the better teams in the conference, I want to know by what criteria.

Starting point is 00:06:00 What criteria are you creating that puts Boston College outside of that place? Because they've shown on the road in, what is it, Columbia, Missouri, I believe is the city? Yeah, Columbia. They're on the road in Columbia, holding their own against a top 10 team. Out of the conference where it means more, they didn't just hold their own. They gave them everything they can handle over there. Missouri. And so you look at that team. All they've done is went out before that. They've shown up. They have exceeded all expectations by a mile, even including a loss. You got to give them their

Starting point is 00:06:38 gods. And Pittsburgh, exact same story. I mean, those are some cardiac big cats over there because the Panthers just keep finding away. And Holstein, when the time gets tough, when it gets to the crunch time, when it gets to, oh yeah, he's going to show that freshman. He's going to show that he's a, he's still breathful of simileck. No, he doesn't do it. He shows up every time. Okay, now here I start to, to overthink our own power rankings. I feel like I might be doing Duke a disservice because I have them down at 10.

Starting point is 00:07:11 And they, they've won all four of their games so far. So I've got Syracuse at six, which I don't know, it feels, I admit, it feels too high after what happened last week. We got against Stanford. so we could probably flip this around a little bit. In fact, I may move Duke way up. So I've got Syracuse at 6, Georgia Tech 7. They just suffered that loss last week at Louisville.

Starting point is 00:07:36 I've got SMU at 8, Stanford 9, Duke 10. But you know what? I think I'm going to make a judgment call here, and I'm going to move Duke up a few spots. What do you think? I like it because as much as I like Key, as much as I like Georgia Day, everybody knows how much I've sung Coach Key's praises.

Starting point is 00:07:52 They have not been consistent. They have not shown, hey, we can consistently show up and do it at a high level. And also, with how bad Florida State looks, that win lost a lot of its luster. It lost a ton of its luster. So I honestly think that Georgia Tech being raided inside the top 10 right now is a little bit of a, but what's going on there type of moment. So I'm going to go ahead. I'm going to move Duke up.

Starting point is 00:08:21 and I'm going to move Syracuse and Georgia Tech down. I think SMU, though, sticking at number eight just feels right because I'm still not buying in on them, although it's a big win against TCU. We'll see how they look against Florida State this weekend. So getting outside the top 10, I've got the Calgaryth at number 11. They dropped big time after they're disappointing nine-point performance against Florida State. I've got Virginia Tech at number 12. Ball don't lie, Kenton.

Starting point is 00:08:52 Like Virginia Tech, I think they're capable of far more than they've shown on the field so far. They really should not have lost to Vanderbilt on the road. They really should have looked better against Rutgers. You know, I know as a Miami guy, I can't talk too much about losing to Rutgers. It happens, okay? But they should have looked better in that game.

Starting point is 00:09:11 And then I've got NC State at number 13. They dropped big from where I had them last week. Let me tell you something. NC State and Virginia Tech are the greatest example of the games matter. Both of those teams on paper are really good. On paper, everything makes sense. Everything clicks. In reality, the starting left tackle that was supposed to be a very early round

Starting point is 00:09:33 draft pick for NC State just got benched and was on nightcap with Ocho and Shannon Sharp for spitting on somebody. That's the reality. The thought of Virginia Tech is they got this dynamic quarterback, running back combo. They got some big bodies out wide. They can get it done. They've got an offense that's a super senior, super experienced, super better. Everybody can do it.

Starting point is 00:09:55 The reality is, Kyron Drone struggles to get beyond Reid number one. It is unlike anything I've ever seen at the college level to where, like, he looks completely and utterly flabbergasted when he's like, they took away the first read. What about what's happening here? It is something like I've never seen. So, again, the games matter. The reality of who Kairan Drones is, the reality of who NC State has been. and by and large. And then don't get me wrong, that Virginia Tech team, they have problems

Starting point is 00:10:20 beyond Kairan draws because that rushing defense that we talked about all offseason, for some, for some reason, some random bald guy with too bad Achilles knew, oh, they may need to address that. They may need to get some big fellas in there, get some beef in there. Hell, they didn't. And now the grandma still screaming, where's the beef? Because running backs are running straight down the alley on that team. But, you know, that's kind of, you get what you get. those teams were supposed to be good, the reality does not. Yeah, and then another thing, I didn't realize how bad this stat was, but Virginia Tech, they're not protecting Kyron drones either.

Starting point is 00:10:57 They're 106 in the country in sacks allowed. They've given up two and a half sacks per game so far. And that's, I'm studying this matchup for the Miami Virginia Tech game tonight. You know, Miami's past rush has been really good. Virginia Tech has not protected Kyrin drones. So that's another area that Miami, could possibly exploit. But rounding out our power rankings, 14, 15, 16, 17. I've got North Carolina 14, which kind of feels like too high based on what happened

Starting point is 00:11:28 against James Madison. I've got Virginia at 15. Florida State, they rise big. They move up a spot to number 16. And then I've got Wake Forest rounding out the list at number 17. I mean, hey, you know, Florida State is right where they belong. That group stinks. It's awful. I'm disappointed in Cal for letting them win a game. I am telling you right now, Donald. Brian Smith said, I don't know if they get four games this year, and I couldn't believe it.

Starting point is 00:12:00 After watching that game, you're damn right. They might get four or less. This is, that is unprepared. Again, Brock Glenn can't be worse than what you're trying out. And if he is, why is he still on your roster? Go to that young man and say, hey, listen, you know, the Sunbelt's got plenty of schools that need a quarterback. You know, the big South Conference, the Big Sky Conference.

Starting point is 00:12:27 Everybody's, they've all got somebody who needs a QV. You're not going to do it in Tallahassee, brother. But I heard the fam you, you know what? You might do it in Tallahassee, just wearing an origin in green instead of the garnered and gold. Because if he is worse than what DJ is so much so that you can't even consider getting him in, boy, I'll tell you, that team

Starting point is 00:12:48 who stinks, stank, stunk. They can't run the ball, they can't throw the ball. Other than that, they're a damn good team. Yeah, right. Outside of that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? There's the question you have to ask. Well, we have a lot more to come on this episode of Locked on ACC. We're going to make our game

Starting point is 00:13:04 picks for this coming weekend. There are, I believe nine matchups involving ACC teams this weekend. Is anybody on upset alert? We'll talk about that when we come back. You want to keep it locked right here. We're only getting started on this brand new episode of locked on ACC. With Robin Hood Gold, you don't need a silver spoon to eat up the financial flavors of the 1%. Robin Hood Gold allows others to get the rates and perks usually reserved for the high society.

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Starting point is 00:14:12 For product-specific disclosures, visit robin hood.com slash gold. Investing involves risk. Rates may change. Gold membership is offered by Robin Hood Gold LLC. Thank you for making this episode of Lockdown ACC, your first listen and your first watch today. For your next listen, make sure you check out our other shows, Kenton and Grayson do an awesome job hosting Locked on Wolfpack. I host Lockdown Cain's. we will be preparing you for all the matchups this coming weekend involving Atlantic Coast Conference teams,

Starting point is 00:14:46 especially the ones that we cover. And let's talk about some of those matchups now, Kenton. So I'm looking through the biggest favorites this week. I'm looking at 17th Ranked Clemson, giving 21.5 points against Stanford. I'm looking at Syracuse minus 28 and a half against Holy Cross. I get it, I guess. So that's a big number. And Miami minus now 17 and a half against Virginia Tech.

Starting point is 00:15:15 That's been a funky line this week, Kenton, because early in the week it was about Miami minus 17. It inflated to Miami minus 19 in some places. It's back to 17.5. So the wise guys can't decide what they're doing with that one, apparently. But out of those big numbers, which of those teams do you think is most likely to suffer the upset bug this week? I don't think there's a team likely to suffer the upset bug outright. I don't think that there's one that gets that.

Starting point is 00:15:46 But I do think that that Western Kentucky and Boston College line is something that could be interesting. It is something that could be interesting. I am telling you, I don't know what it is about Western Kentucky and that offense. But I'll tell you, they absolutely. get it done through the air. They spread it around, and I'm, I know that that is a team that got blanked this year by BAMA. I get it.

Starting point is 00:16:18 I get it. They looked exponentially worse than USF did against that same Bama team. But I am telling you, that is a team that if they get rolling through the air, they could definitely find their way covering. I'm not sure about winning because, again, that team, they've shown up big time. And I know Coach Jason Velkamp, former strength conditioning, head strength conditioning Coach of Densi stage is probably excited to hear any shout out of this boy. But Caden Velcamp really is the real deal.

Starting point is 00:16:47 And so is Cassiano's. Don't get me wrong. I think Gacianos is a better quarterback overall and he does more. But again, if you let Caden get hot, those hilltoppers. I'm not saying they come out on top all together. They can give you a run for your money. Yeah, that's one to look out for now. Now, this one not as big of a spread, but I wonder why.

Starting point is 00:17:05 it's not a bigger spread because your NC State Wolfpack are only, I guess I get it because we know what, you know, Northern Illinois has already done this year. But NC State only six and a half point favorites at home against NIEU. Are you worried about covering or even winning that game? You know, I'm absolutely worried about winning that game. I'm very concerned because N IU has a back, it's an NFL guy. I'm sorry, I don't want to mess up the name here, but Aunt Brown is what he goes by. And this young man is, he is very, very special.

Starting point is 00:17:44 If he were three inches taller, he'd be on everybody's big board that's probably RB 2 or 3 in this draft. He is compact. I want to say he's about 2.10 or so. He's 5'9 for Christ's sake. Imagine what that body looks like, all that type of muscle.

Starting point is 00:17:59 And guess what the essence? estimated 40 to shipman runs this. About 4-4, 4-4-5. He is a freak. Second in the Mac last year in rushing. And guess what NC State doesn't have? Linebackers that do a great job of defending the run after them. Guess what NC State doesn't have?

Starting point is 00:18:16 Safeties that fit runs properly while running a 335. You're damn right. I'm worried, Dono. You're extremely right. I'm worried about this team winning outright. Because we've already seen one coach in his aim. annual bowl lose in the reunited peaches nerve game in norville losing the memphis is doran going to follow that up by saying hold my beer i've got one more for you so i really hope that the uh the

Starting point is 00:18:45 inaugural d'orren bowl doesn't end in a n i u in but i'd be lying if i said i wasn't work yeah you know it's like um what when i'm i'm looking at the miami uh hosting virginia tech game which is tonight friday night. It's like, I, as a Miami guy, I'm still, I'm very superstitious. And I've seen Miami go three and five in ACC play each of the past two years. I think this team is different. I know this quarterback is different, but I never take any ACC opponent for granted Kenton. But at the same time, it's like, on paper, when I try to find the ways Virginia Tech beats Miami, it, the only really path that I see to that are a lot of self-inflicted wounds from the hurricane side. I think Miami has the horses and Virginia Tech is not played up to the talent level.

Starting point is 00:19:38 Also, some of the things Miami does really well happen to play into weaknesses for Virginia Tech. I mentioned they haven't protected Kyron drones well. Miami's number one in the country in Sacks. You know, Miami has been kind of average running the football this year, but Virginia Tech is I think 100 second in the country in stopping the run. So if there was a game to really get Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher going, this one might be the one to do that.

Starting point is 00:20:07 So there's, I don't know, it's like, I bet at the same time, you know, if Miami's really going to get, if they're rushing defense, which has been very good this year, is really going to get tested, Beiseltuton and Drones himself can do a lot there. I mean, Drones is built like a linebacker at 235 pounds. you know, if he can get going, you know, as a dual threat guy, he could give Miami some trouble here. But it's like I'm having trouble finding a path to victory for Virginia Tech that doesn't involve like the type of turnover game that Cam Ward just hasn't had this year. Yeah, I thought of percent agree.

Starting point is 00:20:42 This is, you know, when you look at this game, even if I, even if we say this is Virginia Tech's best game of the season and this is one of Miami's mid-level games, do you see Virginia Tech win that game? I don't take that bet. I don't take that bet. I'm sorry. I think that Miami is showing that they're really, really special. And again, there is always the thought of, hey, you have not played a good or a decent or even anything but a horrible about to lose their head coach, Power 14. There is that thought.

Starting point is 00:21:11 But like Donald always says, you can only play who's in front of it. And the guys that have been in front of them, they have smacked the wheels off of so far. So I look at this game and I say, if there's a comedy of errors by Miami, yes, Louis, I'm sorry, yes, Virginia Tech has a shot. If there are not that comedy of air, if there is not that moment where you're just, you're kind of stuck looking at Cam Ward saying, just throw the ball away, dude. Just take a sack. If that doesn't happen multiple times this game, I really don't see too many ways that

Starting point is 00:21:40 Virginia Tech can come out of this as winners. Let's go on record with some game picks when we come back. We'll take a look at the ACC schedule for this weekend. He's Kent and Gibbs. I'm Alex Dono. You guys want to keep it locked right here. We're not done yet on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. we're certainly not done with Fanduel.

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Starting point is 00:22:26 You'll get started with $200 in bonus bets, guaranteed when you place your first $5 bet. That's fanduel.com. Thank you so much for making this episode of Lockdowne-CC your first listen and your first watch today. I'm Alex Dono from Lockdown-Kaines, Kenton Gibbs from Lockdown, Wolfpack. All right, so Kenton, taking a look at the slate this weekend. Let's start with Florida State on the road at SMU.

Starting point is 00:22:51 SMU favored by six and a half points. I don't honestly, I don't know what to make of this game or this line. I think the only thing that I'm pretty confident in is just based on the way that Florida State's defense has been waking up the last couple of weeks. Pat Pat Paton in the past rush have been coming alive. Their offense still can't score. So the only thing I'm pretty confident in is under 48.5 points. I'm not sure who's going to win the game. Do you think SMU, do you think SMU gets it done and knocks Florida State down to one and four?

Starting point is 00:23:23 Let me tell you something. SMU is going to show why Florida State wins over Florida State have lost their luster. I don't think that this Florida State team can do enough offensively to exploit the holes that exist within SMU. Do they have a defensive line that will absolutely go to work against it? Yes, for sure, thousand percent. But will they do enough offensively to win down in Dallas? No.

Starting point is 00:23:51 I got the Mustangs taking this one. Okay, another game we haven't talked about yet much this week. Actually, we did talk about it on the squad a little bit yesterday, but the Duke Blue Devils, two and a half point favorites at home against North Carolina. Like, I can't in good conscience pick UNC to win a game after they gave up 70 points to Jane Madison. So James Madison, I should say. So I've got the Blue Devils winning at home and covering. I hate to have to give a Tar Hill credit here.

Starting point is 00:24:21 but I think that Mac Brown is going to circle the wagons in this one. Don't get me wrong. Malik Murphy, Manny Diaz, they've looked good. I don't think that they've played anybody that has given them any type of serious pause except Northwestern in the game that they should have lost. So with that in mind,

Starting point is 00:24:40 I think, I think that they figured it out offensively enough and defensively, defensively, I have to trust that they'll get some stops eventually. I have to trust that they just were saving all the stops for this game, and they'll do something here. But I think that I think the Tar Heels win a close one here. Now, what about 15th ranked Louisville on the road at 16th ranked Notre Dame?

Starting point is 00:25:09 Of course, Notre Dame, just a couple weeks removed from the upset of all upsets, what happened to them against Northern Illinois. Are they fully back? You know, they bounce back with a convincing win against Purdue. Louisville's undefeated. He got quarterback whisper. Jeff Brom has found a better quarterback this year in Tyler Shuck, who's off to really get started.

Starting point is 00:25:29 I get this weird feeling. I know Louisville's got some injuries at receiver, but I've got this weird feeling that the Cardinals go in there and eke out a close win in South Bend. I had that feeling too, but then I looked at the rest of Notre Dame schedule. This is the last chance that they have to even sniff, to even gaze upon, to even stand, on the same street as the

Starting point is 00:25:52 playoff this year. If they lose this game, there's nothing. Coach Freeman needs to coach like his job depends on it because guess what? Very well Mike. This game has to mean everything to Notre Dame. I think it

Starting point is 00:26:08 will mean everything to Notre Dame. I think that they win a close one for the Gipper in front of touchdown Jesus. I think they just barely, and there may be some controversy. I feel like this one of those games where you see something happened toward the end where you're like, wow,

Starting point is 00:26:24 that's some big home cooking, but I think Notre Dame pulls a very, very close one out by the hairs on their chinny, chin, right? So let's round these out. We've already talked about most of the rest of these games. I mean, are we in agreement? Let me list a few of them here. Are we in agreement that Miami wins outright against Virginia Tech? Two thumbs, turning the key. Okay. What about Clemson?

Starting point is 00:26:50 They're going to win outright again. Stanford, they're favored by 21 and a half points. They win and they cover in that one. Yeah, Syracuse is going to beat Holy Cross. They're 28 and a half points favored. What about the, what's the final verdict on NC State? Do they win the game outright, even if they don't cover? No, I don't think that they, I, well, hold on, hold on, hold on, I'm sorry.

Starting point is 00:27:16 The Wolfpacker on the CW. Now, I know what you're thinking. But a third-rate school, ill, gross. There's something about the CW that it imbues the wolf pack with the special powers. It's like how Prince said purify yourself in the water or Lake Minnetonka. Well, the CW is NC State's Lake Minnetonka. I had, going into this week, I had Northern Illinois winning by a close one. After seeing it was on the CW, I don't think that NC State lets down here.

Starting point is 00:27:48 I think that they win and they cover. Are they on right after a new episode of Gossip Girl on the CW? Maybe Gilmore Girls. Who knows? I'm not sure what they're playing over there these days. Way back in the day. Are you too young? Do you remember Seventh Heaven?

Starting point is 00:28:02 I think that was actually... Okay, okay, just making sure. I don't think they called it CW. I was the OG Jessica Bill guy, baby. The father on that show got a weird case. Why is he around? But Jessica Bill, yeah. That was a throwback.

Starting point is 00:28:18 That was a throwback right there, man. from seventh heaven to nc state football the cw has come full circle uh what about we see if there's any others here uh oh what about uh louisiana at wake forest i it would not surprise me if the demon deacons go down at home hey listen i don't know who needs to hear this i don't know who needs to to know this way forest is a three and a half point favorite i think that's the only favorite to outright lose this week um i i don't see a world where they beat the raging occasions here. Shout out to Louisiana.

Starting point is 00:28:57 I think that they get it done. I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong. I hope Brock and Meyer and company show something really, really special here. I just don't see it coming. Well, we'll talk to you guys after the games. It should be some good ones this weekend. For Kenton Gibbs, I am Alex Donnell.

Starting point is 00:29:15 We'll talk to you guys again next time on another episode of Lockdown ACC, part of the awesome lockdown podcast network. Your team every day.

Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Miami Hurricanes top ACC power rankings: Can they maintain the lead?

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