Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - WIN AND IN: Georgia Tech can CLINCH ACC Title Game by Beating Pitt | Who Wins this ELIMINATION Game?

Episode Date: November 21, 2025

Georgia Tech face win-or-go-home pressure against Pitt Panthers for a spot in the ACC title game. Can the Yellow Jackets overcome Pitt’s elite run defense and shaky recent performances to punch their ticket to Charlotte? Meanwhile, College Football Playoff hopes linger for Miami Hurricanes, SMU Mustangs, and more, hinging on high-stakes games and unlikely scenarios.Jackson Holzer breaks down every Week 13 ACC football matchup, spotlighting SMU’s surprise playoff bid, Miami’s margin for error, and the volatility of Louisville and NC State. Key storylines include Clemson’s historic bowl eligibility streak, Notre Dame’s dominance over a depleted Syracuse squad, and bold predictions for Duke vs. North Carolina. Get the latest insights and score forecasts as teams battle for postseason dreams—who will seize their moment in the ACC? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All Georgia Tech has to do is win and they're in. 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 in a Locked on ACC. I'm Jackson Holes or the host of Locked on Syracuse, and thank you for making Locked on ACC, your first listen of every single day here on the Locked on Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcasting network. It's your team every day.

And of course, we're always free and available wherever you get your podcast. And on today's show, we are previewing all nine games across the ACC for week 13 of college football. The Miami Hurricanes are still alive for the ACC title game and also have a shot at making the college football playoff as an at large team. plus SMU, they're doing that thing again. What's that thing that I am referring to? Well, it's sort of just creeping up on everyone. And lo and behold, at the end of the regular season, they have a shot to make real noise come to postseason.

Will they do it? We'll talk about that later on in the show here on Lockdown, ACC. But we have to start off with the big matchup of the weekend. You got Georgia Tech hosting the Pit Panthers. All that and more coming up here on today's edition of Locked-on ACC. And before we get to everything, this episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account, use code Lockdown College for $20 off your first purchase. Georgia Tech is in the best possible scenario you can be in in any sport, in any level of sport.

win and you're in. That's right, folks. All Georgia Tech has to do this weekend is beat the Pit Panthers, and they punch their ticket to Charlotte for the ACC title game. Not only that, but Georgia Tech, if they can beat the Pit Panthers this weekend and perhaps pull off a pretty big upset against Georgia in the final game of the season, they could very well have a case to be an at-large team for the college football playoff. Now, it's probably unlikely for a couple of reasons.

Number one, it's going to be very difficult to beat Georgia after playing the Pitt Panthers. Got to handle your business against Pitt. Number two, Georgia Tech is sitting right now at 16th in the country. They got a leapfrog quite a few teams just to have a case to be an at-large college football playoff team. But regardless, if they just beat the Pitt Panthers this weekend, then all they got to do is win the ACC title game. And they're in the college football playoff. As far as Pitt is concerned, they have one loss in the ACC. They don't necessarily control their own destiny for making the ACC title game. They do need some help. But if they lose this game, they are out. They have

zero chance at qualifying for the ACC title game and also zero shot at making the college football playoff for this season. As far as this game is concerned, I think on the surface, the pit panthers probably have a slight edge given what the numbers say. Georgia Tech, we know they're bread and butter. They love to run the football and they don't hide it either. their second best right now in the ACC at running the ball. The Pitt Panthers are second in the ACC at stopping the run in terms of total yardage.

And also they allow less than three yards per carry. So it's not just the fact that the total says that they are a good run defense because that could be a bit deceiving. How often do teams run against the pit panthers? Each individual carry less than three yards per attempt. So they are very efficient at stopping the run. Not only that, Georgia Tech's defense, the past two games, NC State, Boston College, not exactly world beaters, has been pretty suspect to say the least.

And I think Georgia Tech fans are well aware of the fact that their defense has not performed well over the past two games. But I do think they're going to be able to run the football this weekend. And the reason why is because if you dive a little bit deeper on the Pit Panthers in terms of the opponents that they are playing, when they play teams that can really run the football at a high level, and I'm going to single out too in just a moment, they actually do give up rushing yards.

This is not the steel curtain pit panthers defense here. And of course, I know the steel curtain is really the Pittsburgh Steelers, but you get the point. Pitt gave up in a game where they weren't actually going to care about because Pat Nardousie is a moron. Pitt gave up 175 rushing yards to Notre Dame. And if we're being honest, they probably would have given up 275 on the ground had Notre Dame not taking their foot off the gas. And you want to go back a little bit over a month ago when they played Florida State. that was a game that Pitt actually won. So Pitt can win games even when they're not stopping the run at a high level.

But Florida State carved out 170 rushing yards against this Pitt Panthers defense. Plus, it should be noted. And I kind of alluded to it just now. The football gods, they have to be against Pat and Arduzzi. Karma has to be against the Pitt Panthers. And I feel bad for the Pitt players that their head coach is an idiot, but it's just the reality. I'm sorry.

Your head coach is going up on the podium before a game against Notre Dame and saying, we don't really care. We can lose this game 100 and nothing. And who cares? Well, Pitt, with that loss to Notre Dame, they have no chance at making the college football playoff at large. Whereas had they actually won that game and then, you know, maybe beat Georgia Tech, beat Miami to close the regular season,

and you might have had a case to be an at-large team for the college football player. I'm just saying, I'm just saying, okay? But, you know, they didn't care about their game against Notre Dame. It's going to be a loud environment in Atlanta, Georgia. Fans are going to be pretty active for that game, I'm sure of it. And so while the numbers may suggest that Pitt has a slight edge in this game, which, by the way, is a night game, 7 p.m. Eastern.

should have mentioned that earlier. I'm going to go with Georgia Tech, which I know is not a bold prediction, given that Georgia Tech is a slight favorite to win this game. But I am going to go with Georgia Tech to win this one, 3127. Comment your thoughts in the comment section below. Who do you have winning this very pivotal game in the ACC? It's an ACC elimination game.

Georgia Tech or the pit panders. Comment your thoughts in the comment section below. Now coming up, SMU, once again, they're sneaking up on everyone in the ACC. Are they on their way to the ACC title game and perhaps the college football playoff? Find out next on locked on ACC.

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Well, well, well. Here we go again with SMU. The team that just quietly goes about its business and lo and behold towards the end of the season, yet again for the second straight year, they have a chance to make real noise. Because while SMU suffered a couple of early season losses and they do also have a loss in the ACC,

currently SMU is 5 and 1 in the conference heading into this matchup at noon eastern on Saturday against Louisville. So SMU is very much alive to make the ACCC title game and if they win that title game, go to the college football playoff for the second straight year. But there's a big buck to this. SMU does not control its own destiny. Now, when I was going through everything, there are multiple ways I believe that SMU can get in to the ACCC title game. But here is the easiest path for SMU.

they got to win out. That's for starters. They cannot lose another conference game. And then they need either Georgia Tech or Virginia to lose. Both of those teams only have one more game remaining in the ACC. So two games. One of them has to go SMU's way. Otherwise, they can win out in this regular season.

and it won't matter. They will not be playing in Charlotte for the ACC title game. With that said, as far as this game itself against Louisville, this is a coin flip. It's a toss-up. I don't think anyone can really give you an accurate prediction for what is going to happen in this game because of how Jekyll and Hyde both these teams can really be.

both these teams at their best beat Miami. That's one thing that these teams have in common. They both beat the Miami Hurricanes. Louisville did it on the road, SMU. They did it at home. But what difference does it make? They both beat Miami this season. And that's why Miami, by the way, is sitting on the sidelines right now,

just hoping and praying. Maybe they can make the conference title game because of these two teams. That's what it is right now. So are you getting the SMU team that beat Miami? Or are you getting the SMU that has lost to Wake Forest, that has lost to Baylor, and has also lost to TCU? Are you getting the Louisville that, as we just covered, also beat the Miami Hurricanes? But have also lost back-to-back games against Clemson and Cow. What do you think?

Comment your thoughts in the comments section. below. This is an unpredictable game. And I think Fandul is telling you exactly that, given that SMU is the home team and they're just two and a half point favorites, which means on a neutral field, this is a toss-up game. And so with that said, given that it's projected to be very close, given that you have no idea what to expect from either one of these teams week in and week out. You could get a really good version. You could get a really bad version. You just don't know. I'm going to take the home team in a very close game, 2724 SMU beats Louisville. Comment your thoughts right now in the comment section below.

Next up, we got Virginia Tech hosting the Miami Hurricanes ranked 13th in the nation, the highest ranking ACC team this Saturday at noon Eastern. Miami technically has a pass. Miami technically has a path to the ACC title game. And they also do have a path to the college football playoff as an at-large team. But if we're being honest, it's unlikely that either one of the scenarios I just mentioned actually happens. Because what can Miami really do now and in the final game of the season that can change anyone's minds, more importantly really, what can change the committee's eyes or minds

about their odds of making the college football playoff. What is it? Meanwhile, Virginia Tech, they have a new head coach, James Franklin, but he will not be coaching this weekend. This game is going to be either a Miami blowout or a classic trap game. Which do you think is going to happen? I'm honestly leaning more towards Miami is going to steamroll past Virginia Tech.

That's just how I'm leaning right now. I think they may have found something in freshman running back, Gerard Pringle. He might be that jolt that this Miami offense really needed over the past couple of games. And who knows, maybe they can carry that momentum to end the regular season. But all Miami can do right now is just control what it can control. And obviously, they got to win pretty too. They can't just beat Virginia Tech. They got to really destroy Virginia Tech because a close win, it does them nothing at this point.

They have zero margin for error for the rest of the season. Do you think that the Miami Hurricanes are going to make the college football playoff? Do you think that somehow they may punch their ticket to Charlotte, which would be next week. They cannot make the conference title game this week. in that regard? Comment your thoughts right now in the comments section below. Let's step to another game here. I can't believe we have to, we're doing this game.

I can't believe it. I'm a Syracuse fan, but we pick every single game here on Locked-on, ACC. You got number nine Notre Dame against Syracuse this Saturday at 3.30 p.m. Eastern. Hey, look, if Notre Dame loses this game, then Miami may actually have a real shot at making the college football playoff because Notre Dame would be out. And similar to what I said when Syracuse was playing Miami, that if Mario Cristobal were to have lost to that Syracuse team, he shouldn't have a job in football.

Same goes with Marcus Freeman over at Notre Dame. And I know Notre Dame, they love Marcus Freeman, but they won't love him very much if they lose to this Syracuse team. But fortunately, they're not going to lose to Syracuse. go check the odds right now over on Fandul if you have time. Because at the time of this recording, Notre Dame's money line to beat Syracuse is minus 50,000. For those that don't know what it means, here's what it means.

You have to bet $50,000 on Notre Dame to beat Syracuse. on Notre Dame to beat Syracuse in order to earn $100 in profit. That is how confident Fandul is in that Notre Dame is going to beat Syracuse on Saturday. Notre Dame is only a 35 and a half point favorite and that's probably because they're factoring in garbage time. If Notre Dame really wanted to, they can win this game 65-0 and I'm not joking. Syracuse, for those that don't know, they are starting a walk-on, true freshman lacrosse player at quarterback by the name of Joe Fulardi this weekend. And hey, Joe Fulardi, he's already made one start this year. He did that a few weeks ago.

It was on Halloween night against North Carolina, where he went four of 18 for 39 yards. I have Notre Dame winning this game. 45 nothing. Comment your thoughts in the comment section below. Do you think that Syracuse has any sort of chance of covering? I hope it would be pretty funny. Now coming up, still got plenty more to discuss for week 13 of ACC football. So stick with me here on locked on ACC.

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So what are you waiting for? Head to fanduil.com right now to sign up and play your game with Fandul, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Plenty of more games to talk about here on Locked-on ACC for week 13 of college football. I'm Jackson Hulzer, the host of Locked-on Syracuse. Let's get to this next one right here. You got North Carolina hosting the Duke. Blue Devils this Saturday at 3.30 p.m. Eastern. Duke is still technically alive to go to Charlotte for

the ACC title game, but the odds that Duke actually makes it to Charlotte for the ACC title game are about the same odds that I will be traveling to the moon tomorrow. So I wouldn't really buy into the idea that Duke is alive to make the ACC title game. And look, Duke is just so disappointing. I don't know what else you want me to tell you about the Duke Blue Devils this season. They paid their quarterback a boatload of money, and he just stunk last week in the biggest game of the year against Virginia. They got spanked by that team at home.

And every time Duke has had a chance to establish itself as a real threat in the ACC, they had folded. They folded every time. What's their big win this year? At Clemson? Like the worst Clemson team in two decades? At least over a decade. Duke is probably going to win this game.

They're playing North Carolina. North Carolina isn't very good. North Carolina has trouble scoring points. They don't have a good offense at all. Duke's defense. not very good either. Duke is going to win this game. My prediction is 3517,

but it's just been such a disappointing year for the Duke Blue Devils. So congratulations on clinching a bowl this season, but that team could have been a lot more than just a bowl eligible team in 2025. Next game, we got the one tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern NC State hosting Florida State, NC State, excuse me, is a slight home underdog.

I believe last I checked Fando, they were five and a half point underdogs at home. The stakes, well, both these teams are five and five, meaning the winner of this game will become bowl eligible. The loser will have to win the final game of the regular season in order to qualify for a bowl. NC State, they're looking to rebound from what was a very disappointing effort down in Coral Gables against Miami. I didn't think they were going to win that game, but I thought they would be a lot more competitive in that game. They got demolished right away from by Miami. Florida State, to their credit, they held serve against Virginia Tech. Florida State, by the way, is the number one rushing offense in the ACC, NC State, bottom half of the conference in run defense. But if we're

being honest, this is very similar to Louisville and SMU, where we don't know on any given week what team we are going to get from either one of these teams. We don't know what NC State is going to show up. We definitely don't know what Florida State is going to show up. And so given the fact that I believe that this is a toss-up game, I tend to lean towards home teams. And it just so happens to be that the home team is an underdog in this game. So I'm going to pick an upset. 3128 NC State at home gets it done. Then you got Clemson hosting Furman Saturday at 4.30 p.m. Eastern.

All Clemson has to do is beat an FCS opponent for its sixth win of the year. Of course, that means they would become bowl eligible. So congratulations to the Clemson. and Tigers, you are bowl eligible for, you ready for it? The 27th consecutive season. That's right. The last time the Clemson Tigers did not qualify for a bowl was back in 1998. 2004, they went six and five, but they imposed a punishment on themselves.

So they did not play in a bowl game that year. That's why if you look up the longest active bowl streaks in college football, you won't see Clemson or you'll see Clemson at 20 or 21, whatever it is right now. It's really more than that, but they decided not to play a bowl in 2004. I know it's been a very disappointing year for the Clemson Tigers, obviously preseason. They had national championship expectations. They didn't come anywhere close to it for one reason or another. It was the perfect storm of things that could go wrong,

but assuming they handle their business against an FCS opponent, at least they qualify for a bowl. And I do think that Clemson can take a little bit of pride in that because I don't know about you, but as the Syracuse host, you're unlocked on, I would love if my football team qualified for a bowl for nearly 30 consecutive seasons. I think that would be pretty cool, even if Clemson is not where they once were in the college football land state. My prediction for this game, Clemson is going to win by a lot. a lot of points. Stanford versus Cal Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Eastern. Stanford, they have seven losses, no longer bowl eligible. You got Cal. They have six wins. They are full eligible. Congratulations

to them. I'll go close game, 2721. Cal wins. And finally, Wake Forest against Delaware Saturday at noon Eastern. With a win, Wake will clinch its first eight win regular season since 2021. The last time that Wake Forest won eight games total in a year was actually in 2022. But the reason why I said total is because that eighth win came in the bowl game for Wake Forest that year. My prediction, same thing what I said about Clemson. Wake Forest is playing an FCS team.

Wake Forest is going to win this game by a lot of points. Comment your predictions. the comments section below. Who do you have winning the big game this weekend? Georgia Tech or Pitt? Who do you think wins between SMU and Louisville? Is Louisville going to be a spoiler now that they are obviously out of any sort of ACC or college football playoff contention? Do you think the Miami Hurricanes may be able to make a run in the final two games of the regular season? Comment your thoughts right now in the comment section below. As far as what's coming up on Locked on ACC.

The next episode will most likely feature Alex Dono and Kenton Gibbs, the normal host here on Locked on ACC. But I will be back next Friday, previewing the final weekend of the regular season of ACC football. 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. to all your friends about locked on ACC, and I will see you all again next week.