ACC SQUAD - It's Miami & EVERYONE ELSE | Where Duke sits

Grayson Singleton (0:01)

This is the Locked On Podcast Network, celebrating 10 years of your team every day. All right, who in the hell is going to play Miami in the ACC Championship because behind them, ain't nobody got a clue.

SPEAKER_2 (0:18)

You're talking ball with the ACC Squad.

From Florida State to North Carolina, from Syracuse to Miami, and from NC State to California, it's the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network, bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming ACC Weekend. Hang on, it could get loud, it could get heated, and it will definitely be fun. Squad up, you're part of the ACC Squad.

Grayson Singleton (0:49)

What's up, everybody? Welcome to this edition of the ACC Squad. Getting ready to preview the upcoming weekend. We got a whole bunch to discuss. Wake Forest, are they the biggest surprise in college football this year? There's some more contenders around the country, but for the purpose of this, Wake Forest, they're looking pretty good. I'm Grayson Singleton. Our episode today is brought to you by our friends at FanDuel. Make this your most rewarding season ever with FanDuel Rewards Club. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what's waiting for you. I got Jarvis Davis, Brian Smith, Kitten Gibbs here with me today. What's happening, fellas? How we doing?

Jarvis Davis (1:22)

What's going on, man? How you doing, brother?

Brian Smith (1:25)

I'd be better if Florida State didn't have a head football coach.

Kitten Gibbs (1:28)

I'd be better if NC State had a different defensive coordinator. But here we are, all unhappy with our damn coaches.

Grayson Singleton (1:35)

I'd be better if my team could stop beating themselves.

Brian Smith (1:39)

All right, so we got a therapy session starting.

Jarvis Davis (1:41)

Yeah, this might be a therapy session, a squad.

Grayson Singleton (1:43)

A squad therapy session.

Jarvis Davis (1:44)

Let's go. Let's get it.

Grayson Singleton (1:46)

Hey, you know what's interesting is that SMU, Georgia Tech, still one lost teams in ACC play. Let's start there with who right now do we think is in the driver's seat to face Miami in the ACC Championship game. You got Wake Forest at three and one, but then behind them, you got Pitt, SMU, Clemson, Virginia, Cal at two and one. And then you got Georgia Tech and Duke and Carolina all with one loss. How do you guys see this thing shaking up?

Brian Smith (2:18)

Duke, they would be my pick because I got a real head coach.

Kitten Gibbs (2:24)

Oh, I mean, as much as I like Duke, they're too reliant on Shepherd. And I told everybody early in the season, you cannot have a running back. This ain't Toby Gerhardt ain't walking through that door. Okay, the days of giving the running back 30 plus touches a game and saying, hey, I'm tired of this grandpa. That's too damn bad. We're going to give you the ball. Just keep digging. Those days are over.

So we saw Nate Shepherd get hurt against Georgia Tech, which obviously was a large part of why Jarvis Davis' team is no longer looking at Coach Key like he looking funny in the light. But in all seriousness, this is-

Jarvis Davis (2:58)

That Bitcoin, baby, that's funny money.

Kitten Gibbs (3:00)

Let me tell you something. And that's why, that is the reason why I'm going with Wake Forest. I think that they've got to be the second best team in the conference because they're the only team to look like they belong on the same field with Miami. For example, they lost to Miami about 13 points. No other team, if you double that amount, no other team that Miami has played has lost by that amount. Everybody, the closest game was 28 points. Like that's, they're the only team that's looked like a serious outfit against them. So I'm thinking Wake is probably gonna be in Charlotte at the end of this thing.

Brian Smith (3:32)

I was saying Wake is better, but the team behind Wake is Duke. I agree with Kenton. I just took the question different way. Like Wake is the one team that we all agree with.

Their coaching is consistent. Their players don't beat themselves. They actually tackle the ball carrier. They don't look at guys running by them in the secondary like they're a terrorist and they get away from them. It's just unbelievable how consistent they are.

Compared to the league right now, especially in the secondary in the ACC, passing defense in the ACC is horrific. It is really bad. Not for Wake, though. They are at least competent. They don't have the same cats that NC State or some of these other teams do, but how many times you see Wake getting beat on or walk in touchdown? I'll take that coaching staff all day long.