00:10 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
All right, it is that time, once again, to hit the books as we continue our 2024 conference preview series here, part of the Hammer Betting Network. Today we officially start up the Power 4. That's right, not Power 5, power 4 conferences, with our acc preview. Before we get to best bets, before we talk, at least briefly, about all the teams in the acc, a couple newcomers, like most of the power conferences this year, before we get to all that, if you've been following along with conference previews, very happy to announce that we have a new sponsor as part of the Hit the Books here. Hit the Books is officially sponsored by FanDuel. You may have heard of them. Super excited, to condition myself. 

00:51
Obviously, fanduel is an industry leader, one of the best products in prices going specifically for this show, because this is a college football show, Lots of college football offerings and great line menu. A lot of times and we've known this if you've been following hit the books all off season FanDuel has been one of the first to markets when it comes to win totals, lots of fun, different bets. They have awards bets up there right now as far as the preseason college football awards bets, easy to use, fast payouts. Before, though, the college football season gets started here and we're T minus less than two than two weeks away from week zero. Still some action to be had, and that specifically being major league baseball. That's the stuff that's getting us through these next 10 12 days here, and fan duel is proud to announce that they are hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily. That's right, there's something for everyone. Every day for the rest of summer, you can take your booster bonus and bet on everything major league baseball related, from home runs to strikeouts and even the final score. Every day for the rest of summer, you can take your booster bonus and bet on everything Major League Baseball related, from home runs to strikeouts and even the final score. Plus, with FanDuel, you can continue your bets in a live same game parlay for a shot at even a bigger payout. So head on over to FanDuelcom and start racking up some runs in the sun. Disclaimer you must be 21 plus or 18 plus in dc and present in select states. Optional and requirement wage requirements apply. Bonuses award as ads, non-withdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply, including bonus expiration see terms and conditions at fanduelcom sportsbook gambling prom call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-helpcom in colorado dc, illinois, iowa, kansas, in affiliation kansas star casino, kentucky, louisiana, michigan, new jersey, north carolina, oh, ohio, pennsylvania, tennessee, vermont, virginia and Wyoming. 

02:24
Call 1-800-NEXTSTEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342. In Arizona, 1-888-789-7777, or visit czpgorg slash chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9 with it in Indiana. Visit mdgamblinghelporg in Maryland or visit 1-800-GAMBLERnet in West Virginia. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelplineMAorg. Or call 1-800-327-5050 for 24-7. Support Massachusetts. Or call 1-877-8HOPE New York or text HOPE New York. In New York. Kanish, I'm going to let you do some more of the talking. I got to almost take a breath after that disclaimer there, man, how you been Officially we haven't been doing a live show the last couple weeks, but finally got to meet you man. Uh, yeah, first, canish is not ai folks. I saw him live in the unless he's a t1000 from terminator I. I saw you. Uh, bet, bash man. Good to see you again. 

03:17 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, no, hey, it was great to finally uh get out there meet you. Uh, we saw, you know, some other hammer guys our boy, zach phil, uh, you know guys from the hammer pizza man, more man Moreto. Even Bud Elliott was down there chopping it up with us. So, yeah, that was a, that was a good time. I I'll have to stay a couple more days next time. There was some. I gotta, I haven't been. I hadn't been out to the West coast, and I think since since pre COVID. So, and good to you know, finally I spent my time on the West Coast. Now let's go, baby, to the best coast, the Atlantic Coast. Here, little segue here to you know, a conference which could be quite interesting this year. I think of the Power 4, you know we've got Big 12 here coming up which might be the most wide open, but in terms of, you know, the Power 4, that I think could get interesting. 

04:07 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
This, this one has some potential yeah, certainly, uh, as we're recording, uh, this show, we're doing a couple of, I think, interesting conferences acc and big 12 chances for multiple teams to have a shot at actually winning the conference, something you don't always say. Um, in some of the major conference it's usually a couple of contenders and everybody else. But, specific to acc, I've been following along the previews. We've hit every team we start from. Let's start worst. We'll start from the bottom. We started from the bottom. Now we're here, uh, we'll start with stanford newcomer. 

04:37
Uh, stanford program that's obviously fallen on some hard times uh, last few years, but I think they made a really good, good hire last season. They were better than I expected last season. I thought it was going to be an absolute dumpster fire. They were at least competitive in some games, didn't quit on the season. I think this year's team is night and day as far as experience. They were like dead last in returning experience last year and this year they're at the top of college football in returning experience. So massive upgrade of the power rating for Stanford. Does that necessarily translate to a team that's going to make a run for ball eligibility? No, but even with a lot of long travel, obviously they're traveling coast to coast in the new league. I've been optimistic on the Stanford team. A lot of the wind totals out there. You know we're three and a half on Stanford to open up the summer. I took over three and a half. I think it's a four win team at least. 

05:26 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I mean, I tell you nothing. Nothing reminds me of ACC football. Like Stanford Cal. Open it up with a Stanford Cal West coast rivalry game here. The new, the new era of college football. But, as you said, if've been a summer uh watcher and listener, or listener of hit the books or even going back to last year, we're both drunk. You know some pretty heavy troy taylor fans. Both love the stanford team. 

05:54
This year, um, again, as you said, a lot coming back. I've all, I've always liked taylor in terms of what he brings to the offense. It had gotten so stale under David Shaw there that they really needed to mix things up. And you know one of the programs that in this new era of college football transfer portal that struggles to acquire talent, Stanford is still doing it, having to do it. You know the traditional way they're not bringing in no Juco's on this team, no FCS to do it. You know the traditional way they're not bringing in no juke goes on this team, no FCS guys coming in. You know getting in the admissions process for Stanford so I think it was going to take a little bit for him to, you know, to bring in. 

06:33
So they still recruit decently well out there. It's still a school that you know you have a degree, you can get a job anywhere, so still a school with a lot of cachet that I think you know has some recruiting chops, and a school you know that I don't think has the financial issues as some of the other, maybe as a Cal does. But hey, again, like Troy Taylor, like what they're bringing back, I think they're. I mean, this is a team. I think they're a little live. We both have taken a position week one Think they could be a little live in that tcu game. Week one. Then they get cal poly, then they get syracuse. Uh, I mean, I wouldn't be shocked if this team got off to a three and, oh, start, now they get it. 

07:13 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
They get more meat in the schedule there, but I would. 

07:17 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I would not be shocked, not for day, not saying go out. You know, beth, about the, but there's some winnable games on this schedule and you know what, as long as they can get two early ones. Then you've got the Wake Forest game. You end at San Jose State, who should be well down, and I think they're obviously very live in the Stanford-Cal rivalry game. So, yeah, I think this should be a four-win team Potential to get to five. 

07:47 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, I mean, you mentioned a lot there. Uh, I, I agree that I think helps on the way. It's just gonna take a little bit because uh, the recruiting classes and then he stacked up, or obviously I mean just freshman, the incoming recruiting class, he's doing another nice job for the upcoming class, so it might take a little bit, but uh, I actually think in some regards they might've stepped down in competition. Uh, you know, they don't have to play Oregon and Washington, uh, or at least Washington from last year. So, uh, yeah, I, I, I, I hear you, I I'd like three and oh, I can tell you that. Are we giving out anything best bet wise? I know we. Is it gotten too pricey on the 3.5, minus 170 there at FanDuel? I think week one's a little bit out of range there. We prefer to double-digit next to them against TCU. But are we giving out any win total on them yet, or are we coming back to them later in the show? 

08:35 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I mean I'm still, you know, let's come back to it to see what we go through but I wouldn't be opposed to even a three and a half at the 170. All right, because I think this team is a strong, strong candidate and I think the right number is more. I would say a juiced over four. If you know, conditioning was on that, I think you know. I think this team gets to four with potential to five. 

08:58 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
We could do the nerdy show. My numbers are 4.19 on Stanford season win total. I give them, you know, at least a 25% chance in, you know, seven of the 12 games or whatever I, we won't do that but I hear you for juiced over would be where I would set it as well. 

09:14
So we'll, we'll come back to that. Let's talk Wake Forest team. Another team that kind of fell on hard times, at least last season, could not replace Sam Hartman after he went off to Notre Dame, and Wake Forest had their worst season in quite some time last year. I think this year's team's a little bit better, but I don't necessarily think that they're going back to 8, 9, 10 wins like they were when Sam Hartman was the quarterback. So we've seen the win total creep up a little bit on this team. In the offseason it went from 4.5. A lot of places are sitting at 5. 

09:44
I kind of agree with that sentiment, but I can't get anything more than five out of Wake Forest. It's not like they're overly talented never overly talented but usually when they have their best seasons they're really senior laden, and this year's team really doesn't have either. If they figure out quarterback, they bring in Bachmeier, who I'm not a huge fan of, but I think they can still get better production than last year out of that position. I'm just I'm kind of so-so on this team. I made a little bet on over four and a half but that's just because I respect Claussen so much. 

10:19 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I think if you're, you know, if you're a buyer on Wake Forest this year, you're kind of you're doing exactly that. You're kind of you're doing exactly that, you're kind of buying into Dave Claussen being the guy who been there for a long time. Staple of the program. I mean, the offense is, yeah, there shouldn't be really that much change. You know a lot of return. Hopefully they get an upgrade in the quarterback position I would lean that way as well to the over four and a half. Um. Again, it's a little, this one to me. I don't, he's a little. I would, tighter than I think Stanford can get to four with some comfort. 

10:47
This one, I think, is going to be kind of right, as you said, right on the margin. There it would be a small position on over four and a half if I was to play it. And that being because, as you said, without Sam Hartman you saw the offense. I mean this has to be an offensive-driven team. 

11:03
It's never a team during Dave Clawson's tenure that has had, you know, great defenses or a defense's carry in the run. They run that kind of, you know, mesh stall offense, which is a little unique, maybe not as unique as it once was, but I don't know. And again, as you said with Bachmeier, I know they got a couple other options that would be. The concern for me is that if this team doesn't upgrade at quarterback, it's just not a team that does a lot of other things significantly. Well, that's kind of been the Dave Clawson magic is to have the offense going on, you get a little run game going, but I don't know, I'm so so on Bachmeier and kind of you know, half warm on this team, even though I think they can get to five and seven. 

11:45 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I think their receivers are pretty good this year. And then defensive line I think he's got some. 

11:50 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
You know he's got some. Pop some juice there. 

11:52 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, key games, I think some swing games at home. Virginia in week two is a big swing game for them. Conference game, louisiana Lafayette getting them off a buy at home, I think's uh good. And then getting duke in the finale at home, uh, a duke team that we'll be talking about. We're pretty down on the market's way down on duke, so at least some of them swing games they get at home. So again, uh, my numbers are 5.09. On wake forest, uh, so we certainly lean over there, but I don't know if it's best bet material minus 150. 

12:21
Next up, boston college some excitement there with a new coach, uh, bill o'brien. Maybe not excitement for some people that don't like bill o'brien, but I I honestly think, you know, I like jeff halfley quite a bit. But as far as bringing in a guy with obviously northeast ties, bringing in a guy that's got some head coaching experience, uh I I didn't think it was a bad move, especially considering it was late in the process. What I I do like Boston College-wise is their personnel coming back. We'll see if Bill O'Brien can get Castellanos a little bit better as a passer. Hopefully they don't rely on his arm too much. Hopefully they let him still be himself as far as running around and making plays, because he's an incredible athlete. But they're one of the more experienced teams in the country 16 returning starters. I think they're slightly better than last year. 

13:07
What I don't like about this year's team is that schedule, starting with that opener at Florida State on Labor Day night where there are three touchdown underdog at Missouri. He's going to be tough in non-conference play, a big swing game against Michigan State. I think both first-year coaches. At least BC gets that one at home. Man four and a half's not expecting much. You know, again I'm going to take an optimistic approach to that. Over four and a half is where I lean. But again it's very similar to Wake Forest. I don't see much more than five. I would say it would be a very successful first season and they just got back the ball eligibility and right now there's not a lot of slam dunk wins on the schedule. 

13:42 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I'm with you. That's another one. I would even be, I think, a little less optimistic on this four and a half. 

13:49
Not a Bill O'Brien fan are you, yeah, no, no, you know what. I just think it's been a little bit of. You know, it's one of those where the sheen has kind of worn off over the years. On Bill O'Brien, I also don't love, you know, in terms of coordinator hires, tim Lewis, who hasn't coached in, I think, the collegiate level since like 94 or something. He's been in the XFL, the USFL, so I don't particularly love that. Again, they've got some return. You might be able to ugly it. 

14:19
I'm interested to see kind of what they do, particularly on offense. They were a team that you know was kind of driven by running the ball last year and Castellanos kind of, you know, running around in. That I don't love I. Just this first year I don't love it. It's not a coordinators and a system and a guy in Bill O'Brien that I think brings a ton of coaching edge. I think their talent level is, you know, maybe better than some of the bottom feeders, but again, not elite by any means. Not a guys, you know, not a lot of guys, the skill positions with any juice. So I think the offense is going to be, uh, you know, vanilla-ish in terms of not a lot of explosive potential. So, and as you said, with a schedule that's not overly friendly outside of you know they have to have that michigan state if they want to go over this win total. They have to have that Michigan State game in the non-conference along with the game. 

15:06 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Western Kentucky's not a slam dunk win either they got to have those two though. 

15:10 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, and as you said, in the ACC I mean outside of Pitt, at home, and depending what we'll get to what we think of UNC, that meat of the schedule there in the mix is it's got some tough games. So again it's another one. I would need a flat five to want to actually go under but I wouldn't be paying the juice on that. 

15:37 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Over a four-and-a-half this is going to sound like a broken record. Another team with right around a win total of four-and-a-half, virginia's next, obviously, tony Elliott has not been a good look. The first couple years had the tragedy a couple years ago. Last year's team in some instances were better than I expected. Uh, you know, including pulling out right up, says a three touchdown plus underdog in north carolina probably should have beaten miami, but in other areas I mean it was still the relatively disappointing season. 

16:02
I think this is his best team yet. It's going to have to be if he wants to save his job in my opinion. But with that being said, this is one win total where it's been pretty much four and a half all summer. Nobody's really bet it. And again, I man, how many favorite roles are going to have Richmond, coast, carolina, maybe BC at home? Other than that, I mean they'll probably be an underdog in at least eight or nine games. I I'm out there. I haven't seen anything in the first couple of years of Tony Elliott to scream that he's going to get this turned around by, turned around by getting to a bowl game. I just don't. I know they're better off at the line of scrimmage than what they've been the last couple of years, but still I, even upgrading their power rating, I think there's still a four or five win team. I didn't do anything with their win total. That's rare for me. 

16:45 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I'm with and you know what. This is one that we've talked a few of the new coaches there in terms of which way you want to go. This is just a coach Gun to my head. I just like fading him. 

16:55 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah. 

16:56 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I haven't been a believer since kind of the jump here in terms of what he's done at UVA and kind of the offense he tried to install and just what's happening with the program. I just don't see it. I don't. There's again not a lot. They do return, as you said, some you know decent players on both sides of the ball. The defense kind of had to fall apart last year, but they do, you know, maybe if they're healthier this year, they had some injuries and shuffling going on last year, so maybe it's potentially better this year. It's one At the current number I could only go under as kind of thinking that maybe this is it for Elliott, but it's one, as you said, hasn't really moved particularly much either way, but one that I'm not dying to jump at, but it would be an under four and a half or nothing for me. 

17:47
And, as you said, that coastal game, uh, they got, you know, maryland, in the non-con coastal, in the non-con, I don't I wouldn't be running to bet them at either either place and then, and then they got a real tough, you know. I mean, they didn't get a great draw as far as ACC wise, except for boarding, avoiding Florida, avoiding Florida state. But yeah, to me I would say this is probably it for Elliot and would lean under on the four and a half. 

18:11 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, if it goes bad, if he like suffers, you know an unexpected loss early. I mean, look at that, you know. Louisville at Clemson, north Carolina at Pitt at Notre. 

18:21
Dame, sm Carolina, at Pitt, at Notre Dame, smu, at Virginia Tech. I mean they're going to be an underdog in all those games, all seven of their last games. So yeah, this is probably. If I had to bet it, if they put out a prop, will Tony Elliott be there in 2025 or not? I would bet the no and I would favor the no. 

18:37
At this point let's talk about a first-year coach, duke. Welcome to Manny Diaz. After back-to-back unbelievable seasons for Duke under Mike Elko, who's off to A&M, manny Diaz has had back-to-back really good seasons as a defensive coordinator at, obviously, penn State the last couple years. Honestly, going back to his days in Miami, I thought Manny got a little bit of a bad rap there in Miami, considering Cristobal hasn't improved the win-loss record, to say the least. Overall, I think the hire is okay. 

19:07
I don't know how it's going to work out, especially in year one. The defensive-minded coach I think they have some defensive personnel to at least be competitive Offensively. I don't know. Not a lot back and I didn't like what I saw in the spring game. Specifically, they only had five offensive linemen available for the spring, five scholarship offensive linemen. That really hindered them. I'm not expecting much from Duke this year. I'd be surprised if they made a bowl game. Mark, it's agreed, I think. Six and a half down to five and a half. Zach will have to refresh my memory. Did we give out under six and a half on the show, like three four months ago? If we didn't, uh, if we didn't, shame on me. 

19:47 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I know that was obviously a popular play. I know we've got some of that in pocket. I know a couple of others. Uh, you know some services that that they even took worse numbers they were. 

19:58 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
they kept hitting it. 

19:59 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, yeah. So that I would say, though, um, that where the numbers, that where the numbers are now, would kind of be the bottom for me, and, to be honest with you, I don't think we'll see it. But if I got a cheap five, maybe go back a little the other way. So I think this is one that it's been beaten down so much now I would not go under anymore, even at the five and a half of the juice. Um, I think it's a little too steep. But I agree with you. I don't, I'm not dying to to. 

20:32
You know, go come back and play on the over. Um, a couple of guys you know Grayson Loftus, malik Murphy, a couple of transfers in there Can they get the offense turned around in time to to kind of make you know, even after losing. You know, basically, I knew you said only had a couple of linemen in the spring game, so they lost a ton off the offensive line. Bring back some on the defense, and that should be, you know where, where Manny Diaz cuts his teeth Always, always the guy who's going to play a sometimes to a fault, super aggressive style of defense, and I think that can work in some aspects, not in others they do. I mean, if we're going to, if I'm going to take a glass half full perspective. 

21:11
Oh yeah they've got four winnable games, maybe even call it five. The first half of the schedule is like I got four winnable games. 

21:22 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I mean. 

21:23 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I'm just saying, I'm just saying here you've got Elon, northwestern Yukon, middle Tennessee. 

21:29 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
All right. Oh, you're saying right off the bat. 

21:31 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, right off the bat and then Duke and Georgia tech. So it is a. I mean, this is one. I think you'll know whether you're going to win this total by the beginning of October, cause. 

21:41 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I agree with that statement. 

21:42 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I got to be either four and two or five. And you know one thing, into the back half of this schedule where you play, you know, kind of a murderer's row the next five weeks, so and then it probably comes down to that Duke Wake Forest game at the end and if you, if you're trying to go over five and a half, so I wouldn't need a. 

21:58
I again I like no one wants to. I think that positions everybody took early on the under six and a half was right Would need a five to to go over Cause I think this, I think this team can win five games with a shot at six. I don't. 

22:18 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I don't think seven is is in the ballpark for for manny in year one, agree, and I'm about 90 sure we gave out under six and a half, like in april. Uh, if you follow along, we're gonna have that sheet updated. Uh, zach has the you know, extraneous uh uh duties of going back and re-watching all of our shows and trying to track all the stuff that we give out, because sometimes we just talk the talk. 

22:36
Obviously we let the chat ask the questions and then we just fire away the bets. But I'm pretty sure if you followed with us you got in front of that big move there. Northwestern's a big swing game, but we do, we'll find out about both and took under positions on both. So somebody get a nice key win. 

22:53
Week two let's talk Pittsburgh, I think another team probably in a similar situation to Duke, but instead of a first-year coach, it's a coach maybe on his last legs, to say the least, there in Narduzzi, off their worst season in quite some time and obviously he had to change things up. I'll believe it when I see it. With a new offensive coordinator, they're going to try to play with some tempo. Again, we'll see. With a new offensive coordinator, they're going to try to play with some tempo. Again, we'll see, but I don't know if he has the personnel to do it. Specifically, a quarterback I didn't like what I saw in the spring game, but also what I didn't like is their defense personnel. I don't think it's as good as what it was even the last couple of years. So they lost their defense. This is in the weeds. They lost their really good defensive line coach who's really carried that. 

23:42
That's been the position group that's carried Pitt the last six, seven years, a major reason why they've had some meandering success under Narduzzi. But I guess what I'm getting at is another team like Duke where a lot of unders were bet early. I think there was some outlier six and a halves out there that got hammered pretty good. Five and a half of my running to bet under no, but I think I'd still lean that way. I again. Week two, week three I'll probably tell you everything you need to know about the team at Cincinnati and West Virginia and they're going to go over the wind total. They got to get one one of those two. Right now I am an underdog in both games. 

24:10 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I mean a Narduzzi, you know, going from a Matt Canada-led offense with a bunch of motion to like Mark Whipple and Kenny Pickett to Addison. We're going to throw it around to like oh, we need to get rid of that and go back to man ball, which is a disaster shock here. And then to like now we're hiring a 30-year-old guy from Western Carolina who does an up-tempo attack. So if individually, in terms of Cade Bell, the new OC, I like that as a standalone hire, do I think he has the personnel or enough time to, you know, turn this around? Because, as you said, I mean I don't know what the appetite is. I mean 10th year he's had some success. I don't know if hot seat would be too strong of a term. 

24:58 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
But as you've said he's going to go three and nine again. 

24:59 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, yeah, the staple of of narduzzi has always been, as you said, like it hasn't been elite. You know non-stop, you know nfl talent at pit. But they've put you know a decent amount of guys that have come through the program and they've always said, you know, respectable defenses. To me, if narduzzi can't provide that, or at least, and the recruiting has not been great either, then I'm not really sure what he's giving you at this point. So I think it's a program that's just heading in the wrong direction and maybe you know it's one of those things that that you know. Maybe K Bell's an offensive genius. He can come in and turn around. I don't love that uh, you know idea of what they were going through last year and thinking it's going to turn around. Year one Again respected money. Agree with the money that was on the early pit unders At five and a half. Am I dying to jump in front of it? No, but that's the only way I could play it. I don't see the jump up to six or seven wins. 

25:55
I just don't see that kind of personnel and that kind of opportunity in the schedule, as you said. I mean those are not. They don't have a lot of baked. I mean Kent State week one, they got Youngstown, but there's just not a lot of other games Other than that we're the surefire wins, I guess. 

26:10 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Well, they're going to have to take, like any of these teams, they've got to take care of all their home games. Cal, Syracuse, virginia Got to win them all. And I don't know if Narduzzi's again A bunch of close games. What's your confidence level in him making right decisions in a bunch of close games? Not very high with Narduzzi as far as I'm concerned. Agreed, maybe it's different. I agree, I like the coordinator. I would like it if I I knew he was going to get multiple years to really turn this offense around. I'm not sure that's going to be the case here. 

26:39
Let's talk about another new coach here. Uh, welcome to the acc syracuse. A lot of juice and excitement with this coach. Uh brown comes over from georgia. Recruiting uh class was the best syracuse has had in recent modern history. Uh, and lots of transfers as well. So a great recruiting class plus transfers, led by Kyle McCord. Uh has a lot of people loving this Syracuse team, unlike a lot of teams we talked about. The market just loved this team. Six and a half was the open and a lot of sports books as far as the win total. Seen a lot of seven and a half's out there now. Yeah, I'm anxious. I'm just gonna let you talk and then I'll give you my thoughts on Syracuse, because we might have a best bet here. 

27:19 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Well, I tell you, you know, I like the Fran Brown hire. You know I think it's kind of the Dino Babers thing had gotten real stale and I think I just peaked. But this is, I think this is eight, and four is asking a lot. Now I they do bring a lot back on defense. So it is a defense that I think has the potential to be upper tier in the ACC and I'll give it to him. 

27:45
I mean, kyle McCord was not a elite college player but in terms of you know, in terms of a guy you can pick up and plug in and be pretty good, I think he can come in and year one. I mean, this was not a guy who was, by any means he wasn't what ohio state's used to in terms of quarterback play. He's not going to go number one in the draft not cj stroud but he was not a bad player. Ronde gatson, uh, you know, big time a wide receiver, tight end hybrid that has a lot of talent. They get the colorado state receiver, um, they've got. I mean, this is a team that's got a lot of talent I like that alan kid at running back yeah, yeah and uh. 

28:24
You know, I think, what a lot of people like to begin with was the schedule. I mean they week one. I know that week one has been a position that we loved. I don't know if it's still uh, you know, still bettable there, but I think they they're able to kind of run out, oh I would give that. 

28:37 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
On the mac preview show, we faded, uh, ohio oh, yeah, hey, yeah, I was good. 

28:42 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
We already did it on the mac preview show there. So, um, so, yeah, I. I just don't know if I can get uh to wanting to go over seven and a half and getting this team getting eight, but the the pieces are there. I'll say that now. Now, where are you at on this? 

28:57 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
so I agree, the pieces are there. Uh, I've upgraded their powering significantly. I loved what I saw from their spring game. That was one of the spring games that stood out to me. Uh, look, I bet him, we bet him against ohio. So I think I'm in line with it. My powerings had a huge overlay there. So it's not like I'm down on syracuse. I like the higher hire, I like the influx of talent, I like the returning guys, like Gatson, who was hurt last year. I can't get to. How do you get to eight wins? I cannot get. I've upgraded this team significantly and I got a huge. You know my tier power ranks like six and a half. Here I was closer to the open. So I my best bet for this entire preview. As far as ACC goes, I would go under seven and a half wins. That's a bet that I have personally made under seven and a half wins, are you there? 

29:40
I mean look, I mean that's asking a lot of a first time head coach and a bunch of new bits and pieces coming in. I mean they're going to have to win. Look, we like Stanford's quite a bit, so that's not a slam dunk. Yeah, nc State's a loss. No-transcript or four laps. I only have two left. I guess there is three ohio, holy cross and connecticut. But I mean after that I, I gotta get five more wins, I, I, I don't see it. I think seven and five's optimistic. 

30:37 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Five more wins? I don't see it. I think seven and five is optimistic. Yeah, I think we're kind of fading the top there in terms of like I can't. This is as peak as the market could get on a team where, you know, in terms of especially, like you said, first-year head coach, and it's not to disparage, as you know, we kind of like a lot. But seven and five is a nice year, one for a program like Syracuse, where I mean 7-5 is a good year at Syracuse. It just is what it is. This is not a, you know, a program Donovan McNabb's not walking through that door anymore. I mean this is not a program that is an 8-9 win. You know 8-9-10. Historical team Dino, who I like as a coach, had a ton of trouble, even with some good years, of keeping that rolling. So yeah, I'm with you on under seven and a half. I think they could have a very nice year and finish seven and five and just thinking anything beyond that is a bit much. 

31:34 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, I mean Dino would have those hot starts and then fade down the stretch depth issues and I don't know if that's. Look, I like a lot of the influx of the talent. I'm not sure that the depth's totally solved in one offseason. So again, 7-5 would be good. I'd be, even though you know obviously I'd be thumbs up because we win our win total best bet here. But I'd be still. It's not like I'd be down on fran brown if he went. Seven and five be like, oh okay, um, so that that would be meeting my expectations. So there we go. There's a best bet under seven and a half syracuse. Make sure you shop around, but fando's got a nice price there. 

32:07
Next up, california, next in my power ranks, a team that, if you're watching hit the books, which you should be watching weekly during the off season, uh, we were doing monday episodes. Keep in mind a little promo. Uh, as we get closer to the season, we were going to be doing three shows a week mondays, fridays, and a little uh segment on saturday during game days, during some of the biggest games of the week, each and every saturday. So make sure you're checking it out 5, 5 pm monday, friday, and then sometime on saturday. We haven't worked out the details there. 

32:37
California, though, a team that I loved last year I seem to be on this island. I was the only one that seemed to like them during the offseason that they came through with me. I'm not going to say it was an easy winner. They had to win their last three games to get the ball eligibility, but they got there. I like what they're doing in the portal Again, but they got there. I like what they're doing in the portal Again. 

32:59
Honestly, this off season I think they got some returning production, you know, at least better than most, with 15 returning starters. With that being said, kanish and a bunch of other people that I really respect do not like California this year. We've seen under the wind total hit on our show and some other markets. I can see it because I mean the travel schedule, specifically early at Auburn, at Florida State and we're talking that's by September 21st is not ideal. A lot of their swing games are on the road, like at Pitt, at Wake Forest, games that you'd probably prefer to have those games at home. I'm neutral, though. Uh, at the current number. Uh, you like under six and a half and we can, and you came out on our six and a half best bet I liked under six and a half when you know we gave it out on the show during the summer. 

33:47 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I don't know if I'm paying minus 180. Uh, you know to take six and a half now, even though I do think at, you know, the apex, this is a six-win team. You know, to me again, Wilcox the defense has, you know it's almost a Narduzzi-ish. You know tenure, here, where they've switched a lot of things up. It's a program that does not have a lot of money going around. So in terms of their transfer portal, they were dipping into g5 fcs. You know, trying to to cobble together some depth and some some guys to get in. Um, they do. Obviously, you know jayden not there. 

34:26
You know, coming through in terms of a, in terms of what you like is elite talent, I don't not totally in love with any qB that's currently on the roster currently to kind of run this system, and so you know it's just, it's a hard job. I mean it's a hard job and I think Wilcox is still there because the school doesn't have a ton of money and he's kind of churning out the best he can, as you said, with the schedule and the travel. The schedule and the travel I mean they don't have. They just do not have easy games. Even I mean even UC Davis, to start week one is an upper tier FCS program. Then you said then you go, you know you got to almost have another travel game in there at Auburn, which is going to be tough, San Diego State under you know Sean Lewis, who we like, and the meat of the schedule in ACC play is really tough, um, and you know I mean Oregon State's in there as well. So there there just isn't really a ton of lay. I mean give them UC Davis and San Diego State, um, and you still got to find five more wins across ACC play. 

35:32
I don't see it. I just don't see it because you got, I mean outside of mean, outside of Clemson. You got everybody you know, in the, the ACC that you wouldn't want to. The Florida States of Miami is the NC state, the SMU, the Syracuse we just talked about. I don't think this team's getting a seven wins and so, again, just just a little bit too pricey on the six and a half Now for me we saw a little. 

35:58 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I saw the market really bottom out Like I saw some five and a half popping up. There was some buyback at five and a half. I was a part of that. Again, I'm Mr Cal, but I hear I understand that under six and a half position. I just put it that way and if it doesn't sound like again, half wind, 70, some cents, so a wind difference do the math is quite a bit. So we'll see. 

36:17
Uh, georgia tech's next up in the acc. You know a program that if you follow recruiting in the tea leaves I know this has nothing to do with 24, but they are setting the world on fire right now as far as 25 recruiting and that usually is, you know, kind of the pulse of your program. So a lot of optimism. They got to a bowl game last year, had a nice bowl win, keyes doing a really good job as far as exceeding my expectations. I thought it was just a so-so higher, but he made a really good hire on the offensive coordinator that's in the weeds, the Buster Faulkner guy. I'm not sure he's going to be there long, but it got him to stay for another year as offensive coordinator, like the bits and pieces offensively. Haynes King, I mean he's a pretty dynamic athlete. He's not the best thrower, but I don't think he gets enough credit as far as being a running threat. A lot of guys coming back and running back wide receiver. 

37:10
The hang-up for me and the biggest overarching narrative that I have as far as the betting markets with Georgia Tech is hate the schedule, hate it with a passion. I know there's a little bit of money coming in on them against Florida State, but the reality is there's still a double-digit underdog in that game at Louisville, at North Carolina, on the road, at Virginia Tech, notre Dame, miami at Georgia. I mean I do not see a bowl game this year, I really don't. And then this is very in the weeds too. What would the win total be for Georgia Tech if Mario Cristobal wasn't an idiot and didn't down the football? Georgia Tech wouldn't have went to a bowl game last year, wouldn't have got that bowl win. I'm not sure there's much optimism with the program. Not anything that Georgia Tech did, just Mario Cristobal being an idiot. So sometimes you go back to stuff like that that maybe at least early on the process that you know, inflated their win total a half win, one play. 

38:08 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
No, that's a, that's a fair point and I know we, if you're a long-term hit the books listener, that gave us a lot of great content, as joey miami had just, uh, you know, take taking some miami positions and then, uh, christopher gives away. You know the worst coaching loss in the history of the sport, uh, by not taking a knee. So, yeah, that that was that that made for some good times. Um, I tell you this is a team I think I'm, as last year, that I kind of more want to play on a week to week basis, um, as opposed to, you know, as getting involved in the wind total cause, I agree with you, brutal schedule, auto loss mixed in and the year at Georgia, um, you know a lot of the team that you know. 

38:50
If you're looking down the stretch, mike, just it's like how many games weeks in a row can we get up? So I mean those last like six, seven weeks of this season. It's just unbelievable. So I would much prefer to play them. You know, maybe a team to early play on, I kind of like that. You know I don't play it. It took a little piece of a number. You know, I think have a, even a little bit more of a piece on them. Week one versus Florida state. You know a couple of other opportunities for wins Georgia state, vmi in that. So I, as I said, I like, I agree with you, like the offensive coordinator. Hire always been a big Haynes King fan, um, but this is a team that doesn't really have the depth, the horses yet to to survive the second half of this schedule. So much more of a team I'll be looking to play on in some spots. Don't really want to get involved in the wind total. 

39:48 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, I mean their last five opponents are all top 25. Yeah, I mean then I mean Florida state, louisville, early in the season. I mean seven top 25 teams. I mean Florida State and Louisville early in the season. I mean seven top 25 teams. Oof, I mean they're going to have to pull an upset or two to get the bowl eligibility. I don't see it. Under five and a half was my preferred position there early in the summer. Next up, a few more here, north Carolina, next up. 

40:11
There's some conflicting thoughts on this team. Some people I respect like the over. I think due to schedule it is very favorable. They're going to be favoring a bunch of games. 

40:24
I don't like the personnel. Specifically, you look at a North Carolina team that you see a seven and a half win total. They're a fan duel. A North Carolina team that couldn't get over the hump with the league quarterback play the last five years under Drake May and Sam Howell. Now you think with those two guys gone they're all of a sudden going to still remain an 8-9 win team. I think you can always chalk up a loss or two Total unexpected loss under Mack Brown. That's his history. I mean he's lost multiple games as a double-digit favorite the last couple of years. New defensive coordinator hire, I think, is grasping at straws. I know you can't beat the horse on Gene Chizik anymore. Jeff Collins is probably better, but I don't know if they have as great of personnel. I'm more on the pessimistic side on this North Carolina team. I think this is the final year for Mack Brown. If you want a hot take, there you go. 

41:16 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I love it, and this for me, would be in terms of what's out there current numbers, my best bet for the show would be at the under 7.5 here. 

41:24 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
All right, let's do it. 

41:25 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Because, yeah, I don't, I'm with you, I don't love, I just don't love any of the staff, the Mac Brown, in terms of staff, I don't want. Chip Lindsey, you know the higher end in terms of you know OC, as you said with Jeff Collins at DC, I mean it's better than you know the words of Chisdom, I'll give it that, but I don't know if you could have, could have win any lower there in terms of you know defensive higher. So, and I will say the early returns, the birds chirping, the condition, mold and stuff is the quarterback play is going to be a problem, uh, and stuff that I've read and stuff that you know some people are saying around the program is, I know max johnson was supposed to be the, but the actual thing is that, like they're, they're, they might try a couple of guys here, um, because I don't think I don't, I'm not a big Max Johnson guy. I don't really like either some of the other guys they have. They have a couple of. You know I mean I'm decent players on on offense in terms of you know, skill, talent, but I don't think it's going to be an elite defense. I really am not a big fan of the quarterback player, the OC, and you know, listen, I think, yeah, I don't. 

42:37
I like Minnesota week one versus UNC as well. I don't think they're going to go into Minnesota get a win there. I think James Madison, even with our guy Bob Chesney, can come in there and give them a game. And yeah, it is the AC schedule. You know, lighter than you know, a lot of opponents, but this is not a team that I think is just a team. You can count wins against any relatively competitive opponent in the acc. It's just not that good of a team, that good of a staff. So, yeah, they'll be, you know, beat charlotte, beat nc central. They don't have to do a bunch of you know of travel outside of, uh, you know, in the non-con. But it's under seven and a half for me and I'm with you in terms of there's a. This is one of those teams that I think has a potential bottom out type type of season where it could get ugly in some fashion. 

43:33
I'm not saying I'm not saying, you know, like one in 11 or any of that, but I think it. This is a high variance teams in terms of their win total, because if things go badly, uh, you know, a five and seven wouldn't surprise me no, I agree, are we taking, uh, we laying in with minnesota? Yeah, you want to put that in too yeah, dude might as well fire up the week. 

43:55 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I like that as well yeah, I don't see that man. I'll be honest with you that that'll. That's a big game on that opening thursday night, big swing game for both teams and they lose it like we expect, uh, north carolina to lose that game. I think we'll start to be in good shape as far as the win total. So let's go ahead and lay two and a half there. Uh, seeing the odds there, we'll lay two and a half. Another week one. That's our second week one bet, I believe. Uh for us. So that's good. That's why you're watching this preview, so you don't miss out on anything. Under seven and a half wins and minnesota week one against. We're fading north carolina. For those of you watching, uh, yeah, I, you know, don't follow the hat that I'm wearing. I can tell you that that was. I wasn't wearing it because I'm pro north Carolina. I just like Carolina blue to be honest. 

44:38
Let's stay in the state of North Carolina and I think now we're. If you haven't heard us talk, you know futures, conference futures. Now it gets interesting because now I think we're getting to the point where we're at, the contenders of the ACC. Nc state would be the one of those contenders for me. Love what they did in the portal. Obviously Grayson McCall, provided he stays healthy, big, if I'm not sure there's a team out there in college football this year that upgraded their skill position as much as NC State, because they didn't have anything in skill position last year. Brendan Armstrong left a lot to be desired. He led the team in rushing. They didn't have anything, hardly at running back or wide receiver. Concepcioncion. The true freshman was pretty much it bringing a bunch of transfers, a wide receiver, tight end, that jolly kid from connecticut's good I. 

45:23
I like the guy from ohio state that you know came back home to the state of north carolina. Uh, he's impressing actually. Uh, early fall camps reviews are pretty glowing about him. Liked what I saw uh from from the spring game. And now I'll get. I know they have a couple big losses on defense, including wilson and linebacker, but I like tony gibson as a defensive coordinator. I'm not a huge dave duran fan, but he wins uh consistently, especially against the teams that he should, and uh, nc state's a team that I took a more optimistic tone. I mean eight and a half was the win total. I actually bet over. 

45:59 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Listen, I'm with, and I would say of the future prices that are out there, a couple of teams we'll talk about that got to bet down. For me, of the future prices that are out there now, this would be probably the only one I'd be interested in, even though it's down a little bit. It would be an NC State around 6-1. I agree with you 6-1?. I'm not running to the window on 6-1. Of the ones that are out there I think it would be the only one. It's like they 6-1. 

46:33 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
We love FanDuel. We love them. 

46:37 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Some of them got to be a little bit higher, statistically speaking yeah, yeah, I will say yeah, that's uh well, you'll be shopping around and you know what they. They went into the port. It's like you went into the shopping market and you got, you got your. You got your steak, you got your quarterback, you got you the side dressings. You got exactly what they needed. 

46:59
And the thing you know when you're watching them last year, even when they're competing in games, is like they had nobody on the outside with any juice, like any juice, and I didn't think Brendan Armstrong was very good. Now you upgrade to McCall, you upgrade the skill positions, you bring back Dave Dorn at Dave Dorn Defense and a guy who I always trust, to always trust to keep the defense right, you know, and always on the up there. I mean, I don't know if it's going to be his most elite unit, but I think it can be very good to go along with the offensive upgrades there, and I think they got something cooking this year, and so you know what. And the other factor is they don't who. They don't have florida state on the schedule, so you would say miami or my, or miami. 

47:45
So and you like them, against clemson and yeah, right, we'll get to the clemson, but I I can. You'd already if you've been watching it, the books. You already know my my position on clemson. So no miami, no florida state. I think they're very live in that clemson game. And then the rest of the acc slate is relatively man. No, if I said no virginia tech either. 

48:04 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, yeah, no virginia tech no virginia tech. 

48:07 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Who we're going to be high? On so you think it no fmu so and you? 

48:13 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
you know you hate north carolina. I think it's a disaster. That's a rivalry game at the end. Yeah, you know one of mine still might. You don't get a ticket, north Carolina. 

48:18 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I think it's a disaster that rivalry game at the end, you know, one of mine still might, you know, get a ticket to six to one there. It's because this was one of those and I I can't even remember the price of the two ACC futures I placed. This team was one of them. 

48:29 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I think we were 11 to one on early yeah. 

48:31 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, it was I, I, we, nobody, I know nobody. It was higher than it was now Good prices that are out there, but I think this sets up and it's all going to probably come down to that. Can they win that Clemson game early in September and then handle their business? I think this team will be in the ACC title game. 

48:50 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Oh, wow, I like it, even if they lost that game. I think they're favored in their other seven games. Yeah. 

48:56 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, we're going. 

48:58 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Let's go, we got it. We're talking a big game. We got to go over eight and a half. Do you see four losses? I don't. 

49:04 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
No, no, I would lean that way too. 

49:07 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Lean. I'll mark it down Best bet for me no lean here stayed over. 

49:19 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
We're gonna talk a big game. You got him in the title game. Come on, yeah. So yeah, all right, all right. No, I'm with you on the uh. I didn't want to buy a beverage, but no, I like and you know what I mean. They do have the tennessee game, but this is a team that they can be tennessee, I mean, I know they're an underdog, but it's not. 

49:32
I mean, but I mean layups, western carolina lot, la Tech, northern Illinois, so three, you know, mark down dubs to put on the schedule and then like as favorable a schedule as you could get, I think, in the ACC in terms of what you did this year. So I mean you get those three easy dubs and then six ACC wins. I think that's very doable with who they're playing all right, there we go. 

50:00 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Some strong takes there from knish nc state, next up smu, new to the conference. Nothing speaks acc football like smu football, uh, but at least optimistic for them. This is probably, on paper, their best team entering a season season in a timely manner in probably four decades, since, you know, post-death penalty had a great season last year as far as a powering. Last year's team was probably their best team in 40 years. A lot of returning experience, 16 returning starters. Big hangout for them is going to be do they have enough depth at the line of scrimmage, o-line, d-line, beneficial towards SMU? A lot of people are high on them, even though it's the first year in a power conference. Man again schedule no Clemson, no Virginia Tech, no NC State. Florida State's at home no Miami. On that schedule, non-conference is pretty favorable because they get BYU and TCU both at home. We've seen a ton of money come in on them in that week zero game against Nevada. That line's moved a touchdown. 

51:01
As far as people betting SMU left and right, I don't see, you know, outside of that two-game window there, florida State and now Louisville, I mean this team could be favored in 10 of their 12 games. I am not betting over 8.5 now. In fact I might come back and play you know, lean a little bit under there just to get off because I have so many pro SMU positions. But you talk about setting up your timing to make the jump up. I mean, I would have been very pessimistic at pretty much any point in the last four decades. Smu jumping to a power conference. They're timing it rightly off their best season in quite some time and a ton of guys coming back and a schedule that's very favorable. So those are three things in their favor. 

51:48 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
No, as you said, I mean they nailed a lot coming back. I mean last year I think their best defensive season and uh, god knows how long that's there. But I mean just I don't think they had had that type of, uh, defensive finish in you know, 30 years in this program. So, and to factor in also what lashley has on offense and what they've got coming back, did they bring in enough? And I know they hit the portal even pretty hard there and it's a program that has money and is spending money. So they try, you know, loading up to do they have the depth capable of competing through season long through the ACC? We'll find out, but it's hard for me to poke a lot of holes in it other than that, because they brought even some guys I like from five guys that they were able to get in there. I tell you the one thing I'm not totally I don't think Preston Stone is the best quarterback. 

52:42 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah. 

52:43 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Elite, elite. I think he's solid. I wouldn't call him any, not a guy who I'd be touting, as you know, future NFL player or any of that, but good college player. But you know what, it's one of those where he has to be. And again, I think the schedule, I like the wind tour all over In terms of can this team win the conference? If we want to talk the ceiling, I think you would need Stone to take that next step. 

53:10 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
And coming off a serious injury, I mean he broke his leg last year yeah, yeah. 

53:13 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
So it's like is that, is that in the cards? I don't know, but I listen, I like what they. You know what they're non-con. I think they can start four, no pretty, you know pretty easily. Then they've got the florida state and that'll be the end of september there. That that's one of those like, if this team is going to make an ACC title run, they've got Florida state at home, then they go to Louisville. Those are the two games that are going to decide this season. But I can't really advocate, even for for an hour where I mean, I think the, the best prices have obviously been bought up. The, the Best prices have obviously been bought up. The conference future has been way, way down now, only 10 to 1. So where the market's at now on those, I wouldn't be playing them, but it's hard for me to, you know, have a lot negative to say in terms of where this program is at the moment. 

54:01 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, I think, a season. I know you mentioned the four state and Louisville games. I think it's the two games before then. They got to take care of business, byu and TCU at home. I mean, if this team is going to live up to expectations, those got to be wins. I don't know what they have, and keep in mind they beat up on a bunch of no Go. Look at their schedule last year they beat up on a bunch of nobodies. I mean when they had to step up, including the bowl game against BC, I don't know. So I, with that being said, oh, I'm glad I have an over ticket from early in the market. Talk another team that the market's high on. 

54:35
Virginia tech a darling this off season. Whether it's drones at quarterback in the Heisman markets is a huge long shot. Whether it's wind total, whether it's conference future, virginia tech, you know I thought at the end of last season, was playing like a top 25 team, kind of under the radar a little bit, and they come into this season as a borderline top 25 team. We've seen a lot of money come in on them in week one against Vanderbilt as that line climbs towards two touchdowns there. It's another schedule that outside of a road trip to Miami pretty favorable. There's no Clemson, there's no Florida State. They're going to be favored. There is Clemson at home. That they got. 

55:13
I misspoke there. Clemson at home I'm looking at it. They're probably only an underdog in two games at Miami and Clemson. One of the most experienced teams in the country, 18 returning stars, top five in any returning production ranking that you look at. I like what the coach is doing the last couple of years. I thought they bottomed out two years ago. They fought, clawed and scratched their way to a bull win last year. This is the best Virginia Tech team on paper in quite some time. 

55:41 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, no, as you said, a ton returning. I think the defense will be very good. It's one of those like the Kyron drones that we saw early in the season was kind of having to get in on it. It took a ton of sacks 55% Second half of the season. After those, I think those last six games, 60% completion sack rate went down by, you know, from around 25% to 6% and 16 TDs and only two picks. 

56:07
So if that's the guy that we're getting, that guy who finished out the year um, and to mix it with this defense, then I think they got something going this year and I think you got a, you know, an ACC contender type, uh type of deal this year. 

56:21
Um, I don't know if I'm I don't think I'm personally as high on them as I am nc state um. It's another team that I was in the futures market early on, uh, at some prices long ago, uh. So those were the two that I was was looking to buy um and so I put them in that maybe that next tier of team, like of the outside, of the top, you know, three, four, that that next tier of team in terms of where their their overall talent levels at, and we'll see. I mean drones, as you said. Long shot, heisman, for for some people out there I don't know if he can put up the kind of numbers to really get in it, but talented guy and and bringing a ton back and a schedule that sets up pretty nice. With that said, I think this is one where I just think the market's kind of already. 

57:13
Yeah made it move on Virginia Tech, um, because I think 10 to 1 is a little slim. Um, and I could not. I could not go over a eight and a half where it's at now so, yeah, I can't go over eight and a half. Yeah, just one of those that you're on it early, you got some tickets in good stuff. 

57:28 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
If now I just think all the juice squeezed out maybe this team the juice hasn't been squeezed out and, unlike some of these other contenders, I'm a little bit more pessimistic on louisville, a team that obviously went year one under. Braum exceeded all expectations, started 10 and one did lose their last three games, including the acc championship. This year's team transferred portal heavy for the second year in a row. I don't know if I'm wild about that. I like Brom quite a bit. Quarterback position, you know, just had a guy that you know last year that was kind of a filler and I think they got that same type of guy again in Shuck. Can he stay healthy? He hasn't his entire career. If he does, can he stay healthy? He hasn't his entire career. If he does, then maybe he's got a little bit more offside than what they had at quarterback compared to Plummer last year. Defensively, the Jelati kid off the edge is pretty good. They got a really good cornerback. But I mean schedule's not overly difficult but still at Clemson, at Kentucky, at Notre Dame, miami, and I think they really you know, really far exceeded expectations in year one. 

58:32
Sometimes you get a little bit of regression after you exceeded your expectations so much. I'm under the eight and a half here. This was a bet that I didn't make three or four months ago, I bet. Just a few weeks ago I went under eight and a half and, man, this is in the weeds. But they brought in a bunch of guys portal for the spring and a lot of those guys ended up leaving post spring. They're not going to be a part of Louisville's team this year. I don't know if the cash that the checks didn't cash or what down there, you know somebody didn't didn't hit home the Kentucky Derby like they had hoped, but it did. You know they were expected to a lot more guys to help them out and guys like Penny Boone, who's off the UCF, and some other guys that can be a part of the cards this year. 

59:14 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, that that's a great, you know, a great comment by you and a good cat, cause that's always a concerning for me is the double portal, when a guy comes in making an upgrade and then leaves in the spring Um, and he wasn't the only one. So that's concerning being so heavily portal reliant Again, not something I particularly love and Tyler Shuck, a guy who I don't, even when he's healthy, is not a guy that I'm particularly fond of the quarterback position. I think Jeff Brom is a great coach and was a fantastic hire and you know what is is a guy who I think, long-term, is obviously a great wherever they need to be this season, though it would be an under eight and a half as well for me, cause I don't don't think the schedule sets up that well. I think the 162, the under. 

01:00:07
I'm okay. Honestly, I would be okay with that. 

01:00:09 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I'm okay with it. I bet under eight and a half and I, yeah, I, I, I agree, I, I, and it's not like I'm way low on louisville, so I'm as power is the top 25 team, so yeah I actually upgraded. 

01:00:23
This is I mean, this is meandering, but upgrade. They lost three games at the end of last season, upgraded their power rating from the end of the season and I still am like 7.7 on the wind total. So it's not like I'm downgrading their power rating, I upgraded, it was opposite. So yeah, I and Notre Dame is going to be razor laser focused, after what Louisville did in Notre Dame last year, again at Clemson, at Kentucky. That's kind of a big swing game for me, cause I like Kentucky over. So, and then they don't be Kentucky, they just don't. And then they've lost what? Five, six in a row to Kentucky. So, yeah, I'm with you, let's go under eight and a half. Yeah, I just. 

01:01:01 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I think you're also getting a a much better rendition, especially at the top of the ACC this year. Whereas they're taking a step back, A lot of other teams might be taking a step forward or remaining ahead of them and, especially with that much movement and that much transition on the roster with a lot of unknowns, could see it kind of being a fallback year for them. 

01:01:26 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Kind of reminds me of Lincoln Riley SC. Sc started 11-1, lost his last couple games year one, then fell back. Here too, I think maybe something similar for brahm not that you know I'm down on the coaching chops for brahm, particularly on offense. I, just when you're portal heavy back-to-back years, can't hit home runs. I wasn't going to use the mel tucker example. I think brahms are much better than mel t, but it just shows you the variance you can have Even a guy like Mel Tucker. Portal goes well 11 wins Next year. Portal doesn't go well, losing record. 

01:01:57
I want to see some more buildup through high school recruiting for Louisville and I think long-term Brown would be the guy. Just not high on their 2024 aspects. Let's talk, coach. That we'll have some thoughts on. I'm sure I'll let you do the talking as far as Mario Cristobal is concerned, but a lot of is expected. This Miami team recruiting classes, the talent acquisitions been there, whether it's been recruiting the last couple of years, whereas the portal going out and get guys like Cam Ward, martinez and running back and some other guys, miami's wind turtles at nine and a half, even though this is a program that's only hit 10 wins one time in the last two decades. I'll let you do the talking on Miami. I I'm not as wild about as Miami. It seems that everybody else is. 

01:02:42 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I mean, listen, I think, player to player, it's probably the most talented team in the ACC. I mean, a guy like Cam Ward, who I like coming in a lot, gives you, I think, more as a dual threat, you know, a college player to give you that true dual threat. And Damian Martinez, who is going to be one of the best running backs in the country, along with an offensive line that when I, you know, when I was buying Miami last year, it was like an offensive line. That when I, you know, when I was buying Miami last year, it was like I was like man, they are legit in the trenches and they brought back a lot, a lot on that offensive line. And I think it's. It's a team that can you really trust. 

01:03:21
The and again, crystal balls game management's always going to be very questionable, very questionable. Can you get enough out of the coordinator positions to overcome that, or just have so much talent to overcome that? I will say it's not a team that I've gotten involved in much. Wow, you haven't. In terms of just, you know, I thought the futures number. There was some other teams. I liked better prices In terms of the win total. It wasn't something that I was, you know jumping to get in front. I just didn't, you know at nine and I know nine and a half is 10 wins for a program is a lot to ask. So it's not. I just haven't a strong position here. I, like the team, think they can win the ACC, like what I see, just not. Numbers that are are drawing me into a wager. 

01:04:20 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yes, I'll give you I upgraded them a touchdown off of last year. I am number 17 in the country in a powering Again. That's given that talent the benefit of the doubt. They might even be more talented than that, but with a head coach that you just cannot trust. And it's just not one game from last year. He's done it multiple times. He did it. I think the Oregon-Stanford game from a few years ago Literally cost his team a win by not running out and simple kneeling down. Man, that Florida game is huge for both those coaches. I cannot think of a game that's bigger for both coaches. Maybe Ryan Day against Michigan. But other than that I mean you're talking both coaches that game meaning so much week one. I don't see if they can't beat Florida in week one and they're only a two-point favorite. I don't see them going. You know cashing the over ticket. 

01:05:07
I'll put it that way, that's a must win. You're going over nine and a half. 

01:05:11 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Gotta be florida because I mean, let's is. Is that a loser? I'll give you, I know you're a wwe. Is that a loser? Leaves town matt like is that the loser? 

01:05:18 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
of that. I think it is a loser. 

01:05:20 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Leaves town like you're not gonna survive the the next to the next year, whoever loses that game? Um, probably means that much and, as you said, especially if you're Miami, I mean Florida you know we're talking win totals around. You know five, five and a half Miami are expected to contend and they spent. I mean you want to talk about spending some money. This is a program that you better be either going to be whatever his name is, ruiz is going to be suing Cristobal if, uh he doesn't get up to nine or ten wins this year. 

01:05:52
So, yeah, um, I can't think of a guy who's on a uh with more higher expectation, the seat's going to be sweaty for him, uh, and that it all starts week one. But with that said man, I would, I just I can't, just I don't, even with the plus money, like I can't trust this day, you know, to go 10-2. I think they have the potential to do that. Am I going to wager to do that? 

01:06:15 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
No, you know what we're recording the ACC podcast. Is he watching Zach? Do we have watchers of this? Because tailgate tent. Just text me. Are you going to give me a three on north carolina week one? Well, yeah, if you're watching this, uh, after the fact you're going to get your three, buddy. Um, I am going to respond to you. I can't believe that we just gave out minnesota five minutes ago. 

01:06:37 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I think zach put it in the back end broadcasting this to other. 

01:06:41 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
You know people. My goodness, uh, that's tongue in cheek. All jokes aside, uh, what's your thoughts? I know we're running a little bit long. Look when you got 20 teams in these conferences. My goodness, they're going to run long. What's your thoughts on Cam Ward? Because I'm not buying Cam Ward, I didn't bet him to win the Heisman. He feels like he'd fit that bill for me. You know, dual threat team that has high, you know, upside, I just think of you as the answer. Uh, he's not losing to stanford at home, with a bowl game on the line as a starting quarterback for washington state, and I don't like if justin herbert can't uh win the heisman. Uh, in christopher's offense, I don't think cam warren's doing it like a lot of things, miami. 

01:07:23 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
My biggest worry is kind of how it went down in terms of like I'm gonna go to the nfl draft unless you give me x number, uh, or you know, he kind of how it went down in terms of like I'm going to go to the NFL draft unless you give me X number, or you know, he kind of seemed like I mean it felt very like free agency ish. I don't think he was like oh, I really want to go to Miami and play for Cristobal and buy in. It was like who's going to cut me the check? Andami, eventually, you know, was desperate enough to pay up. So that doesn't give me the greatest feels in terms of how he got there, but I, I mean I like, I think I like him better than you know, the van dyke, uh, in terms of what you can do at the college level. So, but no, am I going out and putting a cam ward heisman ticket in the bank at the right? 

01:08:07 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
no, so highest paid player in the history of college football is what I've heard, not, not a rumor. Highest paid player in the history of college football? Not, not, not multiple seven figures. So, uh, much higher than one mil. Uh, we're talking closer to five than one for one year. Crazy. Is he worth that? 

01:08:33 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Timing and leverage. That's what life is all about in this sense, because, yeah, god, they needed a QB and he was available. So, yeah, I mean whoo good for him, good for his family. 

01:08:46 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Next up Clemson, who you got thoughts on Quickly as we're running along here uh, I'm in between now. I mean I, I if Klubnick can improve a little bit, we'll see. Though I didn't like what I saw in the spring game. I did a couple of really bad decisions that you wouldn't expect the guy I don't. I know it's just one practice. You're a junior entering your season. You got plenty of experience. You can't be making that. I don't want to see any of that on tape. But defense will be okay. The talent isn't as elite as what it was a few years ago. Certainly the quarterback's not as good. They're not doing anything in the portal, so I understand why. If you don't believe Kanisha or myself, look no further than we. Is Clemson a playoff contender? Yes, are they a national title contender? No, week one says so. Two touchdown underdog on a neutral against a national title contender in Georgia. Where are you at? On Clemson, I already know. 

01:09:41 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yeah, I mean this is just one. I think it's a program that's just in its apex and is just, you know, can, kind of falling back to the dissension and falling back to earth here because of their head coach not wanting to, you know, jump into the 21st century here. Um, and as you just said, there, 14. Like to me it's an automatic baked in. You've got a week one loss. So you, you, if you want to get over nine, I mean I know it's, it's come a lot down since we were uh, earlier those hit the books. We got a week one loss. So you, if you want to get over nine, I mean I know it's, it's come a lot down since we were uh, earlier those hit the books, we got a very good number on nine, under nine and a half, which we gave out to the people which doesn't exist any longer. 

01:10:18 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
But um, and we're mentioning a lot of these, a lot of these. If you watch the shows all off season, we're giving them out live, so it's not just yeah, I mean we got clemson under at like minus 110. 

01:10:30 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
That was on the show and now it's pretty much you know, uh, almost you know, full win. A trading out there at eight and a half with some juice on the over. Um, I'm, I mean, I'm not. I'm not running to buy that either, because I think he's a team I think they're gonna lose to georgia. I don't think app state's a layup, I think nc State's losable, I think Florida State is losable, I think you know Louisville, virginia Tech, south Carolina, to end the season. So, yeah, I love, I love, love, love our position at nine and a half Am I. Would it be buying further down the chain now? No, but I do think a, an eight and four or seven and five year, a type of year is possible because, as you said, this team is not like. What signs have we seen that they're going to then stop this descent and rise back up Like the transfer portal isn't there. 

01:11:21
Klubnik is not an elite quarterback, the defense isn't as talented as it's been in years past. There's just no signs. There's nothing for me, there's just like there's nothing for me to point to, other than maybe they get, you know, a year of amazing turnover, luck or variance, that this team can go back to being a 10, 11 win team and that type of program. They're not that type of program anymore. It's over. They're still. They were start to start the year. They were priced like it. Let me tell you something it's over. So unless dabbo goes to you know the church and has an awakening and that the transfer portal is okay and paying kids is what you need to do now, this run of clemson dominance is just over and I listen, I I don't know what's gonna. Maybe he's untouchable. I don't know where this the rubber meets the road here, but I'll tell you what. If this is a seven and five, eight, 8-4 type of year, I think you're going to have a lot of boosters asking a lot of questions. 

01:12:14 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
You can't fire him. 

01:12:16 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
You probably can't, because what was going on for football before? 

01:12:20 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
He's got to have like five years of 7-5. But they'll start asking questions about maybe Clemson changes positions a little bit on the portal, Maybe not asking them to get 20 guys a year, but maybe good idea to get three or four guys fill in roster key depth, the key holes on your roster. Why wouldn't you do that? I don't understand. 

01:12:43 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Right, right, like, there's, like, like it. Just, it's so mind numbingly stupid that that it's hard to wrap your head around. Uh, like, I don't know, I will you know what. To show that I'm an objective source, I do like Phil Maffa instead of Shipley. Like, I agree, phil Maffa. Like every time they gave Shipley the ball last year it was like, okay, they're not giving it to Maffa, that's a win. Uh, not giving it to Mapa, that's a win, cause you know, shipley was like a three, four yard a day. So I like that. I like that he's going to be getting more touches, but that's about it. That's the only thing I can say that I like better than last year. 

01:13:17 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Oh, I like that. Some of their personnel up front defense line at Peter Woods kid. I think it's pretty good they got some dudes still on defense, but yeah, they got a linebacker To carry them to 10 or 11 wins no. 

01:13:29
All right, I'm not as down on Dabo and Clemson as you are, but under 9.5, that was all you, man. So kudos for you getting them from a big-time move there. We'll talk obviously more Clemson as we get to it, but let's finish it up here with the defending ACC champs. The Obviously more Clemson as we get to it, but let's finish it up here with the defending ACC champs. The Florida state Seminoles lost a lot as far as the NFL draft. Only nine returning stars for them, but unlike dabble Sweeney, I think if there's a program in the country that does the portal about as well as anybody, it's Florida state. 

01:14:01
Not that they're going out and paying a bunch of people, it's they're doing scouting, whether it's Power 5, g5, fcs, like a Jared Verse coming from Albany. They do it like it should be done, filling in your holes, and they did a nice job this year too. A couple of guys that I really like Jalen Lucas on offense they will also help them out in the return game on special teams, and I like Marvin Jones Jr from Georgia coming off the edge of defense. That's just a name, too, that I like. What they did this year's team obviously not going to be as good as what they were at their apex last year, but they can be better than what we saw. The last couple of games last year after Jordan Travis got hurt, that was, you know, left a lot to be desired, including the bowl game, yeah, and that they had no business wanting to be a part of schedules. You know, clemson and Holmes, nice, uh, at Miami, and again, I'm out in wild, I'm out Miami, at Notre Dame, probably their toughest game. 

01:14:53 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Well, I think they're about price, right at nine and a half yeah, I don't, I don't have any, you know, super strong takes here it is. It is a tough. Uh, I mean you know they're not a lot of layups going around. Uh, you know all through, all through the schedule this year that I mean they got charged in Southern late before the Florida game, but that would be probably my biggest concern. They're not not too many off weeks in this schedule for a team that had a lot of turnover. 

01:15:20
With that said, it's a, it's a head coach that I completely trust and, as you said, a roster and a program that is spending money to to be able to acquire talent and go out and and and recruiting you know pretty well and backfilling that. So, again, I think they talent wise, will they take a step back? Yes, does that mean they can't get to the ACC title game when they see, though? No, so, um, it's probably a program that just got I mean, call it what you want just got. Unlucky that it was the last year of the 14 playoff um or they would have been in a much better position. 

01:16:00
maybe and you know what, I don't know maybe they take that into the offseason, uh, and for the guys that come back and really use that as a motivator, that they got screwed out of a playoff spot and all that, but I just don't. You know what Do I want to play them at, like 250 to one to win the ACC? No, I think nine and a half is about right, probably one. 

01:16:21 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
No, they got three to one. I think three to one is okay. 

01:16:25 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I think it will. Yeah, it is three to one. 

01:16:27 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
I'm okay, I would. I'm not saying best bad material, but I I have played Florida state three to one. I still think they're the best team in the league. 

01:16:37 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
I think I like that better than the wind total for sure. Yeah, I agree, cause I mean, if they're going over the wind total, then they're going, they're going to be likely in the ACC championship game and I and I think some of the the losable games, whether you want to, depending on what you think of Memphis or Florida, or or, you know, notre Dame, it just like I mean three of their toughest games are non-conference not necessarily conference. 

01:16:59 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
You get Clemson at home and again my, I mean I like Norvell or Cristobal. So I, yeah, I'll take this one, zach, because I bet it at exactly that number. I'll take it half unit. Three to one Florida State. I want to get a win home here because I again, look, I like NC State, virginia Tech and some of those schools. But the reality is if Florida State's playing those schools, they're gonna be favored in the ACC championship game. So three to one, there we go. Let's recap it this was a long one, uh, a lot of teams get to. Uh, we like obviously NC State over. We took that one. Uh, clemson was earlier in the show. We just gave out Florida State. Three to one. Uh, clemson earlier in the show, earlier in the season. I should say Louisville under eight and a half was one there. What, uh? What else I missing? I thought we gave out like four. 

01:17:51 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Do we have a couple we were going to? 

01:17:53 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
come back to Stanford. 

01:17:55 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Are we coming back to give out a green after? 

01:17:56 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Yeah, we gave that out earlier in the summer. Okay, Syracuse under 7.5, was one. 

01:18:01 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Yep. Love that you said UNC. 

01:18:04 - Zack Phillips (Ad)
I got the list right here, guys, if we want it All right. Syracuse under 7.5, minus 142. North Carolina under 7.5, minus 105. Nc State over 8.5, minus 134. Louisville under 8.5, minus 162. And finally, florida State ACC outright winner at 3-1. 

01:18:27 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
Those are the ones given given on the show today. That's a good looking portfolio, kanish, and that the producer extraordinaire, zach Phillips chiming in. We love it, thank you for that. The business baby. I got nothing else to say and we got to record another one of these, so, uh, we'll leave it at that. Man, you got any final thoughts? 

01:18:48 - Joey Knish (Co-host)
Oh hey, excited for this conference. And you know what We'll get to the Big 12. There'll be another wide open race here in doing it. So I think these two could go a lot of ways here. So excited for the new look. Acc. 

01:19:02 - Brad Powers (Co-host)
For the man, the myth, the legend himself Joey Knish. Producer extraordinaire Zach Phillips. You just watched Hit the Books, part of the Hammer Betting Network and proudly sponsored by FanDuel. We'll see you in the next preview.