Will the Virginia Tech Hokies build on their late season momentum from a year ago? How will the SMU Mustags do in their first ever season in a power conference? We'll tackle these questions and more below!
It's time to get fired up for the 2024 college football season! We're back with Part 2 of our ACC Betting Preview! Let's get to it!
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It was slow going in Blacksburg to start the season last year. Out of the gate, the Hokies were just 2-4 and things looked pretty bleak. Luckily, they were able to turn things around and close out the season going 5-2, including a bowl game victory over Tulane 41-20. The run game flourished as they finished the season 20th in the country in yards per game on the ground.
A big part of that run game was the dual threat ability of Kyron Drones, who took over in-season to be the fulltime starting QB. He, along with Bhayshul Tuten, took the run game from averaging around 60 yards per game to over 200.
Drones is going to have one of the most veteran and productive receiving corps Virginia Tech has had in a long time. Felton, Lane, and Gosnell will all be back and have the potential to the best wideout room in the conference. If the offensive line, that returns everyone, can improve; the Hokies offense should be explosive.
The defense figured things out later in the season and finished strong. However, there were still issues that needed addressing in the offseason. They are hoping the transfers they added to play the interior of the defense will be able to halt opposing run games.
After trading wins for losses through the 1st half of their 2023-2024 campaign, the Wolfpack rattled off 5 straight wins to finish their regular season. They were matched with Kansas State in the Pop-Tart Bowl but put up a mediocre game and lost 28-19.
Entering this season, NC State picked up former Coastal Carolina signal caller, Grayson McCall. He will have last season’s ACC rookie of the year to throw to in Kevin Concepcion along with OSU transfer, Noah Rogers. They also added former Duke running back, Jordan Waters who will make this offense a dual threat.
The defense is going to be the weak point for this squad. They lost Bednarik award winner, Payton Wilson to the NFL. Not only he, but most of the linebackers and secondary will all be new faces. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is going to have his hands full getting this defense into shape this year.
The Mustangs will be playing in a power conference for the first time this season. This is on the heels of an 11-3 season that ended unceremoniously as they fell to Boston College 23-14 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. They were a balanced team last season that ranked 10th in offensive scoring and held opponents under 20ppg which ranked them 14th.
This season, SMU will be facing tougher opponents, week in and week out. The good news is that Preston Stone is back at QB after tossing 28 touchdowns last season. They added Miami transfer Brashard Smith who could be their bell cow at running back.
The receiving room was inconsistent, and they are hoping that Jordan Hudson can emerge. The offensive line will have questions as well, majority of the starters are gone but coach Lashlee tried to plug their spots with transfers.
On defense, they will be led by edge rusher Elijah Roberts. The linebackers will have experience once again but the secondary lost 2 starters and will need to learn quickly.
A 6-0 start to their 2023-2024 season had folks in Chapel Hill excited for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, things took a turn and the Tarheels ended up losing 5 of their last 7 games, including a 30-10 beating by West Virginia in their bowl appearance. QB Drake Maye did not get to finish his college career in the way he had wished but is now off to bigger things in the NFL.
Replacing Maye is going to be the priority, but the QB room does not a have true clear-cut starter. Conner Harrell, Max Johnson, and even Jacolby Criswell could all push for time. The good news for the offense is that Omarion Hampton is back to tout the rock in the backfield. He finished with over 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
UNC also added USC transfer, Darwin Barlow, who could help make this rushing attack a true 1-2 punch. The receiving group will be deep as well and have 2 capable tight ends helping the wide outs. As always, the issue for UNC will be the defense.
Mack Brown let Gene Chizik go this offseason and hopes that new coordinator, Geoff Collins can light a fire under his defense. The secondary will be where he needs to start as that is likely to be the weakest part of this mediocre defense.