Preferred Walk-Ons

A Changing of the Guard in the ACC (CFB Week 2 Preview)

For years, Clemson and Florida State have dominated football in the ACC. However, after both teams have struggled out of the gate in 2024, is it time to anoint other schools as the favorites to win the conference? In this episode, we:
Analyze the disappointing opening Week 1 performances from ACC favorites and what it means for the conference
Preview every Week 2 ACC game with picks against the spread
Discuss other intriguing Week 2 matchups from around the country
You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). 

College Football Week 1 Preview

ACC favorite Florida State faltered out of the gate in Week 0 and SMU barely avoided a disastrous upset. Are these games signs of a chaotic season to come or necessary wake-up calls for two of the conference's best teams? In this episode, we prepare for a jam-packed weekend of college football by:
Recapping Week 0 games including Georgia Tech's shocking upset over Florida State
Debating a controversial new way to gamble against your team's rivals =
Previewing every Week 1 game in the ACC
Discussing the biggest games and best bets for the rest of the weekend slate
You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). 

College Football Model Talk with Kelley Ford

In this week's episode, we sat down with college football expert and data analyst Kelley Ford to discuss his ratings system and expectations for the upcoming season. How can data be used to predict something as complex as college football and what will it take for the ACC to get two teams into the playoff? Topics for discussion include:
How the ultimate chicken wing thief was finally brought to justice
Kelley Ford's ratings for the ACC and the College Football Playoff
Predictions for Week 0 ACC games
Power 4 conference championship predictions and our CFP brackets
You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). 
 
Follow Kelley Ford on Twitter (@KFordRatings) and check out his model and projections for the season at kfordratings.com.

UVA Season Preview

This week we were joined by Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to preview the upcoming UVA football and basketball seasons. In a make-or-break year for coach Tony Elliott, will the Hoos outperform their expectations? Topics for discussion include:
What to expect from the Virginia football team and the key players to watch at every position
How much change fans should expect from Tony Bennett and the UVA basketball team this season
UVA and ACC athletes dominating at the Olympics
You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). 

ACC Football Preview: Biggest Questions

We continue our preview of the upcoming ACC football season with the most pressing questions and storylines. Topics for discussion include:
A landmark court ruling in how we approach chicken wings
A recap of Shutt's Summer of '99 Tour experience
The biggest questions in the ACC ahead of the college football season, including:Which first year coaches are poised for success and who enters the season on the hot seat?
Is this a make-or-break season for Dabo Swinney at Clemson?
Can the ACC get multiple teams into the College Football Playoff?
Can NC State finally live up to the hype?
Which programs benefit the most from the new scheduling model?
Can Florida State rebound from a deflating end to last season?
Which player are you most looking forward to watching?
How will fanbases of the new ACC arrivals be treated?

ACC Football Preview: The Quarterbacks

With college football returning in exactly one month, we begin our ACC preseason preview by looking at the game's most important position: the quarterback. Which gunslingers will elevate their teams to the top of the conference and who will struggle with their new teams? In this episode, we discuss:
Excitement and nostalgia over the return of an NCAA video game
High-impact transfers across the college football landscape
ACC quarterbacks and how they will shape the conference race
The specter of conference realignment and lawsuits at ACC Media Days
You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). 

Maybe I Can Fix Him (NBA Draft Preview)

After an extended spring break, we are back and chatting about sports. This week, we focused our attention on the upcoming NBA Draft. With no clear consensus on how the draft will unfold, which players have the greatest chance at stardom? Topics for discussion include:
Beating LeBron James in basketball as a child
A recap of the College World Series
Whether ACC fans need to be worried about the arrival of SMU
The wide open NBA Draft, including best sleeper picks and the ACC players with the most upside
You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). 

Dynasty Modes

Despite the tumultuous nature of college basketball, both the men's and women's seasons ended in predictable ways. In this episode, we analyze both NCAA National Championship games and look ahead to an off-season of player and coach movement. Topics for discussion include:
The dominance of South Carolina and UConn on the path to tournament titles
The 5th anniversary of UVA basketball's title
John Calipari's surprising decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas
Watching the transfer portal with the basketball season over

Survive and Advance

In three short weeks, North Carolina State has completed one of the most incredible turnarounds in NCAA basketball history. Left for dead entering the ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack have made ascended to the pinnacle of college basketball. In this episode, we outline the reasons for NC State's success and discuss what the whirlwind has felt like from a fan perspective. Topics for discussion include:
NC State's improbable run to the Final Four
Frustration among the UNC fanbase
UConn's continued dominance and Final Four picks
The star power remaining in the women's tournament

Sweet Redemption for the ACC

After months of commentary about how it was a "down year" for the ACC, the conference has responded with a vengeance in the NCAA Tournament. In this episode, we talk about the reasons behind the ACC's success, analyze the first two rounds of March Madness, and look ahead to an exciting slate of Sweet Sixteen games. Topics for discussion include:
The ethics of placing bets on rival teams
The success of the ACC in Rounds 1 & 2 of the NCAA Tournament
Evaluating Virginia's season after another early exit from March Madness
Whether you should root for your rival's success for the good of the conference
Other observations from the opening weekend of the tournament, including NC State's dramatic win over Oakland
Picks against the spread for every Sweet Sixteen game