Predictions for this Year’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge

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The ACC/Big Ten Challenge has taken place yearly since the 1999 season, in which the ACC edged the Big Ten 5-4.  Every year it’s a fun inter-conference series to watch for college basketball fans, particularly those of the teams involved.  Though the ACC leads the overall series at 12-7-3, they haven’t won it since 2017, where it was a very lopsided 11-3 effort.  And things haven’t exactly gotten off to a great start for the ACC, either.  With the series kicking off last night, the Big Ten finds themselves up 2-0 with Iowa beating Virginia 75-74 and Illinois besting Notre Dame 82-72.  With six games tonight and six tomorrow night, the ACC has some work to do to capture its 13th challenge win.

Here are my quick predictions:

Tuesday

Minnesota at Pittsburgh

Minnesota hasn’t lost yet (5-0) and Pittsburgh is just 2-4, so quick reactions will want you to go with the Gophers.  The problem is, though, that they haven’t played anyone worth talking about.  The 2-4 Panthers are their biggest test yet, and that’s not saying much.  Still, I’m going with the Gophers in a close one on the road.

Prediction: Minnesota 68, Pittsburgh 66

Indiana at Syracuse

Another unbeaten Big Ten team puts their streak on the line tonight with 6-0 Indiana facing the 3-3 Orange.  Syracuse hasn’t looked that good this year and is coming off a blowout loss to #19 Auburn, their only game against a ranked opponent.  Hoosiers win on the road to stay undefeated.

Prediction: Indiana 77, Syracuse 69

Clemson at Rutgers

Both of these teams aren’t any good, but the difference for me is the fact that Clemson has played a couple worthy opponents where Rutgers really hasn’t.  And Rutgers has lost three straight.

Prediction: Clemson 70, Rutgers 62

Florida State at Purdue

Florida State isn’t bad, they are 5-1 in fact.  But they aren’t as good as FSU teams of recent years.  And Purdue on the other hand…#2 in the nation (arguably #1), and have been playing great ball.  This one is going to be a pretty easy Purdue win.

Prediction: Purdue 82, Florida State 71

Northwestern at Wake Forest

Two teams you don’t hear much about trying to make a better name for themselves here.  Both have only one loss on the season, with Northwestern’s coming to Providence, while the Demon Deacons lost to LSU.  This has the potential to be a pretty good game, but I think home court gives the Deacs the advantage tonight.

Prediction: Wake Forest 74, Northwestern 71

Duke at Ohio State

Ohio State isn’t bad, but they are not a great team.  They’ve lost two already on the year.  Duke on the other hand is ranked #1 in the country after beating a powerful Gonzaga team and I don’t see them even coming close to losing this one.

Prediction: Duke 83, Ohio State 70

Wednesday

Louisville at Michigan State

Although Louisville has only lost one game this season so far, I just don’t think they are as good as some recent Louisville teams.  Their loss was a bad one too, losing to Furman.  Michigan State has lost two, but those two losses came at the hands of Kansas and Baylor, both really good teams.  So the Spartans are more battle tested and at home.  They will win.

Prediction: Michigan State 79, Louisville 73

Nebraska at NC State

Both teams have winning records, but man, both teams’ schedules look very weak.  So this is a chance for both teams to prove themselves a little more.  This will be one of the overlooked games in this challenge, for fair reason, but I just don’t see Nebraska coming into NC State and leaving with a victory.  NC State isn’t that bad.

Prediction: NC State 80, Nebraska 68

Virginia Tech at Maryland

This could be a very, very good game with two evenly matched teams.  Both have two losses on the year, but Virginia Tech’s both came to ranked teams (Memphis and Xavier).  I think the Hokies leave with a win on the road tomorrow night.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 66, Maryland 64

Miami at Penn State

Yawn…Penn State will win at home.  Miami just isn’t that good.  But neither is Penn State.

Prediction: Penn State 64, Miami 59

Michigan at North Carolina

Michigan is #24 in the rankings and UNC has fallen out after losing a couple games last week.  Michigan is always a tough team, but recently lost by 18 to Arizona, which didn’t make a lot of sense.  So, they have the ability to play pretty bad too, just like North Carolina.  This one can go either way, but I’m taking the Tar Heels to pull out a tough one, leaning on their big-man Bacot.

Prediction: North Carolina 74, Michigan 73

Wisconsin at Georgia Tech

After a surprising year last year, Georgia Tech is off to a 5-1 start after dropping their opener to Miami of Ohio.  Their schedule has been really weak though.  Wisconsin has a win against a tough, ranked Houston team and has also played Texas A&M and Providence (who they lost to).  They are more tested and have the ability to manipulate the pace of play, so I think they win here.

Prediction: Wisconsin 65, Georgia Tech 60

Garett