SATURDAY GAMES
Duke @ Clemson
Don’t tell me that Trevor Booker hasn’t been watching that Duke/NC State game from Wednesday night. If he did, he must be salivating at what Tracy Smith did to Duke’s interior. It’s simply, everyone struggles with the Tiger press in Little John.
BALLSY PREDICTION: Clemson. By seven.
Boston College @ Virginia Tech
Three of BC’s last four ACC games have been on the road, so you would think they’d be use to this by now as they head into Va Tech., but Blacksburg hasn’t not been a welcoming place over the years for the Eagles. They haven’t won there since the 2005-2006 season. Va Tech has held all but two opponents under 70, while B.C. averages just 71.2 per game (11th in the ACC).
BALLSY PREDICTION: Virginia Tech. Take the under.
Virginia @ Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons have to be feeling good about themselves after whipping Carolina, but let’s not forget, its the Cavaliers in first place. Virginia oddly enough is the No 3 scoring defense in the conference (60.4ppg), but they’re only 11th in the ACC in defensive field goal percentage (.425). You want more? Virginia leads the conference in three-point percentage (.415), but they only take the second most. Here’s the deal, look for the Cavs to slow it down to a crawl, letting Landesberg run the show. On defense, they’re going to crowd the middle and dare Wake (12th in the ACC in three-point shots made) to beat them with the three.
BALLSY PREDICTION: Virginia. In a tight one.
NC State @ Maryland
Both teams will walk into Saturday with a load of confidence. The Wolfpack are down-right giddy after their victory over Duke, while Maryland has won four of five, including a win over a ranked Florida State. While we’d love to believe NC State has turned a corner, we’re all about trends here and State has one. Just look at their points scored since December 31; they’ve scored 89, 62, 87, 70, 88, 73, 88.
BALLSY PREDICTION: Maryland. We predict NC State scores 67 points.
SUNDAY GAME
Georgia Tech @ Florida State
Right now, everything is going right for Georgia Tech. They’ve beaten three ranked teams in the past two weeks and right now, Lawal and Favors are looking like the best inside duo in the ACC. The Seminoles? They have routines.
Florida State has already beaten Ga Tech this year, up in Atlanta, but that seems like so long ago. Back then they were riding a four-game winning streak and looking like a contender for the ACC crown. Yet, the Noles stumbled with a recent three-game slide (all in the ACC), while Tech looks like the masters of the universe.
The last time these two met, FSU’s big men harassed Tech’s big boys, holding Lawal and Favors to a combined 12 points. However, the difference in that game wasn’t just (PF) Ryan Reid’s defense, it was his offense. He scored a season high 17. Since then, he’s hit double-figures only once. Reid’s not going to score 17 again and Tech’s duo won’t be held to 12 again.
BALLSY PREDICTION: Georgia Tech. First one to 60 wins.
