Did you throw your ACC bracket out of the window after Day 1? Now that 6 teams have played we start to get a feel for what we might need to keep an eye on for Day 2.
Maryland vs Florida State 12:00 PM
This one is basically a tossup. The Terrapins are a talented but at times turnover prone basketball team, and Florida State is the team that is fighting for it’s bubble life. Both teams have some ability, and both are flawed. The is a must win for the Seminoles. If they lose, their NCAA chances are finished. Maryland came off a fine performance against Virginia. FSU heads to the ACC Tourney after a listless and rather ugly performance against Syracuse.
I was walking around the ACC Tournament today. It was weird. You see opposing fans chit chatting with other, but the Maryland fans were pretty much left alone. Tomorrow could be their last ACCT game ever. I don’t expect FSU to have back to back poor performances. Noles win to keep their NCAA chances alive.
Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh 2:00 PM
This is a very very very dangerous game for Pittsburgh. Did I repeat this is a dangerous game for Pitt? Wake Forest has some ability, and they have had moments of good play this year. They’ve beat Duke, UNC and NC State. Wake Forest put in a blue collar performance in handling Notre Dame Wednesday. Pittsburgh has won 3 of their last 4, but they’ve hardly looked unbeatable.
The Panthers really can’t let the Deacs hang around. Wake Forest is a rhythm team,. When they are good they are reall good, and when they are bad they are real bad. They should have a sizeable following there as well. Pittsburgh do not understimate Wake Forest or will lose this game. I’m going with Pitt but barely. Jeff Bzdelik still coaches Wake Forest.
N.C. State vs Miami 7:00 PM
The last time these two teams played Miami won in Raleigh by 15! That game has crippled the Wolfpack’s NCAA chances, but I like the Wolfpack here. T.J. Warren is simply un-guardable at the moment, and Miami struggled to survive Virginia.
Like Wake Forest, NC State should have a big home crowd advantage. This would setup an intriguing rematch with Syracuse. If Warren gets any kind of support, the Wolfpack win this one by 10-12 points.
Clemson vs Georgia Tech 9:00 PM
Somebody from Wednesday has to make to Friday for a little Cinderella run, and I think it might be Georgia Tech. They blew a 13 point lead late against Boston College, but they did win. At this point that’s all that matters, survive and advance. They are now on a modest 3 game winning streak, and have built some momentum. Robert Carter Jr. and Daniel Miller form a pretty formidable front line, that could give Clemson problems.
I don’t like the way the Tigers come into this game either. That was a crushing loss to Pittsburgh last week where Clemson blew a 5 point lead with less than 10 seconds. They know they are going to the NIT unless they are playing on Sunday of the ACC Tournament. The two previous games went to Clemson, but they were close. Georgia Tech with the upset in this one.
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