Five more games coming up on Sunday across the ACC, with many of the conference’s top teams in action on the afternoon. Let’s break it down and see what we’ve got to look forward to on the day.
The Match-Up
Boston College (8-9, 0-5, RPI: 133) Vs. Georgia Tech (9-9, 0-6, RPI: 80), 1:00 PM ET, ESPN3.com
Their Last Game
Boston College
The Eagles built a little too big of a hole for themselves last Tuesday night, as their valiant comeback fell short against Syracuse on the road, 69-61.
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech was completely overmatched in their last game against Virginia, tallying their lowest point total in a game since joining the ACC Conference, as they lost 57-28 to the Cavaliers.
The Game And Prediction
Both teams will be looking to notch their first ACC wins as we begin to wind down the month of January.
Georgia Tech 71 Boston College 67
The Match-Up
#2 Virginia (18-0, 6-0, RPI: 3) Vs. Virginia Tech (8-10, 0-5, RPI: 224), 1:00 PM ET, ESPN3.com
Their Last Game
Virginia
The Cavaliers blew the doors off of Georgia Tech as expected, winning their last game 57-28 over the Yellow Jackets.
Virginia Tech
The Hokies were clearly outmanned against Notre Dame on Thursday night, as the Irish rode a hot shooting night to an 85-60 win in Blacksburg.
The Game And Prediction
Virginia Tech will once again be without leading scorer Justin Bibbs, who will miss his third straight game due to a concussion. Even with him in the lineup, it is very difficult to foresee any real chance for the Hokies to pull an upset over the nation’s second-ranked team. The Cavaliers are just way too good defensively for the Hokies, who have had plenty of trouble putting the ball in the basket this season. The ‘Hoos will win big in Blacksburg.
Virginia 68 Virginia Tech 42
The Match-Up
#5 Duke (16-2, 4-2, RPI: 8) Vs. St. John’s (13-5, 2-4 in the Big East, RPI: 43), 2:00 PM ET, FOX
Their Last Game
Duke
The Blue Devils coasted to an easy 79-65 win over Pittsburgh in their last game on Monday night.
St. John’s
The Red Storm up-ended Marquette 60-57 after some clutch plays late down the stretch to seal the victory.
The Game And Prediction
Basketball fans across the ACC and beyond will be tuned in to this one, as Coach K will have his first crack at 1,000 career wins. St. John’s is more competitive than most bottom-feeders of the ACC, so this non-conference match-up will present a bit more of a challenge than one might expect. However, with Jahlil Okafor’s presence in the post, it is hard not to pick the Blue Devils, on what should be a historic day at Madison Square Garden. Oh, and that video from the game above? A classic, don’t lose yourself in it, I’m warning you.
Duke 74 St. John’s 63
The Match-Up
#10 Louisville (15-3, 3-2, RPI: 29) Vs. Pittsburgh (13-6, 3-3, RPI: 69), 4:00 PM ET, CBS
Their Last Game
Louisville
The Cardinals have not played since last Saturday against Duke, allowing them plenty of time to recover from their tough 63-52 home loss.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh also lost to Duke in their last outing, falling to the Blue Devils 79-65.
The Game And Prediction
Louisville is the much better team in this match-up, and their best player, Montrezl Harrell, should be able to neutralize Pittsburgh’s best player, Michael Young. Cardinals guard Terry Rozier has been stellar thus far this season, as he has averaged 17.4 points per game to lead the team in scoring, and I’m not sure Pittsburgh will be able to counter with a second scoring punch of their own, as they try to keep up Rozier, Harrell, and the rest of the Louisville team. Cardinals should win decisively here, even though they are playing on the road against a young and up-and-coming Panthers squad.
Louisville 68 Pittsburgh 55
The Match-Up
#8 Notre Dame (18-2, 6-1, RPI: 38) Vs. NC State (13-7, 4-3, RPI: 41), 6:30 PM ET, ESPNU
Their Last Game
Notre Dame
The Irish rolled over Virginia Tech 85-60 on Thursday night behind huge nights from Jerian Grant, Zach Auguste, and Pat Connaughton.
North Carolina State
The Wolfpack went on the road to Miami on Thursday, and went down to the wire with the Hurricanes before losing 65-60.
The Game And Prediction
North Carolina State is one of the few teams in the ACC that can score with Notre Dame, as their trio of Ralston Turner, Anthony “Cat” Barber, and Trevor Lacey account for much of the team’s scoring. Notre Dame is led by seniors Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton, who are coming off of a combined 35 points on 12-17 shooting against Virginia Tech on Thursday. So with both teams being so offensively potent, what gives? The Irish are 85th in the country in scoring defense, compared to NC State’s 130th ranking, which could be all the difference in this game. The Wolfpack will keep this close at home, but I like the Irish to narrowly escape, setting up a huge showdown with Duke next week.
Notre Dame 77 NC State 74
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