My sure to be wrong predictions:
Monday
Miami at Illinois, 7 PM, ESPN 2
- Illinois wins easily. Miami is scuffling.
Clemson at Minnesota, 9 PM, ESPN 2 -
- Clemson picks up a useful road win. Minnesota has lost to every team with a pulse they've played and Clemson played TCU and Colorado tough
Results Big Ten 1, ACC 1
Tuesday
Northwestern at Boston College, 7 PM, ESPN U -
- Yikes. A team that just lost by 20 to Richmond vs a team that lost to Merrimack. I guess I'll go with BC since they are at home but would prefer they just cancel this game.
Iowa at Syracuse, 7 PM, ESPN 2
- I have to go with Iowa on the road but I'm guessing that means Fran will get do FranCon 1 and blow another game he shouldn't. Nah, never mind, it's not March yet.
#4 Michigan at #1 Louisville, 7:30 PM, ESPN
- Who saw this as the best matchup in the Challenge prior to the season (besides Hail of course....just ask him....he'll tell you). Michigan has been red hot from three all year. Louisville is one of the better teams in the nation at defending the three. I'm leaning Louisville here
Rutgers at Pittsburgh, 9 PM, ESPN U
- A couple of weeks ago, I'd have given the nod to Rutgers on the road. But after wins over KSU and NW on a neutral floor, I think Capel has Pitt playing much better.
#17 Florida State at Indiana, 9 PM, ESPN 2
- IU has played one of the easiest schedules in the nation but it amps up in a big way here. FSU is relentless on D but a work in process on O. Tough game to pick but I'll go with IU at home. They don't call it the Hall of Calls for nothing and I think IU spends most of the night at the foul line.
#10 Duke at #11 Michigan State, 9:30 PM, ESPN
- Two teams that looked to be among the top 3-4 teams in the nation in the preseason but have yet to show it. I think Duke has bigger issues than MSU and Sparty gets the win at home.
Tuesday result - Big Ten 3, ACC 3
Wednesday
#5 Virginia at Purdue, 7:15 PM, ESPN 2
- Revenge is a dish best served in a game that might not get out of the 30's. Seriously. Both of these teams are offensively challenged and elite defensive teams. If the game were in Charlottesville or the Wahoos had Braxton Key, I think it would be UVA easily. But it's not and they don't. Purdue gets the upset it needs.
Nebraska at Georgia Tech, 7:15 PM, ESPN U
- Another yikes. The Fred Hoiberg era is off to a rough start and Nebraska and Josh Pastner is holding onto his job by a thread. Pastner lives to see another day as the Jackets get the win
Notre Dame at #3 Maryland, 7:30 PM, ESPN
- Easiest call of the week and dumb that this was the setup. Maryland rolls
Wisconsin at NC State, 9:15 PM, ESPN 2
- Wisky is another team that has been Jekyl and Hyde this year. Their experience in Brooklyn was one to forget. NC State has played pretty well this year and wins comfortably at home
Wake Forest at Penn State, 9:15 PM, ESPN U
- The Nits have one of the best players in this field that gets very little pub in Lamar Stevens. Wake Forest has....well.....uh....Danny Manning on the sideline. PSU wins comfortably
#6 Ohio State at #7 North Carolina, 9:30, ESPN
- With the Big Ten having already clinched the Challenge, the pressure is off OSU. But then again, this is this young team's first foray outside the friendly confines of Value City Arena. UNC's lone loss this year is to a Michigan team that might actually be pretty good. Hmm...this is a tough one. Can OSU contain Cole Anthony? Can UNC get Kaleb Wesson in foul trouble (the best way to be the Buckeyes IMO). Give me the Heels in a nail biter
Final tally
Big Ten wins the Challenge 8-6.
What say you?
