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ACC Basketball: ACC-Big Ten Challenge predictions part 2

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 26: North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams and Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speak before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 26: North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams and Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speak before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 26: North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams and Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speak before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 26: North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams and Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speak before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Wednesday:

Penn State at NC State – 7:15 pm

Both teams are off to great starts this season with the Nittany Lions at 6-1 and the Wolfpack at 5-2. The Wolfpack are a narrow favorite over the Nittany Lions but doesn’t count out a Penn State squad that played Texas A&M extremely hard. The Wolfpack are coming off an upset over Arizona last week. This is going to be a close game, but I’m going to roll with the hot hand with Penn State’s Tony Carr.

Prediction: Penn State 76 – NC State 70

Clemson at Ohio State – 7:15 pm

One of the lesser intriguing games of the challenge features Clemson and Ohio State. The Tigers enter the challenge 5-1 while the Buckeyes enter with a 5-2 record overall. The Buckeyes are undefeated at home this season while the Tigers have yet to leave South Carolina and struggled with Temple. We’ll give the Buckeyes the advantage due to home court and better overall performances against tougher opponents.

Prediction: Ohio State 81 – Clemson 75

Michigan at #13 North Carolina – 7:30 pm

The defending national champions will welcome the Michigan Wolverines to town on Wednesday night looking to bounce back from a 63-45 loss to the hands of Michigan State. The Wolverines have just one loss of their own this year as well, that coming to LSU. While they’ve handled business against weaker opponents, the Tar Heels are on a whole other level.

Prediction: North Carolina 90 – Michigan 71

#10 Miami at #12 Minnesota – 9:15 pm

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the night features the Hurricanes and the Golden Gophers. Both teams enter the game undefeated, the Hurricanes at 5-0 and the Golden Gophers at 7-0. Minnesota’s had the better offense this season by far but Miami’s defense is equally as dominating which makes this an interesting matchup and sets up to be a great game. We’ll take the Gophers at home by the slimmest of margins.

Prediction: Minnesota 68 – Miami 67

Boston College at Nebraska – 9:15 pm

No disrespect to either team but this is most likely the least intriguing matchup of the entire challenge. The Eagles travel to Lincoln, Nebraska in a battle of 5-2 teams. On paper, the two teams are pretty even offensively and defensively which should make this a back-and-forth affair throughout.

Prediction: Boston College 72 – Nebraska 68

#1 Duke at Indiana – 9:30 pm

This game could be over by halftime, the Blue Devils so far this season look unstoppable and enter the game with a perfect 8-0 record. Freshman Marvin Bagley III is surpassing expectations and is looking like an early player of the year candidate. On the other hand, Indiana is off to a 4-2 start but hasn’t had many convincing games yet that they are better than they were a season ago. Duke will win this one handily.

Prediction: Duke 93 – Indiana 71

Thursday:

#5 Notre Dame at #3 Michigan State

The best matchup of the entire ACC-Big Ten Challenge is between two top-ten teams. The Fighting Irish lead by Bonzie Colson will travel to East Lansing to take on a player of the year candidate in Miles Bridges in a game that could be the best of the season. The two teams are pretty even on paper which makes it all the more intriguing. The Spartans are coming off an 18-point victory over North Carolina and their only loss was a seven-point loss to Duke. The Irish on the other hand enter a perfect 6-0 and defeated a strong Wichita State team. We’ll take Notre Dame’s trio of Bonzie Colson, Matt Farrell, and TJ Gibbs to pull off the upset victory in East Lansing.

Prediction: Notre Dame 68 – Michigan State 62