Today is the final day of ACC regular season basketball and there is still so much undecided. The good news is that NC State, picked to finish 13th in the ACC, has outperformed the predictions and put themselves in position to finish as high as 4th in the league. For that to happen a certain scenario would have to play out. Obviously, the Pack would need to beat Louisville today at 6pm. We’ll have the preview of that game shortly. In the meantime, we wanted to give you a guide on today’s games, informing you of who you should root for, how you can watch and what the odds for that scenario to take place. If you’re interested in all of the other possible scenarios, head over here, where we break them all down. Enjoy!
Virginia Tech @ Miami
Who to root for: Virginia Tech
Game time: 12 noon
How to watch: ESPN2
Point Spread: Miami -3
Outlook: State fans want Virginia Tech in this one, but it’s going to be interesting. This game is at Miami with the Canes coming off a 3-game winning streak and a huge buzzer beater over Carolina. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech is coming in high off a 1 point win over Duke. This game is going to be a straight-up dogfight with the winner having the chance to end up 3rd in the ACC standings if the right combination of things happens.
Clemson @ Syracuse
Who to root for: Syracuse
Game time: 2 PM
How to watch: ACC Network (WRAL in Raleigh)
Point Spread: Syracuse -1.5
Outlook: Clemson might be ranked 18th but they haven’t looked so hot since losing 6’8 stretch forward Donte Grantham for the season. Without him, Clemson is a much more beatable team, however, they might be learning how to play together with their new lineup. The Tigers have are coming off a 2 game winning streak in which they beat FSU. One problem is that Clemson has been bad on the road. Their only road wins have come off of ACC cellar-dwellers Wake, GT and Boston College. Meanwhile, Syracuse is playing for their life and coming off a 3 game losing streak. A win keeps their NCAA hopes alive, so you know they’ll be hungry.
UNC @ DUKE
Who to root for: Duke
Game time: 8:15 PM
How to watch: ESPN
Point Spread: Duke -7
Outlook: The big rivalry game has huge ramifications this season. A loss could send UNC all the way down to 6th in the league and a Duke win could secure the 2 seed in the ACC Tournament. This one is at Duke, so you know the Cameron Crazies are going to be going bonkers. I was surprised to see the point spread at 7 in Duke’s favor. I know it’s a home game, but UNC and Duke games usually go down to the wire. I expect that to be the case again tonight. Both teams are coming off shocking losses, so you can bet they will both be sharp and focused on winning this one.