The B1G ACC Challenge is here. Yes, really, the B1G ACC Challenge starts tonight. It’s the most….wonderful….time…..of….the…year. Well, not really, but the made by ESPN and for ESPN event was a precursor to the Champions Classic, another Bristol creation for Bristol which is actually a great thing for all of us. College basketball has done a good job of adding more games with better match-ups in the pre-conference.
Yes, most games in November and December are high-majors versus mid-major and low-major scrubs, but that is slowly changing and improving every year.
Mon, Dec 1 all times EASTERN
7 p.m. Nebraska at Florida State, Adam Amin & Len Elmore, ESPN2
Huskers 68, Seminoles 61
I think Tim Miles will eventually be alright, but currently they’re not multi-dimensional on offense right now. Need more consistently from Walter Pitchford. The Seminoles are under-achieving and got off to a rough start. They do have three 7-footers though
Rutgers at Clemson, Tom Hart & Brad Daugherty, ESPNU
Tigers 58, Scarlet Knights 37
Dooooooooon’t Caaaaaaaaare.
And no one in their right mind should ever pick Rutgers to beat anybody right now. Yes, it was versus #8 Virginia, but they just scored 26 total points (only 8 in the second half)
Day 1: ACC 1, B1G 1
Tue, Dec 2
7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Indiana, Bob Wischusen & LaPhonso Ellis, ESPN2
Hoosiers 81, Panthers 79 (OT)
I’m feeling Clappy McClappiness pulls off the upset special here
Minnesota at Wake Forest, Tom Hart & Bob Knight, ESPNU
Gophers 71, Demon Deacons 56
Wake had been down for awhile now, even mediocre teams can handle them. It’s a good thing that ESPN has relegated Knight to the lesser important games now. Well, done President John Skipper’s subordinates in charge of such decisions!
7:30 p.m. Syracuse at No. 19 Michigan, Mike Tirico & Dan Dakich, ESPN
Wolverines 79, Orange 76
Two storied programs, both rebuilding, one slightly more than the other. Will definitely DVR and watch it on mute, as it has Dakich.
9 p.m. Illinois at No. 17 Miami, Mark Jones & Kara Lawson, ESPN2
Hurricanes 76, Illini 73
Miami is only ranked because they beat a very overrated Florida team. Of course, I can’t confidently pick this Illini team (given how they looked versus Baylor) in their first road contest…yet. They will win some good road games this year, but the Canes will be tough.
NC State at Purdue, Mike Couzens & Stan Heath, ESPNU
Wolfpack 63, Boilermakers 58
N.C. State has less talent this season than in recent years, but they still have enough to derail the Boilers.
9:30 p.m. No. 16 Ohio State at No. 6 Louisville, Sean McDonough & Shane Battier, ESPN
Cardinals 75, Buckeyes 66
If this was WWE or WWF as they called it in my day, then this game is the Intercontinental championship belt match of the B1G ACC Challenge
Day 2: ACC 3, B1G 3
Wed, Dec 3
7:15 p.m, No. 20 Michigan State at Notre Dame (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Dave O’Brien & Doris Burke, ESPN2
Spartans 80, Fighting Irish 65
Tom Izzo will easily handle the Irish; I’m very surprised they didn’t matchup State with one of the ACC’s traditional powers. Don’t why ESPN thinks this game is in Ft. Wayne for some reason.
Virginia Tech at Penn State, Clay Matvick & Tim Welsh, ESPNU
Virginia Tech 67, Penn State 61
Someone has to win this snoozefest. Yawn.
7:30 p.m. Iowa at No. 5 North Carolina John Saunders & Dick Vitale ESPN
Tar Heels 93, Hawkeyes 79
Fran is getting Roy’s Boys art the wrong time, they’re going to be fired up for this one at home. In this matchup of overrated teams, defense is optional.
9:15 p.m. No. 8 Virginia at Maryland Mike Patrick & Len Elmore ESPN2
Cavs 54, Terps 50
Doesn’t make any sense, nor does it look right at all: Maryland in a B1G ACC Challenge game on the other side. Cavs are really good, and Terps have no chance minus Dez Wells in this ACC “conference game.”
Georgia Tech at Northwestern, Adam Amin, ESPNU
Yellow Jackets 68, Wildcats 54
9:30, ESPN #4 Duke at #2 Wisconsin
Badgers 76, Blue Devils 74
I wouldn’t take Bucky in this match-up on a neutral court in March. But with Coach K’s young team visiting the Kohl Center, I’m going UW in the WWE Heavy World Championship belt match.
Day 3: ACC 4, B1G2
ACC wins challenge 8-6
The ACC is better than the B1G, but it’s really not that much better. This one goes coastal only because so many match-ups favored them.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2