ACC-Big Ten Challenge
The ESPN-driven concept event starts tonight, and it sneaks up on us every year. Its arrival catches us by surprise because it follows the Thanksgiving weekend so quickly. And because some teams' non-conference schedules condition their fans to pay hoops no heed until January rolls around.
But here's a look at the matchups:
Tonight: Purdue at N.C. State, 7 pm (ESPN): Those still watching in the second half get a free soda. Wolfpack by 8.
Tuesday:
Michigan at Georgia Tech, 7 pm (ESPN): I caught the Wolverines' act in NYC last week and thought they were better than the Arizona team that edged them in OT. Jackets win because they're at home. Tech by 3.
Florida State at Minnesota, 730 pm (ESPN2): Seminoles have already done a serious number on their NCAA tournament hopes, having lost to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Kent State and TCU. Gophers by 10.
Michigan State at Duke, 9 pm (ESPN): Spartans look a little better than last year's version, which lost at home to Duke by 22. Blue Devils led UNCG by 39 at halftime on Saturday night. Devils by 6.
Maryland at Wisconsin, 930 pm (ESPN2): Badgers' 30-game winning streak comes to an end. Terps by 3.
Wednesday:
Wake Forest at Illinois, 7 pm (ESPN): Best on-paper matchup of the event, as No. 1 plays at No. 5. Illini have won 54 of past 56 at home; Deacs are very good but haven't had enough practice time for this one. Illinois by 5.
Ohio State at Clemson, 730 pm (ESPN2): Just when the Tigers are about to win, somebody comes off the Ohio State bench and punches a Clemson player. (Sorry. Couldn't pass up the Woody Hayes reference.) And actually, the Buckeyes are pretty good and the Tigers are still a ways away. Ohio State by 4.
North Carolina at Indiana, 9 pm (ESPN): Sean May comes home and nobody can stop him. Hoosiers are 2-0 by virtue of four-point wins over Indiana State and Western Illinois. Tar Heels by 12.
Virginia at Northwestern, 930 pm (ESPN2): Just when you were thinking this Challenge thing was a good idea, along comes this clunker. Wildcats by 7 before 2,400 in Evanston.
Comments (1)
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Great set of games so far. The ACC looks to be the toughest conference in the nation again. Too bad Maryland couldn't pull out a W.
My question to you is this: how long will the ACC-Big 10 Challenge continue before the Big 10 drops out? It's a great event for college basketball fans, but maybe not so good for the Big 10's image.
I'd love to see an ACC-SEC challenge in the future I think those two conferences are the best in college basketball. Maybe in the future we can see a Big 12-Big 10 Challenge or a Big East-Pac 10 Challenge.
Posted on December 1, 2004 9:25 AM